Proof that the remaining 10% is worth coming out of your shell for here.
These are recommendations made by tropers for The Amazing World of Gumball fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.
You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.
The Argument
by Whiskers Mooncat- Recommended by: Redaka
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: After an argument with his mother, Gumball runs out on his own and he couldn't have picked a worse time because Elmore is about to face a heavy storm. Worried for his safety, Nicole rushes outside searching for her son only to end up running into major trouble. Can Gumball and the family come to her rescue in time?
- Comments: It's only two chapters long but it's a very engaging read that manages to be dramatic, emotional and humorous; the characterization also feels spot on.
- Recommended by: Hyphae
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: When Penny decided to take Gumball for a stroll through Elmore, she never expected to learn something she hadn't known about the feline before.
- Pairing(s): Gumball/Penny.
The Newcomer by Neo Nimbus
- Recommended by: Dinogirl23
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: When new kid Brian O'Quinn is befriended by Gumball, he soon finds himself drawn into his new friend's dysfunctional lifestyle and the misadventures he finds himself in.
The Rampage by Superdimentio77
- Recommended by: Metro_Fox
- Status: Dead; last updated March 2017
- Synopsis: A normal day? For Gumball and Darwin Watterson? Impossible, I hear you say. And... You are quite right. As they try to get around this idea, they discover that four of their friends are experiencing one strange change. And if they don't act quickly, things will only go worse for everybody.
- Comments: This is one of the best Gumball Fanfics out there, holding true to the funny, deconstructive, snarky and thoughtful nature of the series while starting with a plot that fits right into the amazing world of a blue cat but despite Gumball’s and Darwin’s best efforts they got tangled up in a plot which kind would also fit well into the world of the show.
- It wasn’t updated for a while at the time of this writing, but it is unclear if the fanfiction is either dead or just on hiatus.
- Recommended by: The_Reeds_Of_Enki
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: "As you can see, Watterson, your kids are being lowered into an acid pit. But I don't want them all to die. Oh no, my dear. I want you to choose. Choose who will die, and I'll let the others go free." Nicole is asked to make a terrible choice. It doesn't go how anyone expects.
- Comments: This fic is a fantastic deconstruction of Gumball's typical hijinks, where Gumball suffers the consequence of a prank gone out-of-hand. The characterization, while darker than usual, is handled beautifully, but it's the way the dialogue and exposition are set up that really makes the fic stand out. The grammar is impeccable.
The Boulevard of Broken Hearts by St Elmo's Fire
- Recommended by: The_Reeds_Of_Enki
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: When Anais stumbles across a cursed artifact from an unknown source, the Wattersons find themselves thrown into an alternate reality where the unthinkable has happened: Penny and Gumball have broken up! It's up to Gumball to fix this unspeakable tragedy, by any means necessary.
- Comments: Personally, my favorite aspect of this fic is the commentary on how romantic relationships are handled in pop culture media. Beyond that, the characterization of Gumball, Darwin, and Anais is perfect, and Gumball's quirky sense of humor helps sparse humor in with the more serious passages.
- Recommended by: The_Official_Boss
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Gumball is having the worst day ever, and it's not ending there. In fact, it's not ending at all! Gumball is stuck in a time loop and if he ever wants tomorrow to come he has to get to the bottom of what's causing it.
- This is a legitimate piece of literature I am reading. And when I say that, I'm saying this could be written as a stand-alone story. Beautiful character arcs for Gumball, (yes, arcS) hilarious moments that have you rolling around on the floor in laughter, and sometimes ambiguous moments that can't be deciphered through only one sitting.
Teri × Gumball: In Between Worlds by Fantastic Schaefer
- Recommended by: Devilmansans
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: Three months after a devastating breakup, a depressed Gumball is surprised when Teri shows up at his house in the middle of the night with a monster chasing her. Soon Gumball and Teri find themselves caught in an invasion by invisible monsters known as "Nephilim" and have to prevent Elmore's destruction. Will this unlikely duo succeed or will Elmore be trampled underfoot?
- Pairing(s):( Teri/Gumball),(Carrie/Darwin)
The Feast By The Shadow Reader
- Recommended by: LightningthePikachu
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: For revenge a man gives a cursed Gumball DVD to his friend. In it, the Wattersons go to a poorly made hotel where cannibals plan to eat the kids.
- WARNING: This is a creepypasta and this story is only for mature audiences! It contains bones, blood, and cannibalism. I also suggest not listening to this while eating anything, especially meat. However the kids end up okay at the end and the only damage to them is a cut on Gumball's arm.
- What I love about this is, unlike most creepypastas nothing truly horrific happens to the main characters and no characters end up turning evil for little reason. Also, when the kids are about to be eaten, not only does Nicole go berserk, but Richard does as well and the only reason he stopped was to save his kids.
Come To Life by TCTW
- Recommended by: mkmlp
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Gumball stumbles on an old note in his mother's handwriting, after falling down into the basement that reveals a harsh secret Nicole has been keeping from the time when he was a baby. This revelation causes Gumball to take a long and hard look at their relationship and question his worth as her son. Meanwhile, Ms. Simian waits for the opportunity to get the Watterson kids out of her hair for good.
- A surprisingly emotionally powerful story, though a bit rushed, especially in regards with the conflict with Ms. Simian in the latter half of the story, but the internal drama Gumball deals with regarding his mother, more than makes up for it.
The Sad Part of Happiness by TCTW
- Recommended by: mkmlp
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Four years after the events of the series, Gumball is now sixteen and his family's lives have been turned upside down twice over: First Nicole and Richard have gotten a divorce after he found his mother crying to herself outside one night and admits how tired she is of her life, then soon after, Penny gives him some rather shocking news, after their last date ended... very intimately.
- Pairing: Gumball/Penny
- Like the story from the same author above, surprisingly emotionally powerful, despite feeling pretty rushed with the subplot between Nicole and Richard feeling particularly underdeveloped. None the less, it is definitely worth a read for any Gumball x Penny fans.
The Prank by Life Paint
- Recommended by: mkmlp
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: After Miss Simian fails Gumball on a test, despite him actually getting the answers right, Nicole decides that she's messed with her and her family long enough and ropes her son into a plan to get back at her. But things go south when their plan to get back at Simian seemingly kills her. Now mother and son have to work together to cover their tracks. Inspired by the SpongeBob SquarePants episode Nasty Patty.
- Gumball and Nicole make surprisingly entertaining partners in crime, while still maintaining a believable mother and son relationship that feels true to their characterization in the show. All in all, an enjoyable and lighthearted little misadventure.
The Alternate World of Kid Nicole by Starburst Crusader and co-created by Whiskers Mooncat
- Recommended by: mkmlp
- Status: On hiatus
- Synopsis: In an alternate universe, lonely Twelve-year-old Nicole Senicourt's life has taken an interesting turn, when her mother Mary and her suitor, Danial, decide it's time to formally get together, and he brings along his son and her new step-sibling, Gumball Watterson, to live with them.
- The characterization for both Nicole and Gumball is good and their budding friendship is written very well. Unfortunately, the story only has a couple chapters so far, but it seems very promising.
Scars by Red Marks
- Recommended by: mkmlp
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: After falling into a state of depression that inadvertently lead to him burning bridges with both his girlfriend and best friend/adopted brother, while creating a huge strain on the family in general, Gumball decides to end it, thinking his death will help everyone. How wrong he is...
- A depressing but well written story that deals with suicide without glamorizing it, showing the fallout as anything but positive. Though if Gumball actually going through with suicide is too much for you, it does contain an alternate ending in the final chapter (that this troper personally feels is the true and better ending), where Gumball backs out at the last second and is confronted by his loved ones over the attempt, forcing him to let them know how much he was suffering.
The Gauntlet by Whiskers Mooncat
- Recommended by: mkmlp
- Status: Hiatus
- Synopsis: It's family game night at the Watterson Household and everyone is feeling competitive, except for Gumball who is more concerned with having fun. Determined to make her son a winner, Nicole arranges a special challenge just for him. Gumball will have to face off against each family member in a game of their own choosing. Can he successfully defeat all four of them?
- Basically, an alternate take on the concept presented in the canon episode, "The Fridge". If you think the idea behind that episode of Nicole pushing Gumball to be better through questionable means, but don't like how that episode went about it, this might be for you.
Mrs. Mom by Nebulaskiies
- Recommended by: mkmlp
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Darwin is concerned that despite the fact that he sees Nicole as his mother and she says she loves him, she doesn't regularly show him the same amount of affection she shows her biological children, Gumball and Anais and even seems colder when she talks to him despite still putting on a maternal tone. After Darwin confronts her over this, Nicole takes a moment to ponder over their relationship and reminisces about its rather rocky start when they first brought Darwin into the family.
- A rare fic that explores the relationship between Darwin and his adopted mother. Though this story's take on how Darwin first became part of The Watterson Family, has been jossed by the episode "The Origins", its still a good alternate take on the events and shifts focus to how Nicole might react to her son's pet goldfish suddenly becoming a sapient creature and another child she has to take care of.
Metal Gear Gumball: The Twin Cats by Life Paint
- Recommend by: mkmlp
- Status: Ongoing
- Crossover with: Metal Gear Solid
- Synopsis: A parodic Fusion Fic that transplants the characters of The Amazing World of Gumball into the roles of the characters in Metal Gear Solid.
- Comments: Despite the odd combination, this fic does a surprisingly good job slipping Gumball into the role of Snake by striking a balance between his bumbling and ditzy nature, and occasional arrogance so he's still recognizable, and enough moments of genuine badass to buy him as a renowned commando of Snake's caliber. The banter between him and the other characters is also pretty amusing and the story even has a bit of mystery as to what roles certain characters will play.
- Recommended by: Redaka
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Gumball's mother Nicole can do the unthinkable! She can age people, melt things with her eyes, and turn into a savage beast when provoked, but she can also see into her family's dreams. Fearing the next time a push over the limit will occur, Gumball does not realize he has inherited his mother's supernatural abilities! At first, his mother is overjoyed when she finds out about this, but soon she realizes that all of this may be too much for the little blue cat. But is it too late for Gumball to harness his capabilities in a way that can be used for good, or will he succumb to the dangers of his inherited supernatural forces? Or is there something bigger hiding underneath all of it?
- Comments: A very well written fic that focuses on the bond between Gumball and Nicole and spans many chapters.
It's Over When It's Over bySuperSinger9000
- Recommended by Jiballsan
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: The show has ended, and all of Elmore is being sucked into The Void, including the Wattersons. But when Gumball comes across a familiar looking remote he has to go back in time in order to save the future.
- Comments: Once upon a time before 2021 The Gumball Movie was set to never be made and the show's infamous cliffhanger was destined to be unresolved which this story set out to rectify. Taking place after The Inquisition with spot on characterization and successfully integrating TAWOG's meta into the plot to the point it reads more like an official script to The Gumball Movie, this story gave Gumball the true Big Damn Movie Grand Finale that the show deserved back then when the network was screwing over the series.
Catlike Instincts by SilverHeartSP
- Recommend by: mkmlp
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: In which Gumball reminds everyone that he is, in fact, a cat. (Specifically, every chapter revolves around a Furry Reminder of some kind.)
- Comment: A lighthearted, episodic little story that takes advantage of an element that was only seldomly exploited in the show (Gumball being an anthropomorphic cat) to create some humorous little stories with a fair amount heartwarming moments thrown in. And surprising for an episodic story, manages to bring it all together with a heartfelt ending. A good little story for someone looking for a lighthearted read, wanting to see Gumball's catlike traits get more mileage, or even wanting to see some heartwarming moments between the characters.
The Hedgehunter: A TAWOG Fanfic by Wheyfinder
- Recommend by: Valha28
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: When Gumball, Darwin, and Carrie get together for a horror movie marathon, they stumble upon a highly obscure flick known only as "Hedgehunter." Despite seeming like any old piece of arthouse junk, Carrie finds herself uncharacteristically shaken by it, and soon enough, the group discovers that the movie is no mere work of fiction. Desperate and afraid, the group finds themselves hunted by a vengeful, unstoppable killer bent on taking their souls.
- Comment: A super well-written and thrilling story. The humor and characters' personalities are completely on point, the story is engaging and keeps you wanting to read more, and the entire idea of the plot is super creative and fun.
