What book should I buy and read the first ten pages of next?
I'm partially joking about only reading ten pages. I am looking for recommendations if there is anything else that seems obviously missing from my little collection. Thoughts so far:
The Art of Game Design: I've read like 15-20% of this one. Absolutely love it so far. I dont know why I stopped tbh.
Game Balance: The author did a 2016 GDC talk that I loved. Unfortunately the book is so dry and repetitive so far. It's been the toughest one to get through by far even though I really want to learn the contents. I'm probably only 20-30 pages into this one so far :(
A Theory of Fun for Game Design: I read 100% of this one! It's pretty short and a pleasure to read. I also feel like it has the least to really offer. The thesis can be summed up as "Fun is just learning." I have appreciated that perspective and its been useful a few times in game making.
Designing Games: I'm only like 10% through this one. This is the most recent purchase and I'm really anxious to get back to it. It's very well written and just right up my alley. It's definitely the next one I'll finish when I feel I can afford to spend some free time not doing game dev directly.
What else does everyone recommend?
Posted Jun 25, 2026, 6:48 AM UTC