Five Books To Read If You Play Video Games

What would Ghost of Tsushima be like without the influence of film director Akira Kurosawa? How different would Alan Wake 2 be if Twin Peaks didn’t exist? The link between cinema and video games has never been more apparent, but literature’s impact on modern games shouldn’t be ignored as it’s had just as much sway.

Black Myth: Wukong explored Chinese folklore last year by drawing direct inspiration from the 16th century novel Journey to the West, while the depth Baldur’s Gate 3 affords its sprawling narrative and hefty cast of characters has more in common with a fantasy epic like the Wheel of Time series than any film.

These five books have not just influenced video games with their ideas and themes, but they’ve also been inspired by concepts popularised in games. They’re also mighty good reads that’ll challenge you, as well as entertain.

Armada by Ernest Cline (2015)

The popularity of Ernest Cline’s 2011 debut novel, Ready Player One and its subsequent Steven Spielberg film adaptation in 2018 has left Armada dwelling in the shadows of the author’s bibliography, but it’s a science fiction romp that deserves more limelight.

Written with Cline’s snappy and popular culture-laden prose, the 2015 book focuses on a teenager called Zach who spends his spare time playing a video game called Armada. Alongside his buddies, he battles against alien invaders in explosive aerial warfare, only to discover that the online shooter is in fact a simulator being used by the military to prepare for an impending war against an alien race in the real world.

The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski (1993)

Although it was published a year after 1992’s Sword of Destiny, Polish author Andrezej Sapkowski’s The Last Wish is considered to be the first title in his The Witcher series. It’s gone on to inspire three video games with a fourth on the horizon, as well as the Henry Cavill starring Netflix show.

After Geralt of Rivia is injured, he reflects on events in his life while recuperating. Every event is separated into a different short story; it’s like playing through a bunch of side quests in The Witcher 3 before returning to the core plot. Each tale is riveting, mashing action with dense lore and world building.

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (1992)

Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash is a complex novel that was way ahead of its time. It’s set in a dystopian future where governments have collapsed and big businesses are prospering. Most of the world spends its time online in the Metaverse (sound familiar?), but a fatal drug has been unleashed that has the power to destroy people’s virtual avatars and paralyze them in the real world.

Pizza delivery man and expert hacker, Hiro Protagonist - yes, it’s on the nose - teams with a rebellious skateboarder called Y.T to take down a deadly universe-threatening enemy. Stephenson dives into the history of linguistics and computer science, predicting a future where we are perpetually living our lives on the internet, while also delivering a compelling thriller.

Neuromancer by William Gibson (1984)

Reading Neuromancer after Snow Crash is the literary equivalent of going to the cinema for a movie double bill. Gibson’s seminal 1984 science fiction novel is also set in a near future dystopia and it follows a hacker called Case who is recruited to perform a high-stakes heist, pitting him against a powerful artificial intelligence.

Credited with introducing the term ‘cyberspace’, the book heavily influenced the cyberpunk genre in the decades after its release, giving way to films like The Matrix. Shades of Gibson’s work has permeated video games ever since, noticeable in everything from Cyberpunk 2077 to System Shock and Final Fantasy VII.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2022)

When Sam and Sadie meet at a hospital as children, a beautiful friendship blossoms after bonding over Super Mario Bros. Years later, now adults, the pair bump into each other again and continue their relationship before embarking on a sprawling venture to start their own video game company together.

Gabrielle Zevin’s tenth novel will appeal to lovers of literature and video games; it’s a playful and emotional character driven ride that explores everyone’s need to feel a connection. It was announced in May 2024 that Paramount was adapting the book into a film with Coda director Sian Heder attached.