Gamers Book Club // 01
Book recommendations for developers and gamers 📚
Welcome to Gamers Book Club, where I share a book recommendation each month as a substack note. Every few months, I collect those suggestions into a single post like this one, so you can check all in one go.
This first roundup features titles from January to April 2025. These books explore the people, stories, and ideas behind the games we play. I hope they bring you insights, inspiration or maybe even a creative push. Shall we start?
Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Game Industry
by Jason Schreier
This book explores the harsh realities of game development, using insider stories from games like BioShock, Epic Mickey, and Dead Space to expose the instability behind studio closures, layoffs, and crunch culture. It offers a crucial look at the human cost of the gaming industry's growth and the problems that often go unseen by players.
It also dives into how individuals and studios try to rebuild after a fall, sometimes starting over entirely, other times pivoting to something new. It’s not just about what went wrong, but how people kept going.
Jason is also the author of other great titles like Blood, Sweat, and Pixels and Play Nice, both highly recommended.
How Games Move Us: Emotion by Design
by Katherine Isbister
The book offers a nuanced, systematic look at how games foster empathy and create strong, positive emotional experiences for players. It breaks down the elements that make games such a unique form of entertainment, from character interactions to body movement, and shows how emotional design can impact the player experience.
Isbister draws on examples from Little Big Planet, indie gems like Journey, and thought-provoking works like Brenda Romero’s Train to illustrate how design choices affect emotional and social responses. There’s also a list of references at the end, perfect if you’re hungry for more material on emotional design or player psychology.
Masters of Doom
by David Kushner
This book tells the true story of John Carmack and John Romero, the visionary minds behind DOOM and Quake. It dives into how they built their company, the fascinating people involved in that journey, and the highs and lows they faced along the way.
It’s a gripping look at how two brilliant but wildly different personalities came together to revolutionize not just gaming but pop culture as a whole, only to eventually clash and go their separate ways. Part biography, part tech history, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in game development or the origins of modern gaming. A tale of friendship and betrayal, raw passion and innovation, commerce and artistry, and all the conflicts that come with creativity and ambition.
If you need a dose of inspiration or a reminder of why you love this complicated industry, go give it a read.
It also inspired this post about the UX of DOOM —check it out if you haven’t yet!
Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom from Nintendo's Legendary CEO
by Satoru Iwata
This heartfelt collection offers a glimpse into the mind of the visionary behind Nintendo’s golden years. Through Iwata’s own words and reflections, the book shares his thoughts on leadership, creativity, and his mission to create joy through games.
Reading about the development of the Wii, DS, and titles like Kirby and EarthBound was a real treat. Learning about the ideas, risks, and challenges behind these products gave me a new appreciation for their design. What makes this book even more special are the contributions from Shigeru Miyamoto and Shigesato Itoi. Miyamoto shares warm anecdotes about his friendship with Iwata, while Itoi offers touching insights from their long conversations.
If you're into tech, Nintendo, or simply want some inspiration, this is a great choice. A short but thoughtful book that celebrates curiosity and the joy of creativity.
Wanna Learn More?
New Gamers Book Club picks drop at the end of each month over on my Substack Notes, or you can just wait for the next roundup post like this one.
Got a recommendation for me? Share it in the comments. ✨📘✨
Man, now my psyco-pile of books to-read has grown
Lets go! Love the full post of recommendations. Jason Schreier is a legend in the space and I always go back to Ask Iwata for inspiration. Great books, great post!