Polybius is a fast paced sci-fi thriller. Based on the urban legend of a video game created by the government.
The book follows Andi, a teenager in a new town, she takes a job at an arcade fixing the machines. When her boss acquires a new game Polybius all hell breaks loose. The game proves to be addictive and takes over the townspeople causing lines out the door and fistfights over who plays next.
The story follows a few key players including Andi’s mom who is a local dr. She treats people with bizarre symptoms that get traced back to Polybius.
This book drew me in with his cover and description but it did not disappoint! It’s the perfect balance of sci-fi, horror and even a little romance thrown in. I loved this book and all its 80s nostalgia.
Thanks to NetGalley for this digital ARC

As a fan of urban legends, I was surprised to find one I didn't know about called Polybius. It wasn't until I finished reading this book that I discovered that bit of information. That said, whether you know of this legend or not, you will love this one. The author excelled at creating an old-school atmosphere with his descriptive, engaging writing style. His take on this legend was brilliant, in my opinion. For an author to take an old story and make it their own, and make it good, has a unique kind of talent. The characters were well constructed, with each having their own distinct personalities and traits that you will either love or hate in equal measure. This was eerie, intense, and downright creepy. Horror readers will devour this one, and I give it four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Gallery Books, for this ARC.

Andi, a loner high school student with a knack for hardware uncovers a mystery in the form of an arcade game. She and her new friend (and fellow student) Ro track down the source of the mysterious game as their small town descends into chaos and violence.

This book reads like a horror film from the 80s— the sort of tried and true “comfort food” for folks who want the feeling of an old school, buddy adventure with a side of horror. The writing is straightforward and the plot moves along at a good clip. While some of the “descent into madness” part of the story is a bit slow for my taste, I still thought this was a solid and recommendable read. I’d definitely save this rec for Halloween time— it’s best read for spooky season.

Collin Armstrong’s Polybius is a mind-bending, pulse-pounding thriller that grips you from the very first page. This novel masterfully blends elements of sci-fi, horror, and psychological suspense, creating a chilling atmosphere that lingers long after the final page.

Armstrong's vivid descriptions and intricate plot weave a captivating tale of a small town consumed by a mysterious arcade game. As the characters become increasingly unhinged, the tension escalates, leaving the reader breathless. The author's deft handling of suspense and his ability to create genuinely unsettling moments make this a truly unforgettable read.

Polybius is a must-read for fans of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. It's a thrilling ride that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Hard to believe this a debut! I’ve always loved horror built around epidemics, viruses, and this was such a unique take on the genre. There is a constant build up of tension starting almost at the beginning, and this definitely kept me at the edge of my seat. There is als good character development. A wonderful new addition to the world of horror and I can’t wait for future books! Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!

This had me on edge the entire time I was reading it and I ate this book up.

It’s pretty obvious what’s going on early in the book, however the horror aspect comes from the build and escalation which I felt was really well done. I was constantly anxious about how things spiraled out of control in the town.

Rooted in an authentic urban legend, the most terrifying thing about ‘Polybius’ the novel is that there’s enough doses of realism throughout to make you believe that something like this could really happen. This is a fantastic debut and I look forward to Armstrong’s future works.

Thank you for the e-arc!

Polybius is based on the urban legend about the arcade game of the same name that mysteriously surfaced in arcades during the '80s and had strange effects on those who played it. Collin Armstrong's novel fleshes out this tantalizing idea and does not disappoint.

The action unfolds in the quaint town of Tasker Bay, California. The owner of a small arcade introduces Polybius, and soon, the entire town is gripped by the game's allure. As the story progresses, the excitement escalates, leading to a series of bizarre and violent events.

Polybius is accurately described as a blend of Stranger Things and The Walking Dead, but it reminded me of the eerie atmosphere of an X-Files episode. The pacing is masterful and the escalating tension kept me hooked until the very end.

What kept this from being a five-star read is that it's overwritten. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, which was too bad because Armstrong is an excellent writer! More than one character was given a two-sentence biography (she's so-and-so's cousin, she works at such-and-such) only to be killed in the following sentence. I didn't need the first two sentences; getting right to the carnage would have been fine. Basically, it could have done with a round of ruthless editing to make the most of the otherwise excellent pacing.

A must-read if you grew up hearing the urban legend, and a must-read if you didn't but love a good action-packed mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC.

Collin Armstrong’s Polybius delivers a chilling blend of 1980s nostalgia and supernatural horror, reimagining the urban legend of a sinister arcade game with gripping intensity. The characters, particularly Andi and Ro, are richly developed, navigating the eerie unraveling of their town as the game’s dark influence spreads. While the plot treads familiar ground for horror fans, the atmospheric writing and intriguing premise make it a standout read.

I had such high hopes for this one! Nostalgia vibes, people acting weird because of a video game… sounds great. Unfortunately, it was sooooo slow I lost interest :(

Collin Armstrong’s Polybius is an enthralling debut novel that blends 1980s nostalgia with supernatural horror. Drawing on the urban legend of the mysterious arcade game rumored to induce bizarre effects, Armstrong crafts a story that is part Stranger Things, part The Walking Dead. Set in the quiet coastal town of Tasker Bay, the narrative follows Andi, a tech-savvy teen trying to save money to return to her Silicon Valley home, and Ro, the sheriff's son with a growing crush on her. Their lives intertwine when a mysterious arcade game, Polybius, arrives in the local shop, bringing chaos and psychological mayhem to the town.

The novel excels in building suspense and atmosphere, vividly capturing the eerie events as the game’s influence drives residents into paranoia and violence. The small-town setting, combined with a raging coastal storm, enhances the claustrophobic and unsettling mood. Armstrong also delves into themes of isolation, community breakdown, and resilience, offering both an engaging plot and emotional depth.

While the characters, especially Andi and Ro, are compelling, some plot elements feel reminiscent of familiar horror tropes. Critics have noted that the book sometimes leans heavily on well-worn ideas without fully exploring some of its unique concepts. However, the storytelling remains sharp, and the prose effectively balances action with introspection.

Polybius is a thrilling and thought-provoking read, perfect for fans of retro-themed horror and suspenseful, character-driven stories. It’s a nostalgic yet fresh exploration of the dark side of technology and human behavior.

**I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Combines so many of my favorite elements of supernatural horror-- urban legends surrounding lost, haunted, or cursed media being one of them. Riveting and scary and deeply satisfying!

(3.75) rounding up because I really enjoyed the video game aspect a lot in this story!
I picked this one up on a whim on NetGalley because the synopsis sounded good, and I’m glad I did!
I won’t give anything away but I recommend this one to horror fans and also video game fans. My only issue was the pacing seemed to get clunky at times, and I felt like there was too much fluff at times.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC copy of the book!

If you enjoy video games and 1980's nostalgia, this one is for you! What is happening to the people of Tasker Bay? A new addictive video game has shown up at the local video store and anyone who plays it starts to exhibit aggression and violence. A true horror novel without a happy ending.

Thank you so much to Gallery Books and NetGalley for my ARC!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fast-paced scifi story about a video game which has become an urban legend and conspiracy theory over the past decades. Some people claim to remember Polybius, others do not, there’s not much evidence that it ever existed. Allegedly, the game consoles disappeared one day, and nearly everyone denied ever having seen them. You can find stories about it on Internet rumor sites.

The book contains murder, arson, theft, and some mystery surrounding it all. Breaking and entering is a very common occurrence here. There’s crime and murder mystery, government and corporate conspiracy, leaks, unexplained (until later in the story) violence, and vandalism – all with a common cause. There’s code deciphering and electronic spelunking.

This story gives an explanation for Polybius. This isn’t just any video game. It is said to produce seizures, but it does much more than that causing violence, zombie-like behavior, hallucinations, obsessions with things and people making odd drawings. The main protagonists are two teenagers – a sheriff’s son and an electronics-whiz girl – the doctor’s daughter – and their budding romance. Their single-parents work together forming a friendship and we hope more. There is a mystery and a conspiracy about where this game came from and why, and how the “oddities” – which become dangerous in most affected people – can be stopped. There is a government conspiracy, someone who wants it to go public, and everyone in town has their lives on the line.

This book was fine. It wasn't what I wanted but I still enjoyed it. After reading Rabbits and getting interested in the whole Polybius story, I had a lot of hopes that this book would be more in line with the kind of story I got out of Rabbits. It was also compared to Stranger Things, which I can see the connection to the MK Ultra storyline, that wasn't the part of Stranger Things I wanted this book to be similar to. There were large swaths of the beginning of this book where I felt like the author didn't totally know where the story was going, but once I got more towards the middle / end of the book it picked up the pace and I was starting to enjoy it more. I gave this three stars instead of two because it does pick up and the pacing gets better if you stick with it, but it was a really slow start for me and something I might not have finished if I hadn't gotten the ARC.

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 3.5 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 meets 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝? Color me intrigued! 👀 This eerie, nostalgic tale dives into the creepy world of retro arcades, urban legends, and a town spiraling out of control. 🌧️🎮

When Andi moves to Tasker Bay—a seaside town with a “quiet but something's-off” vibe—her focus is on saving up to make her Silicon Valley dreams come true. 💼 But her job at the shady, rundown arcade (of all places!) soon pulls her into the town’s darkest secrets. Between dealing with the 𝑠𝑘𝑒𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑦 locals and fending off relentless players desperate to try the new game “Polybius,” Andi’s life takes a serious twist.

The plot itself? 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔. As the game goes live, people start acting...off. The whole town falls under a spell—paranoia, violence, ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠—until it’s just Andi, Ro, and a handful of others left fighting to uncover what’s really going on. The story nails that spooky arcade vibe and leans into the “strange epidemic” concept with fun twists. 🎮🧟‍♀️

Where it didn’t totally hit the mark for me was the characters. 😕 I really wanted to feel more for Andi and Ro’s journey, but they came across a bit flat—more like pieces in the game than real, relatable teens. Despite the high-stakes action, it was hard to fully connect with them, and I wasn’t as emotionally ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑑 on their story as I’d hoped. The premise was 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟, though, and the 𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 atmosphere and mystery were totally addictive.

All in all, it’s a cool, creepy read that’s perfect for fans of nostalgic horror with a twist. Just don’t expect to get too deep with the characters. If you're here for the vibes and thrills, this one might be for you! 👾✨

𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐠 𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝?! 👀🤯

Thank you NetGalley & the author for my ARC!

This one started off strong for me, but about 2/3 of the way through, it lagged. And the last section was just not for me. I won’t say more so I don’t spoil it for anyone.

incredible old-school vibes in this computer based thriller -recommended for fans of Stephen King and Stranger Things!

I found the book to be electrifying and immersive, this novel dives into the unsettling mystery of Polybius, weaving suspense and supernatural intrigue with a retro '80s vibe. The tense relationship between Andi and Ro offers both heart and heroism, grounding the eerie events in the small town of Tasker Bay. With sharp storytelling and a vivid sense of atmosphere, this book is a must-read for fans of Stranger Things and The Walking Dead, who crave a blend of nostalgia, danger, and psychological intensity.

Not for me. I requested this to read in October, as I always like to stock up on "spooky stories" to get me in the Halloween mood. This wasn't quite what I expected, and not my favorite.