16 Books Like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Before becoming the infamous figurehead of the Hunger Games and the president of Panem, Corionlanus Snow was an 18-year-old trying to return the house of Snow to its former glory by entering the Games as a mentor. However, the odds are not in his favor—not when his mentee is a female from the dreaded District 12. 

Suzanne Collins returns to the world of The Hunger Games in A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a dark, no-hold-bars take on the origins of the Games and the backstory of President Snow, before he became president.

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami 

For those who hunger for a darker, more intense read than The Hunger Games, Battle Royale is the perfect choice. Set in a dystopian future Japan, the novel follows a group of 42 junior high students who are forced to fight to the death with weapons until only one remains standing. With visceral action and gripping suspense, Battle Royale is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

In a distant future, Darrow is a member of the oppressed and toiling Reds of Mars. Life as he knows it is one of servitude, believing he is pioneering a planet for generations to come. That all changes, however, when he discovers the truth of his society. Fuelled by a desire for justice, he infiltrates the mysterious Institute, where the powerful Golds rule from on high. But doing so will be no easy task…

With its gripping premise and themes reminiscent of The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, and Lord of the Flies, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising is a heart-pounding debut that continues to pick up speed in each installment. If you’re looking for adult books like The Hunger Games, then Red Rising is for you.

Uglies by Scott Westerfield

In Uglies, everyone at the age of sixteen undergoes a drastic cosmetic surgery that transforms their plain and unattractive features into a far prettier version of themselves. For fifteen-year-old Tally Youngblood, the operation is the greatest gift she could ever hope for. Then she meets Shay, a girl who forces Tally to question everything she has ever believed in.

Like The Hunger Games, Uglies is a young adult dystopian novel that only grows more and more thrilling with each installment. The bestselling series is a must-read, especially with the upcoming release of the Netflix adaptation.

Gone by Michael Grant

Have you ever imagined the scenario where you are sitting in a classroom, listening to a teacher drone on about a topic that you couldn’t care less about, and all of a sudden the lecture comes to an abrupt halt? You look up and notice that the teacher has vanished. You step out into the hallways along with every other student in the school, only to realize that all the teachers have disappeared. You return home to find that your parents have vanished as well. Slowly, you begin to piece together the realization that all the adults have disappeared. Can you imagine what that would be like?

If you find the idea interesting, you’re in for a real treat with Michael Grant’s Gone. Faced with the reality of dwindling food supplies and sinister mutations, the remaining teenagers and kids are forced to take sides and fight for their lives. If you are a fan of The Hunger Games, this premise will be perfect for you.

Legend by Marie Lu

In Marie Lu’s thrilling dystopian world of the Republic, the Western US has been transformed into a place of ceaseless conflict. Both born fifteen, June is the prodigy of an influential family, while Day is the most wanted criminal of the Republic, accused of killing June’s brother Metias. Embarking on two journeys – one of revenge and one of discovery – June and Day’s fates intersect in unexpected ways. 

Fans of The Hunger Games looking for similar books should read Marie Lus’s Legend. Like The Hunger Games, the dystopian series has nonstop action, a dash of romance, and more than enough thrills to keep your eyes glued to the page

Shade’s Children by Garth Nix

In Shade’s Children, no one survives their fourteenth birthday, and those who do escape face an uphill battle when Shade, the leader of a resistance, recruits them. But four of Shade’s children uncover the secrets behind the Overlords’ power and are determined to stand against them, no matter the cost. Shade’s Children is an action-packed dystopian fantasy that is perfect for anyone looking for books like The Hunger Games.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Calling all Hunger Games fans! Get ready to enter The Maze Runner, a dystopian thriller where Thomas wakes up surrounded by strangers with no memories of their past. Behind the walls of this ever-changing maze is their only way out, but no one has ever escaped alive. When the first ever girl arrives with a chilling message, they must find the courage to do the impossible and escape. Fans of The Hunger Games will love the dystopian society of The Maze Runner as well as the heart-pounding action and dangers of the maze.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

For fans of The HungerGames and Maze Runner series, Veronica Roth’s Divergent is a must-read dystopian series! The acclaimed story follows Beatrice Prior, a young girl living in a world divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). At Beatrice’s choosing ceremony, she must decide between staying with her family or transferring to a different faction – a decision that will forever alter her path and the future of the world. With its gripping storyline and beloved film franchise, it’s no wonder Divergent is a bestselling series!

The Long Walk by Stephen King

In the dystopian America of The Long Walk, Ray Garraty, a sixteen-year-old, is among the hundred chosen to compete in the annual competition. The rules couldn’t be simpler: stay ahead of the pack by maintaining a steady pace of four miles per hour without stopping – three warnings result in elimination. But this isn’t just a game—only one will make it out alive. Join Ray and the other competitors as they battle for their lives in an intense, adrenaline-filled race. The Hunger Games have nothing on The Long Walk.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Set in a utopian world where humanity has eradicated all threats of disease, crime, accidents, and murder, Scythe explores the consequences of a low death rate on population growth, leading to the creation of professional gleaners, or Scythes, who are the only authorized agents of population control. But when Scythe Faraday takes on two new apprentices, Citra and Rowan, only one will survive and the winner must glean the other.

While The Hunger Games touches on a corrupt society, Scythe dives into a society that has the best intentions for the world, yet ultimately fails to uphold its own moral standards.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

If you want a riveting story of societal disillusionment similar to The Hunger Games, then The Giver is a book you won’t want to miss. Set in a seemingly perfect world, twelve-year-old Jonas discovers a dark secret when he is chosen to be a Receiver of Memory. As Jonas unravels the mysteries of his society, he faces difficult decisions that challenge his beliefs and morality. With unexpected plot twists, this dystopian novel will leave you questioning the true nature of utopia.

The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Are you looking for a story that offers more than just action and adventure? Octavia E. Butler’s The Parable of the Sower is an absolute must-read! It follows the journey of fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina, who lives a seemingly sheltered life behind the walls of her gated community, safe from the anarchy that exists beyond the gates. But Lauren’s life takes a drastic turn when she discovers her unique ability to feel the emotions of others that will challenge even her strongest beliefs and could ultimately be the means of saving her and her community.

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games, brings you Gregor the Overlander, a thrilling adventure of a boy on the quest to find his father in a mysterious world beneath New York. With its fast-paced action and suspenseful plot, this book is sure to please both fans of Collins’ work and those searching for captivating children’s adventure books like The Hunger Games.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

Sixteen-year-old Tierney James is about to face her Grace Year—a yearlong banishment where young women are sent into the wild to release their magical powers and endure the jealousies of other women. But this is no ordinary survival challenge. Tierney and her peers will not only struggle against the elements, but also against poachers hoping to exploit them for the perilous black market and, worst of all, each other. The Grace Year is a thrilling journey of self-discovery and strength in the face of danger.

The Running Man by Stephen King

Stephen King’s The Running Man is a page-turner akin to The Hunger Games. It features a life-or-death game show where one contestant has the chance to win an unbelievable one-billion-dollar jackpot, but only if they can survive the month-long televised production. While no one has managed to evade the “Hunters” for longer than 8 days, Ben Richards is determined to fight for his daughter’s life―and needs to last an entire month if he has any hope of winning the prize. A sinister plot, thrilling stakes and a hero with a mission―this is a book readers of The Hunger Games won’t want to miss.