This graphic novel was very informative! It is somewhat long and has a lot of text so I would recommend it to older kids.

I love table top games and roleplaying games and I love graphic novels so it’s safe to say I adored Side Quest. Packed to the brim with historical information and personal anecdotes this is a fantastic introduction to the world of games, particularly roleplaying ones, and how they have evolved through the ages.

I adored the art style and the way it was presented as well. The art and colouring was fantastic and shows how these games can bring people together – assuming you can all find a time you are free! This is a must read for fans of games and graphic novels but also those interested in getting into the games.

As always thank you to Harper360YA for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.

Side Quest is an informative and historical adventure into Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs) and the world of imaginative play.

I love that this is a graphic novel which helps to fully immerse you visually into the story. It was bright and colourful and captivating, really helping to kick your imagination into gear.

Both of the main narrators worked really well together to present the story and I thought both voices combined wonderfully.

This is included far more history than I was initially expecting, but I really appreciated such an in-depth look. I didn’t know a lot or really any of the further back history behind imaginative play and how we experience TTRPGs today, it was super interesting!

I particularly enjoyed Part Five “Magic In The Modern World”.

I feel this would not only be appreciated by TTRPG newbies but also just as much by seasoned players.

This graphic novel was such a lovely experience. I would definitely be interested in more graphic novels voiced by this duo, perhaps a full on beginner guide of how to get fully involved in TTRPGs.

Also shout out for the Gerard Way cameo!

As a TTRPG lover with a wife with years of GMing experience, I knew I needed to pick Side Quest up as soon as I saw it. With a mix of personal anecdotes and carefully researched history (with sources in the back of the book!) this book is a great history lesson for a D&D nerd of any caliber. Bonus points for mentioning when figures and happenings mentioned in the book had problematic histories, explaining both the controversies and what they contributed to the world of TTRPGs. I will say that I wish it was more engaging- at times it read like I was reading an essay with cute pictures. Otherwise though, I very much appreciate the existence of this book and definitely learned a lot!

This book was adorable and a very thorough background of the history of TTRPGs. That being said, I think the book could have been much shorter and would actually have had more of an impact. Another difficult issue I had was that the historical ages weren't in chronological order so it was sometimes difficult to track which time period the researchers were in.

This was entertaining and informative. I have played TTRPGs since the early 80's, but I still learned a great deal. It was presented in an amusing way. If you play TTRPGs or are interesting in learning about them, this book is one to read.

I think that this book was an interesting exploration of table top games and their history. I would recommend to folks looking to get a primer into the background of table top RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons.

For fans of Dungeons and Dragons, this is a stand alone graphic novel of the history of Table Top Role Playing Games.

. Here's the thing, I'm quite interested in playing Dungeons and Dragons. I think it will be fun and a good way to try something new. But this graphic novel is not for me.

It was fascinating to go through the history but it got so bland for me as I kept reading. The art reminds me of the classic sunday newspaper comics section that it gave nostalgia and it was perfect for the theme of D&D. However, it took me awhile to realize what the yellow and gray box speech bubble was, and there was even dialogue outside the box. The continuity was a bit all over the place for me... They navigate through the time using a Delorean which I thought was cute, but there were parts where they jump through time without it that left me confused.

Personally, I think a graphic hovel wasn't the best media to elaborate all of this.

What I do appreciate is the personal stories the authors/artists shared within the graphic novel. They were relatable and it was fun to learn how they started.

Overall, story was alright, art was nostalgic, history was fascinating, but for me, it didn't blend as well together.

This is a mix of very young artwork but vocab of older teen/YA. The concepts are quite dense and often go on for a bit too long as you do start to wonder how it relates to d&d. This book is for those who already know about TTRPG, it glosses over the different dice and alignment chart with little to no explanation on it. I feel like this book was a bit all over the place but will suit some people.

For years I wanted to get into ttrpg but I was so scared to start. But reading about the history of the ttrpg and where they come from made me more comfortable to maybe get more into it.
But if you’re not a beginner in ttrpg this book will be very interesting to learn about the history and influence of ttrpg.

I loved the art still which was really clear and because of all the information you will learn. The art didn’t distract from the text.

Definitely would read again mostly to pick up all the things I mist reading it the first time.

This is probably geared at younger YA/teens, and I love that. Even though it was, vocabulary wise, I still learned a ton and I enjoyed it.

This year I've gotten into Dungeons & Dragons so this title was certainly up my alley. Guided by the author and illustrator, who are TTRPG players themselves, the reader explores the history of role-playing from its historical predecessors in ceremonial performance to war gaming to our more familiar games like D&D. It even includes its own one-shot RPG for the reader to try. This book will appeal to fans of TTRPGs and people who are interested in how familiar things develop over time.

I really liked the concept of this, but it just wasn't my thing. The illustrations were great, I just wasn't the biggest fan of how this was overall.

this is a unique nonfiction book for teens and great for anyone interested in history, however, I found the history to be very dense at parts leaving me wondering halfway through how this ties back into roleplaying games. I'm also not sure if this is meant for beginners or not because it delves into the different types of dice and the alignment chart, but just briefly mentions saving throws and initiative with no explanation. The last 40 or so pages also just repeat the same information as if they weren't sure which note to end it on. The art didn't add anything either and while I think there should be more nonfiction graphic novels, this felt a bit too simple for such an imaginative topic

"Side Quest" is a middle grade graphic novel by Steenz and Samuel Sattin explaining the history of role playing games and the different kinds that are available currently. Includes a playable example of an RPG and lots of information for further research in the back of the book. Steez and Samuel switch narration and give interesting personal info about their relationships with RPGs. Illustrations are bright and cartoony, which adds to the humorous feel of the book. A recommended purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections, especially where RPGs are popular.

Harper Collins Children's Books provided an early galley for review.

I've been playing these kinds of games since I was in high school, so much of this was a nostalgic look at a hobby I very much enjoy. Still, there was a large amount of history relating to the precursor elements that came together to form what today's players consider a role-playing game.

The book is a fun primer for those new to table-top RPGs. Coming from the children's book division, this appears to be marketed towards kids and teens. The concepts and history is rather rich, so kids might get bored by it. The vocabulary is clearly more on the teen and up level. The artwork however harkens back to the pages of the Sunday funnies with a simple style and bright colors. It even includes a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons scenario in the back for players to try out. All together, that made for an informative and entertaining read.

I hoped this would be better than it was. I found it fairly elementary and it jumped around too much.

Side Quest: A Visual History of Roleplaying Games is a fun and informative graphic novel that takes readers on a journey through the history of RPGs, from ancient times to modern-day games. With a mix of personal stories and fascinating facts, this book is perfect for both gaming fans and anyone curious about the world of roleplaying games. It's an engaging and must-read guide for anyone who loves games or wants to learn more about them!

An excellent addition to any library collection, but an absolute "must have" for libraries that offer D&D or similar table top gaming programs. Our D&D Club is our longest running and most popular youth program, and I am looking forward to handing this book to the next patron who asks "but...what is this?" and adding it to our regular displays on pop culture history.

Side Quest balances a welcoming tone and engaging cartoon style that is perfect for young readers with a depth and breadth of historical information that is ideal for a more general adult readership. As a result, this could be shelved in either a young adult or a general adult collection and recommended to a wide swath of the patron population, from middle grade to adult. Thank you to NetGalley for access to this amazing arc!

I loved the way this graphic broke down the history of TTRPG and the story it told of that history. While I was aware of some of the more modern and obvious history/historical events that were tied to TTRPG I didn’t realize the extent of how many little events through all of time played a part of what would turn in TTRPG and D&D. I thought the art was really easy to follow and it lended itself to the formatting very well.