Steve Jackson Games Tapped As US Fighting Fantasy Publisher

The classic solo adventure gamebooks are returning to the United States after more than 20 years.

In 1982, British game designers Sir Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson introduced Fighting Fantasy, a revolutionary set of solo adventure books that combined nonlinear narratives with dice-rolling tabletop RPG mechanics. Now, this fantastical, multi-million-selling book series returns to the United States thanks to an historic 50-book publishing collaboration with Steve Jackson Games. The first books in the series will be available in early 2025.

Fighting Fantasy debuted with The Warlock of Firetop Mountain in 1982. Since then, over 20 million copies of the exciting series have been sold worldwide. In Fighting Fantasy, players embark on a solo adventure where their decisions – and dice rolls – determine the outcome of the story. This combination of nonlinear narrative and classic tabletop action sets the series apart from other gamebook franchises.

Fighting Fantasy co-creators Sir Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson (UK) stated how thrilled they were to sign a US publishing agreement for Fighting Fantasy with Steve Jackson Games. Sir Ian says:

“To have a new publisher in the USA is a special moment in the history of Fighting Fantasy. We have known Steve Jackson (US) for more than 40 years, having distributed Steve Jackson Games in the 1980s when we owned Games Workshop. Steve also wrote three fantastic Fighting Fantasy books which caused a lot of confusion at the time when people didn’t realize there were two Steve Jacksons! We look forward to exciting times ahead in the USA for new and existing Fighting Fantasy fans.”

The first five books - The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, The Citadel of Chaos, The Forest of Doom, City of Thieves, and Deathtrap Dungeon - will be released in early 2025, with an additional five volumes - Island of the Lizard King, Scorpion Swamp, House of Hell, Creature of Havoc, and The Dungeon on Blood Island - later that year.

About Steve Jackson Games: Steve Jackson Games, based in Austin, Texas, has published games, game books, and magazines since 1980. SJ Games has an extensive catalog of hit games, including Munchkin, Zombie Dice, Car Wars, the GURPS roleplaying system, Ogre, The Fantasy Trip, and more. Munchkin, Ogre, and Illuminati also have digital versions on Steam and other platforms, bringing tabletop classics to a new generation of fans.

Advanced Fighting Fantasy: Dark Dungeons - The Board Game

Advanced Fighting Fantasy - Dark Dungeons: The Board Game, by Arion Games, is now funding on Kickstarter. Check out the video below and follow this link to pledge your support.

"YOU are the hero!" with Sir Ian Livingstone

On Monday 7th October 2024, Sir Ian Livingstone, co-creator of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, will be taking part in a webinar with debut author, Iqbal Hussain.

He will be discussing his life, writing process, inspirations, as well as his latest FF adventure, The Dungeon on Blood Island, and Unbound’s new book Magic Realms, a celebration of the iconic artwork in Fighting Fantasy.

The webinar will take place from 7:00-8:00pm BST (GMT+1) and you can reserve your free spot here.

In other FF news, or rather AFF news, the crowdfunding campaign for the Advanced Fighting Fantasy board game Dark Dungeons, launches on Kickstarter on Tuesday 1st October 2024. To find out more and register your interest, click here.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 5 and a return to Forbidden Planet

Last Saturday, Fighting Fantasy Fest 5 took over the University of West London in Ealing for a day dedicated to your favourite gamebook series.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, including the traders who came along, and to all our guests, but especially Guests of Honour artist Iain McCaig and Fighting Fantasy co-creator Sir Ian Livingstone.

There is no other event quite like Fighting Fantasy Fest. After all, where else could you see a Hollywood blockbuster character designer dance a jig while a knight of the realm plays blues harmonica?!?

Sir Ian Livingstone with original Penguin Books commissioning editor Geraldine Cooke, who championed The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

Sir Ian's signing queue went out of the door!

The new 75mm Shape Changer produced by Blue Giant Studios and painted by Paul Cooke of Pandaemonium Miniatures during FFF5.

The authors' talk with Marc Gascoigne, Steve Williams, Paul Mason, and Peter Darvill-Evans.

Deathtrap Dungeon Live! Featuring Sir Ian Livingstone, The Dark Room's John Robertson, and Zagor the Warlock!

The legendary Fighting Fantasy Auction with Guest of Honour Sir Ian Livingstone.

The winners of the charity pub quiz that took place the night before FFF5 - I Love Wheelies!

Sir Ian was inundated with people wanting him to sign his new books, The Dungeon on Blood Island (number 72 in the series if you're counting from the beginning) and the #1 Bestseller Magic Realms: The Art of Fighting Fantasy.

If you were not able to attend FFF5, you have another chance to grab yourself a signed copy of the books at Forbidden Planet, on Saturday 14th September, from 2:00-3:00pm, where Jonathan Green, co-author of Magic Realms, will also be in attendance.