🎮 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books For People who Love Video Games

For fans of leveling up, questing, and “just one more chapter”

Looking for books that feel like your favorite video game? I’m sharing a few favorites below, but I put the full gamer-friendly book list on the C.G. Harris Sci-Fi & Fantasy Finds Amazon Storefront so you can browse them all in one place.

You know the loop. One more level. One more upgrade. One more bad decision that somehow turns into a boss fight.

Whether you're into VR worlds, dungeon crawls, squad-based missions, or characters who keep getting stronger and occasionally smarter, these sci-fi and fantasy books deliver that same addictive progression.

This list blends LitRPG, progression fantasy, cyberpunk, and high-stakes adventure. Some are massive bestsellers. Some are indie breakouts. All of them understand the assignment.

Here are some of our favorites to get you started:

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Wade Watts escapes into the OASIS, a massive virtual reality where players hunt for hidden keys left by its late creator. The winner gains control of the system.

The problem? A corporation with real-world power is willing to do anything to win.

Freak Forward by C.G. Harris

Yes, this is a blatant self plug. No regrets.

Jay can see flashes of possible futures, which makes him hard to ignore and even harder to control. When he, a hacker, and a street-smart survivor start digging into GEAR, they uncover a conspiracy that puts them directly in its path. Seeing what’s coming should help. It mostly makes things worse.

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Aliens turn Earth into a multi-level dungeon for entertainment, and Carl is forced to compete. Every level brings new monsters, traps, and rules designed to kill contestants or boost ratings. The loot is great. The survival rate is not. *Note-this series is incredible on audio. Jeff Hayes is so amazing you won't believe it is just one narrator.

Cradle by Will Wight

Lindon is born powerless in a world where advancement determines survival. When he learns his home is doomed, he sets out to climb a rigid system of power, training relentlessly to become strong enough to change his fate. If you like watching a character grind, level up, fail, adapt, and come back swinging, this one understands the assignment very well.

He Who Fights with Monsters by Shirtaloon

Jason wakes up in a world governed by magic and structured abilities. As he builds power and allies, he’s pulled into conflicts far bigger than he understands, all while refusing to take anything seriously. Which is probably not the recommended survival strategy. But it is entertaining.

Want the full list?

These are just a few of the books that bring that gamer-style energy to the page. For the full list of books to read if you like video games, check out the C.G. Harris Sci-Fi & Fantasy Finds Amazon Storefront US or our UK Amazon Store.