Two children, a boy and a girl, meet in a hospital in 1987. The girl visits her sister suffering from leukemia, the boy recovers from a car accident. Their common theme, the passion for video games - the captivating worlds they contain, the exciting competitions and the opportunity to escape from the troubles of everyday life - results in a special friendship between them. Still, eight years pass before they meet again, but their destinies are permanently intertwined from then on.

During their university years, Sam and Sadie run into each other again in a crowded subway station. The girl hands the boy a floppy disk containing her latest game, which she made for the MIT Advanced Game Development Seminar. Sam is fascinated by the program and convinces Sadie to start a game development company to realize their dreams of designing games with worlds that enchant and absorb the lovers of the increasingly popular form of entertainment of the time.

They will soon become superstars in their fields. However, success and glamor present unexpected challenges to both of them.

Gabrielle Zevin's magical and intimate novel is an ode to the golden age of video games; on the other hand, it is the story of two people who search for themselves through their creativity and try to overcome the limitations of their introverted personalities to discover different forms of love and affection.

They said about the book:

"An astonishingly powerful novel, one of the best I've ever read. Zevin's beautiful story shows the beauty, fragility and endurance of human love and creativity in a compelling way."
John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars

"The World Builders is an unforgettable book about human relationships, the beauty of creation, and the complex levels of love and affection. A rare gem: intimate in tone, but overwhelming; modern in outlook, but with a timeless message."
Erin Morgenstern, author of The Night Circus

"Zevin's new book is a love letter to life, with all its gardens of Eden and minefields. The World Builders and its memorable characters know no boundaries. They make the reader laugh, teach, and make the reader a better person."
Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage

"Sensational... it's like Zevin was born to write this book. A love letter to video games... It will enchant those who have never played before and become a timeless classic for those who have it in their daily lives."
Kirkus Reviews