Games to Books: A Curated Look at Novelizations and Expanded Universes

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Full stories about the main characters head? Or maybe a book entirely devoted to Arthas or Illidan from the universe Warcraft?

Sometimes the game plot becomes so tangled that extra resources become the salvation. Or, for example, developers release a book focused on a hero, which can be a great complement. In this collection, several books are gathered that enrich the events of beloved games.

cup

Learning there are Cuphead books is already a surprise. Besides The Art of Cuphead, which is packed with details about bosses, characters, and locations, there are two comics and several joke collections translated into Russian about Cuphead and Mug and their friends Golden Cup. The titles include Cuphead Chaos at the Carnival and Cuphead Mountain Troubles, authored by Ron Bates, a well known humorist.

Do you want to read about Cup and Mug?

resident evil

If the earlier game in the lineup feels complex, Resident Evil strengthens the story and atmosphere. Capcom enlisted American science fiction and horror writer Stephanie Danelle Perry who penned seven novels tied to the series, exploring both pre-game events and behind the scenes details for players:

  • Point of Reference covers the Bravo team and Rebecca Chambers.
  • Conspiracy Corporation Umbrella chronicles the events inside the Umbrella mansion in the Arklay mountains.
  • Caliban Cove follows Rebecca Chambers and Barry Burton as they pursue proof of Umbrella’s involvement in the trouble.
  • City of the Dead shows how Umbrella influence turns Raccoon City into a walking dead city.
  • Underworld chronicles an infiltration into a new Umbrella laboratory.
  • Nemesis continues the events of Resident Evil III with new Umbrella schemes.
  • Code Veronica picks up three months after Raccoon City’s destruction.

Assassin’s Creed

Assassin’s Creed features a large catalog of art books and more than fifteen official short stories and novels. They explore uncharted moments in the game world and expand the narrative. One notable entry is Assassin’s Creed The Official Movie Novelization by Christie Golden, a lyrical retelling of the 2016 film adaptation.

Most novels by Oliver Bowden align with game timelines:

  • Renaissance centers on the events of Assassin’s Creed II, excluding Desmond’s travels.
  • Brotherhood follows Ezio Auditore as he seeks to topple the Borgias.
  • Revelations has Ezio seeking Altair’s library to end the Templar threat.
  • The Secret Crusade follows Altair as he confronts sworn enemies to understand the Creed.
  • Forsaken fills gaps around Assassin’s Creed III and expands the fourth entry of the series.
  • Black Flag explores Edward’s youth and ascent in the fourth game.
  • Unity tells the story of Eliza de la Serre shaping the Grand Master role in the Templar order.
  • Underworld follows a killer named Henry Greene years before Syndicate.
  • Origins Desert Oath covers Bayek’s rise and the birth of the creed.

Matthew Kirby delivered a new thread with Assassin’s Creed Last Descendants, including Last Descendants Tomb of the Khan and Fate of the Gods, expanding the world with fresh stories.

World of Warcraft

Christie Golden continued to shape the Warcraft universe with more novels that delve into the motives of key characters like Sylvanas Windrunner in Sylvanas, Jaina Proudmoore in Jaina Proudmoore Tides of War, Arthas in Arthas Rise of the Lich King, and others. Other titles extend the arc after events in Legion and before Battle for Azeroth, such as Before the Storm.

Other Warcraft titles explore the broader lore and character arcs that fans crave after finishing games, providing a bridge between gameplay and deeper storytelling.

Weapons of War

The Gears of War novels by Karen Traviss center on Marcus Fenix and the Pendulum Wars, delivering a gritty, emotional look at the conflict. The series spans several installments, expanding on backstory and the war’s toll:

  • Aspho Fields follows Marcus Fenix’s early days and entry into the Coalition.
  • Jacinto’s Remnant covers life after the siege of Jacinto.
  • Anvil Gate recalls vivid memories from the Pendulum Wars.
  • Coalition’s End captures the collapse of a major power on Sera and the invasion by the Locust.
  • The Slab follows Marcus Fenix’s life in Jacinto prison.

Recent work by Jason M. Hough includes Ascendance and Bloodlines, which introduce new threats that Kate Diaz and her colleagues confront in a darker era of the story.

dishonored

The dishonored series presents a trilogy set long after the first game. Adam Christopher reveals the events leading to Dishonored, then explores Daud’s actions after the original, and finishes with a look at the broader consequences of the outsider’s death in Hidden Horror.

god of war

Another entry with the same spirit follows God of War 2018. The novel adapts the game’s plot closely, and it adds intimate reflections on the characters’ emotions and motivations.

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Many other game-inspired works exist beyond this list, offering readers a chance to dive deeper into favorite universes.

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Source: VG Times

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