40 years of Trial of Champions

When Deathtrap Dungeon became a publishing phenomenon, it cannot be over-exaggerated how high anticipation was for a sequel when Sir Ian Livingstone's Trial of Champions was published just two years later in 1986.

Number 21 in the original Puffin series, Trial of Champions wasn’t a direct sequel, but is set a year after the hero of Deathtrap Dungeon has beaten Baron Sukumvit’s deadly labyrinth for the first time.

All the familiar Deathtrap Dungeon tropes are there to be enjoyed, including a host of deadly monster encounters and lethal traps, as well as the other competitors who are encountered as the hero takes ‘The Walk’ through the dungeon - not to mention the massive cash prize for anyone who actually makes it through to the other end alive.

However, the story adds an element of sibling rivalry to the tale, with the hero having been taken captive by the Baron’s jealous brother Lord Carnuss and sent to Fang specifically to beat the dungeon and shame Sukumvit.

Author and creator of the Illmoor Chronicles, David Lee Stone, cites Trial of Champions as being one of his favourite gamebooks:

“House of Hell or Trial of Champions: both are absolutely brilliant fun, and classic examples of two authors completely focused on creating an atmosphere for the games they’re constructing. I couldn’t choose between them.”

Trial of Champions was the only time Brian Williams illustrated an FF gamebook, providing the striking cover art as well as the internal black and white illustrations (although he also illustrated The Riddling Reaver, published the same year). His clean line art and representations of the human form were exquisite.

Sadly, Williams passed away unexpectedly at his home in October 2010.

While not currently in print, adventurers can still tackle Baron Sukumvit's updated dungeon via Tin Man Games' Fighting Fantasy Classsics app.

Of course, Trial of Champions received its own sequel, of sorts, when The Dungeon on Blood Island was published in 2024, to coincide with Fighting Fantasy Fest 5.

Sir Ian Livingstone has written another new gamebook, this time to coincide with Fighting Fantasy Fest 6.

Tomb of the Golden Skull will launch at the event, on Saturday 5th September 2026, so make sure you've reserved your place at FFF6.

Get ready for a high-octane, AR adaptation of Sir Ian Livingstone's Freeway Fighter

The first entry in a new wave of adaptations from the legendary Fighting Fantasy series will bring Sir Ian Livingstone's Freeway Fighter to a new audience through a high‑octane augmented reality experience.

Peasoup, the pioneer behind interactive augmented reality Smart Books, has announced a partnership with Sir Ian to transform the iconic gamebooks into its proprietary format. Their debut collaboration, Freeway Fighter, is scheduled for release in 2027.

Peasoup’s Smart Book system is far more than a traditional book or gamebook. It is a full‑colour, physical reading experience enhanced by cutting‑edge technology. Using a dedicated augmented reality app, the Smark Book system animates the printed page, allowing readers not just to imagine the post‑apocalyptic car chases of Freeway Fighter, but to see and interact with them digitally as they progress through the story.

Founded by veteran writer and videogame designer Søren Jønsson, Peasoup was created to inject excitement back into reading. To date, the company has produced four Smart Books featuring original adventures across fantasy realms, pirate voyages, and daring escapades.

Extending this technology to the Fighting Fantasy series is a natural evolution, and one that promises to redefine how readers engage with classic FF gamebooks.

Sir Ian Livingstone commented: “The Fighting Fantasy series was designed to place the reader at the heart of the story, letting them take control of where the story goes. Choice is exciting and empowering, and partnering with Peasoup for these new adaptations takes the experience to the next level, where choices and actions in an augmented reality setting further affect the outcomes of the story. This high-octane, AR adaptation of Freeway Fighter will take the adventure to new audiences.”

Freeway Fighter will be available in 2027, and the next Smart Book Fighting Fantasy adaptation will be announced soon. Retailers looking to find out more should contact Rory Kelly, Zatu's Head of Distribution, at rory.kelly@zatu.co.uk or call 01603 937 846.#

Return to Firetop Mountain with Fighting Fantasy Classics!

Zagor lives! Dare YOU return to Firetop Mountain?

Ten years have passed since the evil Warlock of Firetop Mountain was defeated. His treasure was plundered. His reign of terror was ended. His name became a warning whispered across Allansia.

But dark sorcery does not die so easily.

Zagor has returned from the dead, more powerful, more twisted, and more determined than ever to wreak revenge upon Allansia. Now, some brave adventurer must journey once more to the most infamous dungeon in Fighting Fantasy history, brave the wild lands beyond, enter the mountain, and face the resurrected Warlock in his lair.

That brave adventurer is YOU!

Return to Firetop Mountain is Ian Livingstone’s thrilling sequel to the original Fighting Fantasy classic, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. First published as the landmark 50th book in the original series, this adventure takes you back to where the legend began, but don’t expect old memories to save you. The mountain has changed. Its horrors have multiplied. Its master is waiting.

Before you even reach Firetop Mountain, you must travel through the perilous lands of northern Allansia, seeking aid, clues, weapons, and magical knowledge. Along the way you may encounter the wizard Yaztromo, cross dangerous rivers, wander through deadly forests, and meet a cast of strange allies, treacherous rogues, and monstrous foes.

Once inside the mountain, every choice could bring you closer to victory, or to a sudden and grisly end. Goblins, trolls, undead warriors, mutant beasts, vampires, traps, riddles, and dark magic stand between you and your final confrontation with Zagor himself.

This is not just a return. This is revenge.

FEATURES

• Face the resurrected Zagor, one of the greatest villains in Fighting Fantasy canon.
• Includes the classic cover art by Les Edwards.
• Features original interior illustrations by the late, great Martin McKenna.
• Built-in mapping system tracks your progress across playthroughs, helping you explore the deadly routes to and through Firetop Mountain.
• Unlimited bookmarks let you retry difficult sections as often as you like.
• Automated Adventure Sheet handles your stats, inventory, combat, and key decisions, so you can focus on surviving the mountain.

Will you defeat Zagor once and for all? Or will Firetop Mountain claim another victim?

Return to Firetop Mountain... again!

Arriving in just a few weeks' time on Steam, courtesy of Tin Man Games, is Ian Livingstone's Return to Firetop Mountain.

Years have passed since Zagor the Warlock fell, but the shadows never truly left Firetop Mountain. Evil stirs once more within its depths, and the labyrinth you thought you knew has changed. New dangers, twisted passages, and deadly secrets await those brave (or foolish) enough to enter again.

Tin Man Games' digital edition will feature the original striking cover art by Les Edwards, alongside atmospheric interior illustrations by the late, great Martin McKenna, bringing every dark corridor and monstrous encounter vividly to life.

So sharpen your sword, steady your nerves, and get ready to take that first step into the darkness once more.

The mountain is waiting...

Fighting Fantasy is coming to Nintendo Switch

Fighting Fantasy is coming to Nintendo Switch in February 2026!

Tin Man Games have announced that Fighting Fantasy Classics Volume 1 is launching on Switch on 5th February 2026, bringing four of the most famous gamebooks by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone to Nintendo’s hybrid console.

The adventures included in Volume 1 are The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, The Citadel of Chaos, The Forest of Doom, and Starship Traveller.

Tin Man Games' digital gamebook adaptations include:

• Automatic stat and inventory tracking.
• Unlimited bookmarks.
• A map showing where you’ve already died.
• A gallery of original artwork.
• A soundtrack to make your bad decisions feel more dramatic.

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.

40 years of Appointment with F.E.A.R.

Another Fighting Fantasy gamebook celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025 is Steve Jackson's superhero smackdown Appointment with F.E.A.R.

Back in 1985, Steve Jackson had not written a Titan-set FF adventure since The Citadel of Chaos and his fifth title in the series continued this trend. Appointment with F.E.A.R. (FF17) took as its inspiration the comic books Jackson had so loved as a child and involved more problem-solving as opposed to the item collection ‘shopping list’ approach of some gamebooks.

The action takes place in the suspiciously familiar sounding Titan City with the hero assuming the role of Jean Lafayette and his alter ego, the crime-fighting Silver Crusader.

The Silver Crusader does battle with such colourful characters as the Scarlet Prankster, the Serpent, and the Alchemists, as he struggles to discover the time and location of the next meeting of F.E.A.R. – the Federation of Euro-American Rebels – an evil organisation led by Vladimir Utoshski, a.k.a. the Titanium Cyborg.

It is the Titanium Cyborg who is the subject of the book’s cover art by legendary comic book cover artist Brian Bolland, while internal illustrations were provided by Declan Considine, who made his artwork look like panels from the pages of a comic book.

The Macro Brain, a super-villain from Appointment with F.E.A.R.,
by Declan Considine.

The adventure begins with the reader choosing one of four superpowers for the Silver Crusader from Super Strength, Psi-Powers, Enhanced Technological Skill (or ETS), and Energy Blast.

Appointment with F.E.A.R. also made use of a new HERO POINTS attribute. These points are awarded for every villain the Silver Crusader captures and every potential disaster he manages to avert. (Although it doesn’t necessarily affect the outcome of the game, it does allow players to compare performances from one read-through to the next.) Rather like Batman, the Silver Crusader is not permitted to kill his enemies, and any such deaths that may occur result in the loss of precious HERO POINTS. In one-on-one combat, when an enemy’s STAMINA score drops to 2 STAMINA points, the enemy simply surrenders.

It could be argued that Appointment with F.E.A.R. is only a science fiction adventure in as much as Spider-Man or Superman comics are science fiction stories. It is, in truth, a comic book superhero gamebook; nothing more, nothing less.

To date, Appointment with F.E.A.R. is the only non-fantasy adventure published by Scholastic, and the gamebook also exists now as a video game from Tin Man Games.

Will we ever see an Appointmentwith F.E.A.R. comic one day? We can but hope.

If you enjoy watching playthroughs of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, GoneHollowMedia have recorded their own attempt at tackling the adventure.

And if you want to learn more about the history of your favourite gamebooks, pick up Jonathan Green's YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks today.

Advanced Fighting Fantasy now on Foundry Virtual Tabletop

The Advanced Fighting Fantasy Ruleset and Core Module are now available to buy on Foundry Virtual Tabletop.

Foundry Virtual Tabletop is software that provides an innovative online role-playing experience. The software supports Windows, Mac, and Linux and allows you to self-host a game server that players connect to for free directly through a web browser. And now you can play your favourite gamebook-inspired RPG on Foundry VTT as well!

The Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2nd Edition Core Rules contain everything you need to play, including: 

• Full rules for Hero creation
• Comprehensive but fast game rules
• More than 160 Spells and magical Powers
• 2 Full Adventures with brand new maps: Agbar’s Retreat and Wishing Well
• 12 sample archetypes + 5 pregen heros for the Wishing Well introductory adventure
• Monsters, Dungeons and Adventure creation

Advanced Fighting Fantasy is the perfect RPG for those completely new to gaming and veterans alike, and will provide many hours of roleplaying fun!

To find out more and purchase the Core Module, click this link.

Some screenshots of AFF on Foundry VTT.

Crypt of the Sorcerer - coming soon!

Coming soon to the Fighting Fantasy Classics library, from Tin Man Games, is Sir Ian Livingstone's legendary FF adventure, Crypt of the Sorcerer.

An ancient evil is stirring!

The long-dead sorcerer Razaak has been re-awoken and is poised to fulfil his promise of death and tyranny. The Forces of Chaos are at large across Allansia and it seems that they are all pitted against YOU! For it is up to you to battle against the odds - to find the only weapon to which Razaak is vulnerable, to arm yourself with protections against his awesome powers, and to face him in his lair, the Crypt of the Sorcerer!

Descend into one of the most punishing dungeons in Allansia with Crypt of the Sorcerer, a legendary Fighting Fantasy adventure by series co-creator Ian Livingstone!

First published in 1987, Crypt of the Sorcerer has earned its reputation as one of the most challenging and deadly gamebooks in the entire Fighting Fantasy series. With its dark, oppressive atmosphere, brutal encounters, and iconic villains, this book is not for the faint of heart.

You must take up arms against the resurrected sorcerer Razaak – a being of pure evil whose return threatens to plunge the world into eternal darkness. Armed with only your courage, your sword, and a handful of enchanted relics, can you survive the sorcerer’s devious traps, ruthless minions, and the final confrontation with death itself?

Whether you're a seasoned veteran eager to face one of the toughest trials Fighting Fantasy has to offer, or a brave newcomer ready to test your mettle, Crypt of the Sorcerer delivers a merciless and unforgettable experience.

FEATURES

• Les Edwards' original front cover from the 1987 Puffin edition!
• Amazing original black and white line artwork by John Sibbick.
• A new difficulty setting to make things a little easier if needed and a special ‘Free Read’ mode to explore the book with no restrictions.
• Built-in mapping system tracks your progress across playthroughs – perfect for planning your next run (or brutal demise).
• Unlimited bookmarks let you retry difficult sections as often as you like.
• Automated Adventure Sheet that handles all your stats, inventory, and key decisions – so you can focus on surviving!

Fighting Fantasy Classics - Eye of the Dragon

Sir Ian Livingstone's 14th Fighting Fanasy gamebook, Eye of the Dragon, is now available as part of the Fighting Fantasy Classics app from Tin Man Games.

In a tavern in Fang, a mysterious stranger offers YOU the chance to find the Golden Dragon, perhaps the most valuable treasure in all of Allansia. But it is hidden in a labyrinth beneath Darkwood Forest and is guarded by the most violent creatures and deadly traps.

To begin your quest YOU must drink a life-threatening potion, and to succeed, you must find maps, clues, artifacts, magic items, jewels and an imprisoned dwarf.

Step into a world of peril and legend with Eye of the Dragon - a must-have for any Fighting Fantasy fan! Originally published in 2005 during the celebrated Wizard Books revival, Eye of the Dragon marked the triumphant return of the series after a brief hiatus. This gripping dungeon-crawling adventure is a true standout, penned by Fighting Fantasy co-creator Ian Livingstone himself.

Based on a mini-adventure first introduced in his iconic book Dicing with Dragons, Eye of the Dragon delivers everything fans love: deadly traps, fearsome monsters, and unexpected twists. You'll encounter familiar faces from across the Fighting Fantasy universe - some returning from earlier gamebooks, others with ties to legendary figures from the broader fantasy world. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or a newcomer to the series, this book is a thrilling journey you won't want to miss.

FEATURES

• Original artwork by Martin McKenna. Make the gamebook as easy or hard as you like and even turn on a special 'Free Read' mode to play the book like an old-school cheater!
• Map feature makes it easy to keep track of everywhere you have explored during current and previous playthroughs.
• Unlimited Bookmarks allow you to revisit difficult sections as many times as desired.
• Automated Adventure Sheet that keeps track of your stats, inventory and knowledge gained during your journey.

To download Eye of the Dragon and start playing today, click this link.