Top 10 Fantasy Novels Perfect for RPG Adaptations

For enthusiasts eager to embrace a fantastical realm fully, novels offer an unmatched experience. However, if you crave the opportunity to steer the narrative direction of your adventure, then diving into the world of RPGs is your best bet—ideal for an immersive exploration of enchanting stories and settings.

Numerous beloved fantasy series have found their way into successful game adaptations (even those based on underwhelming tales like A Song of Ice and Fire).Yet, a plethora of literary works are ripe for transformation into compelling RPGs, waiting for a skilled developer to breathe life into them.

Creating quality video game adaptations can be challenging. Nevertheless, with dedication and fidelity to the source material, any of these literary works could serve as a fantastic foundation for a choice-driven gaming experience.

This list focuses specifically on novels that have not yet been adapted into video game RPGs. While tabletop RPGs are fantastic, they are not the focus here.

10 Nine Princes In Amber

Conquer the Multiverse of Real and Unreal

What’s more thrilling than world domination? How about conquering an entire multiverse? Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber chronicles Corwin’s journey as he vies against his brothers for the throne of Amber. In this narrative, Amber and Chaos stand as the only two “true” worlds within a sprawling multiverse, where all else—including our Earth—is merely an illusion or shadow.

The varied tonal shifts in Nine Princes in Amber and the subsequent Amber novels create fertile ground for a unique RPG. With mind-bending themes and an array of magical and combative encounters, game designers could weave a rich tapestry of conflicts and power plays as players vie for the throne.

9 Circle of Magic Series

Crafting Magic From the Mundane

Today, nearly every RPG features some form of crafting system. While I believe Minecraft popularized this trend, crafting has long been a staple in gaming. However, it need not be a tedious side task; many games utilize engaging crafting systems that enhance gameplay.

Tamora Pierce’s Circle of Magic series shines as a brilliant backdrop for a magic-centered RPG that emphasizes crafting. Unlike typical magic practitioners, Pierce’s protagonists harness their abilities through everyday tools and crafts—like weaving and metalworking—making their magic distinct. However, the RPG could explore a wide range of talents beyond the characters’ crafts, incorporating disciplines such as painting and woodworking, structured as varying “classes” to bolster replayability.

8 A Wizard of Earthsea

The Windwaker, But You’re a Wizard

A Wizard of Earthsea is undeniably iconic, epitomizing the coming-of-age theme in fantasy literature. Set against Le Guin’s exquisitely crafted world of Earthsea, this narrative brims with potential for sailing adventures reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

However, creating an Earthsea game could present challenges. Le Guin’s stories are adventurous but often eschew violence. Any adaptation that leans heavily into combat would clash with her artistic vision, which often emphasizes nonviolent, interpersonal, or mystical resolutions instead. Nevertheless, the success of tranquil RPGs like Stardew Valley illustrates that there is a market for games that explore storytelling without violence.

7 Martin the Warrior

One Mouse’s Quest for Revenge

While Harry Potter might be the quintessential “childhood book series”for many, for me, it will always be Brian Jacques’s Redwall novels, which tell heroic tales of mice, moles, and otters fighting for peace.

Among the various installments in the series, Martin the Warrior particularly stands out due to its protagonist’s episodic quest. As Martin seeks allies to defeat the tyrant Badrang, he embarks on diverse adventures, ultimately culminating in a climactic showdown against the villainous stoat.

This narrative structure lends itself impeccably to an RPG, allowing players to navigate Martin’s escapades and explore alternative endings, especially given the book’s unforgettable climax—a thrilling yet poignant battle sequence.

6 The Illearth War

A Tragic Drama of Good and Evil

Thomas Covenant is undoubtedly one of the most controversial protagonists in fantasy literature—an unlikable anti-hero who engages in reprehensible actions while consistently resisting adventure. Although he is cured of leprosy upon entering the magical Land, he remains hesitant about his newfound fortune.

Despite Covenant’s grim demeanor, the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant are deeply engaging, and the second volume, The Illearth War, shines as an RPG adaptation candidate due to its epic, expansive narrative. Unlike the first book, it contains less focus on Covenant’s misery and offers a compelling, albeit less dire, conflict with Lord Foul.

The element of hope woven into The Illearth War positions it as ideal material for an RPG, exploring the weighty decisions made during war while players navigate a branching narrative filled with heart-wrenching choices and the pursuit of redemption.

5 The Dresden Files Series

Investigating Supernatural Mysteries

Moving towards a more grounded setting, we find Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files—an urban fantasy series that intricately blends noir storytelling with fantastical elements. Although any book from the series could fit an RPG format, the fast-paced action and compelling mysteries prevalent throughout the series are particularly enticing.

A game-based on the Dresden universe could mimic the engaging formula of Disco Elysium (albeit without the heavy emotional toll).A core gameplay loop revolving around investigation, conflict, and discovery could harmonize perfectly with Dresden’s witty and sardonic nature. Such a game would carve its niche within the fantasy genre, presenting a refreshing alternative to the medieval aesthetics typically associated with fantasy RPGs.

4 The Gods of Pegana

Inventive and Imaginative Pantheon

The oldest entry on our list is one of the most unconventional works. Lord Dunsany’s The Gods of Pegana offers an imaginative survey of a pantheon of invented deities. Characters like Yoharneth-Lahai, the God of Little Dreams and Fancies, exhibit a legacy echoed in the writings of Lovecraft and subsequent fantasists, contributing to the genre’s rich evolution.

Instead of following a linear narrative, The Gods of Pegana resembles an inventive scripture, presenting fertile ground for an RPG that can be shaped dynamically. The essence of Dunsany’s lore can inspire a world as intricately crafted as the lore found within The Elder Scrolls, offering a mix of tradition and innovation for players to explore.

3 The Name of the Wind

World Teeming With Magic and Mystery

While the fantasy genre eagerly anticipates the release of The Winds of Winter, many fans, including myself, are equally keen for Patrick Rothfuss’s next work, The Doors of Stone. Instead of fixating on the delay, let’s ponder the immense potential for an RPG set in Temerant.

Rothfuss’s magic system bifurcates between “magic as a tangible force”and “magic as an enigma.”This duality would fit seamlessly within an RPG framework, allowing players to experience both the logic of magic and its more mysterious aspects. Among the many locations in the series, Tarbean and the University offer immersive environments enriched with adventure and wonder, enabling players to delve into the enigmatic elements of Rothfuss’s world.

2 The Alloy of Law

A Modern Master’s Metals of Magic

Brandon Sanderson stands as a titan in contemporary fantasy literature, well-known across diverse readerships. Rather than summarizing, let’s delve into why The Alloy of Law is ripe for adaptation.

The most effective RPG adaptations honor the source material while branching into unexplored narratives. By the conclusion of Hero of Ages, the Final Empire is well-established, yet the Wax & Wayne series introduces numerous “known unknowns.”The Roughs, for instance, provide an “old West”frontier backdrop—ideal for a game that could intertwine elements of classic western tropes with Sanderson’s magical allomancy.

1 The Worm Ouroboros

A Strange and Distinct Adventure

My experience with E. R.Eddison’s 1922 work, The Worm Ouroboros, reveals nothing quite like it. This swashbuckling tale follows the Lords of Demonland as they strive to thwart King Gorice XII of Witchland, featuring encounters with eldritch horrors, daunting climbs, and some of literature’s most unique endings.

What sets The Worm Ouroboros apart is its ornate prose, reminiscent of a grand epic. Characters in this tale engage in dialogue unlike any found in modern RPGs, showcasing an engaging boldness rarely seen today. Adapting such a distinct voice into an interactive format would certainly present challenges, but it offers the potential for an unforgettable RPG experience, unlike anything currently available.

Best of all? The Worm Ouroboros is in the public domain. Let indie developers take note!

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