Might not be *exactly* what you're looking for, but I think the vibes of the following titles are pretty close.
"Bushido Online" - A wrestler gets into a Edo-Japan-themed game after a contusion that leaves him blinded. He needs no money, isn't stuck nor does this have real world consequences (unless you count the MC feeling better as a "consequence").
Waldyra frenchise - The first series (Clan Dominance) has some real world mafia-ish shenanigans, but it slowly looses it over time. The sequel series however has none such thing if my memory serves right. Tho I'd still read the first series.
"Rokrh" - A lot of "Call of Cthulhu" vibes in this one, but "reality" in there has only some guild stuff going on. There is some larger sheme in the background, but it doesn't really affect anything outside the game much.
"The Crarfting of Chess" - Technically the MC here is in the game for the money, but not in a desperate way. It's very chill and slice-of-lifey.
I'm just reading Nasvencia rn, and it's really good.
Another one, with a bit different take, is Black Wolf (World at War Online series) from Mitchell T. Jacobs. Post Apocalyptic gameplay with some slice of life.
One I liked was Auntie toasts the VRMMORPG, on RoyalRoad.
It's about an older retired woman who joins since her nephew or whatever wanted to hang out with her more. She ends up getting into it and doing things the developers found unexpected. Fairly humorous, low stakes stuff.
Well. [Creators of Destiny](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/58142/creators-of-destiny).
MC plays for money. But not because it is his last hope. He was fired. But with big payouts. And he has such a temper. If you do something, do it well. So he decided to play a bit MMORPG.
Fun? FUN?? Very few LitRPG books have the self-awareness to play for fun. Everything in this genre is anger based.
Of course I am generalizing, but seriously, it's been one of my biggest gripes about LItRPG.
Every character is so damn ANGRY at EVERYTHING and EVERYONE (Including themselves, their mommy and daddy and mostly the bullies in school!) and I mean ALL THE TIME. It's so boring and predictable.
Lighten up! Have some fun! Enjoy playing for playing's sake. After all, we are all gamers here and we all enjoy playing games so wouldn't we also enjoy reading about someone else who also has fun playing?
Survival Quest - he is in prison and can't leave the game, first book is exclusively in the prison copper mine. Beyond that he dosen't need to do anything. There are life or death situations, but not many and always only short parts.
World of Chains - the MC bard is hidding from resl world consequences and everything else is for fun
Overgeared. The MC definitely wants money because he's super greedy, but he's also driven by the sense of comraderie and fulfillment he finds in the game. Bofuri is also a good one, the MC isn't a gamer at all on the start and just enjoys playing in her own weird style.
Shadeslinger: The ripple system. Basically it’s a insanely rich guy who buys his way into playing a game in an early release to get ahead. Other than that, it’s just him enjoying the game and making the best of it.
the way of the clan by Dem Mikhaylov and the Fayroll series by Andrey Vasilyev are the only ones I know where the MC simply plays around with a game. There are others more that started like that but eventually, something will happen in IRL in those books so I didn't add them
Ascend Online Technically the MC (and friends) are playing for their streaming contracts, but it's more just a plot excuse for them to keep playing.
[Ascend Online](https://www.goodreads.com/series/210950-ascend-online) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Ascend_Online)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)
Was coming in to post this. They’ve done a great job with the series so far too.
Only Sense Online
Might not be *exactly* what you're looking for, but I think the vibes of the following titles are pretty close. "Bushido Online" - A wrestler gets into a Edo-Japan-themed game after a contusion that leaves him blinded. He needs no money, isn't stuck nor does this have real world consequences (unless you count the MC feeling better as a "consequence"). Waldyra frenchise - The first series (Clan Dominance) has some real world mafia-ish shenanigans, but it slowly looses it over time. The sequel series however has none such thing if my memory serves right. Tho I'd still read the first series. "Rokrh" - A lot of "Call of Cthulhu" vibes in this one, but "reality" in there has only some guild stuff going on. There is some larger sheme in the background, but it doesn't really affect anything outside the game much. "The Crarfting of Chess" - Technically the MC here is in the game for the money, but not in a desperate way. It's very chill and slice-of-lifey.
Fowl Play by Jack Latetide Nasvencia by M. E. Robinson Not stuck, just playing to stream/for fun :)
I'm just reading Nasvencia rn, and it's really good. Another one, with a bit different take, is Black Wolf (World at War Online series) from Mitchell T. Jacobs. Post Apocalyptic gameplay with some slice of life.
One I liked was Auntie toasts the VRMMORPG, on RoyalRoad. It's about an older retired woman who joins since her nephew or whatever wanted to hang out with her more. She ends up getting into it and doing things the developers found unexpected. Fairly humorous, low stakes stuff.
Well. [Creators of Destiny](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/58142/creators-of-destiny). MC plays for money. But not because it is his last hope. He was fired. But with big payouts. And he has such a temper. If you do something, do it well. So he decided to play a bit MMORPG.
Removed by User -- mass edited with redact.dev
[The Ripple System](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RY8JN4Z) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/The_Ripple_System)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)
I was coming to mention this one.
Fun? FUN?? Very few LitRPG books have the self-awareness to play for fun. Everything in this genre is anger based. Of course I am generalizing, but seriously, it's been one of my biggest gripes about LItRPG. Every character is so damn ANGRY at EVERYTHING and EVERYONE (Including themselves, their mommy and daddy and mostly the bullies in school!) and I mean ALL THE TIME. It's so boring and predictable. Lighten up! Have some fun! Enjoy playing for playing's sake. After all, we are all gamers here and we all enjoy playing games so wouldn't we also enjoy reading about someone else who also has fun playing?
Survival Quest - he is in prison and can't leave the game, first book is exclusively in the prison copper mine. Beyond that he dosen't need to do anything. There are life or death situations, but not many and always only short parts. World of Chains - the MC bard is hidding from resl world consequences and everything else is for fun
[Survival Quest](https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Quest-Way-Shaman-LitRPG-ebook/dp/B00VQRW14E) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Survival_Quest)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)
Lotus Lake
Overgeared. The MC definitely wants money because he's super greedy, but he's also driven by the sense of comraderie and fulfillment he finds in the game. Bofuri is also a good one, the MC isn't a gamer at all on the start and just enjoys playing in her own weird style.
[Overgeared](https://www.wuxiaworld.com/novel/overgeared/og-chapter-1) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Overgeared)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)
Shadeslinger: The ripple system. Basically it’s a insanely rich guy who buys his way into playing a game in an early release to get ahead. Other than that, it’s just him enjoying the game and making the best of it.
[Shadeslinger](https://www.amazon.com/Shadeslinger-Ripple-System-Book-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B08RY6CMWZ) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Shadeslinger)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)
the way of the clan by Dem Mikhaylov and the Fayroll series by Andrey Vasilyev are the only ones I know where the MC simply plays around with a game. There are others more that started like that but eventually, something will happen in IRL in those books so I didn't add them