Happy Christmas from Fighting Fantasy

There have been a number of exciting developments in the worlds of Fighting Fantasy over the course of 2025.

The year started in January with the news that Marc Gascoigne had been appointed as the new FF Brand Manager and in February Steve Jackson Games launched a crowdfunding campaign to publish the first five of a projected 50 titles in the United States. (The Kickstarter for the second five titles is live now.)

Over the course of the year, more titles were added to Tin Man Games' Fighting Fantasy Classics library, including Starship Traveller, Eye of the Dragon, Crypt of the Sorcerer, and Scorpion Swamp.

In 2025, fans got to see Ulisses Spiele's Fighting Fantasy Quest: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain for the first time, it was announced that Sound Realms would be turning Fighting Fantasy gamebooks into audio adventures, Advanced Fighting Fantasy was released on Foundry Virtual Tabletop, and new editions of some classic FF titles were published in Finland.

One of the highlights of the year was the release of the new collector's hardback of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, featuring new cover art by the extremely talented Karl Kopinski.

Another classic FF gamebook got a makeover when, with Steve Jackson's permission, Morten Gottschalck wrote some additional content for Starship Traveller, so that future editions will feature the classic 'Turn to 400', while recently Blue Giant Studios' Fighting Fantasy Heroes appeared on MyMiniFactory.

And, of course, in October, sadly we lost FF artist Pete Knifton.

Pete Knifton, 1958-2025

So, what does 2026 have in store for the world's preimere gamebook series?

Will there be a new adventure published next year? You'll have to wait and see. Will there be another Fighting Fantasy Fest? Yes, in September*. Will there be more ways to enjoy the worlds of Fighting Fantasy than ever before? We can only hope.

What we can tell you for sure is that the Kickstarter to produce the next five FF books in the new Steve Jackson Games' editions concludes at New Year. So, don't delay and pledge your support today!

* Look out for more news in the New Year.

Choose Wisely in the Scorpion Swamp!

The newest adventure available from Tin Man Games, as part of the Fighting Fantasy Classics library, is... Scorpion Swamp!

Sharpen your swords, steady your nerve, and maybe pack a spare pair of socks, because Scorpion Swamp has officially arrived as the latest DLC gamebook for Fighting Fantasy Classics!

A new edition of Scorpion Swamp - featuring brand new artwork by Tazio Bettin - is also on the horizon. It is coming as part of the second tranche of FF titles going from Steve Jackson Games in the States. You can back the Kickstarter here.

Scorpion Swamp Revisited

Currently funding on Kickstarter is Fighting Fantasy - Solo Adventure Gamebooks - Set 2 from Steve Jackson Games.

The classic adventures that will be published through this Kickstarter are Creature of Havoc, House of Hell, Caverns of the Snow Witch, Scorpion Swamp, and Island of the Lizard King.

All of these adventures will feature the original cover art and internal illustrations, apart from Scorpion Swamp.

It is not always possible to acquire the rights to reuse the original art from a gamebook, and this proved to be the case with Scorpion Swamp. As a result, another artist has been commissioned to produce all-new artwork for the book, and that artist is Tazio Bettin.

Fans of Fighting Fantasy will already know that Tazio illustrated Steve Jackson's 40th anniversary FF adventure, Secrets of Salamonis, and he has now brought his clean line and deeply shadowed realistic style of a veritable classic of the series.

Giant.

Master of Wolves.

Swamp Orcs.

As well as the internal illustrations, Tazio has also reimagined the Pool Beast for the gamebook's cover.

 

There is still plenty of time to jump on board and join the Kickstarter and secure yourself a copy of the new edition of Scorpion Swamp, featuring Tazio Bettin's incredible artwork.

Starship Traveller - Turn to 400!

When it was first published back in 1983, Steve Jackson's Starship Traveller was notable for two reasons. (1) It was the Fighting Fantasy series' first foray into science fiction, and (2) it was the first FF gamebook not to have 400 sections.

But now, Danish gamebook author Morten Gottschalck has extended the adventure, with the full permission and approval of Steve Jackson and the FF team, so that it has 400 sections.

There is currently a crowdfunding campaign running on Kickstarter to publish this revised edition in  Danish, but it would seem likely that, if it funds, when Steve Jackson Games come to publish Starship Traveller in the US again, there could be an English language edition of the extended adventure as well.

If you would like to support the Kickstarter, follow this link. And to support the current Steve Jackson Games Fighting Fantasy Kickstarter campaign, click this link.

Fighting Fantasy - Solo Adventure Gamebooks - Set 2

The Steve Jackson Games' Kickstarter for the second set of the new US editions of the Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks is now live!

The Fighting Fantasy series features epic fantasy adventures in which YOU are the Hero! In each book, your character’s life depends a bit on luck... but mostly on the decisions YOU make. Will you triumph... or meet some terrible fate?

Steve Jackson Games – helmed by the American game designer Steve Jackson (no relation) – has continued to work closely with Sir Ian Livingstone to deliver a spellbinding Fighting Fantasy experience for fans in the United States. Sir Ian sums up the excitement we all share as we work together across the pond:

It is worth noting that the new Steve Jackson Games' editions of the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks are more than just reprints - they are in an updated reader-friendly format, but still feature the original artwork*, and are available in a smart slipcase featuring Qatlas's map of Caverns of the Snow Witch, which is included within the set. The other titles are Creature of Havoc, House of Hell, Scorpion Swamp**, and Island of the Lizard King.

So don't delay and pledge your support today!

For those who may be nostalgic for the original U.S. printing of House of Hell, there is the House of Hades Variant Edition!

* Where possible.

** Featuring new cover art and internal illustrations by Tazio Bettin.

Warehouse Delivery

Exciting news from Steve Jackson Games in America... they have recently taken delivery of the new US editions of the Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks.

Watch this space for more news soon!

Steve Jackson Games' Kickstarter is into the final 24 hours!

The Fighting Fantasy - Solo Adventure Gamebooks - Back In Print! Kickstarter is now into its final 24 hours and is closing in on the $300,000 mark!

Don't forget, the slipcase edition is only going to be available through this Kickstarter.

The Warlock of Firetop Mountain that comes as part of this set will now feature a classic piece of Martin McKenna art. (For more about this, check out the latest Kickstarter update.)

New Kickstarter reward announced!

The Fighting Fantasy - Solo Adventure Gamebooks - Back In Print! Kickstarter has passed the frankly astonishing $225,000 mark, which means that a new Pledge Level has been announced.

For an $80 pledge, you will receive the five-book collection in a beautiful, high-quality slipcase. This slipcase will be adorned with a detailed map by FF cartographer Leo Hartas showcasing northwestern Allansia, and stretches across the three visible sides.

The Fighting Fantasy - Solo Adventure Gamebooks - Back In Print! Kickstarter has just one week left to run, so don't leave it too late to secure your exclusive FF slipcase.

Fighting Fantasy - Solo Adventure Gamebooks - Back in the US!

The Steve Jackson Games' Kickstarter for the new US editions of the Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks is now live!

In 1982, Games Workshop co-founders Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson co-created Fighting Fantasy, a series of solo adventure books that would revolutionize the genre.

Combining gripping narratives with dice rolls and other tabletop RPG mechanics, Fighting Fantasy captivated readers, becoming a worldwide hit. Now this multi-million-selling book series returns to print in the United States for the first time in over two decades.

Steve Jackson Games – helmed by the American game designer Steve Jackson (no relation) – is working closely with Sir Ian Livingstone to deliver an amazing Fighting Fantasy experience to the United States.

Sir Ian’s thoughts on this collaborative effort show the enthusiasm both sides of the pond have for this project:

The Fighting Fantasy books have delighted fans for decades. What makes these versions special?

• The original art! When possible, SJ Games are using the original black-and-white artwork for the interiors – most of which hasn’t been available in over a decade!
• Designed for readability! The original Fighting Fantasy books were smaller mass-market paperbacks. They were perfect to sneak into your lunch bag at school, but these new versions are designed to make leaping into a hero’s life easier than ever, with larger print and enhanced formatting that makes reading a joy.
• Available in the States! No longer do you need to order overseas or via online auction sites.
• Designed as a set! These editions will look great on your shelf, with a unified design, numbered spines, and evocative art. If you’re a longtime fan, these are the versions you wish you had when you were younger! And if you’re new to Fighting Fantasy excitement, these books will be a gateway to worlds beyond imagination.

Rewards include the five-book set (cheaper than the books will cost when they come to retail), and a special retailer pledge.

To find out more, click this link. The Kickstarter will run until ???

Fighting Fantasy returns to Kickstarter soon!

As reported last year, Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks are returning to the United States later this year, courtesy of Steve Jackson Games.

The American Steve Jackson (Scorpion Swamp, Demons of the Deep, Robot Commando) has teamed up with the British Steve Jackson and Sir Ian Livingstone, to bring the premier gamebook series back for US readers. The choices and challenges are the ones you may remember, but each book has been crafted to be friendly to readers old and new, making it as easy as possible to pick up and play.

Sign up now to be the first to begin your adventures when the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign goes live. This campaign will offer five bestselling books – The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, The Citadel of Chaos, The Forest of Doom, City of Thieves, and Deathtrap Dungeon - and will include exclusive options that will only be printed to meet the demands of this campaign.

Whether you've been a fan for years or have never faced the fearsome Bloodbeast before, there's never been a better time to embark on a quest that is part story and part game, in which YOU are the Hero!

Marc Gascoigne Announced as new Fighting Fantasy Brand Manager

LONDON, UK  |  23 JANUARY 2025

Steve Jackson and Sir Ian Livingstone, the co-creators of Fighting Fantasy, have recruited Marc Gascoigne as Brand Manager of the bestselling gamebook series. The classic series of adventure gamebooks, which began in 1982 with The Warlockof Firetop Mountain, continues to thrive with new titles being published by Scholastic UK, together with digital and audio editions, role-playing and board games, miniatures, and a growing range of licensed merchandise.

With more than 20 million books sold in over 30 languages, Fighting Fantasy remains a truly global phenomenon. The series will be returning to US bookstores in mid-2025 with 10 titles being published by Steve Jackson Games Inc (run by the other Steve Jackson in the USA).

Marc will be supporting existing Fighting Fantasy licensees, as well as seeking out appropriate partners for new ventures. Long-time Fighting Fantasy fans will already be familiar with Marc’s work from the legendary sourcebooks Titan—the Fighting Fantasy World and the Fighting Fantasy monster collection Out of the Pit, the gamebook Battleblade Warrior, and two Fighting Fantasy novels. He was also the series’ consultant editor in the 1990s for Puffin Books, before building a career in fantasy fiction as publisher of Games Workshop’s Black Library range of Warhammer novels, and later with his own award winning imprint Angry Robot.

Sir Ian Livingstone said: “We are delighted to have Marc join us to further promote and build Fighting Fantasy worldwide. A respected expert of the genre, he will be an invaluable member of the Fighting Fantasy team. May his STAMINA never fail!” 

Sir Ian Livingstone and Marc Gascoigne at Dragonmeet 2024.

You can read the full press release here.