Ready Player One Review

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

"No one in the world gets what they want and that is beautiful."

I just finished Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, and honestly—it was a blast. I knew better than to compare it too closely to the movie, but that didn’t stop me from having a few “what the hell were they thinking?” moments. Some changes made sense for cinematic pacing, but others left me wondering why key elements were dropped entirely. That said, the book stands on its own as a layered, high-energy read that offers way more depth than the film version even attempts.

At its core, Ready Player One is a dystopian sci-fi novel set in a crumbling future where society has retreated into a vast virtual reality called the OASIS. This is a story that blends nostalgia-fueled escapism with surprisingly sharp commentary on the modern world. Yes, there’s a treasure hunt, arcade games, and pop culture trivia. Still, beneath the surface, Ready Player One explores corporate greed, failed institutions, and the loss of personal freedom in an increasingly digital society.

"They were just another IOI acquisition now. Another piece of intellectual property that IOI could exploit."

Cline doesn’t shy away from taking jabs at corporate culture—IOI (Innovative Online Industries) is the clearest villain in the book, a megacorporation willing to exploit, enslave, and kill to gain control of the OASIS. It’s a blunt but effective warning about what happens when unchecked capitalism invades our digital spaces. The fight for control of the OASIS isn’t just about money—it’s about identity, privacy, and the right to escape on your terms.

"People who live in glass houses should shut the hell up."

And then there’s Wade, our scrappy protagonist. He starts as a loner with a knack for obscure trivia, but his journey through the contest becomes a slow awakening to the real-world implications of the digital empire he’s trying to win. While the book is steeped in individualism. Wade’s success stems from his personal knowledge and perseverance, which also highlights the value of connection, community, and shared resistance.

The magic of Ready Player One isn’t just in its worldbuilding or its nonstop references (though those are fun); it’s in the way it blends high-stakes adventure with deeper questions about freedom, safety, and what it means to live authentically in a world built on illusion.

"I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I just didn’t know how to connect with the people there."

If you want a fast-paced dystopian read that hits on gaming, virtual identity, and the cost of selling out, this one’s worth your time. It’s more than just an ode to the ‘80s—it’s a digital-age cautionary tale wrapped in a joystick and a dream.

You don’t have to love the ‘80s to enjoy it, but if you do? Bonus points.