Polybius by Collin Armstrong is one part schoolyard legend mixed with Resident Evil. While diving deep into 80s arcade culture, you find yourself rooting for a small band of characters as the world around them changes forever. While the stage is set beautifully, I found the last quarter of the book rushed, which led to less of a reaction as the plot unfolded. I also found myself looking for a supernatural element and was a bit disappointed, as this fridge of the genre plays well with a bit of co-mingling. While some of the elements of this story are trop-ish, I think that readers who are fans of Rabbits or The Black Tapes podcasts will find it interesting.

I couldn't put this book down!
Polybius is based off of an urban legend that the government designed a video game in the 80s that messed with people's minds. The story goes that these game consoles showed up out of nowhere and then disappeared a month later. This book threw me down that rabbit hole.
Polybius is described as "Stranger Things meets The Walking Dead". That's pretty accurate, but I also got some Something Wicked This Way Comes vibes from it.
Lots of action and lots of violence.

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for an early copy for review.
Polybius comes out April 2025

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for Polybius. They say that if you like Stranger Things and The Walking Dead that you might be into this, I for sure liked Stranger Things, and know of the Walking Dead, so I was intrigued. For sure give this a read once it is out!

Born in the 80’s and raised in the 90’s this book was all the horror I needed!! I love a story told in the past and this book hit every check mark.

It starts off with a prologue that will immediately peak your interest and it just gets better from there. I felt the urban legend aspect made the book that much better. And once the weird things started happening you immediately wanted to see what would happen next. I didn’t feel it was predictable in the sense that you knew each characters story would be in relation to the game and I loved that about it.

I think the description “Stranger Things meets The Walking Dead” is very appropriate! If you’re a fan of sci-fi meets horror you’ll love this.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Gallery books for the eARC.

The idea behind Polybius is really cool, there’s a video game that gives its players much more than they bargained for. I love a mystery and arcade culture so was excited to read this book. And had fun through most of it, but at times I felt like ideas weren’t completely fleshed out or jumped too quickly—especially in the last act. It was still a fun enough ride that I finished my way through the book.

Polybius delivered exactly what I expected from the description, a psychological thriller/horror for people who like Stranger Things and urban legends. It had the eighties atmospheric setting with a solid dose of slasher horror. It took me a second to get into it, but as soon as I was hooked, it was face paced all the way through. I did feel like I wanted a little more resolution at the end, and maybe a little more detail about the game itself. Overall, it was a fun read though!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Polybius is a wild ride that dives into the depths of an eerie urban legend, merging sci-fi horror with the nostalgic pull of 1980s arcade games. When a mysterious machine shows up in a small town’s video store, it sets off a chain of events that unleashes chaos and violence on the unsuspecting residents. Andi, our sharp and determined protagonist, teams up with her friend Ro and their families to unravel the sinister mystery behind this game that’s turning the town upside down.

While the premise of Polybius—a rogue government experiment with dark, mind-altering consequences—is intriguing and fun, the novel feels like it stretches too long in some parts. The first 20% had me hooked, but as the plot slowed down, I found myself wishing for a faster pace. This book would’ve made an excellent novella with tighter storytelling, especially given how much of the middle seemed to drag.

That said, Polybius shines in its horror elements. Armstrong excels at crafting nail-biting moments that had me at the edge of my seat, and the way he builds tension through small-town relationships and bizarre, violent outbursts was compelling. Andi and Ro are well-developed, relatable characters, and I especially enjoyed the portrayal of their families, which added a layer of emotional weight to the chaos happening around them.

However, I did find the constant shifts in perspective a bit disorienting at times. There’s a lot going on, and keeping track of every character and event can be overwhelming. But despite this, the novel manages to keep the reader engaged with its twists and surprises.

As a lover of urban legends and sci-fi, I really appreciated how Polybius played into the real-life mystery surrounding the titular game. It felt like I was falling down an internet rabbit hole, just like reading about the legend itself. Armstrong’s take on the story is fresh, even if comparisons to Stranger Things or The Walking Dead don’t fully capture what this book is about.

Overall, Polybius is a solid debut that blends horror, sci-fi, and a good dose of nostalgia. While the pacing didn’t always work for me, the concept and atmosphere are strong enough to keep you reading. Fans of urban legends and creepy conspiracy theories will find a lot to enjoy here. Just don’t stare at the arcade machine too long…

I really liked the way this one started, but at 20% in I already couldn't believe there could possibly be THAT much more to say... This one felt like it dragged on for me. I think I would have preferred it as a novella, with a faster pace and less slow-build in the middle... It was fun but not as fast-moving as I'd have liked. It didn't feel like a tale designed to be drawn out...

A new arcade machine comes to a small town’s local video store/arcade and ends up causing a mass outbreak of violence. Andi and her new friend Ro want to find out whats going on and try to survive it along with his dad the sheriff and her mother the local doctor. What follows is a tale full of violence, twists, and turns and so many OH MY GOD moments.

Polybuis by Colin Armstrong is my newest review book that I got early from Net Galley. Its being described as a cross between Stranger Things and Walking Dead and that really undersells the book. Polybius is only a little bit like Stranger Things and isn’t like Walking Dead much at all. The book, however, is very intense and an edge of your seat experience. It would absolutely make an amazing movie or tv series.

Andi, the main character, is a really unique cool teenager. She’s smart and tough and she goes through a lot in this book. Ro, her new friend, is a complex character too and so is his Dad and Andi’s mom. There are other characters introduced in this book too and all of them are interesting. The book changes prospectives a lot and occasionally it is hard to keep track of who the book is following and what happened before and after each event. So much happens in this book. The events are totally crazy!

Polybius is a really good book though. Its full of horror and action and great character moments. I enjoyed it a lot and I highly recommend you check it out next year. Though, if you’re color blind, you may enjoy the book even more. Don’t stare at the arcade machine on the cover too long, okay?

Polybius by Colin Armstrong releases on April 29th, 2025. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an early copy of the novel.

Remember the Cicada 3301 experiment? If your answer is yes, then you'll want to read this book.

Polybius is a real-life legend outside of this book which made reading all the more fun.

In the eighties, arcade games were all the rage. So, when one shows up seemingly out of the blue without context, it becomes the height of popularity. And while this "game" spreads through the town like virus, it's sinking in its claws.

The whole town crumbles at this things mercy. It's dark dangerous, deadly.

Prepare for this gripping sci-fi horror because there will be no sleep once you crack it open!

Thank you, Collin Armstrong and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

Conspiracy theorists, those who are already against the government and those who are interested in the bizzar! Look no further! This is a book for you! Don't worry, it's so much more than that. There is horror, death,bloodshed, and so much that will have you unable to put this book down. Definitely makes you wonder what all is going on out there in the world and if we are ever truly safe from anything. Also, if you like apocalyptic style horror, then definitely look this way.

What would happen if the government created something and it got let loose in the world and forgotten? Something dark, dangerous, and definitely mind numbingly brainwashing. What is this thing? Polybius. It's a game, and this poor town is lost to its control. Its claws have dunk deep into the minds of the people, and darkness is spreading fast. What can the people do to stop it? Can anything be done? Death, despair, and bloodshed and utterly chaos have reigned, and there is little time to stop things from getting worse. Read and find out what will happen.

I enjoyed reading this book. There were times I really had a hard time putting it down as I really needed to know what was going to happen next. The only problem i really had was i didn't really connect with any of the characters, even so I loved the book. It was unique and very different from anything I've read yet, and I hope to read more like it in the future.

Polybius by Collin Armstrong is the fictionalized account of an urban legend about a 1981 arcade game that was, in fact, a US government-run experiment that backfired. Polybius allegedly produced intense psychoactive and addictive effects on whoever played it and while it is an urban legend, you still find lengthy posts on the Internet by people who said they played it. After reading this book, I went down the rabbit hole and found pictures of an arcade machine and a long-ass video about it. Honestly, reading this was FIRE. And falling into the rabbit hole of the urban legend made it even better. If you like Black Mirror and video games, this book is a must.

Polybius follows a bunch of characters who live in the seaside town of Tasker Bay. Andi works at the arcade in town saving up money to get the fuck out of there when Mal, her boss, brings in a second-hand arcade machine he just bought for cheap. Polybius. The arcade game becomes an instant hit with people lining up to play it and even fighting to get a chance to try it out. And, right after they play the game, people change - they have visions, dreams, crazy ideas, they lose time… In the meantime, David, the sheriff's deputy, is investigating weird cases of violence that have just started happening in town.

As I said, this was FUN. I love it when a horror book features video games, it’s just so cool to me. I had so much fun reading this, I was 100% hooked. At some point, I think I said out loud ‘this is so fucking good’ while reading it (I’m also very cheap and easy to get into urban mysteries, I love a good rabbit hole and this book had plenty). Two other aspects I want to mention are that 1) this is the perfect balance between a plot-driven and character-driven book, just fantastic storytelling. 2) I loved the writing and the vibe of it all, though it felt a little dense overall.

I loved the atmosphere. This felt like the 1980-1990s movies where kids found something and came together to solve the mystery. Getting to actually get some answers from the ‘guy behind (some of) it all’ was as close as solving the urban mystery as we’ll ever get. What a cool idea and what an amazing take. I guess it is a bit cheesy, but it’s also what I wanted from it. (PS - the blurb says this is like The Walking Dead and idk where they see any connection).

It’s a 4.5 read. Rounded down because it felt a bit too heavy and slow at times. If you liked this book, I strongly suggest you pick up The Between by Ryan Leslie. It’s not about an arcade game but a text-based RPG and it hits as good as this one did.

Content Warning: this includes violence. The first sign that things are going really wrong is a pretty gruesome scene involving animals (horses).

This was a good time! Despite the description comparing it to Stranger Things and The Walking Dead, this felt like a fresh concept. I didn’t see much for similarities other than the premise being in the 1980s for one and people being brainwashed into aggression for the other. Its description did draw me in, but I’m glad that it didn’t borrow heavily from other forms of pop culture.

Pacing was consistent in this book too. I liked that it didn’t give me an opportunity to get bored or lost. As far as sci-fis go, this one was easily consumed.

The ending was iffy though. It’s hard to see a parent allowing anything like that to happen. And then Andi? Well, I’m a sucker for a less than ideal ending.

Thank you for another great ARC, NetGalley!

For Armstrong’s first novel, this was a solid win for me! I loved how atmospheric it was and did not expect how brutal it turned out to be! The descriptions were incredibly realistic and kept me engaged.
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I love that the premise was about an urban legen, it brings a bit of realism to a work of fiction. The characters were either loveable or so utterly hateable, it was great.
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Trying to remain spoiler free, I do wish there was a bit more explanation of what the game play physically looked like, how the markings on the wall connected with other plot points in the book, and wish there as a bit of explanation around the “new tech” that was able to accomplish what it did. There also were a lot of characters to remember which is difficult for me sometimes haha.
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If you love cliff hanger endings, urban legends, gory body horror, and video game or tech, this may be a good choice for you!

I loved this debut novel! An action-packed, fast paced page-turner. All things hyphenated!
Would make a great movie adaptation.
Stranger things meets The Big Door Prize.
Very impressive debut for Collin Armstrong. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my review.

I have read a pre-released copy of this book so some things may change once released.

The characters and storyline are very easy to get hooked on, you want to like them and believe in them. The relationships they build or have with the other characters in the story help shape the world as a whole.

While I personally would have liked a more in depth and altered ending the one present is nice too.

You feel for Andi and Ro and I personally love Rachel and David too. The details on a decent bit of the book play a nice hook and "oooooh that's how it works in" moments overall.

I really enjoyed this book. With its focus on retro video games and the power of the arcade the author takes an urban legend and turns it into a thrilling and compelling story that leaves you wanting more. I wasn’t enthralled by the ending because I wanted characters to succeed but I can also see the benefit in ending it as he did. You will not be able to put the book down nor get the characters out of your head once you start reading it.

Engaging and entertaining fun. A recommended purchase for collections where horror and nostalgia-tinged titles are popular.

3.5 stars. The story was good and unlike anything I’ve read before. It was like The Crazies meets Tron. Editing needs some fine tuning. Some chapters feel misplaced. It’s hard to discern between POVS. …just needs help working out the flow.

Once I started reading this book, I could NOT put it down. Andi is on a mission to be down with school and get to the rest of her life. She knows what she wants and is confident and smart. She begrudgingly makes friends while working where this new video game comes to town. Things get weirder and weirder and next thing you know, Andi and one of her new friends are searching for answers and trying to get people to listen.

There are all kinds of things that start happening in this town. The pacing of the book revs up about halfway through the book and accelerates towards the end. I loved how much action there was and my brain loved playing it out in movie style for me.

I’m looking forward to other books by Collin Armstrong.

ARC provided by Netgalley