The world of Assassin's Creed will continue to expand in more ways than just games. Ubisoft has announced upcoming Assassins Creed: Stories, which will be different expansions into the Assassins Creed universe through novels, graphic novels, manhuas, webtoons, and a series of podcasts. 

Starting with the novels, there are three slated for release this year: Assassin's Creed: Fragments, Assassin's Creed: The Jade Seal, and Assassin's Creed: The Ming Storm. Each of these novels is the beginning of its own series of books, with both the Fragments and Ming Storm books set to kick off trilogies and The Jade Seal kicking off a series with nine more books to follow. 

In terms of graphic novels and other illustrated works, there will be two manhuas' titled, Assassin's Creed Dynasty and Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Blood Brothers. These are set just prior to the events that take place in Assassin's Creed Valhalla and follows the story of two Viking brothers. 

There will also be three other graphic novels, Assassins Creed Valhalla, Assassins Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory, and Assassins Creed Valhalla: Blade of Shao Jun. The webtoon releases are set to be new expansions into the story of Edward Kenway, and the podcast will be called Assassins Creed: Turbulence in the Ming Dynasty. 

For more specific details on each of these new releases, check out the official page for Assassin's Creed: Stories. There's a lot for fans of the series on the horizon. 

Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition was a return to the classics for Wizards of the Coast. Likewise, Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes is a return to a successful format of lore book. This title will examine the classic cosmic problems that define the D&D multiverse. 

According to Wizards of the Coast's website, readers can expect to "learn more about the schism between drow and other elves, githyanki and githzerai, and dwarves and duergar, in addition to reading about the incessant Blood War between demons and devils."

In a D&D Beyond interview, Mike Mearls, D&D Creative Lead, explained a little more about what is in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. The layout of the book will be similar to that of Volo's Guide to Monsters, including new monster stats, lore, and player character options.

Mike Mearls especially goes into detail regarding the lore that has been put in this new book. Mordenkainen, the fictional author of this supplement, has a particularly cosmic point of view. To reflect that, there will be much more information on the major players in the multiverse of D&D. Information about such historical topics as the feuds between Elves and Drow, Dwarves and Duergar, Githzerai and Githyanki, and even between Demons and Devils in the Blood War will be covered in detail. Speaking of demons and devils ....

In response to feedback to Volo's Guide to Monsters, Wizards of the Coast decided to pay special attention to more challenging monsters. According to Mike Mearls, at least half of the monsters should be Challenge Rating 10+!

In fact, the Sage Advice blog advertises that there will be "130+ monsters new and old," including such creatures as New Yugoloths, Elder Elementals, and Clockwork Creatures.

Also being added are several new player character options, so Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes will be just as useful for the players as for the Dungeon Masters out there. Githzerai, Githyanki, Sea Elves, Shadar-Kai elves, and Eladrin are all getting race options. Duergar and Tiefling are also getting new content, according to the same Sage Advice blog post.

You can preorder a hardcover copy of Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes from participating local game stores or from Amazon for $49.95. The limited alternative cover edition will be available at local game shops May 18th, 2018. The normal cover edition will be available everywhere starting on May 29th, 2018.

On Tuesday, January 16th, the Halo Twitter account posted a tweet announcing a stream that will go in-depth about Halo: Warfleet -- a companion book for the Halo universe. The stream is set to begin Wednesday, January 17th, at 2 p.m. PT on Mixer.

Join us on stream tomorrow, Jan. 17 at 2pm PT on https://t.co/B6GuNy6y8b for a special behind-the-scenes look at Halo: Warfleet! Tune in to learn more about Halo spacecraft lore and what it takes to bring guidebooks like these to life. #CanonFodder pic.twitter.com/sGIUkX0Jhb

— Halo (@Halo) January 16, 2018

Published on September 5th, 2017, Halo: Warfleet offers more information about various spacecraft found in the Halo Universe. The book also complements Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo, which is a reference book for the Halo universe akin to The Silmarillion for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit universe. Though this may not be the new Halo game fans have been hoping for, people can get a behind-the-scenes look at Halo:Warfleet and Halo lore. 

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Halo news and announcements. 

These are some of the best video game comics and books out there to date. If you've been stuck looking for the best gift for someone who loves books and video games, then you don't need to be stuck anymore. 

We hope our list has made your shopping that much easier and brings joy to everyone's gaming hearts. 

What was your favourite comic/book on our list? Are there any you love that we didn't include? Let us know in the comments below. 

God of War

Price: $14.75
Buy it on: Amazon

Kratos is a deeply troubled soul -- many say downright cruel and unforgiving -- obsessed with his brutal hunt for the Greek Gods. However, the God of War comic goes into more explicit detail about his life before the events of the game and what transpired during that time period.

With the next installment coming soon to PS4, now is a perfect time to jump back into some God of War and relive the magic before an entirely new experience hits the shelf. 

Mass Effect

Price: $7.19
Buy it on: Amazon

Mass Effect is another BioWare game that truly captures the heart of fans who play it. Everyone always wants more content and wants to learn more about the vast universe that is present in Mass Effect. Just like the Dragon Age books, you will return to familiar compelling characters, learning their stories, opinions, and emotions as you go. 

This is a fantastic gift for any Mass Effect fan, and there are tons of installments in the series, with many different topics being covered throughout. 

Half-Life: A Place in the West

Price: $1.49 per episode
Buy it on: Steam

This is for anyone who is a Half-Life fan -- and let's face it, who isn't? -- who has been waiting for a new game for forever (since it would appear we are not getting one, at least anytime soon). 

However, you don't have to wait for a new game to get a hold of exceptional Half-Life content. Although a fairly recent addition to the series, and not by the creators of Half-Life, it has already been praised as capturing the universe and creating a compelling story. 

Assassin's Creed: Forsaken 

Price: $9.74
Buy it on: Amazon

This is the only book in this guide where I wouldn't recommend the other installments in the series. Most of them follow what happened in the game, and once you've played it, you certainly don't want to read that all again. 

Forsaken is different, as it follows Haytham Kenway (Connor's father), and you begin to understand how he became a Templar and what drove him to make those decisions. It's a fantastic book for shedding light on an otherwise unknown character. Plus, it is perfect for any hardcore fans of Assassin's Creed.

The Halo Graphic Novel

Price: $3.22
Buy it on: Amazon

This is the perfect gift for any die-hard Halo fan, as it's not just composed of stories that reference and relate back to Master Chief, but include numerous pieces of art. The entire graphic novel was contributed to by a variety of writers and artists who have been directly involved in the making of the game.

This creates a strong bond with the game and allows for amazing continuity between the game and the comic book. It is an incredibly easy read, and it is a gift that your friend will want to go back to consistently.

The Witcher by Andrezj Sapkowski

Price: $25.33
Buy it on: Amazon

The Witcher game as we know it would never have been the intense and intriguing story it is without its source material. The entire inspiration for the world comes from Sapkowski’s books, while much of the third game builds directly on the series itself.

The Witcher books help you understand Geralt’s anxiety against those in power, explains his relationship with Yen, and reveal how he came to know Ciri. It’s an incredibly important series, and once you read it, you’ll start seeing references all the time throughout the game.

Dragon Age

Price: $33.38
Buy it on: Amazon

The books are primarily what I will be talking about as, in my opinion, they far exceed the literary value that the comics have achieved. Most of the series is written by David Gaider who, until this year, was the lead writer for the Dragon Age game series.

The books are incredibly well written and delve into the stories of well-known and loved characters -- stories about Maric and Loghain, Duncan’s connection to the Ferelden royal family, and Wynne. Characters that always had an ambiguous air that made you want to know about their lives. These books aren’t just trying to thrive off the popularity of Dragon Age; they are stunning pieces of fiction in their own right, making fantastic gifts for your bookworm, gamer friend.

Are you stumped on what to buy your gamer, bookworm friend? Perhaps you are looking for something to gladden their hearts. You don't have to look any further, as we have found the perfect comics and books for gamers across the globe. 

We promise you won't be disappointed by the high level of literary value and artistic merit of the items we have found for you. These comics/books don't just encompass a video game universe, they stand on their own. For example, one of the books on this list is one my granddad loves to read, and he's never even played the game series. 

Sit back, relax, and hopefully find a book/comic to keep you company! 

Video game stories and adventures are just as good as any book we’ve read or are currently reading. For some of these games, I think their story should be continued or created into heart-warming and courageous novels. Most video games stories deserve to be written and expressed meticulously to the reader and these are some of the best RPG adventures about survival, mystery, and hardship that should be published in a good book.

Firewatch

Firewatch was one of those first-person RPGs that stayed with me after I completed the game. The intense fear of being by yourself in the Wyoming wilderness with only a walkie-talkie to communicate with your supervisor is a compelling premise. The game really gave you the feeling of actually being the character. Creating a book around Firewatch would be a good way to expand the story and bring out a lot more detail. It would be exciting to display to the reader how scary it can be when you're on your own in the wilderness and highlight the story of survival and friendship found within the game.

Gone Home

This nostalgic mystery exploration game gives you that classic 90's feel. The player returns home after a year overseas. You get home, and no one’s there. This interactive story lets you comb through each part of the house to pick up objects and find clues. You discover the events of the lives of your family members in the items they left behind. A book adaptation for this game would really bring out the story of the characters. It’s a story about discovering one’s self. Books bring out detail in every story, and a book for Gone Home would bring the story to life on another level. This game would be an amazing mystery book for all ages to enjoy.

Heavy Rain

Quantic Dream has created some of the best life-like games that I've ever seen. Their video games should be made into movies if you ask me. Heavy Rain was one of the most emotional games I've ever played.

This action-adventure and cinematic psychological thriller revolves around multiple characters. Each character has different agendas in the story. The player's decisions affect how the game progresses. This could be a good interactive book. This game covers the struggles and consequences associated with the decisions each character has to make. Readers could relate to some of their stories and feel the pain of the result of their actions. The story of Heavy Rain is heartbreaking, but it has profound potential to be written into multiple stories or become one thrilling novel.

Horizon Zero Dawn 

This exciting action/adventure RPG takes place in a vast post-apocalyptic world where deadly machines have taken over what’s left of the ruins. The civilization of humans is primitive and almost extinct. 

The game has great potential as an in-depth fantasy book if written by a good author--someone who can bring the ruins of this once thriving world to life and illustrate that surreal feeling to the readers. The story is an exhilarating action adventure about survival--the struggle to survive and co-exist with machines. Writing a book about this game would be a new chapter to keeping the video game's story alive and it could also build more stories from the game to extend the adventure. 

Infamous:First Light

Sucker Punch created a standalone game which allows the player to control Abagail Walker. Abagail and her brother Brent ran away from home because of an accident in school that involved injuring a student. They both turned to drugs to deal with their struggles, but Brent eventually got clean. He wanted Abigail to get clean as well, so he would hide her stash. He even ended up working for gangs to get enough money to cross the border to Canada by boat.

First Light could be a novel about the struggles that both siblings had to face from society and in their everyday life. Although the story-line of the game was short, it has the potential to become a powerful fantasy novel. This story could be expanded to delve deeper into the characters' lives and show how resourceful they both had to be to survive. The story of this game could definitely be an interesting novel. 

---

Everyone has their own opinion about video games and how they’re portrayed in movies. I have to say most movies don’t do the video games they are based upon any justice because they don’t stick to the story or the characters they portray. Extending the story in a good book gives the game life and actually takes the reader on a journey into the life of the characters. We all know books are far better than any movie. So, to create a novel about any of these amazing characters would be an exciting adventure I’d want to be a part of. 

Do you think video games should also become novels? Which video game stories would you like to see in a book? Let’s hear your opinions in the comments below. 

Kingdom Hearts is a video game series that resonates with many players across the world. But for Alexa Ray Corriea -- author and co-founder of What's Good Games -- Kingdom Hearts is more than just some game: it's also a significant life experience.

According to many fans,  Kingdom Hearts II, may be the best in the beloved video game series. This book explores the history, importance, and deeper thematic implications of the series, while focusing primarily on the third installment.

From the series' conception by a chance elevator meeting to the seventh game, this book details how certain elements from the series' history affects others. The book also collects various interviews from the series' creator, Tetsuya Nomura, to help explain story elements and characters.

Let's take a look at some of the most important chapters in this novel to see why it's worth reading.

The Complexities of Nobodies

The second chapter of the book thoroughly examines the different significant characters of the game. In particular, the Nobodies. The Nobodies of Organization XIII are reintroduced in this game from the earlier Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. These are characters who have lost their metaphysical hearts.

Corriea goes into extensive detail about the how and why of Nobodies, and why Nobodies such as Roxas, Axel, and Xemnas are so much more compelling once you look into their history and motivations. Corriea does a spectacular job of explaining how this backstory makes the game so much deeper and more intriguing, while also admitting how convoluted the game's story becomes because of concepts that are difficult to comprehend.

Like other topics covered in this book, the existence of Nobodies is compared to real life situations. For example, after the character Saix is quoted about how those who lose their purpose end up destroying themselves, Corriea says:

"The Kingdom Hearts universe puts a lot of emphasis on people who destroy themselves. In the real world, we see people fall to addiction, greed, and self-pity. In Kingdom Hearts, this destruction is largely referred to as 'falling into darkness,' abandoning the realm of light to serve a purpose that society thinks of as more sinister."

She goes on to discuss the characteristics and motivations of Nobodies in tandem with a real life situation:

"Without a heart, without love, without purpose and meaning in your life -- you might as well be nothing, and it may compel you to do nefarious things."

It's true: plenty of people commit crimes because they feel lost. That doesn't mean they are lost. If they're lucky enough, the right events can help them turn their life around. By contrast, the Nobodies can regain their heart from selfless acts.

Corriea writes that when we're in the lowest points of our lives -- when we have been overtaken by negative emotions -- we only become truly ourselves again after someone else helps us remember who we are. This is what happens to a few of the significant characters in the Kingdom Hearts series.

Riku's Redemption and Acceptance

Kingdom Hearts II tells the story of Riku's redemption. This story may even be more his than Sora's. Corriea explains how Riku is so much more than his character trope:

"Riku accepts his sins and his bad decisions and turns them into a useful weapon. He is touched by the power of darkness, which can be used for evil but is not inherently so, and through his own means learn to wield that force for the side of good."

Riku's acceptance of his darkness is one of the most important themes of the series. When we go through dark times, the experiences we have aren't inherently evil. They can even help us learn from our past mistakes.

Later on in this chapter, Corriea provides some insightful and rather motivational words about Riku's character. These words can be easily applicable to real life:

"Riku learns something that is difficult for many to accept: You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to be saintly, and a few bad or selfish choices don't make you evil. You are not weak for feeling doubt or thinking bad thoughts. You are only bad if you let that darkness harm others."

She's right. None of us are perfect, and we all have flaws -- whether we admit them or not. Having negative thoughts when we're struggling doesn't make us bad people. However, if those thoughts end up hurting those close to us, then we become bad people.

A Plethora of Other Great Topics 

There is plenty more interesting content discussed throughout the book, such as:

• The lack of strong and important women characters in the series until Aqua's introduction in Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep 
  • To a lesser extent, Naminé from Kingdom Hearts II can also be included here
• Intimate friendships and how they're portrayed well
  • Sora and Riku
  • Axel and Roxas
• The irrelevant love triangle between Sora, Riku, and Kairi
• Why Mickey Mouse is integral to the series' story
• Mickey Mouse's characterization comparison to a certain legendary figure

All of these topics have varying degrees of appeal depending on the reader. Some of these topics you may not even think of before reading a particular chapter.

No matter which chapter you may be interested in most, you're bound to learn something new from each one.

A Recommended Read For Any Fan

Like the series itself, Kingdom Hearts II is an entertaining read for both teenage and adult fans. Even though it primarily focuses on Kingdom Hearts II, the book still provides a detailed look into the production, themes, and psychology of the entire series -- before the recently released Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, of course.

Whether you're a fan highly anticipating the eventual release of Kingdom Hearts III, looking to better understand the story, or wanting to learn more about production details of the series, Kingdom Hearts II is a fascinating read for fans of any caliber. 

Kingdom Hearts II by Alexa Ray Corriea is available on Amazon and Boss Fight Books' website.

A digital eBook copy was provided by Boss Fight Books.

Before it was a blockbuster video game franchise, The Witcher was a series of eight fantasy novels written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Now, The Witcher is coming to the small screen as a television series. Netflix will produce and develop the property alongside Platige Image, an award-winning Polish computer graphics and animation studio.

Sapkowski will have an active role in the development of the series as a creative consultant. He is not only excited to have his vision of The Witcher universe expand and come to life outside of CD Projekt Red's video game franchise, but also "thrilled" that Netflix and Platige Image are working to stay faithful to his source material.

"I’m thrilled that Netflix will be doing an adaptation of my stories. Staying true to the source material and the themes that I have spent over thirty years writing."

Tomek Baginski and Jarek Sawko will be executive producers on the series. Baginski is a Polish illustrator, animator, and director who has worked on and directed cinematics for all three Witcher games; he is also set to direct at least one episode of the show per season. Jarek Sawko is a BAFTA award-winning producer and visual effects artist.

Speaking of The Witcher, Baginski and Sawko said that The Witcher series is one about everyday heroes and how their actions translate to the everyman. 

"There is a moral and intellectual depth to these books, which goes beyond genre. It is a story about today and today's challenges, hidden under a fantasy cover. It is a story about us, about the monster and he hero inside all of our hearts."

Currently, there is no release date for The Witcher television series, and it is unknown if it will be entirely CG or if it will be a mixture of CG and live action. 

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more news and info on The Witcher Netflix series as it develops. 

Conclusion:

Who says video games cannot help you study? Through music they can relax you and allow you to enter the right state of mind to focus on reading the pile of books you need to prepare for your big exam.

Whether you like the games in this list or not, it's difficult to ignore the quality of the music in them.  So, even if you are not a fan, take a listen. You won't regret it.

Happy reading!

Shadow of the Colossus 

Best track: Shadow of the Colossus Main Theme

We close the list with another masterpiece of the video game industry. If you played this game, you certainly remember the fights with the 16 colossi. They were action packed, but the universe of the game was the exact opposite of this.

When players were not occupied with killing gigantic creatures, they were free to explore the map, and with its vast empty spaces, it perfectly represented the calm before the storm.

To create this contrast, adding the right songs was paramount and the team dedicated all of the resources it could to getting it right. The result was one of the most memorable soundtracks in the history of gaming. 

Final Fantasy Series (Vocal Collection)

Best track: "Answers", by Susan Calloway

Even if this franchise does not meet your taste in gaming, you cannot ignore the significance it has had on the industry. 

The series has many memorable moments that will forever dwell in the minds of those who played them, and the emotional impact of these moments were possible due to the soundtrack that accompanied them.

The video above plays all of the most memorable vocal songs from the franchise, so you may have a dose of nostalgia as you read through your books. 

The Mass Effect Trilogy

Best track: Mass Effect Main Theme

We jump from one space adventure to another, as we bring you the soundtrack of the series of games that told the story of Commander Shepard and his crew, fighting to save the galaxy.

This trilogy will go down in history as one of the masterpieces of video games, portraying the best this medium has to offer. We can see the quality of these games in many fields, including design, narrative, and soundtrack.

Listen to the sounds of intergalactic achievement as you prepare for your next exam, and mentally visualize the next victory in your life -- passing the hardest class in your curriculum. 

Starbound

Best track: Horsehead Nebula (first in the video)

This game features simple 2D graphics, but combined with masterful art direction and a cinematographic soundtrack, it delivers a compelling audiovisual experience. 

The aspect that makes this soundtrack perfect for you to listen while you study is that it is mostly slow paced and continuous, so there are no sudden changes to distract you from your reading. 

Life is Strange

Best track: "Obstacles" by Syd Matters

This game became known for making YouTubers cry on camera, and making the viewers drop many tears as well. Despite the saddening end to the story, the songs you listen to as you control Max Caulfiled, a photography student in an academy of arts who recently acquired the power to manipulate time, are relaxing and sometimes even uplifting.

The game features a choice-driven narrative in Telltale style, and if you want to relax and enjoy some quality reading time, listening to its soundtrack is a must. 

Whether you are a student preparing for a test or simply a person who enjoys to dive into a good book, odds are you have the habit of listening to music as you read, and if you are reading GameSkinny, you probably love video games.

There is a simple way to combine studying with games. 

Video games have evolved through the years, and so have the soundtracks that set the tone for them. Composers have produced memorable tracks for video games, just as in movies.

Some are uplifting, others bone-chilling, and some are relaxing, perfect to help you forget about life and focus on the task at hand. These are the ones that are most likely to help you focus on your reading.

With this in mind, we have listed five video game soundtracks that will put you in the relaxed state of mind that will ensure an optimal experience when going through a book.

Conclusion:

The books presented in this list are among my favorites, but they are only the starting point to a much larger universe of literature relevant to video games.

Some people do not have enough time to read books often and this is comprehensible, but if you are an aspiring video game designer, you are about to enter a highly competitive world and you should take every opportunity you can to polish your knowledge and gain an edge over the competition.

I hope to have convinced you to read at least one book in this list.

Happy reading!

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Author: Daniel Pink

Cost: $10.87

Buy it on Amazon.

What do you do to motivate a worker to perform better at his work? Do you offer him more money? If this was your answer, you were very wrong.

In his book, Daniel Pink shares with his readers what truly motivates people to engage in certain tasks, improve productivity and sometimes, even change habits.

Considering that video games consists of asking the player to perform certain tasks, having an understanding on how to motivate people to perform these tasks is a valuable skill to any game designer. 

Creativity, INC.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

Author: Ed Catmull

Cost: $16.66

Buy it on Amazon.

Written by the President of Pixar Animation and Disney Animation, this book addresses how to manage the work environment in a studio, in order to extract the best results from a team of artists.

This book analyzes Pixar and Disney specifically, but many parallels can be drawn with how Valve manages its projects with its structure without hierarchy.

Remember, if you wish to be a lead designer, you will most likely also act as a project manager, meaning that it will be your job to ensure the whole team works towards a shared vision.

Reading this book will give you the insights you need, in order to get the best results from your team of dedicated artists.

Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation

Author: Steven Johnson

Cost: $13.01

Buy it on Amazon.

Many people believe that creativity is an innate God-given skill of a fortunate few. Many people also share the creed that creativity is not worth studying, because it is something that "just happens."

These assumptions are wrong.

Creativity is a skill and as any other, it can be practiced and there are techniques to make a person more creative. If you aim to become a video game designer, being a creative individual is an essential prerequisite.

By reading this book, you will understand how some of the most brilliant ideas of humanity were conceived and will have a better understanding of how creativity works and how to get better at it.

Abundance: The Future is Better Than You Think

Authors: Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler

Cost: $11.12

Buy it on Amazon.

Everyday when we turn on the television and watch the news, we hear about poverty, violence, climate change and more negative stories. With this bombardment of negative news, we fear for the future of humanity, but should we?

This books presents to its readers a positive perspective over the future of mankind. A posterity in which technology will help us solve our greatest problems. Poverty, deforestation, famine and many more issues will be a thing of the past, according to this book.

Through robotics, artificial intelligence and many other technological marvels, we will solve the aforementioned problems, claim the authors. But how do video games fit into this?

The writers of this book claim that most people believe technology will fail to solve the problems mentioned herein, because they think of the technology of today, whilst failing to reckon what will be possible to achieve with the machines of tomorrow.

This book introduces readers to the notion of "exponential thinking", which stands for the ability to foresee the future trends of technology.

If you wish to become a game designer, technology will play a crucial role in your job and knowing in which technologies to invest in, will give you an edge over the competition.

With this said, its crucial that you learn how to observe and predict the future trends of technology, in order to stay a step ahead from the competition and the future of technology is the topic of this book.

This is a must read for a game design student, but it is also a book that anyone should read, in order to move astray from the negativity of mainstream media and get a bit more positive about the future of the world.

Getting Gamers: The Psychology of Video Games and Their Impact on the People who Play Them

Author: Jamie Madigan

Cost: $31.66

Buy it on Amazon.

Video game design is all about psychology and if you wish to become a designer, having an understanding of this field is paramount.

This book discusses the most effective tricks of psychology video games use to retain the attention of the players and make them enjoy the experience. If you are an aspiring video game designer, but have little knowledge on how the human psyche works, this book is the best way to get started.

This concludes the section of this list dedicated to books that regard video games specifically. The next four items in this list approach topics that, while not directly related to gaming, certainly teach valuable lessons to anyone who dreams of a job in this industry.

How Games Move Us: Emotion by Design

Author: Katherine Isbister

Cost: $19.57

Buy it on Amazon.

In a book, the reader reads a story. In a film, the viewer watches a story. In a video game, the player directly interacts with the story. Due to their interactive nature, video games can create emotions that other mediums cannot, such as guilt and pride.

As the palette of emotional responses in a game is larger, the designers must know how to make this fact work in their favor. This book is the result of a research on how video games create certain emotions in players.

If you aim to create powerful and emotional experiences players will never forget, this book is a must-read.

The Ultimate Guide To Video Game Writing and Design

Authors: Flint Dille and John Zuur Platten

Cost: $16.42

Buy it on Amazon

The days when video game relied solely on gameplay mechanics and graphics as selling points are gone.

Of course, these two elements are still important, but a well-built narrative has become a crucial factor for the success of any campaign-driven video game.

Can you imagine The Last of Us, BioShock or Mass Effect without a story? Me neither.

This is why learning storytelling and how to apply it in gaming is a crucial skill a game designer must have and this book will tell you how to do this.

There are many pieces available for purchase on Amazon regarding this topic, but they usually only address narrative.

What sets this book apart is that it discusses storytelling and game design simultaneously, teaching you how to combine both for greater effect.

The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses

Author: Jesse Schell

Price: $43.97

Buy it on Amazon

This book is regarded as the Bible of game designers. It presents the reader with more than 100 elements of game design and analyzes how to think critically about them, in order to better implement these elements in your project.

The author shares techniques from several mediums, including theme park design, puzzle design and mathematics, in order to analyze how each one of these fields can contribute to your growth as a game designer.

It is 600 pages long, but if you love video games, this reading will go as fast as Sonic.

If making games is your dream, then you probably spend a lot of time playing video games, but in order to thrive in this competitive industry, you will need all the knowledge you can get.

Luckily, there are many books in the market that will help you to get the information you need to make your dream come true. 

This list will show you eight books you should read, if you are an aspiring video game designer. I have divided the eight books in two halves.

The first half consists of four books that address video games directly, while the second consists of books that do not talk about video games, but teach you valuable skills you will need to make your career skyrocket. 

Let the reading commence!

Video games have the power to transport you into different worlds, but they aren't the only ones with this power. Books have been taking people into fictitious worlds since long before video games came along. Sometimes these books even take people into the world of gaming. These books are must reads for those who love both video games and books.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One is set in the year 2044, where the world isn't in the best shape. Wade Watts escapes his dreary surroundings the way most people do, by going playing in the OASIS. The OASIS is a virtual utopia where anything is possible--even becoming a millionaire. The creator of OASIS has placed hidden puzzles in his virtual reality, and whoever solves them gets a mass fortune and ultimate power. Wade's simply content playing with his friends in the game until he stumbles upon the first puzzle. Now he has to solve the puzzle before those also on the hunt find him. They will do whatever it takes to win -- including murder. Is Wade ready for ultimate game? This book is a best seller and is even going to be made into a movie directed by Steven Spielberg.

The Mortality Doctrine Series by James Dasher

The best selling writer of The Maze Runner series strikes again with his latest trilogy, The Mortality Doctrine. The series follows Michael and his adventure through the VirtNet. The VirtNet provides total mind and body immersion in a virtual experience. Everyone plays on the VirtNet, so much so that there are laws and a police force behind them. But why play by the rules when hacking allows you to do whatever you want? One hacker has been messing around with laws that shouldn't be changed and killing hundreds of people in the process. The government knows that they don't stand a chance of catching this hacker by playing by their rules. They need another hacker. They need Michael. Now Michael needs to play the game like he never has before. The world may be virtual, but there's real danger.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

When he was six years old Andrew "Ender" Wiggins was sent into space to attend the military academy. He might be the genius who can help Earth defeat the ultimate threat -- aliens. The academy pushes Ender through vigorous training, desperate for it to be complete. While Ender thinks he's just playing computer simulated war games, he's engaging in something far from a game. Will Ender save Earth from the alien enemy and what will happen to him when the war is over? This book was also made into a movie starring Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford.

Warcross by Marie Lu

This book isn't actually out in stores yet. However, the hype is real. Written by Marie Lu, the best selling author of The Legend and The Young Elite Trilogy, comes Warcross. The book is coming out in 2017 and will follow "two teenage bounty hunters who are hired by a young billionaire to catch a hacker in the world's most phenomenally popular virtual reality game." Marie Lu is a lover of video games and has experience in the field. She used to be an art director at a video game company before becoming an author. This book is going to be amazing.

All of these amazing book options leads to a difficult choice: which book will you read first?

Yes, you read that right. Today, Titan Publishing (parent company of both Titan Books and Titan Comics) and Bethesda Softworks officially announced a multi-platform collaborative effort on tie-in media set to link the events of 2012's Dishonored, and the upcoming Dishonored 2, together. The collaboration will include a four-part comic series, three novels, and an eventual graphic novel which will bundle the comics together into a single volume.

The official Dishonored 2 announcement trailer from last year's E3.

The first of these comics will be released in August of this year, with the remaining three to be released in September and October, and the compilation to follow in November, written by comic artist Gordon Rennie. The first book in the novel trilogy, by author Adam Christopher, is titled "The Corroded Man," and slated for release this September. The two remaining books will release sometime in 2017.

Dishonored 2 is scheduled to release on November 11, 2016, for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Earlier today, Blizzard and world-renowned book publisher Scholastic announced that they are working on a children's book series set in Azeroth. The series will be called Traveler, and will look at the world of Azeroth through the eyes of children. It will grow with them as they explore and experience the magic around them. The books will be written by Greg Weisman, and the first book will include sketches by Samwise Didier, and a full-color cover by Stephanie Belin, both Blizzard artists.

“We’re excited to be collaborating with Scholastic on a series that will bring Azeroth to life for a whole new audience, and Greg Weisman is an accomplished writer who’s really gotten to the heart and soul of Warcraft with the characters he’s developed here—we’re thrilled with the work he’s done on World of Warcraft: Traveler.”

-- Chris Metzen, Blizzard Senior VP of Story & Franchise Development 

The story will follow a 12-year-old boy called Aram who finds himself on a distant shore after pirates attack the ship he is sailing on. All Aram wants to do is get home. Armed with only his father's compass, he sets off on his long journey and, as he goes on, he meets strange and interesting people and creatures of Azeroth.

The first book in the series will be released in November 2016 and will be available in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. A second book will follow in November 2017. World of Warcraft: Traveler will be aimed at 8-12-year-olds.

It is very possible we may be getting a book series revolving around the Five Nights at Freddy's brand later this year. Book publisher HarperCollins recently added a placeholder on their publishing site regarding a, "Young Adult Horror" series to be written by Scott Cawthon.

This follows the release of another book of his, published by CreateSpace, an independent publisher. Cawthon's earlier release, Five Nights at Freddy's: The Silver Eyes, was received positively by the fan-base, who praised the book for the suspenseful tone that Cawthon is known for. The book averages 4.5 stars on Amazon's 5-star ranking system.

The move to HarperCollins, one of the world's largest publishing companies and representative of such authors as Clive Barker & Michael Crichton, signifies the possibilities of a long-term book deal. While it is not known for sure whether or not the book will take place in the Five Nights at Freddy's world, the identifiers listed for the book include, "Media Tie-in, Imagination & Play, and Horror & Ghost Stories", leading us to assume that some sort of game influence will lend itself to these books. 

The mysterious new book is simply labeled as Young Adult Horror # 1 on the site as of right now, and has an e-book and hardcover ISBN already generated. The book will be priced at $9.99 and $17.99 respectively, and is scheduled to be released on September 6th. 2016.

As of this moment, Scott Cawthon has not responded to any e-mails regarding this new series, but this article will be updated if any news develops.

Update 1: Scott Cawthon did previously responded to a post on Steam regarding a book listing on Amazon.

Hey guys, just to be clear. The 2nd book listing is fake. People are able to create any name they want on Amazon and then their items get grouped in with mine on search listings. I'm having the fake listing removed as well as taking action against the user.

It is unclear whether or not Scott is referring to HarperCollins' Young Adult Horror #1 that is credited to him, since the poster he was responding to was asking about Amazon. Amazon has an open-source policy for publications, HarperCollins does not.

This invite the question as to why anyone would bother to offer a hardcover version if the listing is a stolen IP Hardcover books are normally much more expensive to make then paperback books, and exponentially more expensive then a simple e-book version would be.

This isn't to say Scott may be hiding the truth. Video game books are often made without the owner's consent, however these books are typically self-published and are never hardcover.

Since the update of this article, Scott has again been contacted with hopes to clear up any confusion surrounding this story, and has been provided with HarperCollins' official ISBN for the book to help him dispute any claims against his protected properties.

Have you ever been wandering the hallowed depths of Uldum or exploring the burning deserts of Tanaris and thought to yourself, "I have no idea what's going on here"? Maybe you've been closely following Hearthstone's newest expansion, Whispers of the Old Gods and you want to learn more about who or what these "Old Gods" actually are.

World of Warcraft has an almost overwhelmingly rich story, with hundreds of non-playable characters with their own agendas and histories, and World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 does its best to try to compile all that information in one tidy package.

Written by the master of Warcraft himself Chris Metzen, this book travels to a time long before any previously explored in other World of Warcraft media. Using several detailed maps and beautiful artwork by Blizzard's own Peter C. Lee, the book establishes an easy to follow timeline of events that shaped Azeroth into how we know it in game today.

The attention to detail in the artwork is phenomenal, and falls under everything you would expect from Blizzard's demand for perfection. Not content merely an artbook, this book also reviews the history of a variety of the races of Azeroth over the several hundred millennia of the world's existence. Some of these races have never before been covered in a World of Warcraft book, including the history of the Vyrkul, (those big angry viking guys in Northrend) the Aqir, (those sentient bug monsters from Ahn'Qiraj and Ahn'Khanet), and the Burning Legion (who the upcoming World of Warcraft: Legion is titled after.)

This book is excellent for anyone who has always wanted to learn more about Warcraft's rich lore but doesn't know where to start. Priced at $23.99 on Amazon, the book is surprisingly cheap given its size and artwork. There are also contributions from acclaimed authors who have lent their skills to the Warcraft universe before, including Christine Golden and Richard A. Knaak. 

This book is an excellent gift for anyone you may know who enjoys Warcraft, or for yourself if you just want to get ready for the next expansion. For those of you eager for more story and less history, you can look forward to Blizzard's first book with publisher Random House -- Illidan: World of Warcraft, which is releasing next month.

With Overwatch due to launch May 24th, there will be questions about the origins of the Overwatch heroes and universe. Why does Winston get so angry if his glasses are broken? What is the true identity of Soldier 76? And why does D.Va seem to be sponsored by Blizzard in the game?

These are some of the questions that hopefully will be answered in the coming months, when Blizzard is set to release their series of short animated films and digital comics set in the Overwatch universe. There is also a novel planned for later down the road.

The first animated short will revolve around Winston, the genetically enhanced gorilla. It will tell the story of a scientist battling with the idea of recalling the Overwatch heroes while his lab is under attack. This short will be available on March 21st at 12 p.m. PDT, and it can be viewed on Xbox.com. 

Blizzard also has a 6-issue comic series lined up, with the first focusing on the gunslinger McCree.  Other heroes that will be highlighted by the series include Reinhardt (the knight who lives by the code of justice, valor, and courage), as well as the crime duo of Roadhog and Junkrat.  The cover for the first comic can be seen below.

Rounding out Blizzard's extended universe releases for Overwatch will be a novel titled Overwatch: First Strike. This book will take place decades before the time period of the game and focus on the battle of the robots uprising.  The novel will be written by Blizzard's lead writer in publishing and story lead for Hearthstone, Micky Neilson.

With Blizzard doing so much to bring gamers into the universe of Overwatch, it will give more insight into why these heroes are fighting.  

So what do you think of all these extras from the Overwatch franchise?  What hero would you like to see Blizzard focus on in the future? Let me know in the comments below.

There is a lot of loot in Fallout 4. A LOT. Most of it is junk that you can simply tear down for the ingredients within, but there are some items that really don't seem to have a use at all. Subway tokens, Vault-Tec Lunchboxes, folders, notes, holotapes; they all end up in the "Misc" category of your inventory, but what do they do?

Many of these items relate to quests and can't be dropped, but random items you come across in the Commonwealth offer no logical explanation regarding their use (apart from selling them). Such is the case with overdue books, until you enter the Boston Public Library. 

Located to the north-east of Diamond City (as shown by the current character location on the image above), this building is hard to miss as you pass by.

That being said, I'll recommend that you head to Goodneighbor and speak to Daisy (who runs the junk shop next to KL-E-0). She'll ask you to clear the library and return the overdue book that she then gives you, starting the Public Knowledge quest.

When you arrive at the library you can enter through the subway station or pick an advanced lock to enter through the side door. Regardless of your choice, there's a battle ahead of you. Super mutants and automated defenses (trip wire traps, protectrons, and turrets) await you inside.

Once the building is clear, make your way to one of two special terminals (one of which will be highlighted for the Public Knowledge quest) called "Book Return Terminals". (Location images provided below.)

Located near the side door mentioned above, this is the terminal that will be marked, and the terminal you'll want to access anyways.

The second terminal is located at the top of the stairs leading out of the subway station. This terminal is more or less for show.

You've probably guessed by now that we'll be returning our overdue books at these special terminals! Both are unlocked, requiring no special skills to use. Access either terminal and you'll receive a menu with two options:

• [Return Overdue Books]
• [Spend Tokens]

For every returned overdue book you'll earn 5 Book Return Tokens. These tokens are worth 1 cap each, but their real value is in the terminals themselves. By selecting [Spend Tokens] you are given access to a prize list featuring a number of mundane prizes costing anywhere from 2 to 50 tokens.

(Note: It is possible that a player's Luck skill could affect the prize list, however, evidence to support this claim is lacking.)

I found the prizes in the second terminal to be excessively useless; junkable objects like cameras and pens. However, the first terminal housed a rather rare artifact: a Massachusetts Surgical Journal perk magazine. Each issue of this perk magazine will grant you an additional +2% limb damage on enemies.

This is the only location where this particular issue of the Massachusetts Surgical Journal can be found. Unfortunately, the magazine costs 50 tokens, or 10 overdue book returns. By searching the library I was able to find 6 books - including Daisy's - 7. To unlock the magazine 3 books will need to be found in your travels. 

Burnt or otherwise damaged books are not accepted; only pristine overdue books will earn you tokens. These overdue books can be found in raider camps, vaults, dungeons, and elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Junk traders like Myrna, Daisy, and Trashcan Carla will sometimes sell these books as well (look under "Misc").

There you have it: selling, dropping, or simply ignoring overdue books is now a no-no - you'll need them for that collectible magazine! 

As for my immediate future, I'm off to rack my brain in an attempt to remember where I've seen those damn books...

Have you ever finished a game and thought, "wow! I want to know more about this world!" Or have you just wanted to know more about your favorite Hero's adventures? Luckily many Video Games have expanded their universes and lore with books, and out of the many, many that are out I've tried to devour as many as I can. Out of all the ones I've ever read I do have my favorites. This is my totally opinionated top 10 list of Video Game books that I'd recommend anyone.

10. Tomb Raider: The Lost Cult

The Lost Cult is the second Tomb Raider Novel  by E.E. Knight released in 2004. We join the busty heroine Laura Croft as she tries to retrieve a lost Iraqi artifact from a group of Peruvian gangsters in order to clear herself of the Von Troy murder. Though this seems like a lame way to get Laura's new adventure rolling it's a fun read, if only for the same reasons you'd go to a popcorn movie, nothing revolutionary is done with the character but it holds certain nostalgia value.

9. Mortal Kombat

Written in 1995, this prequel book expands the stories of the not yet well known characters, offering some interesting early takes of some of your favorites.

8. Alan Wake

A book based on a game about an author who might be going insane, what’s a better idea than that? The plot itself matches the game, although some details differ from the actual game. Still, if you were a fan of the game and want a novelization of it or, didn’t want to bother with the game but are curious about story, you’re going to win either way.

7. Dragon Age: Asunder

A Dragon Age book that takes place after DA2 and delves deeper into the repercussions of the Kirkwall incident. If you love the DA universe and want to delve deeper into the tension between the Mages and Templars defiantly give this one a look. 

6. Dead Space: Martyr

I love horror books. I love horror video games, so of course I'm going to love a horror book about a horror video game! Acting as a prequel to the Dead Space games, it gives a deep history of the founding on Unitology and the founding of The Marker.

5. Resident Evil: City of the Dead

Again my love of horror comes through with this third book into the Resident Evil universe. This book follows Claire, Leon, Jill, and Chris as they save survivors and get out of Raccoon City. This book takes place during RE 2 but their are some noticeable differences in the story.

4. Halo: The Cole Protocol

The Cole Protocol is the 6th Halo book and one of the best ones. It can’t actually be tied to any sort of timeline within the game's events, but really fleshes out more of the universe.

3. Homefront: The Voice of Freedom

Even though I'm 1 of 12 people who liked this game and the book won’t win any literary awards, this prequel to the game sets the scene and is crammed full of action sequences and a plot that hits very close to home for a lot of Americans. The constant threat of terrorism is really brought home in this book. If you haven’t played the game then this is a great introduction to the world and will help you connect with the in-game characters.

2. Mass Effect: Revelation

The first book in the Mass Effect universe, Revelation sheds some light on the history of David Anderson and Saren, as well as Anderson’s connection with Kahlee Sanders (a side character in Mass Effect 3).  It also details how Saren discovered the Reapers and the reason for Anderson's distrust of him.

1. The Witcher: Time Of Contempt

I kind of cheated with this one since this is a book that inspired the games, but it's my list and I can bend the rules as I see fit. The first few of these books act as short stories, prequels to the games. But the third book in the series is where author Andrzej Sapkowski really starts exploring Geralt as a character more. I recommend reading the other books but this one is by far my favorite of the series so far.

Any books I missed? do you have any recommendations? let me know in the comments below!

With technology becoming even more present and easily accessible, it’s not uncommon to see youngsters with iPads, phones, and the next new piece of mobile technology. Thankfully, many developers have decided to make apps aimed at younger audiences that are educational, so the kiddos can learn something while they play! A win-win for everyone! This list will be directed at youngsters in the 3-6 age range. Let’s hop to it!

 Elmo Loves 123s and Elmo Loves ABCs.

Who doesn’t love Sesame Street? While the longtime series not on HBO make not be the same as the one I grew up with, it remains iconic and a great source for teaching kids in an entertaining and not patronizing manner. Sesame Workshop has developed several apps, but the big two are undoubtedly Elmo Loves 123s and Elmo Loves ABCs. The apps use the famous red monster to help teach the alphabet and counting skills. Fans of the show will enjoy this one more, but there is still something here for kids who aren’t familiar with the show to enjoy.

The Android versions are free with in-app purchases here and here. The iPad versions cost $4.99. The iPad version of Elmo Loves ABCs contains additional in-app purchases while Elmo Loves 123s does not. 

Oceanhouse Media Apps

Upon first look at Oceanhouse Media’s store page, you would be forgiven for wondering what in the seven hells is going on. (There are numerous bizarre tarot listings after all.) However, the page also houses many beloved children’s books, namely by a certain Dr. Seuss who I am sure no one has ever heard of. Aside from Dr. Seuss, there is also a selection of Little Critter and Berenstain Bear books, along with many others.

I have only experienced their version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but I will probably be looking into others for my daughter. Each book allows the reader to read by themselves or allow the book to be read to them. You can also touch some of those troublesome, large words for them to be repeated for the younglings. The illustrations look great and some are even animated. I highly recommend looking into some of these titles.

Most of the books are priced at $3.99 or lower for both Android and iOS platforms. 

The Magic School Bus Explorer

Ah, The Magic School Bus. You’d be hard-pressed to find a person around my age who did not grow up watching or reading about the educational adventures of the beloved Ms. Frizzle and her class of third graders.  Thankfully, Scholastic has adapted two of the books into an app/book combo. You can read the book as normal, but the app also contains supplementary information about the topics presented in the book as well as some games. To make it even better, the books cover two of the coolest subjects ever: the ocean (i.e. sharks) and dinosaurs. Need I say more?

Unfortunately, this is only available on iOS at the time being it seems. While Android users can download the books, they aren’t the same as this app. Be wary when purchasing this though. This is actually a bundle of two apps that cost $3.99 apiece. This bundle gives them both to you for $3.99.

Fish School HD

This colorful app uses fish to help teach kids numbers, letters, colors, and more. There are songs to uncover; games to play; and things to be learned!

This app is currently only on iOS and costs $1.99

The Sight Word Adventure

Sight words can be tricky to teach. They should be recognized when seen, but sometimes, they are more difficult to teach than one expects. This app could help with some of that. The app contains 320 sight words of varying degrees of difficulty so your kiddo can continually advance. The app uses 10 games to help teach and reinforce these words. The app even has some disability accommodations, always a welcome sight! Parents or teachers can even select some words they want to the app to focus on if the child is having some difficulties.

The game is available on iOS for $1.99.

Originator Inc. Apps

Originator has several well-reviewed apps; each one is tailored to teach a certain subject. Endless Alphabet finds children learning over 50 words. The app contains spelling games, memorization, and visualizations of definitions to help the meanings stick. Endless Numbers offers similar activities such as arranging numerical sequences, solving basic math, and visualization for quantities. Endless Reader helps with sight words. The words are brought to life in a manner close to their definition, sentences are given to reinforce recognition, and much more. Each app is colorful and filled with cute monsters for your kids to befriend.

The apps are free on both Android and iOS, with in-app purchases available to unlock more content; except for Endless Alphabet which costs $6.99 on iOS devices.

Epic!

This app is possibly the best thing to happen to children’s books in some time. The app works in a way similar to Netflix streaming: you may a monthly fee to have access to a ton of books whenever you so desire. The subscriptions vary in price, but some are as inexpensive as $5 a month.

What makes this great is the selection. Kids will have access to The Chronicles of Narnia, Goosebumps, Amelia Bedilia, Goodnight Moon, The Berenstain Bears, and many more. The app also includes some bilingual books, audio books, and plenty of other nifty things too! I know I would’ve enjoyed this immensely as a kid. With so many books at your kid’s fingertips, they’ll never be bored.

The app is free for Android and iOS devices. The plans cost varying amounts. However, if you subscribe before January 5^th of 2016, you will get two months of the service for free! Hop to it!

David Wiesner’s Spot

This one may not be the most overtly educational, but there is plenty of potential. The basic premise has readers focused on the back of a ladybug. Through zooming and manipulation, users travel through the spot to five unique worlds full of illustrations rich in vibrant colors and life to explore. There are spots where the worlds interconnect, providing for entertainment for some time. There is also a companion app filled with storytelling prompts and writing activities if one chooses to download as well.

The app is available on iOS for $4.99.

Seamus Heaney: Five Fables

Aesop’s fables have endured for centuries and continue to delight children and adults the world over. This app follows famed poet and writer Seamus Heaney’s adaptation of 15^th century Scot poet Robert Henryson’s version of Aesop’s fables. An adaptation of an adaptation!

What sets this apart is the ability to read both versions side by side or to forgo one for the other. You also get the fantastic Billy Connolly narrating the modern version of the tales. (There’s also a narrator for the older version of the stories as well.) Aside from narration, there is also commentary and dissection of the texts for advanced readers, as well an animation for each fable. There’s a lot to love in this package.

The app is available on iOS for $11.99.

Needless to say, there are a great deal of apps that can be used for educational purposes for both Android and iOS devices. This list has barely scratched the surface of all the apps available. If you know of any major ones I neglected to mention, please let me know in the comments below. If you have some experience with any of these apps, whether positive or negative, feel free to comment on your experience as well.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have my phone read The Lorax to me my daughter.

Video games are a wonderful way to tell stories and create memorable experiences; there’s nothing quite like a well-crafted yarn in a digital realm to capture your imagination. However, as much as I enjoy playing games, there is another past time I enjoy at the same level or more so than I enjoy video games: reading. While an excellent game narrative can transport you to fantastical worlds, there is nothing quite like reading an utterly captivating book and becoming lost in its world as your imagination brings it to life.

This is a list of books for the gamer in your life. Some are aimed more at children, and some will be aimed more at adults. However, gamers of all ages should be able to find something enjoyable here. Who knows? They might just become so enthralled in some of these tales they’ll forget about the games, for a short time anyway. 

This list is split in three: first, we'll look at books based on popular video game franchises; second, we'll look at books that inspired video games; third, we'll look at books that are not game-related but are likely to appeal to gamers.

Books based on video game series

Halo series

The Halo series is a science-fiction shooter series that has been running since 2001 with no signs of slowing down. Halo made waves for having a far-reaching and ambitious story as compared to most other shooters of its time. Given this emphasis on narrative in the series, book adaptations were inevitable. There are several entries in the series with only one book, Halo: The Flood, being an adaptation of a game’s story while the rest expand upon the Halo universe. Fans of the series will undoubtedly hungrily devour more information on their beloved Master Chief, and the struggles humanity face in this universe.

A Parent’s Take

The Halo series has been rated M for Mature, with the exception of the recent Halo 5: Guardians and the spin-off Halo Wars. The series is without major gore, and players only encounter mild profanities such as “damn.” In some books, there is some adult content like violence and some scattered strong profanity, but not an overabundance - and rarely more than the games do. I doubt the other books have much problematic content, but the ones we've reviewed were pretty much fine.

Notable Titles

• Halo: The Flood
• Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
• Halo: Contact Harvest
• Halo: Cryptum

Warcraft series

The Warcraft franchise has changed quite a bit over the years. What started as a strategy game evolved into an MMO juggernaut that has continually dwarfed the competition for over ten years. The games are known for their strong narratives and memorable characters that fans have grown to love over several games. The books for this franchise are unique compared to other game adaptations. One series follows the Warcraft strategy series while the other books deal with the ever-popular World of Warcraft. With nearly twenty novels, there are plenty of choices for Alliance and Horde alike.

A Parent’s Take

All of the games in the Warcraft universe are rated T. There is your typical fantasy violence, some mild cursing, and various minor offenses. Otherwise, expect some well-written fantasy narratives!

Notable Titles

• Warcraft: Day of the Dragon
• Warcraft: Of Blood and Honor
• World of Warcraft: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King
• World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde

There are countless other books based on games; far too many to mention here. For those interested, more exhaustive lists can be found here and here. Now onto our next category! 

Books that inspired games

The Witcher series

The Witcher is a series of action-role-playing games set on delivering a mature experience for older players. The third entry in the series launched in early 2015 to much acclaim. The games are based on a series of fantasy novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. With the release of the first The Witcher title, players outside of Poland clamored for a translation, which came not long after the game’s release. Any fans of the games or dark fantasy, in general, should find plenty to enjoy here.

A Parent’s Take

The Witcher games are rated M for good reason. Gore, mutilating monsters and humans alike, copious amounts of harsh language along with plenty of sexual innuendos, sexual situations, and even digital nudity await those who plunge into Geralt’s dark world. These games are most certainly not aimed at the kiddos. If your kid has played the games, don't expect much more to shock them as the books are aimed at the same older audiences as the games are.

Notable Titles

• Sword of Destiny
• The Last Wish
• Blood of Elves
• Time of Contempt

Metro 2033

Metro 2033 is a Russian post-apocalyptic novel that finds the remnants of humanity fighting for survival in the ruined metro (subway) tunnels underground after a nuclear war decimated the surface of Earth. Humans wage war against radiation, harsh environments, mutated monstrosities, fellow humans, and other impediments in this unforgiving world. 

An eponymous game based on the novel released in 2010 with a sequel that followed in 2013. The novel has since spawned an official sequel along with giving birth to a book franchise that the original author, Dmitry Glukhovsky, has overseen.

A Parent’s Take

Both of the Metro games are rated M. The games have some intense violence against human and inhuman enemies, plenty of language, and the last title, Metro: Last Light, even had some digital nudity. Like The Witcher, expect the books to be similar in content.

Notable Titles

• Metro 2033
• Metro 2034

Alamut

The Assassin’s Creed series has several inspirations, but this 1938 novel by Vladimir Bartol was possibly been one the biggest influences on the game. The plot follows Ibn Tahir, a young soldier who joins a garrison held by the Ismalis at a fortress named Alamut. The fortress is led by the charismatic Hassan, who may or may not be deceiving his troops to manipulate them. Tahir is sent to assassinate a vizier who reveals Hassan has been deceiving his troops (sound familiar yet?).  Tahir confronts his leader who reveals his life motto: “Nothing is an absolute reality, all is permitted.” Disillusioned Tahir is sent on a global odyssey while Hassan attempts to cultivate his power.

A Parent’s Take

Most of the games in the Assassin’s Creed franchise have been rated M, usually for violence, some vulgar language, and blood. As this novel was written in 1938, it doesn't have much that will shock young adult readers but the themes may be a bit much for some.

Books gamers will like (but are not directly related to gaming)

Artemis Fowl series

Artemis Fowl follows the exploits of Artemis Fowl, who just so happens to be a genius and world-renowned criminal at the age of twelve. Young Artemis discovers fairies do exist and seeks to capture one in order to obtain a lucrative ransom. What follows is a series of misadventures for readers young and old alike.

As the series goes on, the characters grow and experience major trauma. While the later entries weren’t quite as strong as the earlier ones, I wholeheartedly recommend this series to everyone. This is one of those rare series that may be aimed at younger audiences, but contains plenty of meaty content for older readers as well. I have read the entire series at least three times now, and I cannot wait until my daughter is old enough for me to share these with her.

A Parent’s Take

The series has plenty of action, though nothing ever gets bloody and characters rarely die. There is plenty of swearing in the fairy tongue (which can’t be translated due to how offensive the words are) and “damn” may be used twice over the entire series. There is some crude humor with one character’s abilities revolving around his flatulence, but it is never gross or over the top. There shouldn’t be too much here to find fault with.

Also, if you’re a fan of audiobooks, I cannot recommend these enough. The reader is one of the best I have ever heard and manages to do a distinct voice for each character on top of a great narration.

Notable Titles

• Artemis Fowl
• Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident
• Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code
• Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception

The Old Kingdom series

Garth Nix may be more known to modern readers as the author of the Keys to the Kingdom series, but I want to shine a spotlight on his under appreciated The Old Kingdom series. The series follows a young girl named Sabriel, who goes looking for her father after receiving a strange message from one of his undead servants. Sabriel’s father is known as “Abhorsen,” a magician who fights necromancers and undead creatures in an attempt to keep peace in the kingdom. An old evil is manipulating events and threatens to awake, and it’s up to Sabriel and her talking, surly cat companion to find her father and stop the evil.

A Parent’s Take

While there is some fantasy violence, parents should note there are plenty of undead and other nightmarish creatures found within these pages. While nothing is too scary for younger readers, sensitive ones might find Nix’s descriptions of these creatures a tad much. Besides that, I cannot remember a single curse word or anything else to give parents pause. The series is also available in audiobook form as read by the always-terrific Tim Curry, which is an excellent listen.

Titles in the Series

• Sabriel
• Lirael
• Abhorsen
• Clariel

The Bartimaeus Sequence

The Bartimaeus novels follow the exploits of magical apprentice Nathaniel and the five-thousand-year-old djinni Bartimaeus, whom Nathaniel summons to do his bidding. The first novel revolves around the unlikely duo perpetrating a petty theft that quickly evolves into a more serious threat than either could have anticipated.

The books are characterized by the witty banter of Bartimaeus and his relationship with the young and vain Nathaniel. Their bond evolves as the books progress and Nathaniel changes from an unlikable, haughty twerp to a person the reader can actually care about.

 A Parent’s Take

One of the cores of the Bartimaeus universe is summoning demons, afrits, and other magical beings to do one’s bidding. As such, there are lot of otherworldly beasties and nasties in the series. There is no adult language, and the violence is sporadic and rarely intense. There shouldn’t be too much here to keep younger ones away, and the books are excellent enough for older readers to enjoy as well.

Titles in the Series

• The Amulet of Samarkand
• The Golem's Eye
• Ptolemy's Gate 
• The Ring of Solomon

Mistborn series

Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series launched with one hell of a debut set in a fully-realized world begging for more stories to be told. The books follow Vin, a thief who scrapes by in a crew of rowdy thieves. Vin comes to discover she has powers she can use by “burning” metal scrapings she ingests. Vin becomes involved in a plot to overthrow the oppressive dictatorship of The Lord Ruler, a seemingly omnipotent being who has been alive for hundreds of years.

The world is extremely fleshed out in the first book alone, and the themes of slavery and dictatorship in a high fantasy setting make for a different type fantasy novel. This one also has a great audiobook reader.

A Parent’s Take

I have only read the first title in the series, but there was not a lot of content I would say warrants a warning flag. The biggest thing may be the themes of slavery, oppression, government, and evil the novel presents. There is also a sizeable cast of characters and things to keep up with; the series might be better suited for older readers.

Notable Titles

• Mistborn: The Final Empire
• Mistborn: The Well of Ascension
• Mistborn: The Hero of Ages

The works of R. A. Salvatore

Few modern fantasy authors have had the success or popularity of Mr. Salvatore. Salvatore is most known for his works set in the Forgotten Realms universe, which is from the world of Dungeons and Dragons, and the character Drizzt Do’Urden. Salvatore has fourteen series set in the Forgotten Realms universe alone, not counting his other series or other works. Needless to say, most fans of fantasy games will probably enjoy something Salvatore has written.

A Parent’s Take

The titles are all appropriate for most ages, as long as you are ok with a bit of violence and some beasties straight out of D&D's Monster Manual. There is very rare profanity or sexual content and most of the titles are about overcoming various obstacles such as bandits and ice dragons in order to reach goals. There is some fantasy violence, but nothing grotesque or gory.

Notable Titles

• The Crystal Shard
• Homeland
• The Legacy
• Gauntigrym

Works by John Scalzi

John Scalzi burst onto the scene with Old Man’s War, an excellent sci-fi tale of an army that only recruits from the older population of Earth. While he has continued the series, he has written several other books that are just as good as his debut novel.

Scalzi’s novels are usually filled with smart-aleck characters, witty dialogue, and imaginative narrative cores. Doubtless, most people reading this have read one of his books or heard of him by now. If you haven’t, I highly recommend checking some of his works out.

A Parent’s Take

I have thoroughly enjoyed most of Scalzi’s books I have read, but I must caution parents - These books are aimed at older readers. There is enough profanity here to fill a Quentin Tarantino movie, plenty of blood, guts, and detailed dismemberments, on top of some sexual situations and issues only older readers can relate to. That said, if you can get past these issues, you’ll find some great books for your teen's collection.

Notable Titles

• Old Man’s War
• Fuzzy Nation
• The Android’s Dream
• Redshirts

The Dresden Files

Harry Dresden is a wizard-for-hire practicing in modern-day Chicago. Needless to say, he leads an interesting life. The Dresden series is essentially a neo-noir saga following a down-on-his-luck wizard in lieu of a gumshoe. While the trappings and archetypes of noir pervade the books, the focus on a wizard in modern times and Jim Butcher’s take on magic keeps things fresh.

There are also plenty of interesting characters, including wise-cracking femme fatales, trolls, fairies, vampires, and countless other magical beings. There are over 15 novels in the series, and each can serve as a jumping on point thanks to Butcher reiterating some major concepts for newer readers without becoming annoying for veteran readers.

A Parent’s Take

Like any good noir, there are crimes aplenty in the world of Harry Dresden. Besides the crimes, there is a fair amount of language and a good deal of violence. There are also some nasty denizens of magic floating about that might be a bit scary for the younger ones. I recommend this one for the older kids.

Notable Titles

• Storm Front
• Fool Moon
• Grave Peril
• Summer Knight

Star Wars

The Star Wars franchise has been running strong ever since the release of A New Hope in 1977. The franchise has become one of the most beloved in nerd and mainstream culture. With the release of Episode VII: The Force Awakens looming ever closer on the horizon, a new generation will grow up with Jedis, Sith, and the Force.

With the massive success of the franchise, it should come as no surprise there are a plethora of books. Seriously. There are a ton of books in the series as you can see by looking here. Just take your pick for the gamer in your life.

A Parent’s Take

With rare exception, expect these books to match up with the content of the films: essentially, a great deal of sci-fi action, heroic journeys, and coming of age stories in a galaxy far, far away - but nothing that would keep the younglings at bay.

Notable Titles

Just scroll down this list and take your pick.

Obviously, there are countless other books gamers might find enticing. This is just scratching the surface on the wonderful world of books. If you have any favorites you would like to share, please do so in the comments below!

This guide would not be complete without a Power Rangers tribute. Here we have a gorgeous "Pink Power Ranger" Onsie for a baby girl looking to make a statement. Find this treasure on ThinkGeek.

Well there you have it. I hope I have given you some great ideas to choose from for gift giving, photos, or to simply buy for yourself.

Congratulations to all new parents-to-be out there!

Every technically savvy parent would appreciate the "Infant Troubleshooting Magnetic Flowchart." It's a fun parody to "problem solving" your baby issues that's available on Amazon.

This "Mute Button" pacifier is available in 7 colors on Amazon.

Available colors:

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• Baby Blue
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• Black
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• Clear
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• Glitter Pink
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• Green
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• Pink
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• White
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This "Expansion Pack" Onsie available on CafePress is available in 4 colors and in sizes 6M to 2T (24M).

Available colors:

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• Black
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• Heather Grey
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• Raspberry
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• Turquoise
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This "Daddy's Little Gamer" Onsie is available to buy via CafePress from 0-3M up to 18-24M.

This "Future Gamer" Beanie on CafePress is available in Sky Blue, Petal Pink, Kiwi (shown here), and Cloud White.

Here's a wonderful way to get that adorable infant introduced to Mathematics early. "Introductory Calculus For Infants" by Omi M. Inouye is available on Amazon.

This is my all-time favorite bedtime book! This parent-only concoction is full of non-stop relatable every day scenarios all parents face with the dreaded word BEDTIME.

"Go the F**k to Sleep" written by Adam Mansbach is guaranteed to be among any parent's favorite.

This parody of the classic "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff is wonderful. Ann Droyd is at it again with "If You Give a Mouse an iPhone."

Here is a hilarious parody of the classic "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown aimed towards the Digital Natives is Ann Droyd's "Goodnight iPAD."

When looking for ideas on activities to do with your child, this "Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share" by Ken Denmead should certainly fit the bill. Find it here on Amazon.

Okay for all you The Walking Dead fans, this "Little Ass Kicker" Onsie available through ThinkGeek is awesome and I'm sure Norman Reedus would agree. Right?

This is a fitting ThinkGeek pun to the IT parents out there. Here is an adorable "Mostly IP" Onsie. Who can't appreciate the bold, truth humor here?

You may not have David Bowie around to sing for you, but for Labyrinth fans this "The Babe With the Power" Onsie should suffice. You can find this cutie on ThinkGeek.

This "Player 3 Has Entered the Game" Onsie comes in 5 colors from 6M-24M, available on Amazon.

Colors:

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• Purple (shown here)
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• Hot Pink
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• Pink
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• Turquoise
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• White
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Future Superhero Onsies are awesome. Select from "Batman" to "Wonder Woman" via ThinkGeek.

Also available to match:

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• Justice League Socks
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• Superhero Diaper Covers
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• Batman Sock Variety 6-pack
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 Every Baby Superhero needs a bib and booties.

 Available:

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• Batman
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• Superman
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How can you resist this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume Onsie available on Amazon? This "Donatello" is adorable!

Here are some adorable Star Trek Uniform Onsies from ThinkGeek to choose from for the little Cadet or this "Boldly Went" Onsie.

Amazon offers this adorable Star Wars "May the Force Be With You" Onsie in 4 colors from 0-3M to 18-24M.

Available colors:

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• Cloud White
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• Kiwi (shown here)
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• Petal Pink
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• Sky Blue
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This Star Wars "My Family" Infant Romper is available from 0-6M to 18-24M on Amazon.

Here's an adorable toddler sized Star Wars "Future Pilot" tee available through ThinkGeek.

Also here's a Star Wars "B is for Boba Fett" Onsie that is also available.

Star Wars Vader's Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown is an adorable board book that's charming and funny. It certainly appeals to the Star Wars fan.

Other books available:

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• Star Wars Vader's Little Princess Postcard book by Jeffrey Brown - details more of the older father-daughter moments.
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• Star Wars Darth Vader and Son book by Jeffrey Brown - adorable board book sharing in the daily activities of fatherhood.
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• Star Wars Darth Vader and Son Postcard book by Jeffrey Brown - captures the father-son moments during the toddler years.
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• Star Wars Darth Vader and Friends by Jeffrey Brown is a fantastic board book about friendships across the galaxy. Little Luke and Leia love to play with their friends while daddy the Dark Sith babysits.
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• "Goodnight Darth Vader" by Jeffrey Brown - a hilarious Star Wars spin on the classic "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown and it is the ultimate bedtime for the Dark Sith.
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We all know someone out there who is having a baby or may have just had one. Sometimes buying your average gift for those nerdy, gamer parents just doesn't seem enough. Knowing where to find unique gifts to cater to their lifestyle can be tricky.

Well I'm here to help with that since I, myself, just had to purchase a  shower gift for parents in this very category.

Here you will find gift ideas from book parodies for mom and dad, to gifts for future nerdy, gamer baby.

Enjoy!

Photo credit: A.Bilger Photography | Newborns