19 Books Like Ready Player One
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline took bibliphiles like you and me on an exhilarating adventure through a virtual reality world filled with nostalgia, gaming, and high-stakes quests.
But what if you’ve already traversed the digital landscapes of the Oasis and yearn for more immersive journeys?
In this blog post, we’ll unveil some books that capture the same sense of wonder, excitement, and escapism as Ready Player One.
From futuristic dystopias to virtual realms teeming with possibility, these reads promise to ignite your imagination and keep you glued to the page.
Let’s go.
Books Like Ready Player One
1. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
“Snow Crash” is a novel set in a future America, where the government has collapsed, and private corporations run cities. The story follows Hiro Protagonist, a hacker and pizza delivery driver for the mafia, who stumbles upon a new drug called Snow Crash that affects users in both the virtual reality world and the real world. The book is known for its analysis of the implications of cyberspace and virtual realities.
Major Similarities: Like “Ready Player One,” “Snow Crash” delves deep into the concept of virtual reality and a digital universe. Both novels feature protagonists who are deeply embedded in a digital world, facing off against powerful enemies. The exploration of digital identities and the impact of virtual worlds on reality are central themes in both books.
2. Armada by Ernest Cline
“Armada” is another novel by Ernest Cline that tells the story of Zack Lightman, a teenager who discovers that the video games he’s been playing are actually a training simulator to prepare him and others to defend Earth against an alien invasion. The novel blends elements of science fiction, video games, and 80s pop culture, much like “Ready Player One.”
Major Similarities: Written by the same author, “Armada” shares a lot with “Ready Player One” in terms of tone, style, and themes. Both books are rich in 80s pop culture references and revolve around video games that have far-reaching implications in the real world.
3. Neuromancer by William Gibson
“Neuromancer” is a cornerstone of the cyberpunk genre, introducing readers to a dystopian future where a washed-up computer hacker named Case is hired for one last job, which brings him up against a powerful artificial intelligence. The novel is celebrated for its complex narrative, richly imagined future, and the concept of “the matrix,” a virtual reality dataspace.
Major Similarities: “Neuromancer” and “Ready Player One” both explore the theme of virtual reality and cyberspace, where characters navigate and manipulate digital worlds. The cyberpunk atmosphere and the focus on a hacker protagonist draw parallels between the two novels.
4. Warcross by Marie Lu
“Warcross” is a young adult novel that centers around Emika Chen, a bounty hunter who tracks down players who bet on the game illegally. She hacks into the International Warcross Championships, but instead of getting arrested, she gets recruited to spy within the game. The book explores themes of virtual reality, gaming, and the thin line between the digital and real worlds.
Major Similarities: Both “Warcross” and “Ready Player One” are set in a world where a virtual reality game becomes central to society. The protagonists in both novels find themselves embroiled in a high-stakes game that blurs the boundaries between the virtual and the real.
5. Reamde by Neal Stephenson
“Reamde” is a thriller that revolves around a multiplayer online game and its creator, Richard Forthrast. The plot kicks off with a virus named Reamde that affects the game, leading to a series of events that span the globe and involve Russian mobsters, terrorists, and spies. The novel combines elements of technology, adventure, and global intrigue.
Major Similarities: Similar to “Ready Player One,” “Reamde” features a massively multiplayer online game as a central element of the plot. Both novels explore the impact of virtual worlds on real-life actions and the crossover between gaming and reality.
6. The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
“The Eye of Minds” is the first book in The Mortality Doctrine series, set in a world of hyper-realistic virtual reality. The story follows Michael, a gamer who is recruited by the government to track down a rogue player in the VirtNet who has been causing players’ deaths in the real world. The novel explores themes of identity, technology, and the consequences of living in a digital world.
Major Similarities: Like “Ready Player One,” this novel is set in a future where virtual reality gaming is prevalent. The protagonist’s journey through the virtual world to solve a mystery parallels the quest in “Ready Player One,” with both touching on the dangers and ethical dilemmas of immersive digital environments.
7. Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
“Altered Carbon” is set in a future where human consciousness can be transferred to different bodies, and follows Takeshi Kovacs, a former soldier turned private investigator, who is hired to solve a rich man’s suicide. The novel is a hard-boiled detective story wrapped in sci-fi elements, exploring themes of identity, morality, and society.
Major Similarities: While not centered around virtual reality, “Altered Carbon” shares with “Ready Player One” a deep exploration of futuristic technology’s impact on society and individual identity. Both novels feature complex narratives that question the nature of reality and humanity in a technologically advanced world.
8. Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
“Ready Player Two” continues the story of Wade Watts after his victory in the contest left by James Halliday. The discovery of a new technology that can make the OASIS even more immersive sets off a new race against time and new adversaries. The sequel delves deeper into the consequences of virtual reality technology and the quest for meaning in a digital age.
Major Similarities: As the direct sequel to “Ready Player One,” “Ready Player Two” naturally shares many similarities with its predecessor, including its setting, characters, and themes. The continued exploration of virtual reality and 80s pop culture, along with the blend of adventure and technology, links the two novels closely.
9. Feed by M.T. Anderson
“Feed” is set in a future where people have the internet directly connected to their brains via a feed. The story follows Titus, a teenager who meets Violet, a girl who resists the feed’s influence. The novel explores themes of consumerism, technology, and the loss of individuality, providing a critical look at the direction in which society is headed.
Major Similarities: “Feed” and “Ready Player One” both examine the implications of technology on society and personal identity, albeit through different lenses. While “Ready Player One” focuses on virtual reality, “Feed” explores a world where the internet and digital consumption are directly wired into the human brain, questioning the impact of constant connectivity.
10. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
“Cryptonomicon” spans two timelines, World War II and the present day, weaving together stories related to codebreaking, cryptography, and the creation of a data haven. The novel is known for its detailed exploration of cryptography, mathematics, and the history of computing, alongside a compelling narrative that blends historical fiction with speculative technology.
Major Similarities: Though “Cryptonomicon” is more grounded in reality than “Ready Player One,” both novels share a deep engagement with technology and its effects on society. The intricate plotlines involving digital worlds, cryptography, and the quest for hidden knowledge connect them in thematic and narrative complexity.
11. The Circle by Dave Eggers
“The Circle” is a novel about a young woman named Mae Holland who starts working for The Circle, a powerful technology company that seeks to consolidate all online interactions into a single platform. As Mae rises through the ranks, she becomes entangled in the company’s agenda of total transparency and surveillance. The book critiques the power of social media and the loss of privacy in the digital age.
Major Similarities: Both “The Circle” and “Ready Player One” explore the consequences of technology on society, focusing on themes of privacy, digital identity, and the power dynamics within tech companies. While “The Circle” deals with social media and surveillance, “Ready Player One” delves into virtual reality, both cautioning against the monopolization of digital worlds.
12. Off to Be the Wizard by Scott Meyer
“Off to Be the Wizard” is a light-hearted take on the trope of discovering that life is a computer simulation. The protagonist, Martin Banks, finds a file that allows him to manipulate reality, leading him to time-travel to medieval England and pose as a wizard. The book combines humor, fantasy, and science fiction elements to explore themes of power, technology, and the nature of reality.
Major Similarities: Like “Ready Player One,” “Off to Be the Wizard” plays with the idea of digital realities and the impact of technology on life, albeit in a more comedic vein. Both novels feature protagonists who exploit digital worlds for adventure, facing challenges and moral questions along the way.
13. Daemon by Daniel Suarez
“Daemon” is a techno-thriller that begins with the death of a famous game designer, who unleashes a daemon, a program that operates in the background of our reality, triggering a series of events that could lead to a new societal order. The novel explores the dark side of technology and its potential to manipulate society and the economy.
Major Similarities: Both “Daemon” and “Ready Player One” share a fascination with how digital and real worlds intersect and influence each other. The concept of a game affecting real life, the role of technology in society, and the battle against a powerful digital entity are key themes in both stories.
14. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
In “An Absolutely Remarkable Thing,” April May stumbles upon a mysterious giant sculpture in New York City, which turns out to be one of many appearing around the world. Her video about it goes viral, thrusting her into fame and a complex web of social media influence, political intrigue, and the quest to understand the purpose of these sculptures. The novel examines the impact of fame and social media on personal identity and society.
Major Similarities: Like “Ready Player One,” Green’s novel explores themes of fame and the digital age, though with a focus on social media rather than virtual reality. Both books delve into how technology shapes human connections, identities, and societal values.
15. Lexicon by Max Barry
“Lexicon” is a novel about an exclusive school where students are taught to manipulate people using the power of words. The story follows Emily Ruff, a streetwise girl recruited into the school, and Wil Parke, who is immune to the school’s linguistic manipulations. The narrative explores themes of power, persuasion, and the ethics of influence.
Major Similarities: Both “Lexicon” and “Ready Player One” feature unique conceptualizations of power and control, albeit through different mechanisms—linguistic in “Lexicon” and digital in “Ready Player One.” Each novel presents a world where specialized knowledge grants significant power over others and society at large.
16. The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks
“The Player of Games” is part of the Culture series, focusing on Jernau Morat Gurgeh, a master game player in a post-scarcity society who is bored with his success. He is recruited by the Culture’s Contact division to compete in a complex game that is integral to the social and political order of another civilization. The book explores themes of competition, societal norms, and the nature of games.
Major Similarities: This novel and “Ready Player One” both center around games as more than mere entertainment but as pivotal elements of society and individual identity. Both feature protagonists who are exceptionally skilled gamers navigating complex and high-stakes environments.
17. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
“The Maze Runner” begins with Thomas waking up in a lift, remembering nothing but his name. He emerges into a world surrounded by a giant maze, inhabited by other boys who have formed a society while trying to find a way out. The novel is a thrilling adventure and mystery, exploring themes of memory, survival, and the human spirit.
Major Similarities: While “The Maze Runner” is not set in a virtual world like “Ready Player One,” both novels feature young protagonists thrust into mysterious and dangerous environments where they must solve puzzles and confront challenges to survive. The element of a game-like trial against formidable odds is a central theme in both.
18. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
“Ender’s Game” tells the story of Ender Wiggin, a young boy recruited into an interstellar war against aliens, trained through increasingly complex military simulations and games. The novel explores the ethics of war, the pressures of leadership, and the innocence of childhood within the framework of a militarized competition.
Major Similarities: Both “Ender’s Game” and “Ready Player One” involve young protagonists navigating through a competitive environment designed to test their skills to the extreme. The use of games as a means to prepare for larger conflicts and the exploration of virtual environments for real-world applications link the two narratives.
19. Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
In “Heir Apparent,” Giannine Bellisario finds herself trapped inside a virtual reality game where she must successfully navigate through to the end or face potentially fatal consequences. The book combines humor, adventure, and the exploration of gaming as Giannine attempts to beat the game by learning from her mistakes.
Major Similarities: Like “Ready Player One,” “Heir Apparent” features a protagonist immersed in a virtual reality game with real-life stakes. Both stories explore themes of perseverance, the blending of digital and physical realities, and the personal growth that comes from facing challenges within virtual worlds.
