What is a gamebook?

A gamebook is a printed or digital book you play rather than just read, making choices that send you to different sections and often rolling dice or tracking stats. The best-known examples are the Choose Your Own Adventure series (choice-only) and Fighting Fantasy (choices plus simple combat and character stats). You read a numbered section, reach a decision, and jump to whichever section your choice points to, building your own path through the story. Some gamebooks add light role-playing systems: hit points, inventory, skill checks. They were hugely popular in the 1980s and have a steady following today, both in print and as apps. Digital tools now make it easy to build your own, including browser builders that handle the branching for you.