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Quick answer: If you loved The Maze Runner by James Dashner, try The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Gone by Michael Grant, The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Legend by Marie Lu and Unwind by Neal Shusterman.
The Maze Runner begins with a boy waking in a dark elevator with no memory. He arrives in the Glade, a clearing surrounded by a giant maze that changes every night and is patrolled by deadly Grievers. The mystery of who built it and why keeps pages turning. If you loved the puzzle, the survival and the band of boys trying to escape, the books below offer similar thrills. Most are young adult and suit readers about 12 and up, with some violence.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love The Maze Runner
Readers love The Maze Runner for its mystery. James Dashner gives you as little information as Thomas has, so you piece together the truth about the maze, WICKED and the outside world along with him. The Gladers’ rules, slang and jobs make their small society feel real, and the action is relentless. The films starring Dylan O’Brien brought the series to a wider audience, and the prequels explain how the world fell apart.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about The Maze Runner: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | YA dystopia | Deadly survival games |
| Gone | Michael Grant | YA dystopia | Kids on their own |
| The 5th Wave | Rick Yancey | YA science fiction | Paranoia and twists |
| Ender’s Game | Orson Scott Card | Science fiction | Training and strategy |
| Legend | Marie Lu | YA dystopia | Rebels and secrets |
| Unwind | Neal Shusterman | YA dystopia | Dark moral dilemmas |
| Lord of the Flies | William Golding | Classic | Boys forming their own society |
| The Darkest Minds | Alexandra Bracken | YA dystopia | Teens with dangerous powers |
| Scythe | Neal Shusterman | YA science fiction | Big ideas and action |
| The Giver | Lois Lowry | Middle grade dystopia | A younger reader |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Science fiction | Older teens and adults |
| Ashfall | Mike Mullin | YA survival | Disaster survival |
| Tunnels | Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams | YA adventure | Underground mysteries |
| Divergent | Veronica Roth | YA dystopia | Factions and tests |
| The Long Walk | Stephen King | Thriller | Adults wanting intense survival |
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss fights for her life in a televised arena. It’s the gold standard for survival stories and a natural next read.
2. Gone by Michael Grant
Everyone over fourteen disappears from a California town, and the kids left behind must organize, fight and survive. It’s like the Glade on a bigger scale.
3. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
After alien attacks wipe out most of humanity, Cassie can’t trust anyone. It’s tense and full of reveals.
4. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
A gifted boy is trained in zero-gravity battle games to fight an alien enemy. It’s a classic with a famous twist.
5. Legend by Marie Lu
A criminal and a prodigy soldier uncover the dark truth about their republic. It’s fast and smart.
6. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Teens marked to be unwound go on the run. It asks hard questions and has a chilling scene readers never forget.
7. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Schoolboys stranded on an island try to govern themselves, with violent results. It’s the classic Maze Runner readers often discover next.
8. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
After a disease kills most kids, survivors develop powers and are sent to camps. Ruby escapes and joins a group of runaways.
9. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Two teens train to become scythes who end lives in a world without death. It’s original and gripping.
10. The Giver by Lois Lowry
Jonas learns the painful truths hidden by his perfect community. It’s short and thought-provoking.
11. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
A miner infiltrates Mars’s elite through a brutal school where students fight for survival. It’s darker and more violent.
12. Ashfall by Mike Mullin
After a supervolcano erupts, a teen crosses a ruined Midwest to find his family. It’s gritty and realistic.
13. Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
Will and his friend dig beneath London and discover a hidden underground world. It’s full of strange creatures and secrets.
14. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Tris joins a fearless faction and survives brutal training. It’s a natural match for Maze Runner fans.
15. The Long Walk by Stephen King
One hundred teen boys walk until only one remains. Originally published under the name Richard Bachman, it’s grim and gripping.
How to Pick Your Next Survival Read
- Loved the mystery? The 5th Wave and Tunnels.
- Loved the group of kids? Gone and Lord of the Flies.
- Want arena action? The Hunger Games.
- Want strategy? Ender’s Game.
- Younger reader? The Giver is gentler.
- Older reader? Red Rising and The Long Walk are darker.
Maze Runner Reading Order
The main trilogy is The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure. The prequels, The Kill Order and The Fever Code, show how the Flare spread and how the maze was built. Later books, The Maze Cutter and The Godhead Complex, are set decades after the trilogy. Many readers prefer to read the trilogy first so the prequels’ reveals land with more impact.
Related: what age The Maze Runner is appropriate for and books like Divergent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is like The Maze Runner?
The Hunger Games, Gone and The 5th Wave are the closest matches.
What age is The Maze Runner for?
It is usually recommended for ages 12 and up because of violence and character deaths.
Should I read The Maze Runner prequels first?
Most readers start with the trilogy and read The Kill Order and The Fever Code afterward.