Giving a book to someone who loves games: a story, a mystery or a new world?

The suggestions explained

Una notte da Cana - Fumetto/Gioco

For someone who enjoys following leads and suspecting everyone

Edition language: Italian

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Una Notte da Cana is a well-targeted choice for a reader who loves mysteries and wants to influence how they unfold. The search for Ares provides an easy-to-understand goal; Lucy and Guapo give the gift a more specific identity than a generic “book for animal lovers”. I would choose it above all for someone who likes to linger over clues and possibilities, even when that means going back to explore a different path. Your gift message can highlight that very curiosity without giving away encounters or solutions. This is a book to work your way through by making decisions: its appeal depends on the pleasure of taking an active part as you read.

The trade-off to know

I would not choose it for someone who wants a narrative to read straight through without interruptions. The cross-references require participation and a little attention to what has been discovered. For a fan of traditional comics, their interest in interaction comes first, the protagonist’s charm second.

Lancer - Manuale Base

For someone who enjoys designing science-fiction characters and missions

Edition language: Italian

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Lancer is a sensible gift for someone excited by a squad’s possibilities as well as the appearance of its machines. The rulebook lets you imagine a pilot and translate that idea into equipment choices and the mech’s role. I would suggest it to a reader who takes notes, compares options and already talks about their ideas for a campaign. It can also be enjoyable to explore as a fictional universe, but the purchase is more targeted if you know the recipient wants to play or run the game. The gift recognises a specific interest: building situations in which preparation leads to decisions at the table.

The trade-off to know

This is a set of rules to use, not a story that unfolds on its own. Someone looking for science fiction to read without thinking about character sheets and combat might appreciate a work of fiction more. Also check that the recipient does not already own the rulebook in Italian or another language.

GRAFOMANTE - CON DELITTO

For someone who wants to solve a case through drawing as well

Edition language: Italian

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Grafomante: Con Delitto puts the reader in charge of an investigation at the Hotel Depardieu in which what is drawn helps change who the culprit is. I would consider it as a gift for someone who loves puzzles but also enjoys using a pencil, creating a composite sketch and turning observations into an accusation. The action it calls for is more personal than simply choosing between two sections.

The trade-off to know

Drawing is part of the experience, so I would not choose it for someone who only wants to read a story that is already set. Before giving it as a gift, consider whether that activity would intrigue the recipient or make them feel uncomfortable.

HOPE & GLORY - I QUATTRO DELLA VENTUROSA - LIBROGAME

For someone who wants to take command of a lunar mission

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I Quattro della Venturosa puts the reader in the role of Captain Milo Fortebraccio during an international mission on the Moon, in the setting of Hope & Glory. I would suggest it to someone who enjoys adventure science fiction with a clear goal and decisions involving a crew. The gift offers a role to play as well as a world to imagine.

The trade-off to know

The tension centres on dangers, betrayals and drastic choices. This is neither a popular science book about space exploration nor a rulebook for organising a roleplaying campaign with friends.

I Racconti del Cantastorie: I Sentieri del Bosco Stregato

For someone who might turn the gift into a shared reading experience

Edition language: Italian

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I Sentieri del Bosco Stregato combines a gamebook and a roleplaying game in a forest inspired by folklore. According to the listing, it supports one to five participants and includes eleven missions, characters, maps and character sheets. I would choose it for someone who enjoys telling stories and making decisions with others, while also giving them the option of starting on their own.

The trade-off to know

It is still an experience with rules, missions and characters to manage. If the recipient mainly wants a story to read without preparation, the demands of that active element might outweigh its fairy-tale appeal.

SANGUE INCHIOSTRO VOL.1 - IL BARBARO GRIGIO

For someone looking for a gritty adventure to play through firsthand

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Il Barbaro Grigio opens the Sangue Inchiostro series and ties its adventure to memory, old age and a protagonist who bears the marks of time. I would consider it for a reader who enjoys gritty fantasy and wants to influence the story. The listing also specifies that a d12 is required: adding one to the gift, if they do not have one, serves a practical purpose.

The trade-off to know

Its cynical tone and descriptions of violence mean it is not a general recommendation for everyone who likes fantasy. A twelve-sided die is also needed: check what the recipient owns rather than assuming they have the necessary equipment.

A clue to their tastes is worth more than a genre label

Saying “they like fantasy” leaves too many avenues open. Are they drawn to discovering places, character development or tactical decisions? In the first case, look for the promise of exploration; in the second, a story with a clear entry point; in the third, tools they can try out. There is no need to turn gift-giving into an interrogation: just listen to how they describe a recent read or game.

Also pay attention to what they give up on. One person may love a fictional world but leave books packed with names and timelines unfinished. Another may skip the narrative and go straight to the rules. The page count tells you how much space a book takes up, but not how much mental energy it demands: using a table and reading a page of dialogue are different kinds of work.

A mystery to read is also a mystery to play through

Una Notte da Cana puts Lucy on the trail of Ares, the missing dog. The reader follows cross-references and leads rather than simply moving from left to right. The book makes sense for someone who enjoys forming a theory, testing it and discovering that a choice has left useful information down a different path. There is no need to present it as a traditional novel: changing course is part of the gift.

A good question to ask beforehand is whether the recipient enjoys revisiting a passage. If they see every rereading as mere repetition, I would choose a comic with a linear narrative. If, on the other hand, they notice details and are happy to try a second route, the interactive format gives them another reason to reopen the book. Finding the solution matters, but how the reader wants to get there matters just as much.

A core rulebook gives them a project

Lancer combines pilots, mech configuration and grid-based combat. The book is an interesting option for someone who wants to turn reading into preparation: comparing possibilities, imagining a mission, building a squad. Give it because you recognise this inclination, not just because there is a robot on the cover. Enthusiasm for an aesthetic does not imply a desire to handle the rules that go with it.

Before choosing a rulebook, distinguish between a player and an organiser. A player might want to explore their own character in greater depth; someone running the campaign also looks for material for adversaries and situations. If the person already has a group committed to another system, a new rulebook may remain an interesting read without immediately becoming a game session. That is a valid outcome, as long as it is the kind of gift you intend to give.

Present your choice without spoiling the discovery

A good inscription explains the personal connection: “for the cases you solve before the protagonists do” or “for the next crew you dream up”. There is no need to reveal the twist or describe the solution to a puzzle. If you want to add an invitation to play together, offer it as a possibility: a book given as a gift should not become an obligation to organise a game night.

On a practical level, check the language, full title and type of book. A supplement may require a rulebook they do not have, while a book bearing a famous title might be an art book or an adaptation. If any of this information is missing, narrow your choice to a clearly described product. Even the most elegant format cannot make up for a mismatch with the content the reader expects.