25 Best In-Game Books And Codices To Read

Many games build incredibly detailed worlds not through gameplay itself, but through the books and documents you find within them. These in-game texts – like quest guides, monster collections, and historical records – are filled with details that make the game world feel real and lived-in. This list highlights twenty-five of the best examples, detailing where to find them, what information they contain, and how they connect to the game’s story, systems, and history, as well as the studios that created those games.

‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ (2011) – The Aetherium Wars

This book about Dwemer history explains what caused their cities, which were powered by Aetherium, to fall apart, and how their leaders disagreed. Reading it starts a quest called ‘Lost to the Ages,’ where you’ll explore places like Arkngthamz to find pieces of the Aetherium Forge. You can find copies of this book in different locations, including ruins and libraries. The game was created by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.

‘The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind’ (2002) – The 36 Lessons of Vivec

This collection of 36 books tells the story of Vivec, detailing his life, conflicts, and teachings. It blends fantastical stories with actual events and groups from the history of the Dunmer people. These books are found throughout the land of Vvardenfell, hidden in temples, storage areas, and the homes of nobles. Many entries discuss the early migrations of the Chimer, the beginnings of the Tribunal, and important religious figures, connecting the game’s beliefs to locations players can visit. The game was created by Bethesda Game Studios and released by Bethesda Softworks.

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ (2015) – Bestiary

The Bestiary is your in-game guide to monsters, detailing where they live and how to defeat them. You’ll learn this information by finding books and talking to people. Each monster entry shows which oils, bombs, and magical Signs are most effective, and this information improves as you gather more notes in the field. You can access the Bestiary from the game menu to help you prepare for contracts and keep track of monsters by location. The game was created and published by CD PROJEKT RED.

‘Mass Effect 2’ (2010) – Codex

The Mass Effect Codex is an in-game encyclopedia detailing everything from alien life and advanced technology to galactic politics and history. You unlock entries by scanning objects and progressing through the story. It includes detailed information, like specific dates and technical specs for things such as faster-than-light travel and element zero. Key entries also have audio narration, making it easy to learn about the game world between missions. Mass Effect was created by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts.

‘Dragon Age: Inquisition’ (2014) – The Chant of Light (Codex)

The Chant is presented as a collection of writings that detail the history, beliefs, and divisions within Thedas’s religious system, including stories about the prophet Andraste and the Exalted Marches. Players find these writings in various locations like chantries, enemy camps, and as rewards from completing tasks. Each entry includes extra notes about different religious groups and changes within the faith, and often links to information about related factions and important figures. The game was created by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts.

‘Horizon Zero Dawn’ (2017) – Ancient Datapoints

Ancient Datapoints are old text logs and emails from the time when the world fell apart in the 21st century. They cover topics like the Zero Dawn project, how companies were run, and people’s personal lives. You can find them hidden in ruins and special locations, and they include information like who sent them, who they were sent to, and when. The most important datapoints are pieces of transcripts that explain how the technology behind the terraforming project—the effort to rebuild the world—actually worked. The game was created by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

‘Destiny 2’ (2017) – Books of Sorrow (Lore Books)

The Books of Sorrow tell the story of the Hive’s beginnings on the planet Fundament, explaining their rules, different forms, and the principles behind the Sword Logic. You can find these lore entries by completing in-game challenges, seasonal activities, and by examining certain items. Each entry is organized by character and time period, and includes references to important Hive gods, fleets, and powerful, unexplainable events. Bungie developed and published the game.

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023) – The Necromancy of Thay

This dangerous book holds forbidden spells and notes related to the magic of Thay. How it reacts depends on who tries to read it, and unlocking its secrets involves finding specific keys and passing certain tests. Your progress with the book carries over throughout the entire game. The spells and creatures mentioned within are based on familiar elements from the Dungeons & Dragons universe. The game was created and published by Larian Studios.

‘Pillars of Eternity’ (2015) – Cyclopedia & Bestiary

The Cyclopedia is a glossary defining terms, cultures, and game mechanics. The Bestiary acts as an enemy catalog, filling with information about enemy stats and how they behave as you defeat them – including their weaknesses, family ties, and special abilities. The Bestiary updates automatically as you gain experience fighting different creatures. Together, these systems help players prepare for battles and learn about the world of Eora, its nations, and its divine ancestry. This game is being created by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Paradox Interactive.

‘Control’ (2019) – Altered World Event Case Files

Recently released documents from the Federal Bureau of Control detail powerful and unusual objects, items that have been changed, and strange events that occurred at specific locations. The files include dates, locations, and some redacted information, and are categorized by the type of investigation. They also feature transcripts from a hotline and research notes that explain how investigations were handled. Many of these documents refer to how dangerous objects were contained and list the personnel involved. The game is created by Remedy Entertainment and published by 505 Games.

‘God of War’ (2018) – Jötnar Shrines & Atreus’s Bestiary

Okay, so in the game, you find these big stone things called Jötnar Shrines. They unlock cool artwork and tell you all about the giants and their history. Then there’s the Bestiary – basically, it’s where Atreus keeps notes on all the enemies you fight, like what they’re weak to and how they attack. He updates it automatically after each battle, which is super helpful! Finding these shrines and bestiary entries encourages you to really explore every nook and cranny, because they’re often hidden in optional areas. Just so you know, Santa Monica Studio made the game, and Sony published it.

‘Elden Ring’ (2022) – Item Descriptions (Armaments & Remembrances)

Descriptions of weapons, armor, and Remembrance items tell the story of the Shattering, revealing who made them, where they came from, and how different demigods were connected. They also explain the powers of the Great Runes, and hint at how things were crafted and the beliefs of people in different regions – beliefs that often match where you find enemies. The game was created by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

‘Fallout: New Vegas’ (2010) – Lying, Congressional Style

This old book, found in offices, vaults, and shops, improves your Speech skill when you read it. It also offers a humorous look at how to convince people. Like other skill books in the game, its availability resets depending on the location. Obsidian Entertainment developed the game, and Bethesda Softworks published it.

‘Diablo III’ (2012) – Cain’s Journal

Deckard Cain’s journal entries become available as you progress through each act of the game, offering summaries of demon ranks, important historical battles, and the origins of various magical items, including when and where these events took place. Once you find a journal, you can read it again anytime from the collection menu. You’ll also find related notes from characters like Leah, providing different perspectives on the same events. Blizzard Entertainment developed and published the game.

‘NieR: Automata’ (2017) – Unit Data & Archives

As you encounter and defeat enemies, Unit Data keeps a record of their details, like what they look like and where they live, as well as their attack patterns. Archives, on the other hand, collect old texts discovered throughout the game. Each entry includes a timestamp and where it was found, which unlocks more story details as you progress. You can also filter these logs to focus on specific enemy types or weapon histories. PlatinumGames developed this game, and Square Enix published it.

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ (2020) – Shards

Okay, so you find these things called Shards all over Night City – basically data chips left on bodies, in people’s apartments, or while you’re doing jobs. They’re like little notes, sometimes corporate stuff, sometimes personal messages, and a lot of times they have info about cyberware, fixers, or the different gangs. A lot of them actually help you out by adding points of interest to your map or giving you clues for quests. Each one tells you who wrote it, when, and if it was encrypted or how widely it was shared. CD PROJEKT RED made the game, and CD PROJEKT publishes it.

‘Death Stranding’ (2019) – Interviews & Data

The game features interviews with survivalists, scientists, and staff from the Bridges organization, detailing the mysterious chiral network, the enigmatic BTs, and how deliveries are handled. Unlocking new information depends on earning stars and progressing through the story, and all entries are organized by who provided them. Many notes mention specific lab tools and event schedules that correspond to locations within the game’s facilities. Kojima Productions developed the game, and Sony Interactive Entertainment published it on consoles, while 505 Games handles the PC release.

‘Monster Hunter: World’ (2018) – Hunter’s Notes

Hunter Notes help you learn about monsters – their bodies, weak spots, what elements they’re vulnerable to, and what status effects work best against them – as you study and hunt them. These notes get more detailed as you find tracks and improve your Ecological Research level. You can also find information on what materials monsters drop and where to find them, all organized by rank, to help you plan your gear. Capcom developed and published the game.

‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ (2017) – Animus Database

The Animus Database within the game details the history of ancient Ptolemaic Egypt, covering its locations, rulers, and treasures. You unlock more information by exploring the game and completing quests. Each entry includes important dates, architectural explanations, and connections to the political landscape of the time. The Discovery Tour mode offers guided tours with professional narration and links to the research used to create the game. Ubisoft Montreal developed the game, and Ubisoft published it.

‘Halo 4’ (2012) – Terminals

Throughout the game, you’ll find UNSC and Forerunner terminals containing videos and text detailing the history of the Didact, the Librarian’s projects, and ancient conflicts that happened before humans existed. Finding these terminals unlocks a timeline you can view from the main menu. Each terminal is located within a specific campaign mission, and the game records when you find them in your service record. The game was created by 343 Industries and published by Microsoft Studios.

‘Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’ (2003) – The Code of the Sith (Datapads)

On the planet Korriban, players can find datapads and terminals containing Sith teachings and notes from the academy, such as tests and records of explorations. These entries include lists of ancient items and maps of tombs, often with specific names and markings. Many logs also offer passcodes or hints to help players navigate the tombs. The game was created by BioWare and published by LucasArts.

‘The Elder Scrolls Online’ (2014) – Lorebooks (Mages Guild)

Lorebooks are organized by who wrote them and what they’re about. Finding complete sets from each region helps you level up your skills with the Mages Guild. Each book is linked to a specific location within the game, and the game keeps track of which ones you’ve found. These books often contain information about dates, local heroes, and traditions that relate to quests in that area. The game was created by ZeniMax Online Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.

‘World of Warcraft’ (2004) – The History of Azeroth

This in-game book series, spread across multiple volumes, details the history of the game world – including powerful titans, ancient gods, cataclysmic events, and the first kingdoms. You can find these books in libraries and fortresses throughout the game. Reading them reveals the timeline of events connected to dungeons and raid locations. There are also extra books, such as regional histories and character biographies, that flesh out the stories of different factions. Blizzard Entertainment created and published the game.

‘Disco Elysium’ (2019) – Ledger Case Files

The game keeps a record of past cases, including details like dates, what happened, and how they were resolved. Players can look closely at these records at key moments in the story. These files also refer to police procedures, types of evidence, and the officers involved, connecting to internal codes for easy reference. How you review these files can influence conversations and how your character thinks and uses their skills. ZA/UM developed and published the game.

‘Starfield’ (2023) – Old Earth Books

Players can find physical copies of classic books – like ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ and other public domain titles – throughout the game world in places like libraries, on ships, and in settlements. Collecting these books adds items to your inventory that include information about the author, publisher, and original publication date. Many books are also linked to specific factions and are displayed in cases that showcase the local culture. The game was created by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.

Share your favorite in-game reads—or the one that surprised you most—in the comments!

2025-11-19 04:49