“You were born at a pretty crappy time in history. And it looks like things are only gonna get worse from here on out.”
The year is 2044, and the only time teenager Wade Watts ever truly feels alive is when he’s plugged into a virtual utopia known as OASIS. He has spent his whole life studying the world’s many puzzles, all of which are based on the creator’s obsession with pop culture from decades past. Wade knows that fame, fortune and power await anyone able to unlock these puzzles. But plenty of other players think the same way Wade does, and they are willing to do anything to get their hands on the prize. Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One is one the best sci-book series in recent times. It helped launch the YA dystopia craze in the early 2010s, received a stellar big-screen adaptation and remains beloved even today. So if you love geeky utopias or dystopian sci-fi stories, join us at What We Reading for the best books like Ready Player One!
Warcross (Warcross #1) – Marie Lu
First up on our list of books like Ready Player One is Marie Lu’s Warcross series. For the millions who log on every day, Warcross isn’t just a game – it’s a way of life. Having begun a decade ago, the obsession has spawned a global fanbase, with some players hoping to make a quick buck, whereas others are just happy escaping the world around them.
Emika Chen is a bounty hunter who tracks down players who bet on the game illegally. However, even the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, leading Emika to take a risk that glitches her into the opening game of the International Warcross Championships. She receives an offer from the game’s creator to spy on those inside the game and unearth a potential security breach. Instead, her investigation soon uncovers a clandestine conspiracy far greater than anyone could have imagined. Badass protagonists, futuristic gaming championships and non-stop action – do we need to say more about why this is one of the best books for fans of RP1?
Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad #1) – Scott Reintgen
Emmett Atwater doesn’t know why the Babel Corporation has selected him for a mission outside of Earth’s atmosphere, but the number of zeros on the contract convinces him that it’s worth it for a future where he and his family are looked after. One of ten teenage recruits aboard the lightship, he soon discovers that they are competing for the right to travel to the surface of a secret planet called Eden for the opportunity to mine Nyxia, the most valuable substance in the universe.
Yet, Babel’s ship is one filled with secrets. And Emmett is soon forced to jostle between winning his fortune at any cost, or finding a way to fight that won’t compromise what it means to be human. Scott Reintgen’s Nyxia is a 2017 sci-fi story and one of the best books like Ready Player One for readers who loved the themes of greed and competition in its interstellar setting.
The Impossible Fortress – Jason Rekulak
If the sense of nostalgia was what you loved most about Ready Player One, Jason Rekulak’s stunning 2017 debut novel is well worth a read. Set in 1987, the story centres around an issue of Playboy magazine. Three teenage boys – Billy, Alf and Clark – see this magazine as something resembling the Holy Grail. So, they hatch a plan to steal it. But, from the alarm systems to the owner’s Shih Tzu guard dog, each attempt to steal the magazine is thwarted.
The boys hatch a new plan to swindle the issue: swipe the security code by seducing the store owner’s daughter, Mary. It becomes Billy’s job to befriend and unearth the information they need, however, Mary isn’t like most teenage girls. Computer-savvy, an expert coder, witty and blessed with a big, albeit hidden, heart. For Billy, what begins as a playful attempt to win Mary’s affection soon turns into an impossible choice: trick potentially his first love, or break a promise made to his best friends. A sweet coming-of-age tale, The Impossible Fortress is jam-packed with 80s pop culture references that anyone who loved RP1 will enjoy.
Moxyland – Lauren Beukes
If you are looking for futuristic dystopian books similar to Ready Player One, Lauren Beukes’ Moxyland is undoubtedly the book for you. Set in an alternative Cape Town, readers are introduced to four distinct narrators: Kendra, Lerato, Tendeka and Toby.
In this not-so-distant future, society revolves around SIMs in cell phones to govern their lives. The oppressive government of the day use these SIMs to control every facet of a person’s life. Those who break the rules are ‘disconnected’ and relegated to being an outsider with no life. Sharp and bold in its satire and ideas, Moxyland is an innovative work of dystopia with plenty of gaming references that any Cline fan will lap up. Readers follow these four individuals as they traverse this murky new world, simultaneously contemplating where our technologically-based society is heading.
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Ender’s Game (Ender’s Saga #1) – Orson Scott Card
No list of sci-fi books similar to Ready Player One would be complete without mentioning Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game. The first entry in the Ender’s Saga series introduces readers to Andrew ‘Ender’ Wiggin, a young man who believes he is playing computer-simulated war games. In reality, he is being trained to be the military genius Earth needs against an alien race known as the Buggers, looking to eradicate all human life.
As he ages, the ‘games’ Ender is tasked with playing become harder and more complex. He’s also not the only one being trained to take on the Buggers, with his two brothers, Peter and Valentine, being every bit as unusual as he is. The pair begin their campaigns to shape the future of the Earth, though, it is an Earth that may not have any future at all if their brother fails.
Otherworld (Last Reality #1) – Jason Segel And Kirsten Miller
Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller introduce readers to Otherworld in their bestselling 2017 sci-fi book. Following a suspicious accident that has left her paralysed, Simon’s best friend, Kat, becomes the test subject for a new virtual reality experience known as Otherworld. A virtual reality game that offers players the means of smelling, tasting and feeling the world around them as well as seeing and hearing it, it is so addictive that most never want to leave.
Simon follows Kat into the game and soon discovers that there is so much more to it than what he first thought. Otherworld is not just a virtual experience, it is the next phase of reality that is primed to change humanity forever. Delivered with wit and humour, Segel and Miller’s Last Reality series is another sci-fi book about a game that is perfect for any fans of Ready Player One.
Agent To The Stars – John Scalzi
Agent to the Stars is another book like Ready Player One which blends pop culture and science fiction. The alien race the Yherajk are prepared to make contact and strike up a friendship with the human race. The only problem? They are hideously ugly and reek of rotting fish. Getting humans to trust them is a hard task, which is where Thomas Stein steps in.
One of Hollywood’s brightest up-and-coming young agents, Thomas knows a thing or two about closing deals. But, although he’s used to dealing with the rich and famous on Earth, negotiating on behalf of another species is another thing entirely. To get his hands on his commission bonus, he will need all of the wit, smarts and skills he has amassed to this point.
The Circle – Dave Eggers
When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. The Circle is the world’s most powerful internet provider and has perfected a technology that allows users to synch all of their online details and data into one easy-to-use identity. All working out of a sprawling California campus, Mae is thrilled by the company’s open-plan office spaces, all-night parties and modern approach to working.
But, the longer the more engulfed she becomes by the world of the Circle, the further away the real world seems to be. What begins as one woman’s pursuit of progress soon becomes a heart-racing story of suspense, intrigue and invasion. Whilst it lacks the video game and 80s vibes, Dave Eggers’ The Circle is one of the best books like Ready Player One for readers looking for a sci-fi dystopian story that raises questions about freedom, privacy, memory and human knowledge.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
