TOP 10 Gamebooks of 2024

You could say we're living in a golden age of gamebooks. Perhaps they've moved past their initial boom and are now experiencing a full-blown renaissance. Either way, gamebooks come with a rich history and a current wave of new titles and reissues that have earned their own TOP 10 ranking.

If you're seeing the word gamebook for the first time, check out our article What is a gamebook? first.

A little bit about gamebook history

Before we dive into the 2024 ranking, let's take a quick look at the past.

Gamebooks started appearing here in the 90s, quickly catching on with sci-fi and fantasy fans who would secretly read them under their desks at school. I fondly remember borrowing well-worn first editions of Lone Wolf: Flight from the Dark or reading Norik together on school trips.

The global history of gamebooks goes back a bit further, though. The first attempts emerged as early as the 1950s. However, the real gamebook boom was ignited in the 80s by the Choose Your Own Adventure and Fighting Fantasy series.

The second wave was kicked off by the Mytago publishing house, which began re-releasing the legendary Lone Wolf series and soon branched out into other titles. Today, even major mainstream publishers have embraced gamebooks, leading to a whole range of successful books by local authors.

Selection of the 10 best-selling titles of 2024

I've picked the 10 best-selling gamebooks of 2024 for you. I hope this list serves as inspiration for both gamebook beginners and seasoned adventurers!

Lone Wolf: Flight from the Dark (Definitive Edition)

You are the last survivor of the Kai Order and must warn the King about the threat of the Darklords… The popularity of the Lone Wolf series is proven by the fact that the first installment remains the best-selling gamebook from the Mytago stable. The definitive edition contains numerous fixes and improvements, is expanded from the original 350 to 550 sections, and is available in both hardcover and paperback.

Dracula: The Vampire's Curse

Step into the roles of iconic characters like Jonathan Harker or Count Dracula in this unconventional take on the classic story. Dracula is the breakout hit of the year, a highly popular book that has overtaken almost all fantasy classics. A well-known story in a modern guise, crafted as an extensive gamebook with 1000 sections.

Want to know more? Read our review of Dracula: The Vampire's Curse.

Lone Wolf: The Curse of Naar

The twentieth volume of the Lone Wolf series, available in Czech for the first time. As a Kai Grand Master, you set out to save the Moonstone from the clutches of the Darklord Naar on the dangerous Plains of Darkness.

Choose Cthulhu: The Call of Cthulhu

A detective gamebook with 111 sections based on the work of H. P. Lovecraft. You investigate the mysterious death of your great-uncle and uncover the activities of a cult dedicated to Cthulhu. The popularity of the Cthulhu Mythos is simply undeniable.

Fabled Lands: The Serpent King's Domain

A unique open-world fantasy concept that has appealed to many fans of the genre and shot the first volume of the Fabled Lands series to a respectable fifth place. Party building and character development add another dimension to the game, allowing the player to fully immerse themselves in the story.

Want to know more? Read the review of The Serpent King's Domain.

Metal Heroes: The Fate of Rock

Get ready for a wild ride through the world of heavy metal. Become the successor to the god of rock and build the most epic metal band of all time! A unique work by Swen Harder that blends fantasy with metal. Great gameplay, plenty of humor, and an extreme dose of fun.

Want to know more? Read the gamebook review on zestolu.cz.

Return to Firetop Mountain

A loose sequel to the classic by Ian Livingstone. The evil sorcerer Zagor has risen again, and you must prevent the destruction of Allansia. This Fighting Fantasy gamebook took a respectable sixth place, perhaps because it's a loose sequel to the first book in the series, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

Carcosa

A continued descent into the depths of madness inspired by the works of Lovecraft, Bierce, and Chambers. The Carcosa gamebook, the second book in the Necronomicon series, is more difficult than its predecessor Dagon and places greater emphasis on the madness and dreaming system. A fun bite-sized read for genre enthusiasts.

Want to know more? Read the review of the Necronomicon series.

The Warlock of Firetop Mountain

An ageless classic, the first volume of the Fighting Fantasy series. The story takes place in the caves beneath Firetop Mountain, where the player searches for the treasure of a powerful warlock.

Beowulf: Beast Slayer

A story inspired by the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem, another unique crossover from the pen of Jonathan Green, is an adaptation of the famous legend of Beowulf. It contains riddles, ciphers, combat, and 500 game sections.

What else you shouldn't miss

Besides the Mytago titles that sell the most, you'll find plenty of other great pieces in our shop. They didn't make the TOP 10, but they are definitely worth your attention. The fantasy Ve službách krále Reginalda: Do hradu goblinů is one of the first Czech gamebooks to get a new edition after 30 years. Norik is a great fantasy adventure full of humor and irony from the famous board game creator Vlaada Chvátil.

Drakobijec by Jiří Mikulík is a beautifully crafted, chunky gamebook from the Gabriel Knox series. The sci-fi gamebook VIRUS has a very unconventional design, unfolding entirely on one large sheet of paper. Finally, I would recommend the gamebook Vítek, křupadlo a kostižrout, which younger readers will appreciate, not just for its top-notch production and beautiful illustrations.

authors: Jiří Reiter and Karel Krajča