From Page to Controller: Books as Video Games

Happy National Video Games Day, readers! I, myself, am not very big on video games. I've played Sims, some Halo with my brother, and stuff like Mario Kart--and, back in the day on my cousin's Xbox, Roller Coaster Tycoon. And I occasionally get obsessed with Zoo Tycoon on my computer, but otherwise I'm not much of a gamer. I am, however--and clearly--a very big reader. And since today is National Video Games Day and I've been trying to do more on my blog, I thought it'd be fun to combine video games and books! I'm no good for comparing the two, but I can do something else: put together a little list of some books that might, in my personal opinion, make fun and engaging video games.

Throne of Glass: You could be an assassin, royal, captain of the guard, witch, fae--and DEFEAT EVIL.

Shatter Me: This is basically like a video game version of Operation, except instead of trying to touch the patient you can't touch anyone.

The Devouring: A horror-esque video game in which you must defeat the Vours--before they devour you.

Shades of Magic: When you're not worrying about the darker forces of the world, you can go shopping in various versions of London.

The Naturals: You're a teenager solving murders a la Criminal Minds, so scoot over, Nancy Drew and Scooby Doo.

Morganville Vampires: I feel like this would be akin to Sims, where you get to roam around Morganville and go from place to place and there are various characters, except that are vampires, if you're Claire you work in the lab of a mad vampire, and you're constantly trying to save Morganville because bad stuff is always happening.

The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love: A video game set at Comic-Con while trying to win the affections of the love of your life--could there be a more meta video game?

Saga: I was just play in a world with those graphics O K A Y.

Undead: There has to be at least one book-to-video-game featuring the slaughtering of zombies or else would forever be incomplete.

The Girl from Everywhere: A time travel video game, except you have to work to find the right map to take you to the right point and place in time.

Vengeance Road: It's The Oregon Trail but with less dysentery and more Wild Wild West.

Illuminae: This video game would definitely require a microphone as you scream things, and it's set in space--also something needed to make this list complete--and would be ridiculously interactive, my gosh.

Blackbird: The point of this prey vs predator game set in the city is simple: don't let them find you or it's game over.

Dorothy Must Die: You can be literally any character in this twisted, warped version of Oz and it's solely up to you to decide what will become of the place that isn't like home.

Not a Drop to Drink: This might also have slight Oregon Trail vibes, but you have two
options in this land where water and life is sparse: stay where you are and defend your water, or go off searching for something better.

What books do you think would make fantastic video games?