The most popular games books of 2026

Games books help you play better and enjoy more. Chess, cards, board games, tabletop role-playing and video games are all covered, with rules, strategy, guides and histories. They suit those who play to win and those who just want to gather friends round a table. This list shows the ones first published in 2026.

Cover of Play Smart Summer Sharp Activities Grade 1-2 Stay Sharp All Summer Long with These Fun Activities

Play Smart Summer Sharp Activities Grade 1-2 Stay Sharp All Summer Long with These Fun Activities

Gakken

Published 2026

160 pages

Cover of Would You Rather Snag the Most Steals Or Block the Most Shots? Questions about Pro Basketball

Would You Rather Snag the Most Steals Or Block the Most Shots? Questions about Pro Basketball

Matt Chandler

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Would You Rather Get a Hat Trick or Stop a Penalty Shot?

Would You Rather Get a Hat Trick or Stop a Penalty Shot?

Matt Chandler

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Would You Rather Rush for a First Down Or Get a Third-Down Sack? Questions about Pro Football

Would You Rather Rush for a First Down Or Get a Third-Down Sack? Questions about Pro Football

Matt Chandler

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Designing Serious Games

Designing Serious Games

John Michael, Magy Seif El-Nasr, Elin Carstensdottir

Published 2026

370 pages

Cover of Super Cuties

Super Cuties

Rosie Bay

Published 2026

64 pages

Cover of Undersea Explorer Activity Pack

Undersea Explorer Activity Pack

Weldon Owen

Published 2026

96 pages

Cover of Backpack Explorer

Backpack Explorer

Editors of Storey Publishing

Published 2026

48 pages

Cover of Why Do Liquids Slip and Slide? A Book about the States of Matter

Why Do Liquids Slip and Slide? A Book about the States of Matter

Madeline J. Hayes

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors

Paul Davies

Published 2026

176 pages

Cover of Timman's Studies My Collected Endgame Studies and Their Origins

Timman's Studies My Collected Endgame Studies and Their Origins

Jan Timman

Published 2026

464 pages

Cover of Next Level Making Games That Make Themselves

Next Level Making Games That Make Themselves

Michael Cook

Published 2026

288 pages

Cover of Whose Tricky Tracks Are Those?

Whose Tricky Tracks Are Those?

Christianne Jones

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Whose Squishy Poop Is That?

Whose Squishy Poop Is That?

Christianne Jones

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Whose Furry Butt Is That?

Whose Furry Butt Is That?

Christianne Jones

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Whose Fluffy Baby Is That?

Whose Fluffy Baby Is That?

Christianne Jones

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of King Pong How Atari Bounced Across Markets to Make Millions

King Pong How Atari Bounced Across Markets to Make Millions

Raiford Guins

Published 2026

224 pages

Cover of Why? Animals Brilliant Answers to Baffling Questions

Why? Animals Brilliant Answers to Baffling Questions

DK

Published 2026

144 pages

Cover of Alan Turing's Puzzle Machine

Alan Turing's Puzzle Machine

Emily Stead, Lucy Doncaster

Published 2026

96 pages

Cover of Alan Turing's Puzzle Machine

Alan Turing's Puzzle Machine

Emily Stead, Lucy Doncaster

Published 2026

96 pages

Cover of Bounce Balls, Walls, and Bodies in Games and Play

Bounce Balls, Walls, and Bodies in Games and Play

Carlin Wing

Published 2026

360 pages

Cover of Book Club Hosting Set

Book Club Hosting Set

Insight Editions

Published 2026

184 pages

Cover of Game AI Uncovered

Game AI Uncovered

Published 2026

280 pages

Cover of Game AI Uncovered

Game AI Uncovered

Published 2026

280 pages

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