Marie Lu's Video Game Recommendations | Warcross Blog Tour

Hi, my name is Alexa and I'm freaking obsessed with Warcross! (I'm so obsessed that I shared a glowing review and came up with my own Warcross team.) I'm so excited for today's post for two reasons: 1) it is the official publication date for Warcross so more of you can now grab a copy and read it and hopefully love it the way I do and 2) I get to share Marie Lu's video game recommendations.

Marie Lu's Video Game Recommendations

For me, video games are a little like books in two ways: 1) I believe there's a game out there for everyone, and 2) it's impossible for me to only recommend one game. I also believe that games, like YA, can be somewhat misunderstood. People tend to think only of Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty, and I do love more well-known games like the Assassin's Creed franchise, but the world of games is a vast field. So, without lingering further, here are 5 games that I would recommend for anyone--not just gamers, but appreciators of story, art, and good ol' entertainment!

Journey (PS4) | This may be one of the most beautiful games ever made. It only takes a few hours to finish, and every frame of this masterpiece is dripping with beauty, elegant game design, and Grammy-nominated music. I sobbed when I reached the ending.

Inside (XBox One, PS4, PC) | Also a game you can finish in a few hours, Inside is dark and incredibly atmospheric, with tension thick enough to cut. The gameplay is full of clever puzzles and the story is mysterious, the kind that raises the hairs on the back of your neck.

Life Is Strange (XBox One, PS4) | The most story-oriented game listed here, Life Is Strange plays like a Choose Your Own Adventure that rips your heart out over and over. It tells the story of one girl trying to save the life of another, and the ripples of the Butterfly Effect in a small town.

Ori and the Blind Forest (Xbox One, PC) | The trailer alone is enough to make me tear up! This is a beautiful, heart-felt side-scrolling adventure through a lush fantasy world, starring a character you can't help but root for.

Monument Valley 1 & 2 (iPhone/Android) | My favorite mobile game. Every frame of this game is worth of being framed on the wall--which is actually what I've done in my house! It's a masterpiece of soothing sounds and elegant puzzles set inside Escher-like works of art, with a gentle story about a little princess named Ida.

I've never played any of these video games before, but you can be sure they're now on my list of games to check out. They all sound incredible, but I'm most drawn to Ori and the Blind Forest. Anyway, before we move on to the giveaway, here's a little bit more about Warcross and Marie!

Warcross by Marie Lu (Check out the official site!)

Series: Warcross #1

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: September 12, 2017

Buy the Book: Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu—when a game called Warcross takes the world by storm, one girl hacks her way into its dangerous depths.

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

In this sci-fi thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu conjures an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all.

About the Author: Marie Lu is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling series The Young Elites, as well as the blockbuster bestselling Legend series. She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry as an artist. Now a full-time writer, she spends her spare time reading, drawing, playing games, and getting stuck in traffic. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with one husband, one Chihuahua mix, and one Pembroke Welsh corgi.

And now, for the moment I'm sure plenty of you have been waiting for - the giveaway! Thanks to the lovely folk at Penguin Random House, you can enter for a chance to be one (1) of three (3) grand prize winners of a WARCROSS prize set (including hardcover of Warcross, shirt, keychain, and postcard). (ARV: $18.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on September 4, 2017 and 12:00 AM on September 29, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about October 2, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out the rest of the blog tour!

September 4 – The Reading Nook Reviews – Review

September 5 – Bookiemoji – Book Photography

September 6 – Fiction Fare – Review

September 7 – BookCrushin – Review

September 8 – The Fandom – Author Q&A

September 11 – Lost in Lit – Book Photography

September 12 – Alexa Loves Books – Author Guest Post | Marie’s Favorite Video Games

September 13 – Little Lillie Reads – Review

September 14 – YA Wednesdays

September 15 – Live Love Read

September 18 – Adventures of a Book Junkie – 5 Reasons to Read Warcross

September 19 – The Young Folks – Review

September 20 – Once Upon a Twilight – Guess the Story in GIFs

September 21 – Arctic Books – Warcross Mood Board

September 22 – Book Nerd Addicts – Author Q&A

September 25 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Author Q&A + Event Recap

September 26 –Mundie Moms – Favorite Quotes

September 27 – YA Bibliophile – Review

September 28 – Icey Books – Warcross Quote Candy

September 29 – Super Space Chick – Review & Favorite Video Games