Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell

To provide a variety of perspectives to consider the user experience from.
Amazon link
Summary Notes Google Doc

Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

Provides a great primer on expections in design, and how we interact with interfaces.
Amazon link
Summary Notes Google Doc

Forest Paths Method For Narrative Design

A fantastic primer on how to tie together systems design and narrative design for a game to reinforce each other.
Amazon Link
Summary Notes Google Doc

Game Feel by Steve Swink

Provides a great grounding in what gives a game its intangible, often difficult to communicate feel, and how developers can get back to quantifiable metrics to improve the feeling of a game.
Amazon link
Summary Notes Google Doc

Game Sound by Karen Collins

To build a shared vocabulary with sound designers.
MIT Press link
Summary Notes Google Doc

MDA : A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research by Robin Hunicke, Marc Gateau Leblanc, Robert Zubek

Link to paper
Summary Notes Google Doc

Verbalize by Damon Suede

To build my skill set around character-building and dialogue.
Amazon link
Summary Notes Google Doc