gamebook

Gamebooks are books that blend prose narrative with interactive choices. In most formats, readers decide how the story unfolds by selecting a number and turning to the indicated page. This creates a branching structure with multiple paths and endings, determined by the reader’s decisions and, in some cases, the outcomes of random elements such as dice rolls.

Typical mechanics include tracking attributes like skill, stamina, or luck, managing an inventory, and resolving events with dice or simple rules. Some passages require solving puzzles, negotiating combat, or acquiring items that unlock new routes. Depending on the design, readers may be able to save progress or simply restart after a dead end.

Gamebooks emerged in their modern form in the late 20th century with several influential series. Notable examples include Choose Your Own Adventure, which began in 1979, Fighting Fantasy (1982), and Lone Wolf (1984). These works standardized page-based branching, often using section numbers or direct page references, and popularized interactive storytelling for diverse audiences. Other formats include solo adventures, dungeon-crawl books, and cooperative or competitive storylines.

With the rise of digital media, gamebooks have extended into apps, interactive fiction platforms, and online collections. Modern titles may incorporate multimedia elements, such as illustrations, sound, or online progress tracking, while some authors publish print-on-demand editions. The genre has influenced related forms, including interactive fiction and RPG-style novels, and continues to attract readers seeking non-linear storytelling experiences.