You’d think the answer to how many books are in the series the hunger games would be a simple "three." For years, it was. We had the original trilogy, we had Katniss, and we had a very definitive, if somewhat traumatizing, ending in Mockingjay. But then Suzanne Collins decided she wasn’t done with Panem.
It's been a wild ride for fans. If you’re just getting into the series or trying to complete your shelf, the number has shifted. As of right now, there are four published books in the Hunger Games universe. However, that’s about to change very soon. Collins recently announced a fifth book, Sunrise on the Reaping, which is set to hit shelves in 2025. So, if you're counting what you can actually buy today, the number is four. If you're looking at the complete canon as it stands in development, we're looking at five.
The Original Trilogy: Where It All Started
Most people remember the cultural explosion that happened around 2008. When The Hunger Games first landed, it wasn't just another YA novel. It was a bleak, visceral critique of reality television and war. It followed Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for a televised death match to save her sister.
The first book set the stage. It gave us the world-building we needed to understand the Capitol's cruelty. Then came Catching Fire. Honestly, many fans (myself included) consider this the peak of the series. The stakes get higher, the world expands, and the "Quarter Quell" twist was a stroke of genius. Finally, Mockingjay wrapped it up. It wasn't a "happy" ending in the traditional sense. It was messy. It dealt with PTSD, the cyclical nature of political corruption, and the high cost of revolution. For a long time, these three books were the beginning and the end of the conversation.
The Prequel Shift: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
In 2020, Suzanne Collins did something nobody really expected: she wrote a villain origin story. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the fourth book, and it’s massive.
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Unlike the fast-paced survivalist energy of the original trilogy, this one is a slow-burn character study. It focuses on a young Coriolanus Snow—the man we eventually know as the tyrannical President Snow. It’s set during the 10th Hunger Games, sixty-four years before Katniss ever enters the arena. It’s a bit of a polarizing read. Some people love the philosophical depth; others find it hard to root for a protagonist they know becomes a monster. But if you want to understand the "why" behind Panem's evolution, it's essential. It explains how the Games turned from a crude punishment into the polished, horrifying media spectacle seen in the later books.
What’s Coming Next? Sunrise on the Reaping
So, when we talk about how many books are in the series the hunger games, we have to look toward the horizon. The fifth book, Sunrise on the Reaping, is scheduled for release on March 18, 2025.
This one is going to be big. It’s set 24 years before the original trilogy, during the 50th Hunger Games. For those who know their lore, this is the "Second Quarter Quell." This is the year Haymitch Abernathy won. We’ve had snippets of this story before—Katniss and Peeta actually watch the tapes of Haymitch’s Games in Catching Fire—but now we’re getting the full narrative. Collins has mentioned that this book is inspired by David Hume’s ideas on "easy submission" and how the few can control the many. It’s expected to be a much more political and philosophical entry than a simple "arena" story.
Why the Order Matters More Than the Count
When you have five books (four out, one coming), people start arguing about reading order. Do you go chronologically? Or do you go by publication date?
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I’m a firm believer in publication order. Start with The Hunger Games. The mystery of Panem is best experienced through Katniss's eyes because she’s learning about the world just like we are. If you jump into the prequels first, you lose the impact of seeing how the world fell apart. You miss the "Easter eggs." Seeing a young Snow try to be a "good" person is much more jarring when you already know he’s going to end up smelling like blood and roses while executing children.
- The Hunger Games (2008)
- Catching Fire (2009)
- Mockingjay (2010)
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
- Sunrise on the Reaping (Upcoming 2025)
The Misconceptions About "The Hunger Games" Series
A common mistake people make is thinking there are more books because of the movies. Because Mockingjay was split into two films, some casual fans assume there are four books in the original set. Nope. Just three.
Another point of confusion stems from the "Companion" books. You’ll often see things like The World of the Hunger Games or official movie guides in bookstores. These aren't novels. They’re behind-the-scenes coffee table books or technical guides. They don’t count toward the actual series total. If you’re looking for the narrative written by Suzanne Collins herself, stick to the five titles mentioned above.
The Impact of the Expanded Universe
Why keep writing them? Honestly, Panem is a goldmine for exploring modern anxieties. Collins doesn't just write these for the sake of a sequel; she writes them when she has something to say about human nature.
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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was a deep dive into Enlightenment philosophy—specifically the ideas of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. It asked if humans are naturally violent or if we are shaped by our systems. By expanding the series, Collins is turning a "young adult dystopian" story into a significant piece of political fiction. It’s why these books stay on the bestseller lists for years. They aren't just about kids fighting in the woods; they're about how societies collapse and how power is maintained.
Preparing for the Next Chapter
If you’re planning a re-read before the fifth book drops, give yourself some time. The prose in the newer books is a bit denser than the original trilogy. Collins has evolved as a writer, and the themes have become more complex.
The 50th Games (Haymitch's year) is arguably the most brutal one described in the lore. It featured double the tributes—48 children instead of 24. It’s going to be a heavy read. But for anyone tracking how many books are in the series the hunger games, staying updated on this release is the most important thing you can do right now.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to complete your collection or dive in for the first time, here is how you should handle it.
- Check your editions: If you want a matching set, wait. Scholastic often releases new box set designs whenever a new book comes out. If you buy a set now, it won't include Sunrise on the Reaping.
- Read the Prequel: If you haven't read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes yet, do it now. It changes the way you view the original trilogy, especially the character of Snow and the importance of the "Hanging Tree" song.
- Pre-order early: Based on previous releases, the fifth book will likely have signed editions or special "indie bookstore" variants. Keep an eye on local bookshop announcements toward the end of 2024.
- Track the Movie News: Lionsgate has already confirmed a film adaptation for Sunrise on the Reaping for late 2026. Reading the book first is always the better move to catch the internal monologues that movies often have to skip.
The Hunger Games isn't just a trilogy anymore. It’s a growing saga that continues to define the dystopian genre. Whether we eventually get more than five books is anyone's guess, but for now, the journey from District 12 to the dark history of the Capitol is more complete than ever.