If your kid is constantly talking about 'making a game' but spends all their time just playing them, this book is the bridge. It’s the gold standard for a reason. It moves past the 'how to code' tutorials and gets into the 'why it's fun' psychology that actually makes a game worth playing.

It’s a massive, dense, and occasionally academic read, but it’s written with a warmth and clarity that makes it feel like a conversation with a mentor. If they can get through even a third of this, they’ll have a better understanding of human psychology and systems than most college students.