RPGs are about building a character and immersing yourself in a world. Few such worlds are more enticing than fantasy settings, as they offer sprawling sights, mythical monsters, exotic cultures, and otherworldly magic. Many of these have a medieval feel akin to European legends and folklore, giving them a classical vibe and strengthening the sense of escapism. Video games are far from the only place to find that escapism, though.
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Several books accomplish that sensation as well. Countless fantasy novels have emerged in the 20th and 21st centuries, and many of these have just as much work and passion poured into them. In fact, certain pieces laid the groundwork for some of the most revered games in the industry. Plus, they’re a lot cheaper than the $60-$70 price most games ask. It’s all the more reason to check out these written works. Turning the page is as easy as pressing a button.
7The Middle-Earth Books
This one is obvious, but no less applicable. Few fictional settings are as intricately crafted as Middle-earth. Using his immense linguistic and historical expertise, J.R.R. Tolkien created a vast worldfilled with distinctive people, places, events, languages, and cultures. The sheer beauty and attention to detail make it feel equal parts real and mythical.
Such immersion should speak to stans of sprawling, open-world fantasy tales likeThe Elder ScrollsandThe Witcher 3. Delve intoThe Hobbit,The Lord of the Rings,The Silmarillion, or any of the other works. All of them contain the same devotion and grandeur.
6The Witcher Series
This entry is also unsurprising considering theWitchergames are among the most acclaimed RPGs of recent years. Gamers have fallen in love with the dynamically entertaining characters, sinister setting, and potent themes about racism, classism, and action vs. inaction.
These subjects are much deeper in the books. Not only are these works more plot-driven and therefore more focused, but the format allows for far more dialogue. Readers witness long chats between characters vigorously debating the ethics of various scenarios and how different parties will view said scenarios.The more gruesome the event, the more thought-provoking the exchange. The games carried these cynical elements, but the novels laid the foundation.
5The Harry Potter Series
Magic is a tried and true facet of fantasy. As a result, plenty of games in this genre let you cast spells, dedicating one or more character classes to the ability. However,not many titles have the range of J.K. Rowling’s repertoire.
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Over seven books, readers step intoHarry Potter’s shoes as he attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They learn not just about the application of magic, but also its forms and history. As they get older, Harry and his friends become more confident and versed in their abilities. This echoes character progression in games, but it also shows the depths to which magic can be used in storytelling. Rowling infuses it into nearly every aspect of this whimsical world. Compared to that, even deeper spellcasting systems likeDivinity: Original Sin 2orThe Elder Scrollsseem rudimentary.
4The Percy Jackson Series
This series has a similar appeal toHarry Potter. Each franchise feature a relateable, downtrodden kid becoming a hero, and the same sense of progression permeates both books. There’s just a big difference: demigods.
Percy Jackson and the other charactersare all sired by Greek gods. This informs their abilities and even personalities. In many ways, they work like classes in RPGs. Players serve as tanks, healers, rogues, or other archetypes as they journey along. This becomes more important during multiplayer or party-based titles. Gamers naturally want a diverse team in order to succeed. In the same way, Percy works best when flanked by his allies.
3The Thrawn Trilogy
TheStar Warssaga is equally at home in fantasy and sci-fi. Countless games have taken advantage of that combination, but few are more revered than theKnights of the Old Republicduology. Theseare easily among the deepest RPGs on the market, but they’re also some of the more sophisticated stories in the saga. The lengthy format allows for more complex characterization and thoughtful themes than the typical popcorn fare.
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Who better to compliment that sophistication than the smartestStar Warsvillain ever? Throughout this trilogy, the heroes play a constant cat-and-mouse game with Grand Admiral Thrawn. It’s a methodical and clandestine war as each side tries to predict what the other will do. This determines how best to use each character’s skillset.
For instance, Chewbacca’s claws allow quick traversal on the towering trees of his home planet, thereby giving him an edge over Thrawn’s assassins. This should sound familiar to those playing party-based RPGs. Certain characters have unique abilities which open up further paths for navigation and narrative. These books operate on that same mindset.
2The Outlaw Of Torn
As the title suggests, Edgar Rice Burroughs’s lesser-known novel is about an outlaw whose gifts for strategy and warfare grant him a legendary reputation in 13th-century England. This gradually attracts an army of followers. In turn, it leads to greater success.
Some RPGs have tried to emulate such a pattern.Dragon Age: InquisitionandAssassin’s Creed Valhallacome to mind. In these titles, players travel to different regions and complete tasks to gain influence.As their resources grow, they unlock more difficult areas to conquer.The Outlaw of Tornoperates on the same trend; it’s just a more nuanced version.
1A Song Of Ice & Fire
This gamehas too many players to count.George R.R. Martin’s ongoing seriesfollows numerous characters, all of whom have their own stories during this global war for supremacy. Their journeys naturally equip them with various abilities they use to solve problems. Anyone who loves replaying RPGs to experience each character’s unique narrative should feel right at home.
Arguably more popular, though, is the political intrigue here. The denizens of Westeros constantly try to one-up each other. Alliances are forged, broken, and tested as the disparate factions vie for power. Branching dialogue systems attempt these same verbal chess matches in gaming, but none put as much emphasis on it as Martin does.
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