Summary
The relationship between books and video games has been quite fascinating from the start. Many consider games to be the perfect adaptation medium for novels, given that games have all the time in the world to properly tell a novel-length story, and aren’tthatrestricted by budget, given how expensivemovie and TV showmaking can be.
And just as well, novels can greatly expand a game series’ lore, and provide hours of additional entertainment for the fans. A trulygreatadaptation either way does not come often, but it is quite the treat for both gamers and book readers around the world when it does.
TheUnchartedseries has brought forthsome of the best treasure-hunting stories ever. The colorful cast of characters has earned the love of fans of the game many times over, and it is only natural that the followers appreciate more content from the franchise.
The book follows the familiar Drake and Sully, as they travel in Greece and Egypt in search of the lost labyrinths that hold the secrets to ancient alchemy. The book is fairly well-written, though it can get a little slow at times. In any case, the fans of the game will surely enjoy the additional adventures of this iconic duo.
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zeldais indisputably one of the most iconic game series of all time, and its history goes back to 1986. Over the years, many great and legendary games have come out, each of them expanding on the lore of the world, as well as filling out the timeline for the series.
While there are numerous famous visual novels,Hyrule Historiadoes take a special spot among them for many reasons. It is a collection of the rich history of Hyrule, with recollections from the many games in the series, accompanied by lovely art and plenty of short stories. Overall, it is a must-have for anyZeldafan.
World of Warcrafthas rightfully captured the minds and imaginations of players for many years, with its genre-defining mechanics, incredibly rich lore, and immense player base. Over the years, the setting of theworld has been exponentially expanded, bringing to life even more characters, stories, and entire continents.
Many fantastic books have come out of the franchise, yetRise of the Hoardstill remains one of the most popular of all. It follows Thrall, the orc shaman that many players will recognize as the powerful war chief, who has previously appeared inWarcraft 3,World of Warcraft,and even in Blizzard’s MOBAHeroes of the Storm.
Starcrafthas pioneered a plethora of mechanics and has been an inspiration for many RTS games for many years. The game’s fascinating world has an incredible history of war and struggle between entire planets, with many alien races fighting for domination or survival.
Liberty’s Crusadeis part of the largerStarcraftnovel series, namedBlizzard Legends, with each book following a different protagonist that navigates the complicated worlds. The book’s writing is stellar, which is no surprise given Jeff Grubb’s rich narrative record. Fans of the series are sure to get sideswept in nostalgia for the glory days of the beloved RTS.
Dragon Age: Originsblew the fantasy RPG fans away back when it was released in 2009, with players and critics alike praising the game for its rich story,engaging gameplay, and stellar writing. Since then, the franchise has had a somewhat rocky history, but many fans are hoping for the success of the upcomingDragon Age 4: Dreadwolf.
The Stolen Throneis the first out of a trilogy written by David Gaider, who was arguably the best person for the job, given that he was also the Narrative Designer for the game itself. The book is an absolute treat for both fans of the series and fantasy lovers alike.
Bioshockhas an incredibly unique dystopian world, filled to the brim with incredible locations, deep and complex characters, and thought-provoking philosophy. The underwater city - Rapture, remains one of the “must-see” locations in video gaming, and it is no wonder that it has inspired a book of its own.
The book acts as a prequel to the first game, detailing the city’s creation, and going a little deeper into Andrew Ryan, how ADAM was discovered, and many other questions that players might have about the ill-fated place.
Assassin’s Creedcaptivates gamers with its rich historical settings, intricate narratives, and seamless parkour mechanics. Its unique blend of action, stealth, and exploration has become the trademark of the series. The games showcase a relative commitment to historical accuracy, immersing players in diverse time periods, and the novels do a great job of capturing exactly that.
The books follow thefan-favorite protagonist from the games, Ezio, detailing his adventures and struggles from a young age. The books greatly expand on his life and the details of the world surrounding him, as well as address questions that the games might have left unanswered.
It’s hard to underestimate the impact thatHalohad on the world, bringing to life an incredible sci-fi story, and providing gamers with hours upon hours of engaging combat. Master Chief has been the backbone of the series, fearlessly bearing the countless perils that the games threw at him.
The books go much deeper into his character, beginning from his backstory even before the Spartan Program. It is an incredible window into the beloved character, and fans of the series have praised the novels, especiallyThe Fall of Reach.
Mass Effecthad shaken up the worlds of science-fiction, RPGs, and shooters when the first game was released back in 2007. Since then, the franchise continued to grow and expand, with every game adding tons of new content, filling out and polishing thecaptivating world that the games are set in.
Revelationis the first out of a series of novels, all of which greatly complement the games in their own way. The first book, for example, is a prequel to the firstMass Effect, while the following novel acts as a bridge between the first and the second game. In any case, they are a great series, written by the amazing Narrative Designer Drew Karpyshyn.
