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Top 10 Games You Can Play in Your Head, by Yourself
YOUR MIND IS NOW THE ULTIMATE GAMING ENGINE.
Top 10 Games You Can Play In Your Head, By Yourself, is a collection of visionary author J. Theophrastus Bartholomew's most cherished mind-games, edited and updated by filmmaker and storyteller Sam Gorski and author D.F. Lovett.
No peripherals needed. No controllers. No pens. No dice or boards. Everything you need to experience the forefront of game design is right here between these pages.
What is a mind-game? Great Question!
A mind-game is a game where you control the characters, the world, and every thing in between - a breathing, living story. A story that you can create on your own, and come back to time after time. A story with surprises that you will plant for yourself to find later, and never be the wiser!
What will happen in your game? It's up to you to find out!
Top 10 Games You Can Play In Your Head, By Yourself, is a collection of visionary author J. Theophrastus Bartholomew's most cherished mind-games, edited and updated by filmmaker and storyteller Sam Gorski and author D.F. Lovett.
No peripherals needed. No controllers. No pens. No dice or boards. Everything you need to experience the forefront of game design is right here between these pages.
What is a mind-game? Great Question!
A mind-game is a game where you control the characters, the world, and every thing in between - a breathing, living story. A story that you can create on your own, and come back to time after time. A story with surprises that you will plant for yourself to find later, and never be the wiser!
What will happen in your game? It's up to you to find out!
198 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2019
57 people are currently reading
1156 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 19, 2019
You can laugh it off if you want, but this is genius. Structured daydreaming is how we generate ideas. This is solo brainstorming practice.
June 29, 2019
Checked this out from the library because I thought the title was funny/sad, turns out this book is, like, actually really fun?
January 2, 2020
I listened to Jack Voraces Narration of this little Gem. As a narrator myself, I enjoy hearing others performances & his did not disappoint, though at times I found his American South accents a wee spot over the top, but at the same time... With the subject matter of this book, over the top kind of fits. Voraces has a very unique british lilt that reminds me of Dominc Keating (If you're a trekkie - Malcolm Reed of Enterprise). The American Editors & owners of the audio rights to this book Have a few asides & introduce the book, but Voraces brings it to life.
I wanted to listen to this book because I have a 13 year old son who is not content unless he is playing a game with someone. So I'm hoping he can be a little more content in his own head with some of the ideas in this book. I know I'll be trying some of them out.
The thing that kept recurring to me as I listened was, "Whenever I get around to becoming a writer along with a Narrator, this is a great way to start." In my working with authors, its apparent to me that they are able to seperate their "Shadow Selves" from their normal selves & get multiple perspectives.
I liked the initial excercise of a building in a field that you go in & leave your shadow outside. I haven't delved into any of the other games in particular, aside from my mind wandering to them throughout the listen. The "Building" in my particular field/hill is of course, the ruins of a crashed Federation starship. :)
The wit of "J Theophrastus Bartholomew" is apparent througout, though his initial jumping off points for most of his games is somewhat limited if you ask me.
What I didn't like - I grew up in the 90's & this book is set there, both in assumption about the reader & in assumptions about society, stereotypes & roles. In particular, the idea that if you're going to play "Trucks" a requirement is that you must be a bygamist. Highly cliche & a little disturbing. Also, the overall assumption is that the reader/listener is male, which is probably accurate, but still somewhat limiting.
Overall, I'd rate it 3.5 stars. 4.5 on the narration & 3 on the book itself. Worth the read/Listen? Mostly.
I received a promo copy of this from Jack Voraces, but my opinions are my own.
I wanted to listen to this book because I have a 13 year old son who is not content unless he is playing a game with someone. So I'm hoping he can be a little more content in his own head with some of the ideas in this book. I know I'll be trying some of them out.
The thing that kept recurring to me as I listened was, "Whenever I get around to becoming a writer along with a Narrator, this is a great way to start." In my working with authors, its apparent to me that they are able to seperate their "Shadow Selves" from their normal selves & get multiple perspectives.
I liked the initial excercise of a building in a field that you go in & leave your shadow outside. I haven't delved into any of the other games in particular, aside from my mind wandering to them throughout the listen. The "Building" in my particular field/hill is of course, the ruins of a crashed Federation starship. :)
The wit of "J Theophrastus Bartholomew" is apparent througout, though his initial jumping off points for most of his games is somewhat limited if you ask me.
What I didn't like - I grew up in the 90's & this book is set there, both in assumption about the reader & in assumptions about society, stereotypes & roles. In particular, the idea that if you're going to play "Trucks" a requirement is that you must be a bygamist. Highly cliche & a little disturbing. Also, the overall assumption is that the reader/listener is male, which is probably accurate, but still somewhat limiting.
Overall, I'd rate it 3.5 stars. 4.5 on the narration & 3 on the book itself. Worth the read/Listen? Mostly.
I received a promo copy of this from Jack Voraces, but my opinions are my own.
May 26, 2021
Couldn't finish it. I love the concept and some of the ideas were really fun, but there's something about the writing style that's off-putting in a way I can't quite explain. At first it was funny, but after a while it got old. And then when I got to the game where you play a trucker who secretly has two different families, I just couldn't keep going. Maybe I'll pick it up again later. I might try some of the ideas I learned in the meantime.
August 9, 2019
Both fun and also frequently unintentionally hilarious. I want to meet the original author in person. Choice quotes:
May 29, 2022
Whatever you think this book might be, you're mistaken.
I thought it would be some kind of recreational mnemonics system. Nope. I guess you could call it guided daydreaming, but that is giving it too much credit. I'm not sure who this book is for. If you don't know how to daydream and want to learn, this book won't help you. If you are bored of your own daydreams and want some new inspiration, you are probably better off looking elsewhere. I'm not even sure it is a good idea to encourage people to become Walter Mitty.
The editor/authors, Sam Gorski and D.F. Lovett claim to have found some of these games in pamphlet form at a garage sale. Supposedly these were first published in the late 80s and early 90s by a now-defunct game company. Sam Gorski and D.F. Lovett were able to secure the rights to the games they had found and some additional content from the publisher. Because the original author used a ridiculous pen name, J Theophrastus Bartholomew, he is unable to be found. This seems unlikely. I'm pretty sure the editors are really the authors. That said, they perfectly captured the style and tone of an eighteen-year-old in the late 80s.
This is an enjoyable and amusing book to read. Most of the fun comes from the unintentional hilarity and juxtaposition of the oddly specific and the extremely vague. I'm not sure how seriously to take this book, or if it even wants to be taken seriously. Whether or not you actually plan to play any of the games contained in this book, Top 10 Games You Can Play in Your Head by Yourself, is a uniquely diverting read.
Some choice quotes.
"A simple exercise that even the most foolish children can do."
"One of the many simple tasks required of you throughout this book is the ordinary task of fragmenting your mind to create opposing selves within yourself. This is not as daunting as it may sound at first. You do it every day. If you are an adult who attempts to function as a cog in the blood-soaked machine we call the American dream, consider how you go to swallow your own soul as you daily enter the factory where you go to die, piece by piece, five for every seven days."
From the "Trucks" game.
"How many children do you have? What are your children named? Which child is your favorite? Least favorite? Rank the children in order of preference, including the least positive traits of each child."
"How many cats do you have? You can have as few as four or as many as fifteen. How many dogs do you have? Also, on a scale from 1 to 10, rank their level of ferality."
From the "Your Job" game.
"Middle Management: Look, this isn't a real job, but on paper it looks like one. No one listens to you when you tell them 'Great job!' You can tell everyone is happiest when you sit in your office alone and play games. You work best when there is no work to do."
"Receptionist: You are a great mediator, an incredible lover, and always striving to create order in the center of chaos that we call life."
I thought it would be some kind of recreational mnemonics system. Nope. I guess you could call it guided daydreaming, but that is giving it too much credit. I'm not sure who this book is for. If you don't know how to daydream and want to learn, this book won't help you. If you are bored of your own daydreams and want some new inspiration, you are probably better off looking elsewhere. I'm not even sure it is a good idea to encourage people to become Walter Mitty.
The editor/authors, Sam Gorski and D.F. Lovett claim to have found some of these games in pamphlet form at a garage sale. Supposedly these were first published in the late 80s and early 90s by a now-defunct game company. Sam Gorski and D.F. Lovett were able to secure the rights to the games they had found and some additional content from the publisher. Because the original author used a ridiculous pen name, J Theophrastus Bartholomew, he is unable to be found. This seems unlikely. I'm pretty sure the editors are really the authors. That said, they perfectly captured the style and tone of an eighteen-year-old in the late 80s.
This is an enjoyable and amusing book to read. Most of the fun comes from the unintentional hilarity and juxtaposition of the oddly specific and the extremely vague. I'm not sure how seriously to take this book, or if it even wants to be taken seriously. Whether or not you actually plan to play any of the games contained in this book, Top 10 Games You Can Play in Your Head by Yourself, is a uniquely diverting read.
Some choice quotes.
"A simple exercise that even the most foolish children can do."
"One of the many simple tasks required of you throughout this book is the ordinary task of fragmenting your mind to create opposing selves within yourself. This is not as daunting as it may sound at first. You do it every day. If you are an adult who attempts to function as a cog in the blood-soaked machine we call the American dream, consider how you go to swallow your own soul as you daily enter the factory where you go to die, piece by piece, five for every seven days."
From the "Trucks" game.
"How many children do you have? What are your children named? Which child is your favorite? Least favorite? Rank the children in order of preference, including the least positive traits of each child."
"How many cats do you have? You can have as few as four or as many as fifteen. How many dogs do you have? Also, on a scale from 1 to 10, rank their level of ferality."
From the "Your Job" game.
"Middle Management: Look, this isn't a real job, but on paper it looks like one. No one listens to you when you tell them 'Great job!' You can tell everyone is happiest when you sit in your office alone and play games. You work best when there is no work to do."
"Receptionist: You are a great mediator, an incredible lover, and always striving to create order in the center of chaos that we call life."
February 14, 2020
It purports to be a compendium of games you can play in your head by yourself, and it is certainly that, but it is so much more. Although it appears to be the type of book you might find at an elementary school book fair, the actual subject matter can go to darkly hilarious places. For instance, in describing the premise for his game, "Trucks", J. Theophrastus Bartholomew suggests that when you are imaging yourself as a truck driver, you should start a new family in every town you visit to deliver and pick up goods, because that is the inevitability of a life on the road (paraphrasing). But also since it might be hard to keep track of all the family members, to feel free to reuse names for family members. Ah yes, casually suggesting practicing imaginary bigamy in a children's book! But it's just for fun, so it's totally cool.
This book contains a lot of good ideas for imaginative roleplay. One of the essential ones being the construction of a "shadow self". This shadow self must be capable of exhibiting independent thought and action while simultaneously not holding any of yourself's memories. I find this to be an interesting and challenging thought exercise.
Whether or not you actually plan to play any of the games contained in this book, and especially if you do, Top 10 Games You Can Play in Your Head by Yourself, is a uniquely diverting read.
This book contains a lot of good ideas for imaginative roleplay. One of the essential ones being the construction of a "shadow self". This shadow self must be capable of exhibiting independent thought and action while simultaneously not holding any of yourself's memories. I find this to be an interesting and challenging thought exercise.
Whether or not you actually plan to play any of the games contained in this book, and especially if you do, Top 10 Games You Can Play in Your Head by Yourself, is a uniquely diverting read.
September 9, 2019
This is something really special... I almost can’t rate it because if you are looking for a book about games you can play... uh... in your head by yourself, there’s nowhere else you’ll find it. Lost a star because some of these games are much better written than others.
February 5, 2020
This book challenged me. It's worth taking seriously, and if taken seriously, is a fascinating journey inside your heart and mind. Plus- it's very child respectful.
May 19, 2020
It's like guided meditation but for daydreaming. It's amazing.
August 13, 2020
I'm giving this book an extra star for its creativity and unconventionality, even though I probably enjoyed it at a 3-star level.
I tried, but struggled to understand the rules of the game. When the author first started by talking about playing the role of your own ornery adversary, with the house full of objects and stealing one of them, and then trying to figure out what it was... I kind of got that. But I really couldn't connect that structure gameplay to all the creative fictional narratives that came afterward. If I'm playing Indiana Jones, how do I "play" the bad guys who try to thwart him?
I've never seen a book come about from a situation like this before... finding some newsletter'ey posts at a garage sale, from some random person no one knows who he is, and buying the rights to them and putting them in book form. Who does that!? Kudos to the authors for spotting genius in a dark corner of the world and bringing it to the light.
I tried, but struggled to understand the rules of the game. When the author first started by talking about playing the role of your own ornery adversary, with the house full of objects and stealing one of them, and then trying to figure out what it was... I kind of got that. But I really couldn't connect that structure gameplay to all the creative fictional narratives that came afterward. If I'm playing Indiana Jones, how do I "play" the bad guys who try to thwart him?
I've never seen a book come about from a situation like this before... finding some newsletter'ey posts at a garage sale, from some random person no one knows who he is, and buying the rights to them and putting them in book form. Who does that!? Kudos to the authors for spotting genius in a dark corner of the world and bringing it to the light.
May 18, 2022
It looks just like an RPG manual or a Choose Your Own Adventure book, but this very odd book is about structured daydreaming. I did this sort of thing all the time growing up, but never thought of writing a book about it. I'll still do it sometimes while driving long distance. It shares with AI Dungeon the idea of being up to you to control how the story goes, not having any external way of evaluating progress, setting your own goals to achieve, and having that dreamlike impermanence to everything. It also is connected with the idea of Tulpas, though no one talked about it like that back then.
January 28, 2020
Listened to the audiobook version of this. (Narrator was amazing) It's one of those pick-up/put down books. Funny and cheeky humor, but sometimes can muddle along make you space out (not in the game sense). Still, would recommend it and it's just a great aspect of encouraging people to use their imagination more. :) Also a pretty big fan of Corridor Digital.
Read
July 13, 2020DNF, amusing writing, but I was hoping for something with more interesting game mechanics.
September 4, 2020
Una lectura diferente y con muchas caras. ¿deberías jugar a juegos en tu cabeza, tú solo? me hago rápidamente esa pregunta al empezar a leer estos juegos. Y si le preguntas a J Theophrastus Bartholomew, él te diría un categórico y fanático Sí. Me parece cuestionable toda la teoría detrás de estas experiencias aunque he encontrado el libro muy interesante independientemente. Pienso que se le puede sacar mucho partido no sólo como juego sino como experiencia creativa, storytelling y diseño de juegos.
Da que hablar, no sé en el resto de categorías pero al menos Eco tiene mucho.
Da que hablar, no sé en el resto de categorías pero al menos Eco tiene mucho.
January 4, 2020
a short read with a fair few laughs. not full to the brim, but enough to entertain you, in your head, by yourself.
November 26, 2023
Not sure the point of this. If it's meant to be games then there should be rules or a referee. In which case play a solo ttrpg. Because this seems to be writing prompts without the follow-through to make it an actual game. So write a book instead, I guess.
Perhaps this is a kids book. In which case, we had a thing like this when I was a kid, it was called having an imagination. And this could help a kid spur some thoughts on a long car ride or something.
Perhaps this is a kids book. In which case, we had a thing like this when I was a kid, it was called having an imagination. And this could help a kid spur some thoughts on a long car ride or something.
July 25, 2021
This book will probably only appeal to a narrow selection of people. Fortunately, I'm in that group.
This is written as a guide to ten games to play in your imagination. The games are a little ridiculous. The author/editors nailed the tone and art style of the old Choose Your Own Adventure books. Although this is presented as nonfiction, the narrator is very much a character in the book.
This is written as a guide to ten games to play in your imagination. The games are a little ridiculous. The author/editors nailed the tone and art style of the old Choose Your Own Adventure books. Although this is presented as nonfiction, the narrator is very much a character in the book.
September 1, 2024
Top 10 Games You Can Play in Your Head, by Yourself is a rare and delightful find, akin to stumbling upon a hidden treasure chest in your attic!
Do you remember those halcyon days in the schoolyard, dreaming up fantastical games with your friends, or diving into adventures inspired by your favourite video games, comic books, or TV shows? I never imagined I’d recapture that childhood magic of pretending to be a valiant space captain or a dungeon lord managing unruly minions. Yet, this book has masterfully reignited the spark of imagination I thought was long extinguished.
The backstory of this book is straight out of a whimsical tale. The editors happened upon these games at a yard sale, originally crafted by the mysterious J. Theophrastus Bartholomew. Allegedly, Bartholomew designed thousands of games, but the ten featured here are touted as his finest work. I’d agree, though I haven’t seen any others myself. The real mystery? Bartholomew himself is nowhere to be found. We know he’s from Minnesota and was active in the 1990s, but whether he’s still alive, still creating, or simply enjoying a life of intrigue is anyone’s guess.
The book’s charm lies in its themes, which seem to reflect your own quirks and eccentricities. It offers a fascinating glimpse into personal values and biases. We are truly ourselves when we are alone, and each game I played — especially those involving characters diametrically at odds with my own beliefs— brought out feelings of discomfort, terror, and curiosity. For example:
Imagine playing as a Nazi, searching through an Egyptian catacomb to steal an amulet that commands an army of the undead for Hitler. My shadow self kept putting up roadblocks, and in the end, my character met their demise at the hands of an American spy, ensuring the Nazis would be defeated in 1945. You can certainly play as a villain and still have them come out on top. It doesn’t make you a bad person, nor does it necessarily reveal deep-seated secrets about your subconscious. It’s simply intriguing to explore different perspectives, whether as the victor or the vanquished. That’s the real magic of this book.
This concept applies to all the games I tried, depending on how you play them. The book subtly nudges us to think about doing the right thing, valuing friends and family, and lending a hand to others. I’ve lost count of how many times someone I’d helped without a second thought came back to assist me. This isn’t to say you can’t play as someone completely opposite to yourself; it just depends on how you set up the game.
On the lighter side, this book is just such good fun! If you’re looking for a game that’s short, sweet, and comedic, then tailor it for laughs. Here’s a humorous scenario:
Picture this: I was a petty thief in medieval Transylvania, imprisoned at the dungeon’s depths for stealing a loaf of bread. My grand plan was to escape. The dungeon’s layout wasn’t based on the severity of the crime (so I wasn’t at the bottom just for nicking bread), but on when your sentence began. As you served time, you worked your way up towards freedom. My idea was to move up the dungeon, each level introducing new horrors from my shadow self, heightening the sense of impending escape. Sounds rather grim, doesn’t it? On the very first day, a tipsy guard fell over and passed out, a dog nabbed his keys, and when I tried to coax the dog with bread, it bit me instead, leading to my untimely demise before I even left my cell. To me, that was comedic gold!
I did come across a review lamenting the book’s lack of strict rules, and I’d gently point out that’s precisely the point. The book provides the framework and the fun elements, but you set the rules. It immerses you in a world of your own making, letting you experience the full range of emotions and scenarios. I never thought such vivid adventures could be conjured in the mind, but I was genuinely unsettled by that imaginary dog bite!
The writing style is spot-on, blending wit with a dash of whimsy. It perfectly captures the essence of childhood imagination that many of us long to revisit. Although the book reflects its 1990s origins, you’re an adult now, so updating it for today’s context should be a breeze.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to rediscover the joy of daydreaming and escape the drudgery of daily life.
Good luck on your travels, everyone.
Do you remember those halcyon days in the schoolyard, dreaming up fantastical games with your friends, or diving into adventures inspired by your favourite video games, comic books, or TV shows? I never imagined I’d recapture that childhood magic of pretending to be a valiant space captain or a dungeon lord managing unruly minions. Yet, this book has masterfully reignited the spark of imagination I thought was long extinguished.
The backstory of this book is straight out of a whimsical tale. The editors happened upon these games at a yard sale, originally crafted by the mysterious J. Theophrastus Bartholomew. Allegedly, Bartholomew designed thousands of games, but the ten featured here are touted as his finest work. I’d agree, though I haven’t seen any others myself. The real mystery? Bartholomew himself is nowhere to be found. We know he’s from Minnesota and was active in the 1990s, but whether he’s still alive, still creating, or simply enjoying a life of intrigue is anyone’s guess.
The book’s charm lies in its themes, which seem to reflect your own quirks and eccentricities. It offers a fascinating glimpse into personal values and biases. We are truly ourselves when we are alone, and each game I played — especially those involving characters diametrically at odds with my own beliefs— brought out feelings of discomfort, terror, and curiosity. For example:
Imagine playing as a Nazi, searching through an Egyptian catacomb to steal an amulet that commands an army of the undead for Hitler. My shadow self kept putting up roadblocks, and in the end, my character met their demise at the hands of an American spy, ensuring the Nazis would be defeated in 1945. You can certainly play as a villain and still have them come out on top. It doesn’t make you a bad person, nor does it necessarily reveal deep-seated secrets about your subconscious. It’s simply intriguing to explore different perspectives, whether as the victor or the vanquished. That’s the real magic of this book.
This concept applies to all the games I tried, depending on how you play them. The book subtly nudges us to think about doing the right thing, valuing friends and family, and lending a hand to others. I’ve lost count of how many times someone I’d helped without a second thought came back to assist me. This isn’t to say you can’t play as someone completely opposite to yourself; it just depends on how you set up the game.
On the lighter side, this book is just such good fun! If you’re looking for a game that’s short, sweet, and comedic, then tailor it for laughs. Here’s a humorous scenario:
Picture this: I was a petty thief in medieval Transylvania, imprisoned at the dungeon’s depths for stealing a loaf of bread. My grand plan was to escape. The dungeon’s layout wasn’t based on the severity of the crime (so I wasn’t at the bottom just for nicking bread), but on when your sentence began. As you served time, you worked your way up towards freedom. My idea was to move up the dungeon, each level introducing new horrors from my shadow self, heightening the sense of impending escape. Sounds rather grim, doesn’t it? On the very first day, a tipsy guard fell over and passed out, a dog nabbed his keys, and when I tried to coax the dog with bread, it bit me instead, leading to my untimely demise before I even left my cell. To me, that was comedic gold!
I did come across a review lamenting the book’s lack of strict rules, and I’d gently point out that’s precisely the point. The book provides the framework and the fun elements, but you set the rules. It immerses you in a world of your own making, letting you experience the full range of emotions and scenarios. I never thought such vivid adventures could be conjured in the mind, but I was genuinely unsettled by that imaginary dog bite!
The writing style is spot-on, blending wit with a dash of whimsy. It perfectly captures the essence of childhood imagination that many of us long to revisit. Although the book reflects its 1990s origins, you’re an adult now, so updating it for today’s context should be a breeze.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to rediscover the joy of daydreaming and escape the drudgery of daily life.
Good luck on your travels, everyone.
April 22, 2024
Maybe one of the best book hoaxes of all time. Right up there with Jean Shepherds, “I, Libertine.” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Li...
The “editors” are two gentlemen from the Corridor.com studio who make great content about movie magic. The editors claim to have found a series of gaming books at a yard sale that are so obscure that no trace of them could be found on the internet. Despite not being able to reach the original author, the editors secured the rights from the publisher to reprint the best of the game books.
The book reads like a parody of role playing games because that’s what it is. The gimmick here is the games take place 100% in the reader’s imagination without dice or other players. The fun of reading the book is picking up on all the 1990 references the authors have planted throughout the book to give it authenticity.
If you’re not into parodies or hoaxes, there is little else here to enjoy. The gaming scenarios set up within the book are so far fetched that if you’re not in on the joke you’re going to have a really frustrating time.
Take for instance, the mind game of Chess, where to play, you are instructed to imagine yourself playing against varying levels of chess masters. If you take the game at face value, you are going to be scratching your head at how to play both sides of an imaginary chess board against someone potentially better than yourself.
Of the game, “The Visitor,” where you are to imagine a game based on the premise of finding an alien in your backyard like the movie “E.T.” Hilariously, the authors give you three scenarios to play—all in which the alien dies. Despite this game “bug,” the authors assure the reader the game still has a lot going for it. At which point, the game becomes about rescuing the alien’s soul from the eight realms of hell.
in case the reader completely misses the joke, there is an appendix where previous players reveal their experiences with the various games, which is just setup for more jokes.
The “editors” are two gentlemen from the Corridor.com studio who make great content about movie magic. The editors claim to have found a series of gaming books at a yard sale that are so obscure that no trace of them could be found on the internet. Despite not being able to reach the original author, the editors secured the rights from the publisher to reprint the best of the game books.
The book reads like a parody of role playing games because that’s what it is. The gimmick here is the games take place 100% in the reader’s imagination without dice or other players. The fun of reading the book is picking up on all the 1990 references the authors have planted throughout the book to give it authenticity.
If you’re not into parodies or hoaxes, there is little else here to enjoy. The gaming scenarios set up within the book are so far fetched that if you’re not in on the joke you’re going to have a really frustrating time.
Take for instance, the mind game of Chess, where to play, you are instructed to imagine yourself playing against varying levels of chess masters. If you take the game at face value, you are going to be scratching your head at how to play both sides of an imaginary chess board against someone potentially better than yourself.
Of the game, “The Visitor,” where you are to imagine a game based on the premise of finding an alien in your backyard like the movie “E.T.” Hilariously, the authors give you three scenarios to play—all in which the alien dies. Despite this game “bug,” the authors assure the reader the game still has a lot going for it. At which point, the game becomes about rescuing the alien’s soul from the eight realms of hell.
in case the reader completely misses the joke, there is an appendix where previous players reveal their experiences with the various games, which is just setup for more jokes.
June 17, 2021
I try not to start off reviews with the phrase "My mother always said," as it tends to make one sound like a cross between Forest Gump and Norman Bates ("Mama always said I shouldn't play the Dungeons and Dragons, as that's the devil's tool") but here my mother's sage words actually bear quoting: "When we were kids and we complained to my mother that we were bored, she would always shake her head and say, 'Only boring people get bored.'"
The ideas presented in "Top 10 Games you Can Play in your Head" aren't games in the traditional sense, with rules and exact parameters and goals. What they are is prompts to further fuel the active imagination of any already game-inclined kid out there. Concepts range from traditional dungeon crawls to the more original and (frankly more fun) games, including one where you work as an over-the-road trucker. Some of the games are a little PG-13, especially the aforementioned Trucker one, as it features a subplot in which you have to take your secret family to Disneyworld (!) during a vacation that overlaps with your main family's annual trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.
Another, equally interesting game, "The Visitor" could best be described as a cross between "E.T." and "The Wind in the Willows." A froglike extraterrestrial lands in your backyard, demands a glass of water, and then promptly dies, setting in motion a quest that involves a trip to Hell, which is divided into several compartments that bear very little resemblance to Dante's rings.
The book is well-illustrated, but I'd hazard its artwork can't compete with what most kids (and adults) can imagine, if and when they take the plunge with "Games you can play in your Head." Recommended.
The ideas presented in "Top 10 Games you Can Play in your Head" aren't games in the traditional sense, with rules and exact parameters and goals. What they are is prompts to further fuel the active imagination of any already game-inclined kid out there. Concepts range from traditional dungeon crawls to the more original and (frankly more fun) games, including one where you work as an over-the-road trucker. Some of the games are a little PG-13, especially the aforementioned Trucker one, as it features a subplot in which you have to take your secret family to Disneyworld (!) during a vacation that overlaps with your main family's annual trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.
Another, equally interesting game, "The Visitor" could best be described as a cross between "E.T." and "The Wind in the Willows." A froglike extraterrestrial lands in your backyard, demands a glass of water, and then promptly dies, setting in motion a quest that involves a trip to Hell, which is divided into several compartments that bear very little resemblance to Dante's rings.
The book is well-illustrated, but I'd hazard its artwork can't compete with what most kids (and adults) can imagine, if and when they take the plunge with "Games you can play in your Head." Recommended.
December 1, 2023
What an odd little book! I bought it after someone mentioned it in an online conversation about the things you think about / stories you write in your head as you get ready to fall asleep, saying that it was a good source of new inspiration. I thought some games might make a nice change from my own falling-asleep stories, which are getting pretty repetitive. However, the book is mostly story prompts; there are only two ideas that I'd class as actual games, and one of those is basically just chess. (The other comes with some detailed tables, maps, and price lists that you'd have to either memorize or keep referring to in the book, so not ideal for sleepy time).
The story prompts are good, though - I imagine especially for people who don't already write stories in their heads - with lots of detailed instructions on how to come up with characters' motivations, back stories etc.
I also wasn't quite sure who the book's intended for. A lot of the wording sounds like it's for kids, but then there are some adult words and themes in there. Word of warning if you're buying the book for a younger girl: it's an older text and many of the story prompts / illustrations of the characters you can "play" as seem to assume that all players are male.
The story prompts are good, though - I imagine especially for people who don't already write stories in their heads - with lots of detailed instructions on how to come up with characters' motivations, back stories etc.
I also wasn't quite sure who the book's intended for. A lot of the wording sounds like it's for kids, but then there are some adult words and themes in there. Word of warning if you're buying the book for a younger girl: it's an older text and many of the story prompts / illustrations of the characters you can "play" as seem to assume that all players are male.
April 6, 2024
Absolutely brilliant. This is for those souls who just need a few pointed questions and some gentle nudging to tap into their “shadow selves” - and voila, you are no longer a passive participant in the story, but instead have become PART of the story. A great way to pave the way for the uninitiated to get into table top role playing games (ie. Fate, Call of Cthulhu, Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, etc) where adults are encouraged to tap into their imagination and creative sides despite living in a world of people who take life and themselves far too seriously. This was one of the best experiences I have ever had with a book and I can’t recommend it enough.
March 2, 2026
Hilarious book with a hilarious concept. regardless of the author’s intentions I read this as a satire and love letter to TTRPG games and the people that play them, specifically ones that use adventure modules. I think anyone can enjoy this. Despite its satirical tone it does provide a fun and interesting way to “play” “games” in your head I have never seen before. similar to creative writing prompts with a lot more layers.
March 29, 2019
Too complicated.
May 20, 2019
Hay vai lon
October 15, 2021
I thought I could read the book here for free.
May 27, 2022
I’m actually between 3 and 4 stars for this one but chose 3 because parts are hard to follow. But this was an audio version; I might change my mind if I see a physical copy.
August 30, 2022
Fun, unique idea.
April 28, 2023
Pointless.
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