Take a Break from the Screen: Books Based on Video Games

Video games are an incredibly popular form of entertainment for people of all ages, with many benefits to playing including problem-solving skills, creativity enhancement, mental health improvement, and better social skills. Too much screen time is still a concern, however. What better way to remedy that for video game lovers than to introduce books based on video and role-playing games? We’ve put together a list of books that are: written by some favorite YouTube gamers, inspired by some favorite video games, give the history of video games, and even one that has some video game elements to combine reading with technology.

Cube Kid
Tales of an 8-Bit Kitten: Lost in the Nether. 2017 (Middle Grade).
Eeebs isn’t a very disciplined kitten. His mom warned him not to play in the forest, but he didn’t listen. That’s how he found himself in the Nether — a bizarre world inhabited by scary creatures. In the company of a Ghast, almost cheerful witch, Eeebs develops supernatural powers. But will those supernatural abilities be enough to stop the army of EnderStar, a rogue enderman set on dominating the Overworld? In this unofficial Minecraft adventure, Eeebs must fulfill an ancient prophecy and become the champion of the Nether to save his home.
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DanTDM
Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal. 2016 (Middle Grade Graphic Novel).
After a day of experiments, Trayaurus and DanTDM are about to call it a night when a strange-looking crystal plummets to earth, breaking into five pieces that scatter far and wide. DanTDM and Trayaurus recover one of the shards and quickly realize they are in possession of an object more powerful than anything they’ve ever known. This graphic novel comes from one of YouTube’s most popular creators, DanTDM, and reimagines the Minecraft-style worlds and characters he’s created, giving a new medium for his followers to enjoy as these crystals are manipulated and used for evil.
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Díaz Rivas, Miguel
FGTeeV Presents Into the Game! 2020 (Middle Grade Graphic Novel).
The FGTeeV family gamers have played hundreds of games together. Which is why Moomy decides to make a new game called My Pet Fish. Just one problem: the game is super boring. And one other problem: Moomy and Duddy accidentally got sucked into it — and now they’re trapped! It’s up to the kids — Lexi, Chase, and Shawn — to jump into the gaming console and rescue their parents. But first, they have to battle their way through their favorite games until they find the one their parents are stuck in. This graphic novel by a popular family of gamers on YouTube teaches respecting each individual as gamers as well as working together as a family.
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Hinojosa, Stacy
Guardians of the Taiga. 2018 (Middle Grade).
Stacy was raised by wolves. She’s never needed humans to survive and, from what she sees of humans, they’re dangerous and unpredictable. For as long as she can remember, Stacy’s pack of six, powerful, playful wolves have been her only family. Together, Stacy’s pack patrols the forest to keep other animals safe, relying on her wits and each wolf’s unique abilities to accomplish risky rescue missions. But as the forest changes and new dangers begin lurking, are Stacy and the wolves prepared for the perils that await them? Creator of the popular YouTube series Dogcraft, StacyPlays has created an illustrated fantasy series inspired by Minecraft.
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Julianelle, Patrick
A Hole New World. 2018 (Middle Grade Graphic Novel).
When Pat and Jen stumble into a hidden hole while playing hide-and-seek, they find that they’re trapped in a dangerous underworld and that their good friend, Bomby, has been kidnapped! Now it’s up to the daring duo and their “friend” Carter to battle the zombies, find the castle, and get back home before it’s too late. Can Pat and Jen find Bomby and flee the underworld before they get zombified by the evilest villain of them all — Evil Jen? Inspired by Minecraft, this graphic novel from popular YouTube creator PopularMMOs combines their YouTube creations with Minecraft thrill.
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King, Zach
My Magical Life. 2017 (Middle Grade).
Everyone in Zack King’s family has a magical power. His father can turn back time, his sister can turn invisible, and his mother can transform any object into something else. And Zach…well, he hasn’t found his magical power yet, and his family is growing worried that he’s been “skipped.” So his parents decide to stop homeschooling him in magical arts and send him instead to a regular middle school with regular kids. To Zach, it’s the worst news ever. But Zach quickly learns that going to regular school with regular kids isn’t all that bad. And just when Zach least expects it, he discovers a pair of magical snapbacks that might just be the magical thing he’s been looking for his whole life. The only problem? The school bully, Tricia Stands, who is determined to make sure Zach doesn’t get more popular than she is. Award-winning digital media star Zach King not only brings you a graphic novel, but one that comes complete with a code for a free downloadable app that brings Zach’s vibrant world to fully animated, three-dimensional life.
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Kirby, Matthew
Last Descendants. 2016 (Teen).
Nothing in Owen’s life has been right since his father died in prison, accused of a crime Owen is certain he didn’t commit. Monroe, the IT guy at school, might finally bring Owen the means to clear is father’s name by letting him use an Animus — a device that lets users explore the genetic memories buried within their DNA. The experience brings Owen more than he bargained for. During a simulation, Owen uncovers the existence of an ancient and powerful relic long considered legend: the Trident of Eden. Now two secret organizations will stop at nothing to take possession of this artifact — the Brotherhood of Assassins and the Templar Order. It soon becomes clear to Owen that the only way to save himself is to find the Trident first. Under the guidance of Monroe, Owen and a group of other teenagers go into a memory they all share within their DNA, where they’ll find themselves tested on the gritty streets of 1863 New York — and their experiences in the past will have far-reaching consequences in the present. This is the first book in an Assassin’s Creed series for fans of the video games to read and expand the video game world!
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Kostick, Conor
Epic. 2004 (Teen).
Generations ago, violence was banned on New Earth. Society is governed and conflicts are resolved in the arena of a fantasy computer game, Epic. Everyone plays. If you win, you have the chance to go to university, get more supplies for your community, and fulfill your dreams; if you lose, your life both in and out of the game is worth nothing. When Erik, seeking revenge for the unjust treatment of his parents, dares to subvert the rules of Epic, he and his friends find themselves up against the ultimate masters of the game: the Committee. If Erik and his friends win, they may have the key to destroying Epic’s tyranny over New Earth. But if they lose… With its setting of a fantasy MMPORG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), this novel is an early example of a LitRPG (Literary Role-Playing Game).
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O’Donnell, Tom
Homerooms and Hall Passes. 2019 (Middle Grade).
In the mystical realm of Bríandalör, every day the brave and the bold delve into hidden temples or forgotten dungeons, battling vile monsters and evil wizards to loot their treasure hoards for sweet, sweet magic items. But in their free time, our heroes — Thromdurr the mighty barbarian, Devis the shifty thief, Vela the noble paladin, Sorrowshade the Gloom Elf assassin, and Albiorix the (good!) wizard — need to relax and unwind. That’s when they meet up once a week to play Homerooms and Hall Passes: a role-playing game where they assume the characters of average American eighth graders. But when the five young adventurers are magically transported into their H&H game by an ancient curse, they must band together to survive their toughest challenge yet: middle school. This upside-down Dungeons & Dragons-inspired novel has these main characters realizing that maybe passing algebra and navigating the cafeteria social scene may be even harder than battling ogres.
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Polinsky, Paige V.
Pokémon Designer: Satoshi Tajiri. 2017 (Children’s Biography).
Follow the story of Satoshi Tajiri as he founds Game Freak magazine which turned into Game Freak video game development company and the creation of the Pokémon video games, trading cards, television series, and Pokémon Go! Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers’ understanding, with additional features that include a table of contents, an index, a timeline, and fun facts — all laid out to show the history of the Pokémon franchise.
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White, Jon
2019 Game On!: The Only Gaming Annual You Need! 2018 (Teen Nonfiction).
Learn all about the hottest games, how they were developed, and how to beat them in this annual gaming guide. Game On! is the most comprehensive guide to all the best games, tech, and YouTube stars; and features some of the year’s greatest moments, including exclusive interviews with YouTube legends, top streamers, and game developers. This complete guide is packed with information on all the latest gaming hardware, tech, and essential mobile games. It also including the best gaming secrets, stats, tips, and tricks to help unlock achievements and trophies on games.
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