Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks on Kickstarter: Set 2 Brings Classic Adventures Back

You're standing at a crossroads. Turn left, and you might encounter a dragon. Turn right, and you could fall into a trap. Roll the dice. Your fate is in your hands—literally. This is Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks on Kickstarter, and it's back with five more adventures that put you in control of the story. Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson created these legendary solo adventure books over forty years ago, and they've lost none of their magic. With $188,000+ pledged from 2,600+ passionate backers, it's clear that people still crave adventures where every choice matters and every page turn could be your last.

The Magic That Started It All

Picture this: 1982, and two British game designers have a wild idea. What if you could play a tabletop RPG alone? What if a book could be your dungeon master, your dice could determine your destiny, and your choices could lead to triumph or disaster? Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson made it happen. Fighting Fantasy exploded across the world, selling millions of copies and creating a generation of adventurers who carried their quests in their backpacks.

Then they disappeared from American shelves for over twenty years. But now? Steve Jackson Games is bringing them home, partnering with Sir Ian Livingstone himself to deliver these classics the way they deserve to be experienced.

Five Deadly Quests Await

Island of the Lizard King

They say the Lizard King cannot be killed. They say his prisoners never escape. They say only a fool would sail to that cursed island. Guess what? You're that fool. Ian Livingstone's 224-page death trap dares you to do the impossible: infiltrate the island, outsmart the guards, and somehow defeat an immortal tyrant. Your chances of survival? Not great. Your chance of glory? Absolutely worth it.

Scorpion Swamp

Nobody's ever mapped Scorpion Swamp. The few who've tried didn't come back to tell the tale. But you're not "nobody," are you? In Steve Jackson's spell-slinging adventure, you'll pick a magical patron, gather allies (or betray them), and cast spells to survive the nightmares lurking in 224 pages of murky terror. Ancient knowledge awaits. So does a very unpleasant death.

Caverns of the Snow Witch

Six dead Northmen. Frozen solid. That's how it starts. It gets worse. Much worse. A sorceress in the Icefinger Mountains is plotting to freeze the entire world, and you're the only one standing between her and eternal winter. Ian Livingstone's 224-page frost nightmare will chill you to the bone—literally.

House of Hell

Your car breaks down in the rain. The only shelter nearby? An old mansion on a hill. What could go wrong? Everything. Steve Jackson's 240-page horror show isn't your typical fantasy adventure—it's pure nightmare fuel. For the first time in America under its original title (forget that watered-down "House of Hades" version), this is terror at its finest. Your sanity won't survive. Will you?

Creature of Havoc

You wake up. No memories. Monstrous claws for hands. An insatiable hunger. Are you the villain or the victim? The monster or the hero? Steve Jackson's 384-page epic twists everything you know about Fighting Fantasy. This isn't about saving the world—it's about discovering who—or what—you really are.

These Aren't Your Dusty Old Paperbacks

The Art That Sparked a Generation

Remember those black-and-white illustrations that made your imagination explode? They're back. The original artwork—some of it unseen for over a decade—looks incredible on these larger pages. Every monster, every treasure, every doomed choice rendered in glorious detail.

Actually Readable This Time

The old American editions were tiny mass-market paperbacks. Great for hiding in your desk at school, terrible for actually reading without squinting. These new versions give you larger print, better formatting, and enough space to actually enjoy the art without a magnifying glass.

Shelf Candy

Unified design. Numbered spines. Stunning covers. And that slipcase? First campaign backers couldn't stop raving about it. "Absolutely wonderful." "Worth every penny." "Sturdier than expected." This set's slipcase features gorgeous Qatlas artwork that'll make your bookshelf the envy of every fantasy fan who visits.

How Fighting Fantasy Works

Your Choices, Your Doom (Or Glory)

You read. You choose. You roll dice. Sometimes you find treasure. Sometimes you find death. Often, you find both in rapid succession. Each decision branches into new possibilities. Trust the merchant or rob him? Fight the troll or sneak past? Drink the mysterious potion or pour it out? Wrong choice? Turn to page 87 and meet your gruesome end. Right choice? Turn to page 142 and face an even worse challenge.

Jump In Anywhere

Every book stands alone. No need to read them in order, no overarching plot to track. Pick the adventure that calls to you and dive in. Fail spectacularly? Try again with different choices. Succeed? Pick another book and test your luck somewhere new.

Bonus Loot Unlocked

The campaign crushed its stretch goals, unlocking custom PDF Adventure Sheets for every book. These aren't just generic character sheets—each one's tailored to its adventure. Scorpion Swamp tracks your Spell Gems. House of Hell measures your mounting FEAR. Creature of Havoc gets two different versions because, well, it's complicated. Print as many as you want for all your doomed attempts at victory.

What It'll Cost You

The Full Set ($60)

All five books. Five deadly adventures. Substantial savings over buying them individually later. This is the smart play.

The Slipcase Set ($80)

The full set plus a gorgeous slipcase that'll make your friends jealous. Based on how first campaign backers reacted, this is the move. "Worth every penny," they said. They weren't lying.

Single Book ($15) and the House of Hades Nostalgia Trip

Want to test the waters? Grab one book for $15. But if you're feeling nostalgic for that 1984 American printing, there's a House of Hades variant that swaps out every reference to "Hell" for "Hades." Limited. No reprints planned. Get it or forever wonder what could have been.

Why Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks on Kickstarter Matter

Here's the truth: video games are amazing. Streaming shows are convenient. But there's something magical about holding a book, rolling physical dice, and knowing that your next choice could lead anywhere. No loading screens. No wifi required. No updates. Just you, the story, and the consequences of your decisions.

Fighting Fantasy understood this in 1982. It understands it now. The Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks on Kickstarter campaign isn't trying to replace modern entertainment—it's offering something better. Something tangible. Something you control completely.

These books work on buses, in waiting rooms, on camping trips, during power outages. They work when you're twelve and when you're forty. They work alone or with friends taking turns making terrible decisions. They just work.

So yeah, you could wait and buy them at retail later. Or you could back this campaign, get the slipcase everyone's raving about, and join 2,600+ other adventurers who already know the score.

The dice are in your hands. What's your move?

Campaign Update # 1 — December 19, 2025

The Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks on Kickstarter campaign is closing in on the finish line, with US$ 207,714 pledged of a US$ 25,000 goal, supported by 2,911 backers, and 12 days remaining.

In the latest update, the team explained their intentionally restrained approach to stretch goals, prioritizing production quality and delivery reliability over feature overload. So far, five stretch goals have been unlocked, adding exclusive digital Adventure Sheets for several classic titles, including one variant designed to remain digital-only.

The update also teased a different kind of stretch goal tied to a hidden cypher used in one of the books. If the campaign reaches US$ 210,000, a custom decoder tool will be adapted for public use on the Fighting Fantasy website, giving fans a new way to engage with one of the series’ more cryptic adventures.

Campaign Update # 2 — December 26, 2025

The Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks on Kickstarter campaign has reached US$ 226,630 pledged of a US$ 25,000 goal, with 3,176 backers and 5 days remaining.

In the latest update, the team confirmed the decoder stretch goal is unlocked and shared a behind-the-scenes look at how the printed dice rolls inside the books are carefully balanced. Rather than pure randomness, the dice results are deliberately tuned to stay fair, avoid patterns, and preserve the classic Fighting Fantasy experience—so players can enjoy fully playable adventures even without physical dice.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks on Kickstarter

Will Fighting Fantasy books be available as digital files?

No, these books will only be offered in physical formats, designed to be held in your hand, flipped through, and played.

Where can I get Set 1 (Books 1-5)?

Limited quantities of both individual books and the Set 1 slipcase will be available in the pledge manager after the campaign closes.

What size are the books?

Each book measures approximately 5.0625" x 7.8125" (UK B-format), which is larger than the original American mass-market paperbacks for better readability.

Can I buy just one book to try it out?

Yes! Individual book pledges start at $15, with the option to add more books in the pledge manager.

What makes House of Hell different from House of Hades?

House of Hell is the original UK title, now available in the US for the first time. The House of Hades variant edition is a collectible alternate version matching the 1984 American printing with text changes.