Each year, the Chicago Public Library (CPL) hosts One Book, One Chicago, an event where the city reads and discusses a single book together. This year, Chicago is reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin which showcases gaming, another tremendously big and continuously growing space that also fosters community. Video games have been a source of fun and friendship, dating back to gatherings around an arcade cabinet, and it has only become more common with the in-game besties of today. Below are some great new books that explore gaming and all the adventures and relationships that can come from this activity.
Video games create empathy by engaging players as active participants, some may say a depth unmatched by other media. In The Greatest Stories Ever Played, author Dustin Hansen analyzes popular video games, like Uncharted and Persona 5, to understand what parts of those stories draw people in and connect us. By looking into the heart of the story and how it's played, Hansen explores how and why we build community around video games.
Status Royale by Ru Xu is a fun manga that captures the rush you get from competitive gaming while tackling the ups and downs of friendships. One minute Vell is playing the hottest VR game with her childhood best friend turned esports pro player, the next, she is a victim of friendly fire. She doesn't understand what caused her friend to turn on her, but she is determined to find a new team and prove her worth.
It's Only A Game by Kelsea Yu breaks down the wall between gaming skills and real-life consequences in a thrilling way while reminding us that online friendships are as valid as IRL ones. Marina Chan is a 15-year-old living in the back office of a restaurant with her rescue dog and the memories of her sketchy childhood. She finds joy and freedom in playing her favorite online RPG with her team. They play so well that they get invited to the studio for a tour and a chance to beta-test new levels, however, it quickly becomes clear that everything is actually too good to be true.
Such Lovely Skin by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne is a horror novel that captures The Ring in video game form with an important reminder to not close people off, even when guilt and grief overwhelm us. Vivian is a high schooler/Twitch streamer known for playing indie horror games and lying. When a doppelgänger demon attaches itself to Vivian through a video game, she must face the truth of her sister's death and convince everyone that this time she is actually telling the truth.
Do any of these stories remind you of a good gaming memory? Share it with us down below.
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