Enjoying this book? Help it get discovered by casting your vote!
Must read 🏆
Loved it! Final Video Game is current, exciting, funny, serious, and so well put together that I couldn't put it down.
Thirteen-year-old Oliver is the new kid at school and has bonded with a new friend Logan over playing Razer, the world’s most popular video game. But when millions of gamers around the world start falling into comas, they learn that the artificial intelligence of the game has gone rogue, becoming massively powerful and harnessing the neural brain power of gamers through their headsets, with a plan to take over the world’s infrastructure.
Humanity’s only hope is to eradicate the AI by beating it at its own game and who better to accomplish that than teen gamers. Recruited by a secret agency of the government, Oliver and Logan become part of the gaming assault troops, launching a coordinated global strike to force their way into the AI’s mainframe and take it down…before it’s too late.
A thought-provoking and intellectual story about our existence among and reliance on computers, technology, and the rising use of artificial intelligence.
Final Video Game is an exciting fiction novel in which Oliver, Logan, and Sparky (they are part of an army of teenagers) take on a rogue AI to save the human race. To beat the AI, Oliver and his friends have to take the fight to Razer (AI in a video game). The army has organised combat like never before; for the kids, it is the fight of their lives; they must play this virtual reality game that can knock them out in real life, the so-called "Gamer Coma".
Considering the uncertainty of our future with Artificial Intelligence, the events in this book may scare the droppings out of you.
The protagonist, Oliver, is a teenager who has been through a lot: he was bullied in school, and after losing his father, he moved to a new area where he had to start making friends all over again. He is not the most confident boy, but his bravery shines through when push comes to shove. And when the stakes are high, his friendly disposition makes all the difference. He is a great role model, and I'm sure many readers will be rooting for the underdog that they can see themselves in.
I think Craig Speakes did a fantastic job; Final Video Game is current, exciting, funny, serious, and so well put together that I couldn't put it down. From the first page, my interest was piqued – news channels are saying that more kids are in a state of coma every second because of playing a game, Razer – and the events that followed, an intense battle included, kept intrigue high.
I particularly loved the banter between the characters, especially between Oliver and Sparky; it was laugh-out-loud funny, and I probably had a smile on my face most of the time.
If my five stars weren't clear enough, I recommend this book. I believe anyone from age ten will thoroughly enjoy this read; yes, that includes adults.
Reviewed by
I'm Claudia, a passionate bookworm. As an editor, all I do for work is read, and yet, I still enjoy delving into a book and sharing my insights through reviews. There is always something new to learn and a new world to envelop.
Thirteen-year-old Oliver is the new kid at school and has bonded with a new friend Logan over playing Razer, the world’s most popular video game. But when millions of gamers around the world start falling into comas, they learn that the artificial intelligence of the game has gone rogue, becoming massively powerful and harnessing the neural brain power of gamers through their headsets, with a plan to take over the world’s infrastructure.
Humanity’s only hope is to eradicate the AI by beating it at its own game and who better to accomplish that than teen gamers. Recruited by a secret agency of the government, Oliver and Logan become part of the gaming assault troops, launching a coordinated global strike to force their way into the AI’s mainframe and take it down…before it’s too late.
A thought-provoking and intellectual story about our existence among and reliance on computers, technology, and the rising use of artificial intelligence.
About the author
When he isn’t writing fast-paced adventures for middle grade readers, Craig enjoys photography, Scandinavian walking, and teaching conversational English to a non-native English speaker. He is also the published author of a two part middle grade book series called The Keeper. view profile
Published on February 29, 2024
80000 words
Worked with a Reedsy professional 🏆
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Reviewed by
Discover more books like Final Video Game
Create your free account to help this book get discovered and decide on the bestselling stories of tomorrow.
or
Or sign up with an
Create your account
Or sign up with your social account