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30 Suspenseful Books Like Ready Player One

books like ready player one

July 8, 2022 //  by Kellie Tanner

Is your student a science fiction and virtual reality fan? If so, they probably loved the phenomenal science fiction book Ready Player One, written by Ernest Cline. Although this book is a difficult one to beat, we have diligently searched the internet and found 30 of the best book recommendations that are very similar to Ready Player One.

We feel certain that these books will keep you entertained, and they will not disappoint. Add the following to your list of books to read after reading Ready Player One!

1. Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller 

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This is the first book in the Last Reality series, and it is action-filled. Simon, the main character, is drawn into a game called Otherworld, which is an alternate reality video game. Simon soon learns that this game is not exactly what he thought it was.

Learn more: Amazon

2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

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This popular book is very similar to Ernest Cline's Ready Player One. Ender, the main character, is one of several military child geniuses that believes he is playing a computer-simulated war game. In reality, he is fighting aliens that are attempting to destroy humans. Will Ender help save human life?

Learn more: Amazon

3. Warcross by Marie Lu 

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Warcross is more than just a virtual game; for many people, it is their way of life. For Emika Chen, a teenage hacker, her job is cyber bounty hunting. She is responsible for hunting down illegal players. Soon, she becomes an overnight sensation, and the creator of Warcross makes her a deal she cannot refuse. Emika finds herself in a dangerous situation. Can she overcome it?

Learn more: Amazon

4. Flex by Ferrett Steinmetz

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Paul Tsabo's daughter has been burned horribly, and he will do anything to save her. Therefore, he turns to a forbidden magic, Flex, for help. He enters the Flex dealing world trying to save his beautiful daughter. This world is extremely dangerous and the punishment, if caught, is severe. Will he save his daughter or die trying?

Learn more: Amazon

5. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson 

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In this captivating book, Hiro works as a pizza delivery boy for his uncle's pizza restaurant, but he also portrays a warrior prince in the computer game he plays. However, his world quickly changes when one of his fellow hackers is brain-damaged after looking at a computer image that contains a dangerous virus.

Learn more: Amazon

6.  The Running Man by Stephen King 

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The Running Man is a novel that takes place in 2025 in the U.S.A. The economy is horrific and violence is increasing immensely. Ben Richards loses his job, and his daughter becomes very sick and needs medication. Therefore, he becomes a contestant in a violent game show that is run by the government.

Learn more: Amazon

7. Feed by Matthew Tobin Anderson

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Titus and his friends were enjoying a trip to the moon, and a hacker made their feeds malfunction. They were sent to the hospital with nothing in their heads for many days. Violet, an intelligent teenage girl decides to fight the feed as well as its ability to affect human thoughts and desires.

Learn more: Amazon

8. Otherlife by Jason Segel and Kristen Miller

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Closely compared to Ready Player One, this is a must-read book. Kat is paralyzed in an accident and becomes an experimental patient for a virtual reality beta test therapy. Simon begins investigating the program and discovers a conspiracy. Will Simon and Kat solve the mystery or suffer?

Learn more: Amazon

9. Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

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Ready Player One included greed, completion, and space, and Nyxia offers more of the same. Emmet and ten other teenagers are chosen by Babel Communications to mine Nyxia on the planet of Eden. Will they be able to peacefully mine Nyxia, or will they be killed?

Learn more: Amazon

10. Armada by Ernest Cline

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Ernest Cline's Armada is very similar to his Ready Player One. The story is centered around Zack Lightman. He is a high school senior who is one of the best players of the biggest internet game Armada which is actually a simulation game preparing Earth for an alien invasion. Will Zack be able to help the military save Earth from the aliens?

Learn more: Amazon

11. Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

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This book is similar to Ernest Cline's Ready Player One in that it is a combination of sci-fi and pop culture themes. In this story, an alien wishes to interact with humans, so he hires a successful Hollywood agent to help him. Will they be successful and blend the alternate worlds?

Learn more: Amazon

12. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes

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In this dystopian book, the forces from online games control all entertainment. The four main characters bond together and begin a disturbing journey in this alarming representation of a dystopian society.

Learn more: Amazon

13. Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett

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This is the first book in The Johnny Maxwell trilogy. Johnny is simply playing a game and sets a world record. Then, he gets an interestingly strange message. Is he really playing a game, or is all of this real? Add this to your science fiction list.

Learn more:  Amazon

14. Red Rising by Pierce Brown 

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This science fiction-themed book involves a world that is segregated by colors. Darrow, the main character, is red which is the lower caste. The reds work all day and are controlled by the Gold Class. Ultimately, Darrow has to compete for his life as well as the future of civilization. Will it end badly?

Learn more: Amazon

15. Neuromancer by William Gibson

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This book takes a look into the digital future as Case, a data thief, gets caught stealing from Matrix. As a punishment, his central nervous system is damaged. Molly repairs it and saves his life. Are they ready for the journey on which they must embark?

Learn more: Amazon

16. Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan 

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This story is set in a futuristic world. It is about a time when humans can be digitally stored. The life of a human can literally be downloaded and installed into the body of somebody else. When an officer's life is installed into someone else's body, he begins his search to find out who murdered him.

Learn more: Amazon

17. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

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This is another book you will enjoy if you like Ready Player One. Thomas has an erased memory, and he is trapped with other boys who have lost theirs. The only way to escape their capture is to make it through an ever-changing maze that no one has ever exited alive. Will they survive, or will this be their demise?

Learn more: Amazon

18. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

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What if you could not determine reality from a dream? Would you choose to stay in the dream or the real world? Jason Dessen is a professor of physics and finds himself in this situation. What will he do? Enjoy this cool science fiction story.

Learn more: Amazon

19. Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

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This book is set in a time when everything on Earth is considered to be a product that can be purchased. The story focuses on Jack, a pharmaceutical pirate, who makes medicine available to people who can't afford them. Unfortunately, her most recent drug is having horrific effects on people.

Learn more: Amazon

20. Gnomon by Nick Harkaway

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If you are a Ready Player One fan, you will enjoy reading this book about a democracy that is taken too far. In Gnomon, the people are under constant surveillance by the government. Everything is recorded! After a murder, Mielikki Neith must determine what went wrong.

Learn more: Amazon

21. Infomocracy by Malka Older

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This science fiction story is about the future world where the entire world is a micro-democracy government. Every 10 years, 100,000 people get to participate in voting for the government. Is there a sabotage incident about to take place?

Learn more: Amazon

22. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

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This book is about six lives and one extraordinary adventure around the globe. This adventure starts in the 19th century and ends in the post-apocalyptic future. This is an unforgettable story!

Learn more: Amazon

23. Oasis by Dima Zales

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Oasis is part of a post-apocalyptic series that revolves around Oasis, the only land on Earth conducive to living. Theo begins to hear a voice in his head from Phoe. Is she a figment of his imagination, or does she truly exist?

Learn more: Amazon

24. Divergent by Veronica Roth

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Taking place in the dystopian world, Beatrice is faced with a choice in this book. It is the kind of choice where she will lose regardless of what she chooses. She must choose where to spend the rest of her life. She finds herself in a new world now known as Tris. She will receive a valuable lesson as she learns who her true friends are.

Learn more: Amazon

25. Crypt Quest/Space Battles: A Play-Your-Way Adventure by Gabe Soria

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In an abandoned mall, there is an arcade. You will receive a token to play one of two 80's era arcade games. Once you put the token in the game, the choices you make will determine whether you continue to advance in the game, or you die!

Learn more: Amazon

26. Genius: The Game by Leopoldo Gout

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In this book, three teenagers join a diverse group of 200 geniuses from all over the world. They are supposed to participate in a game that was created by one of India’s brightest young minds. If you enjoyed the competition and hunt in Ready Player One, you will love this book as well!

Learn more: Amazon

27. The Automatic Detective by A. Lee Martinex 

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The Automatic Detective is a story about a detective named Mack Megatron who just so happens to be a robot. He desires to become a citizen and prove himself to others. This book focuses on world-building and government conspiracies.

Learn more: Amazon

28. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid 

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This book focuses on Tom Raines, the 14-year-old main character. It is set in a world that is under attack by aliens, and the planet’s resources have ended. The world is losing this battle, and Tom is its last chance for human life to be saved. He has excellent reality gaming skills which help him control the battle drones in this humans-versus-alien race.

Learn more: Amazon

29. Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O’Malley

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This book is considered a comic book, and it focuses on Scott Pilgrim, a 23-year-old boy living in Canada. He meets an awesome girl, Ramona Flowers, and to win her heart, he will be faced with fighting off seven of her ex-boyfriends. Will this end up being detrimental to him?

Learn more: Amazon

30. He, She, and It by Marge Piercy

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This book allows you to explore characters as they shift between the physical and virtual worlds. Shira is a cyber socialization expert who loses her son in a custody battle. She begins working on the cyborg Yod, and to save her hometown, You will be the defender.

Learn more: Amazon

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