You're standing in the bookstore or scrolling through your e-reader, and you see that familiar, gritty font. Maybe you just watched the movies and realized the books are basically a different universe. You want to know how many in the maze runner series you actually need to read to get the full story. It sounds like a simple question. It isn't.
James Dashner didn’t just write a trilogy and walk away. He kept digging. He went backward. He went forward. He even went sideways. If you just grab three books, you’re missing a massive chunk of the lore that explains why the world ended in the first place. Honestly, if you only read the main trilogy, you're going to have a lot of questions about WICKED that never get answered.
Right now, there are seven books in the official lineup. That number includes the core trilogy, two prequels, and a newer "sequel" series that jumps way ahead in time.
Breaking Down the Seven Books
First, you have the original trilogy. This is what most people mean when they ask how many in the maze runner series. You’ve got The Maze Runner (2009), The Scorch Trials (2010), and The Death Cure (2011). These follow Thomas and the Gladers. It’s the meat of the story. It’s why the franchise became a juggernaut in the YA dystopian era alongside The Hunger Games.
But then Dashner started filling in the blanks.
In 2012, we got The Kill Order. This is a prequel, but it’s not about Thomas. It’s set right when the Sun Flares hit and the Flare virus was first released. It's bleak. It’s brutal. Many fans find it jarring because the characters are all new, but it provides the "why" behind the entire series.
Four years later, The Fever Code arrived. This is the second prequel, and for many, it’s the most important book besides the original. It shows Thomas and Teresa training at WICKED before their memories were wiped. It shows the construction of the Maze. If you want to know how the Gladers were chosen, this is your book.
Then things got interesting again recently. Dashner returned to the world with The Maze Cutter (2022) and The Godhead Complex (2023). These are part of The Maze Cutter trilogy, set 73 years after the events of The Death Cure. They follow the descendants of the original characters. So, if we’re counting the "world" of the series, we are currently at seven published novels with more likely on the way.
The Actual Release Order
- The Maze Runner (Book 1)
- The Scorch Trials (Book 2)
- The Death Cure (Book 3)
- The Kill Order (Prequel 1)
- The Fever Code (Prequel 2)
- The Maze Cutter (The Maze Cutter Trilogy, Book 1)
- The Godhead Complex (The Maze Cutter Trilogy, Book 2)
Why the Order You Read Them Matters
Don't read them chronologically. Just don't.
If you start with The Kill Order just because it happens first in the timeline, you’ll be miserable. It’s a prequel designed to answer questions you haven't even thought to ask yet. It assumes you already know what the Flare is and how devastating it becomes.
The mystery is the whole point of the first book. You're supposed to be as confused as Thomas is when he pops out of that metal box into the Glade. If you read The Fever Code first, you know everyone’s secrets. You know who is a "traitor" and who isn't. It kills the tension. It’s like watching the Star Wars prequels before the original trilogy—you’re robbing yourself of the "I am your father" moments.
The "Crank" Problem and Expanded Lore
There is a weird little outlier called The Maze Runner Files. It's not a novel. It's a companion book. It’s a collection of "classified" documents, emails, and memos from WICKED. It’s short. You can finish it in an hour. But for the hardcore lore hunters, it’s essential because it gives more insight into the Flare virus.
Speaking of the Flare, the science in the books is way more complex than the movies let on. In the films, it’s basically a zombie virus. In the books, it’s a slow erosion of the mind. Dashner has talked about how the virus was a deliberate population control measure gone wrong. It’s dark stuff.
The newest books—the Maze Cutter series—deal with the aftermath of that darkness. Civilization is trying to rebuild, but they’ve deified the original Gladers. It’s a fascinating look at how history turns into myth. It also changes the answer to how many in the maze runner series from "a completed set" to "a growing franchise."
The Misconception About "The Kill Order"
A lot of people skip The Kill Order. They shouldn't. While it feels disconnected, it introduces the concept of the "post-flare" world in a way the main trilogy can't because Thomas is always trapped in a controlled environment. It shows the sheer panic of the government (the Post-Flare Coalition) as they realize they can't stop the spread.
The Movie Count vs. The Book Count
This is where casual fans get tripped up. There are only three movies: The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure.
There are no current plans to film the prequels or the new sequel trilogy. Director Wes Ball and the cast have mostly moved on to other massive projects. So if you’ve seen the movies and think you’re done, you’ve actually only experienced about 40% of the written material.
The movies also took massive liberties. By the time you get to The Scorch Trials film, the plot has veered so far from the book that they are almost unrecognizable. In the books, the characters still have their telepathic abilities (yes, Thomas and Teresa can talk in each other's heads), and the "trials" are much more structured. If you've only seen the films, you're missing the psychological horror that makes the books stand out.
Is There More Coming?
Yes. The Maze Cutter trilogy isn't finished. As of early 2026, the story is still expanding. James Dashner has a habit of returning to this world. Even when fans think the story is wrapped up, he finds a new angle or a new generation to explore.
It’s also worth mentioning the "Crank Palace." This is a novella focused entirely on Newt. It takes place during the events of The Death Cure but follows Newt after he leaves the group. It’s a tear-jerker. If you’re a Newt fan—and let’s be honest, who isn't?—it’s a mandatory read. It adds a layer of tragedy to the finale of the main trilogy that you just don't get otherwise.
Where to Start Right Now
If you are new or just coming back after a long break, follow this path:
- Read the Main Trilogy first. Start with The Maze Runner. Don't look at spoilers. Don't Google the characters. Just read.
- Hit the Prequels. Go to The Kill Order to see the world fall apart, then The Fever Code to see how the Maze was built.
- Grab "Crank Palace". It’s short, punchy, and provides the closure Newt deserved.
- Dive into "The Maze Cutter". This is for when you’re ready for a total shift in tone and a jump forward in time.
The reality is that how many in the maze runner series depends on whether you're a casual reader or a completionist. For a casual reader, it’s 3. For a fan, it’s 5. For the obsessed, it’s 8 (including the novella and the documents).
The series isn't just about kids running through a stone labyrinth. It’s a meditation on whether the survival of the human race is worth the loss of human morality. WICKED is good? Maybe. But the books give you enough information to decide that for yourself.
To get the most out of your reading, track down a boxed set of the first five books. These are often sold together now and provide the most cohesive experience of Thomas’s journey. Once you finish those, seek out The Maze Cutter to see how the world Thomas fought for actually turned out decades later. It’s not as peaceful as he probably hoped.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify your collection: If you own the "trilogy," check if you have the 2020 editions which sometimes include bonus chapters from The Fever Code.
- Prioritize "The Fever Code": If you only have time for one extra book, make it this one. It recontextualizes every interaction between Thomas and Teresa in the first book.
- Explore the "Crank Palace" Audiobook: This specific novella has a high-quality narration that emphasizes the emotional weight of Newt's final days, making it a great "bridge" between the old books and the new sequels.