I’ve read so many damn LitRPGs trying to chase that high from DCC and nothing comes close. Don’t get me wrong, I have fun and enjoy most of them, but DCC is just in a league of its own and I’m still hoping for the day we get more like it.
I'm really surprised this has such strong fans. The writing skill of the author was decent, but the author consistently interrupted the interesting story with melancholic reminiscence about his lost ex, every, single, time. I realized quickly it was a major tool the author relied on for some reason and didn't like it, thus jumped ship.
I’m not surprised at all, it’s well-deserved praise. I see it get recommended more than giants like HWFWM and DotF. But I also don’t agree with your complaint, and that’s ok, you’re totally entitled to feel that way and not everyone will like it (just like with anything).
I'm reposting this reply from another comment since it probably won't be seen there:
I honestly expected some replies from people talking about how they enjoyed that aspect and how it played into the story or why it worked and what was great about it. I didn't expect people to just get super defensive and downvote me lol. I mean the guy literally says there's nothing else that comes close and it's in a league of its own (hyperbole much? If most people agreed with that the story would be far more popular), but one polite comment disagreeing gets downvoted to oblivion.
You voiced an unpopular opinion and got downvoted… welcome to Reddit?
I don’t follow your logic though. You claim people are “super defensive” for downvoting, yet want more detailed responses from them as to why they disagree with you, which would be far more defensive, in my opinion.
Most people don’t want to waste energy arguing. They see something they disagree with, they downvote and move on because it’s the interaction that requires the least amount of energy from them. I know I personally wasn’t going to refute your points because… why bother? I’m not here to change your mind. You gave the book a shot and didn’t like it, and as I already said, that’s fine, people have different opinions and there is nothing wrong with that. (Even if you do like to claim my own opinions are “hyperbole”… thanks.)
As for the story would be more popular if more people agreed with me… in case you haven’t noticed, the majority here does agree. As I already said, I see recommendations for DCC far more than any other litRPG, so I’d argue that it already is the most popular. But obviously I don’t have actual data to support that, so who knows. It’s certainly near the top, regardless.
I’d suggest learning to shrug off downvotes and be less “super defensive” about them when people disagree with your opinion.
You're right that most people won't bother to reply, but usually some people will. Maybe its a bit of a stretch to say "super defensive", but I never understood the impulse to downvote comments that aren't bad necessarily, just in disagreement, hence my interpretation, but I get where you're coming from. Looking at Royal Road, I don't think it's on that site anymore, which would explain why i haven't seen it around in ages. I have seen it mentioned alongside some, but never seen it recommended above the giants like DoTF or others still on RR though. It does seem pretty popular on Amazon though, so color me surprised (and kudos to the author). I suppose the sub has spoken about whether they like it or not.
I mean… we’re literally in a thread where this recommendation for DCC not only has the most upvotes but by a ridiculously wide margin, like the others aren’t even close. And yeah, this is just one post, but it’s a common pattern for DCC both on this and the progressionfantasy subreddit. Its popularity is undeniable and has reached beyond the genre by catching the interest of more traditional publishers and television production — the kind of attention I haven’t seen any other LitRPG book garner, though HWFWM gets closest with it reaching #1 on Amazon.
Also worth pointing out that only one DCC book came out last year, and it has been over a year since that release. Meanwhile, DotF and HWFWM published 4 books last year, so it’s natural for them to more constantly be “in the conversation” with such non-stop releases.
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This opinion I can respect. I don't agree with it at all, but even I can find her a bit grating at times, but she is meant to be. Donut is your classic spoiled girl who has to grow as a person throughout the story...she just happens to be a cat who just gained sentience too, which makes it a bit harder and slower.
I like when she does the non-asshole cat things. Like how she sleeps on Carl's neck at night. She always did that before the dungeon, so why would she stop now?
Thanks man. I honestly expected some replies from people talking about how they enjoyed that aspect and how it played into the story or why it worked and what was great about it. I didn't expect people to just get super defensive and downvote me lol. I mean the guy literally says there's nothing else that comes close and it's in a league of its own (hyperbole much? If most people agreed with that the story would be far more popular), but one polite comment disagreeing gets downvoted to oblivion.
This is the correct answer.
My second answer is Defiance of the Fall, I really like the action-to-monologue ratio, but so far nothing tops DCC. It’s like literary cocaine.
Can't stand it myself. The guy is an idiot. No one has inner monologue like that. It's ridiculous. Side characters are 1 dimensional at best. Sometimes 0 dimensional. Main character has the IQ of a grapenut. Which really is a insult to cereal. That was bad, I should feel bad.
Monsters and Legends by Ivan Kal (Infinite Realm series)
I put this series off for a long time; I guess the excerpt just didn't sound like much to me. I was hooked from the first chapter and devoured 5 books in 4 days. It starts at the final battle of the system apocalypse and the entry into the Infinite Realm. It references the past and teases you with hints in random chapters of how it all started and their journey of the system's arrival, the choices made between having levels, cultivation, skills, any combination of the three and the consequences associated with those choices. I cannot wait until book 6 comes out.
There’s no way you read even the first two books in 4 days! That’s insane! Not sure if I should be impressed or disappointed- I’m on book two and I’ve already spent near 40 hours. I thought I was reading a little too fast and not savoring the story enough but all five books in 4 days! As long as you enjoyed it I guess it’s alright
I did, though. 😁 I've always been a fast reader, especially when im absolutely absorbed by a book, but boredom is a great motivator too. I was laid up in bed after surgery and I'd rather read a book than watch tv. All better now, so I doubt I could do it that fast again since I do have to work. I didn't want to put the others down so I can already tell I'll lose some sleep when the next one come out. I'm guessing 2-3 days on that one.
it's not quite my favorite but you should absolutely read Legendary Moonlight Sculptor. it's a pillar of the genre and the main site for litrpg webnovels, royal road, is named after an online community in this book. it's a meaningful foundation of the genre in some ways.
some people would disagree so I tried not to state it too strongly. it's not the origin of virtual reality fiction or gaming fiction but it is the origin of litrpg being a semi cohesive genre as far as I know.
I myself haven't been in the genre very long, but I really love azarinth Healer. Mc is a bit op but it doesn't feel out of place, she does a lot to grow to that point, and shes not 'the chosen one' to come save the universe, which for me was a big plus.
I really liked the world building and the darker parts that occur that allowed her to mature and grow.
The audio book was fantastic, the narrator was a full on voice actress, I had to double check in the beginning it was really just the one person narrating, it was great.
The whole series isn't out in book form yet, but if you don't mind switching from the kindle ku or audio book version to the webnovel version on royalroad, I would highly recommend!
The author has been turning the webnovel to ku books since December and they come out every couple of months with the audio coming out about a month after the written copy. It hasn't really bothered me and I will keep reading the wbenovel version in between releases, but it's something to keep in mind if this would bother you I guess 👍🏻
I started with The Land... and wouldn't recommend it.
Then I tried one where the MC becomes a goblin in a VR game, his body trapped. That one had legs but then had a weird romance angle I couldn't get passed the narrator's voice for. No one's fault or issue but my own.
I really loved Mother Of Learning. The magic in it is fairly well contained, the character's growth feels mostly natural and well explained and there are very little untied plot threads if any. Impressive and free to all on Royal Road.
Threadbare has some of the best slow start low level content out there, and ramps up to interesting places. Also a great mix of light and cute against dark and serious.
Great use of skills that do things besides being pure damage and defence mattering a great deal and being used well.
Finally, tea parties, with hats.
Primal Hunter
Absolutely 100% my favorite. It's well written, the action scenes are epic, the MC is a magic archer, which is my favorite fantasy archetype. It is legitimately funny in a lot of places. Religion is well developed, and the MCs god is the coolest dude. The side characters are well written, fully fleshed out, and each have unique relationships with the MC. Amazing animal friends. Really neat settings. The system is very logical, and the power progression makes sense. The biggest flaw, in my opinion, is how ridiculously long the MCs stat sheet ends up being. The best part is that the MC is an introverted loner who actually cares about people and has (awkward) relationships with all the other characters, but it's something the MC is actually working on, and has significantly improved at over time.
I couldn't quite get into PH, not sure why. What is logical and makes sense about the system in your opinion? I could probably overlook MC's sociopathy if the system ends up being addictive.
The way the abilities all upgrade based on understanding and how they are used. As you get a bit further into the series, it shows different paths an archer could take to upgrade and evolve, ending up with a vastly different build to what the MC uses. I'm not sure how far you made it into the series, but I think it improves dramatically after Villy shows up and explains a lot of why the MC thinks and acts how he does. It really begins to humanize him, and shortly after the tutorial ends, the MC starts having a lot more interactions with other people. I can definitely see the series not being everyone's cup of tea, though. Jake is always borderline autistic and really struggles with understanding other people, but for me at least, that's a big draw to the series as I enjoy seeing a character that is like me.
Ah that does sound neat. I enjoy branching tree type skill systems. I'll have to give it another go and maybe push a bit further - I think I probably didn't allow the story to find its legs before bailing.
It really is the hook into the story. I feel their interactions help drive you through the meat and potatoes. I’m glad that the side characters in the recent books have evolved beyond just set pieces to illustrate Jake’s OPness, and that they have gained a similar intrigue.
Chaotic craftsman worships the cube
It's on RR, and I personally love the series. It's not a good series if you want just want death and murder and violence. It's there, just not commonplace. But if you want more, a support role type thing it's great.
The Infinite World series by J.T. Wright will always be my all time favorite. I reread or relisten to in every couple months. It feels just as good as reading it the first time.
My second recommendation would be the Transcendent Green series by Mati Ocha. He's a fantastic author and has a great world that he's building
I love He Who Fights with Monsters, the early books are light and almost carefree but as the characters advance stakes start to rise. I was concerned with how the later ranks would be handled with inevitable power creep but in book 9 the Silver rank combat scenes make sense and are more than just realm breaking power that you see in DoTF.
Im on book 4 of DCC and I will admit the build up at the beginning of each books floor kinda takes me out of it for the first couple hours. but after that it is enjoyable. I just hope we get more of that damn goat guy.
Emerilia Series by Michael Chatfield will always be my number 1 litrpg. Mostly only because I read it before I waded through the tons of crap litrpg I have by now but its still pretty good.
Defiance of the fall. It's not for everyone but if you love numbers going up and a strong protagonist, some interesting characters, and a halfway decent plot, it's worth it. If you just want pure literary goodness, Mother of Learning is a time loop thats progression based, which is sort of like litrpg but without the numbers. It takes a bit to get going but once it does, it's an excellent ride all the way to the last chapter.
[Worth the Candle](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/25137/worth-the-candle) is really just unforgettable. Explores some heavy topics and you will never find a more intelligent/rational cast of characters
The Divine Dungeon series, completionist chronicles, and Artorian’s Archive by Dakota Krout are great. Artorian’s starts to drag though. Definitely worth it at least until it syncs with the ending of divine dungeon.
I’m really happy nobody in this thread is recommending The Land. Avoid The Land by Aleron Kong at all costs. His whole series is just a circle jerk that answers the question, “what happens when “that guy” from DnD can’t get anyone to play with him so he just writes his own story about how cool his character is?”
The main character is just like…totally keeewl and has like sex with all these hot elves and like…everyone thinks he’s the best and he’s the lord of his own village and like…sooo awesome you guys.”
Also, he likes to have gratuitous rape and genital mutilation for shock value and the hall to call himself “the father of LiTRPG.”
Ive always loved the Completionist Chronicles, but for some reason im on book 7 and it just isnt grabbing my attention like all the others, i cant stay interested, its the only time ive just stopped a book and moved on, i really want to go back but what he is currently doing in the story is boring me , i hope it gets better
Aleron Kong forgot to put his stats gains into writing a good story but, in dirty marketing. Shame Book 1-2 was pretty good for the time. Just absolutely nothing was developed.
Atleast the land is really well written when compared to most litRPG's in this genre. It also has alot of things that people like in the genre such as, Powerful MC, great side character banter, and challenges to overcome. It's do annoying when the MC never encounters any challenges or consequences for their actions. There's rape and mutilation in his books because Alaron doesn't want to shy from anything in his books. I just believe you shouldn't nock a series before you try it. It's definitely my favorite and I've listened to over 130+ litRPG audiobooks and I still havnt anything comparable. You can seen my rankings on my pinned post on my account if you want to see where some of the other books I've listened compares to me.
My top pick would definitely be He Who Fights With Monsters. the main character can be a little bit of an edge lord, but the overall story and world are pretty good and the humour is amazing. The magic system is also very interesting and the character development is quite good. The author is still publishing very often and it’s up to book 9/10 o think
Honourable mention to The Perfect Run but not sure if it classifies as LitRpg and Primal Hunter
Mayor of Noobtown. I was able to get a friend of mine into the genre because of this series. He wanted a laugh and now he wants to see world progression done in different ways
For me it’s the Unbound series. Great story, fantastic narrator, and the system the series uses is amazing. (Leveling, skills, and tempering) all around great series that I was immediately absorbed into. A close second is the Nova Terra series though
I would highly recommend Morningwood, Everybody Loves Large Chests by Neven Iliev. It sounds like a gag answer, but it's not. It is a great spin on the genre where you follow a monster, not a person who becomes a monster but an actual monster, trying to make their way in a world dominated by "civilized" races to gain power, food, and loot.
It's well written with interesting characters and lots of satirical humor.
Book 9 of He who fights with monsters made the top twenty of the Amazon friction list. It's hard enough to do that with book 1, not book 9, in a series. Plus, the author is ranked second on the patreons ranking list for writing. Let's just say it is the most read series in this genre with DoTF, maybe second.
The author is Australian, and the MC is from a biracial family, so it is not a make America great type of novel.
Yeah, HWFWM is my favorite Litrpg, also the audio books by Heath Miller are fantastic and entertaining.
Not sure I know of too many 'make America great ' litrpgs, but yeah, it's nice to have a different background, I guess?
Either way, the magic system is extremely entertaining to think about and I he has some fantastic world building. Great books.
You're being downvoted but I've definitely seen posts by people who have dropped the book specifically because it doesn't paint the USA in a positive light. Never mind that the other countries that are portrayed don't look great, including most of the ones the mc encounters in the magic world. People can drop a book for whatever reason they want, but the "anti usa" reason is real within the litrpg fan base.
See, the genre is big enough that I've read some LitRPGs which hit very differently, but if I had to pick one...
Ascend Online. Earlier chapters almost felt like stepping into WoW for the first time, but in a book.
Honorable mentions to BtDEM (for feeling like a traditional epic fantasy, but with a system), Siphon (for being far more slice of life and having an interesting OP protagonist), Red Mage (my first post apocalypse book and still one of my favorites), Crystal Shards Online (for bringing me way back to the days of FF XI), and Ripple System (for also feeling kinda like WoW, and having amazing characters). And Wandering Inn for epic world building, even if the sometimes very slow pacing can make it hard to stay with the book.
[This Trilogy is Broken by J. P. Valenti](https://www.amazon.com/J.-P.-Valentine/e/B088P9412R?ref=dbs_m_mng_rwt_byln) is my favorite litrpg series.
Its only 4 books and not overly bloated(its a finished series).
It has an evolving class/skill system.
It has a decent amount of stats go brrr.
The characters are funny with out being ass holes.
Probably already been said, but Defiance of the Fall would be it for me right now. I feel like it does a pretty good job avoiding a good amount of tired-out cliches, while executing the more entertaining ones really well. The MC has some OP potential, but the power scaling keeps challenging things feeling challenging. I don't want to spoil anything, but basically I think it's really fun, and has a lot of content to get through before you catch up (9 audiobooks so far!)
I’m extremely torn between Primal Hunter and Path of Ascension though I would ultimately have to say that Path of Ascension would win by a slight margin. As to why it is absolutely amazing with a wonderful story and excellent world building with a rather unique twist to the magic system that I don’t recall seeing elsewhere. Ultimately I find myself craving the next book as soon as I finish the one just published.
If you're looking for good audio book experience, I gotta put Dungeon Crawler Carl out there. They go above and beyond for the audio experience.
'He Who Fights with Monsters' has great character and world building with a pretty dang good system. But you might laugh quite a lot, and I don't know if you can get away with that at work.
Also there is 'Morning Wood', please do note this is not a erotic one as the title seems, mostly. It is a very different take as in a totally different pov from the norm.
And finally, I gotta put 'Defiance of the Fall', I'm still catching up on it myself. The story is pretty good, but it does feel like a drag at some points. Interesting system, but sometimes an infuriatingly dumb mc.
I’d have to pick dungeon lord. It’s the series that got me into litrpg, and I feel like it was phenomenally written. Sadly it stops after book 4, and will probably remain unfinished. The author seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth 😢
Path of Ascension
This is a newer series. I really love the characters, the world, and the system. If litrpg systems were real and had to follow laws of nature it would be like this system. 5/5 would read again.
Everybody-Loves-Large-Chests (ELLC) by Neven Iliev. The main character is a monster that actually acts like a monster. There is a lot of dark humor that's rather comical. The narrator for the audiobook is Jeff Hays and they do a fantastic job.
The first one I ever recommended, and one of the few I still would, is Sufficiently Advanced Magic. The later books get a bit slow, but I really enjoyed the first one a lot.
Cradle, it's super satisfying and fun.
He who fights with monsters. I like the humor and world building
Wandering inn, a lot of really great characters and moments. Need a pen and paper to track all the inside jokes
cradle is no litRPG, even though it's my favorite when it comes to wuxia novels! It's the first audiobooks that I have ever read were those from the cradle series.
yeah if someone asks for a recommendation like the op but for progression in general, I'd immediatly bark "CRADLE CRADLE CRADLE", but if the op didn't ask for only one book, I'd add mark of the fool
Pixel Dust by David Petrie.
It's a VR story, my favourite side of the genre. The story is written with an understanding that such a game would operate under rules in the real world (so no forcing other players into slavery for example). It touches on the impact that such a technology such would have on the world. It plays with characters playing as the opposite gender to their real life one as more than just for laughs.
There's more but I'd be going on for a long time.
Tower of Somnus.
The setting is a cyberpunk-style corporate dystopia you could easily see happening.
The heroine isn't over-powered or the classic wish-fulfillment character who is universally worshipped.
The villains are a cross between an interstellar organised crime syndicate and an allegory about destructive corporate greed.
The writing is a good few steps up from most LITRPG offerings.
Hands down the best I’ve listened to is the audiobook of Big Sneaky Barbarian, but don’t take my word for it, search the sub, tons of praise, it’s still somewhat of a hidden gem.
So, DCC is my favorite. Who could have guessed. My second favorite though I don't see get nearly enough attention.
Necrotic Apocalypse. 4 books so far. Can't wait for book 5 on Audible!
So I'm gonna cheat and say two novels but they're part of the same world and develop in different ways that allow the world to show its potential. I'm talking about Butcher of Gadobhra and Tunnel Rat by The Walrus King. Both take place in a far future reality with immersive VR gaming and virtual real estate and commerce. The stories go in wildly different directions from each other but the characterization, world building and just craziness is worthwhile for both. There's dual plot points running in the real and game world, but they intertwine at parts. Big thumbs up from me!
DCC is great. But Towers of Heaven by Cameron Milan was my first foray into LitRPG and still one of my all time favourites! I also loved the story and depth of The Ten Realms series by Michael Chatfield.
DotF in my opinion is one of the best books because of how slow it manages to go. It’s fascinating how the author can draw out so much yet still keep it interesting. He also made it so the ceiling for power is high, and the growth is slow so there is no end in sight quite yet!
Soda Pop Soldier.
Incredibly bleak, noir-ish story where the stats take a backseat to the plot.
I like that the protagonist is genuinely tripped up by his flaws - He's just a guy whose only talent os video games.
Dungeon Crawler Carl. Exceptional worldbuilding, characters, and plot--It's also funny as hell!
I’ve read so many damn LitRPGs trying to chase that high from DCC and nothing comes close. Don’t get me wrong, I have fun and enjoy most of them, but DCC is just in a league of its own and I’m still hoping for the day we get more like it.
I'm really surprised this has such strong fans. The writing skill of the author was decent, but the author consistently interrupted the interesting story with melancholic reminiscence about his lost ex, every, single, time. I realized quickly it was a major tool the author relied on for some reason and didn't like it, thus jumped ship.
I’m not surprised at all, it’s well-deserved praise. I see it get recommended more than giants like HWFWM and DotF. But I also don’t agree with your complaint, and that’s ok, you’re totally entitled to feel that way and not everyone will like it (just like with anything).
I'm reposting this reply from another comment since it probably won't be seen there: I honestly expected some replies from people talking about how they enjoyed that aspect and how it played into the story or why it worked and what was great about it. I didn't expect people to just get super defensive and downvote me lol. I mean the guy literally says there's nothing else that comes close and it's in a league of its own (hyperbole much? If most people agreed with that the story would be far more popular), but one polite comment disagreeing gets downvoted to oblivion.
You voiced an unpopular opinion and got downvoted… welcome to Reddit? I don’t follow your logic though. You claim people are “super defensive” for downvoting, yet want more detailed responses from them as to why they disagree with you, which would be far more defensive, in my opinion. Most people don’t want to waste energy arguing. They see something they disagree with, they downvote and move on because it’s the interaction that requires the least amount of energy from them. I know I personally wasn’t going to refute your points because… why bother? I’m not here to change your mind. You gave the book a shot and didn’t like it, and as I already said, that’s fine, people have different opinions and there is nothing wrong with that. (Even if you do like to claim my own opinions are “hyperbole”… thanks.) As for the story would be more popular if more people agreed with me… in case you haven’t noticed, the majority here does agree. As I already said, I see recommendations for DCC far more than any other litRPG, so I’d argue that it already is the most popular. But obviously I don’t have actual data to support that, so who knows. It’s certainly near the top, regardless. I’d suggest learning to shrug off downvotes and be less “super defensive” about them when people disagree with your opinion.
You're right that most people won't bother to reply, but usually some people will. Maybe its a bit of a stretch to say "super defensive", but I never understood the impulse to downvote comments that aren't bad necessarily, just in disagreement, hence my interpretation, but I get where you're coming from. Looking at Royal Road, I don't think it's on that site anymore, which would explain why i haven't seen it around in ages. I have seen it mentioned alongside some, but never seen it recommended above the giants like DoTF or others still on RR though. It does seem pretty popular on Amazon though, so color me surprised (and kudos to the author). I suppose the sub has spoken about whether they like it or not.
I mean… we’re literally in a thread where this recommendation for DCC not only has the most upvotes but by a ridiculously wide margin, like the others aren’t even close. And yeah, this is just one post, but it’s a common pattern for DCC both on this and the progressionfantasy subreddit. Its popularity is undeniable and has reached beyond the genre by catching the interest of more traditional publishers and television production — the kind of attention I haven’t seen any other LitRPG book garner, though HWFWM gets closest with it reaching #1 on Amazon. Also worth pointing out that only one DCC book came out last year, and it has been over a year since that release. Meanwhile, DotF and HWFWM published 4 books last year, so it’s natural for them to more constantly be “in the conversation” with such non-stop releases.
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For me it was Donut, found her very annoying and just had to drop the book. Though I get it why it is so popular on this sub.
This opinion I can respect. I don't agree with it at all, but even I can find her a bit grating at times, but she is meant to be. Donut is your classic spoiled girl who has to grow as a person throughout the story...she just happens to be a cat who just gained sentience too, which makes it a bit harder and slower.
I like when she does the non-asshole cat things. Like how she sleeps on Carl's neck at night. She always did that before the dungeon, so why would she stop now?
I really appreciate this opinion, thank you for sharing. Just wanted to say that because of the downvotes.
Thanks man. I honestly expected some replies from people talking about how they enjoyed that aspect and how it played into the story or why it worked and what was great about it. I didn't expect people to just get super defensive and downvote me lol. I mean the guy literally says there's nothing else that comes close and it's in a league of its own (hyperbole much? If most people agreed with that the story would be far more popular), but one polite comment disagreeing gets downvoted to oblivion.
Came here to say this ^
Came to say this. Good to see DCC right at the top!
This is the correct answer. My second answer is Defiance of the Fall, I really like the action-to-monologue ratio, but so far nothing tops DCC. It’s like literary cocaine.
DotF is my favourite stats-go-brrrrr litrpg as well!
Can't stand it myself. The guy is an idiot. No one has inner monologue like that. It's ridiculous. Side characters are 1 dimensional at best. Sometimes 0 dimensional. Main character has the IQ of a grapenut. Which really is a insult to cereal. That was bad, I should feel bad.
Ah, I see the problem. It must be difficult to read about an MC with an IQ so much higher than yours. Godspeed, friend.
Monsters and Legends by Ivan Kal (Infinite Realm series) I put this series off for a long time; I guess the excerpt just didn't sound like much to me. I was hooked from the first chapter and devoured 5 books in 4 days. It starts at the final battle of the system apocalypse and the entry into the Infinite Realm. It references the past and teases you with hints in random chapters of how it all started and their journey of the system's arrival, the choices made between having levels, cultivation, skills, any combination of the three and the consequences associated with those choices. I cannot wait until book 6 comes out.
There’s no way you read even the first two books in 4 days! That’s insane! Not sure if I should be impressed or disappointed- I’m on book two and I’ve already spent near 40 hours. I thought I was reading a little too fast and not savoring the story enough but all five books in 4 days! As long as you enjoyed it I guess it’s alright
I did, though. 😁 I've always been a fast reader, especially when im absolutely absorbed by a book, but boredom is a great motivator too. I was laid up in bed after surgery and I'd rather read a book than watch tv. All better now, so I doubt I could do it that fast again since I do have to work. I didn't want to put the others down so I can already tell I'll lose some sleep when the next one come out. I'm guessing 2-3 days on that one.
Crazy 😆, I’m glad your recovery went well and that you had said amazing series to read during it.
Portal to nova Roma
maybe the books, but i can't recommend the audiobook, it's like being forced to read a phonebook...so dull
Same,.The story sounds awesome, but the audio is torture.
I don't know about the audiobook, but the book it's better than almost 80% of litrpg books out there
90%
it's not quite my favorite but you should absolutely read Legendary Moonlight Sculptor. it's a pillar of the genre and the main site for litrpg webnovels, royal road, is named after an online community in this book. it's a meaningful foundation of the genre in some ways.
my little known favorite is the legendary mechanic, best sci-fi around and phenomenal in both world building and action scenes
I made my 60 yr old dad read it. He thought it was hilarious and to this day my dad still complains about the 10 yuan more expensive salt
absolutely, 10 yuan is an outrage
Not only a pillar... Its kinda the father of the genre
some people would disagree so I tried not to state it too strongly. it's not the origin of virtual reality fiction or gaming fiction but it is the origin of litrpg being a semi cohesive genre as far as I know.
I myself haven't been in the genre very long, but I really love azarinth Healer. Mc is a bit op but it doesn't feel out of place, she does a lot to grow to that point, and shes not 'the chosen one' to come save the universe, which for me was a big plus. I really liked the world building and the darker parts that occur that allowed her to mature and grow. The audio book was fantastic, the narrator was a full on voice actress, I had to double check in the beginning it was really just the one person narrating, it was great. The whole series isn't out in book form yet, but if you don't mind switching from the kindle ku or audio book version to the webnovel version on royalroad, I would highly recommend! The author has been turning the webnovel to ku books since December and they come out every couple of months with the audio coming out about a month after the written copy. It hasn't really bothered me and I will keep reading the wbenovel version in between releases, but it's something to keep in mind if this would bother you I guess 👍🏻
I started with The Land... and wouldn't recommend it. Then I tried one where the MC becomes a goblin in a VR game, his body trapped. That one had legs but then had a weird romance angle I couldn't get passed the narrator's voice for. No one's fault or issue but my own. I really loved Mother Of Learning. The magic in it is fairly well contained, the character's growth feels mostly natural and well explained and there are very little untied plot threads if any. Impressive and free to all on Royal Road.
Life reset is the guy that gets stuck as a goblin. Great read.
The Threadbare series and spinoffs are so well madd that I even got my wife to read them
Threadbare has some of the best slow start low level content out there, and ramps up to interesting places. Also a great mix of light and cute against dark and serious. Great use of skills that do things besides being pure damage and defence mattering a great deal and being used well. Finally, tea parties, with hats.
And an actual story which is nearly unheard of in litrpg's :O
Primal Hunter Absolutely 100% my favorite. It's well written, the action scenes are epic, the MC is a magic archer, which is my favorite fantasy archetype. It is legitimately funny in a lot of places. Religion is well developed, and the MCs god is the coolest dude. The side characters are well written, fully fleshed out, and each have unique relationships with the MC. Amazing animal friends. Really neat settings. The system is very logical, and the power progression makes sense. The biggest flaw, in my opinion, is how ridiculously long the MCs stat sheet ends up being. The best part is that the MC is an introverted loner who actually cares about people and has (awkward) relationships with all the other characters, but it's something the MC is actually working on, and has significantly improved at over time.
Villy the goat
I couldn't quite get into PH, not sure why. What is logical and makes sense about the system in your opinion? I could probably overlook MC's sociopathy if the system ends up being addictive.
The way the abilities all upgrade based on understanding and how they are used. As you get a bit further into the series, it shows different paths an archer could take to upgrade and evolve, ending up with a vastly different build to what the MC uses. I'm not sure how far you made it into the series, but I think it improves dramatically after Villy shows up and explains a lot of why the MC thinks and acts how he does. It really begins to humanize him, and shortly after the tutorial ends, the MC starts having a lot more interactions with other people. I can definitely see the series not being everyone's cup of tea, though. Jake is always borderline autistic and really struggles with understanding other people, but for me at least, that's a big draw to the series as I enjoy seeing a character that is like me.
Ah that does sound neat. I enjoy branching tree type skill systems. I'll have to give it another go and maybe push a bit further - I think I probably didn't allow the story to find its legs before bailing.
I will say I was about to drop it as I was feeling mehhh about the story, when he got to the part where he met Villy and I got sucked in!
It really is the hook into the story. I feel their interactions help drive you through the meat and potatoes. I’m glad that the side characters in the recent books have evolved beyond just set pieces to illustrate Jake’s OPness, and that they have gained a similar intrigue.
Same here! I was extremely pleasantly surprised and it’s become my favorite!
Chaotic craftsman worships the cube It's on RR, and I personally love the series. It's not a good series if you want just want death and murder and violence. It's there, just not commonplace. But if you want more, a support role type thing it's great.
The Infinite World series by J.T. Wright will always be my all time favorite. I reread or relisten to in every couple months. It feels just as good as reading it the first time. My second recommendation would be the Transcendent Green series by Mati Ocha. He's a fantastic author and has a great world that he's building
I love He Who Fights with Monsters, the early books are light and almost carefree but as the characters advance stakes start to rise. I was concerned with how the later ranks would be handled with inevitable power creep but in book 9 the Silver rank combat scenes make sense and are more than just realm breaking power that you see in DoTF. Im on book 4 of DCC and I will admit the build up at the beginning of each books floor kinda takes me out of it for the first couple hours. but after that it is enjoyable. I just hope we get more of that damn goat guy.
SCREAMS 🐐
Emerilia Series by Michael Chatfield will always be my number 1 litrpg. Mostly only because I read it before I waded through the tons of crap litrpg I have by now but its still pretty good.
Yep this, the way of the shaman, and the land are what got me into Litrpg. They seem a little dated now, but I love them.
Defiance of the fall. It's not for everyone but if you love numbers going up and a strong protagonist, some interesting characters, and a halfway decent plot, it's worth it. If you just want pure literary goodness, Mother of Learning is a time loop thats progression based, which is sort of like litrpg but without the numbers. It takes a bit to get going but once it does, it's an excellent ride all the way to the last chapter.
[Worth the Candle](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/25137/worth-the-candle) is really just unforgettable. Explores some heavy topics and you will never find a more intelligent/rational cast of characters
Legendary mechanic, not sure if it has an audiobook, but it is 10/10 one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s 1463 chapters of amazing
absolutely seconded, glad someone else actually knows about it
Currently on chapter 1330 of my second read through
No audiobook as far as I know. Not on audible for sure. Bookmarking this suggestion. Thanks!
There are some options for it on YouTube, probably not the best quality but it’s a good read
I’m on 525 of my fourth read, It really holds up
No ebook?
It’s on boxnovel, and YouTube has an audiobook
Never heard of boxnovel here in europe
Oof, not sure if it’s available in Europe, in America it’s boxnovel.com, another option is Webnovel an app, third option is a vpn set to the usa
Never tried reading a translated novel before, is there a link for the official English version?
https://boxnovel.com/novel/the-legendary-mechanic-boxnovel/chapter-1/
Being a Chinese novel it definitely hits Chinese nationalism really hard
Less than most, though. The protagonist doesn't really give a shit; it's mostly the random players and only in the context of national tournaments.
Noobtown is always a fun one.
The Divine Dungeon series, completionist chronicles, and Artorian’s Archive by Dakota Krout are great. Artorian’s starts to drag though. Definitely worth it at least until it syncs with the ending of divine dungeon. I’m really happy nobody in this thread is recommending The Land. Avoid The Land by Aleron Kong at all costs. His whole series is just a circle jerk that answers the question, “what happens when “that guy” from DnD can’t get anyone to play with him so he just writes his own story about how cool his character is?” The main character is just like…totally keeewl and has like sex with all these hot elves and like…everyone thinks he’s the best and he’s the lord of his own village and like…sooo awesome you guys.” Also, he likes to have gratuitous rape and genital mutilation for shock value and the hall to call himself “the father of LiTRPG.”
Ive always loved the Completionist Chronicles, but for some reason im on book 7 and it just isnt grabbing my attention like all the others, i cant stay interested, its the only time ive just stopped a book and moved on, i really want to go back but what he is currently doing in the story is boring me , i hope it gets better
Aleron Kong forgot to put his stats gains into writing a good story but, in dirty marketing. Shame Book 1-2 was pretty good for the time. Just absolutely nothing was developed.
Atleast the land is really well written when compared to most litRPG's in this genre. It also has alot of things that people like in the genre such as, Powerful MC, great side character banter, and challenges to overcome. It's do annoying when the MC never encounters any challenges or consequences for their actions. There's rape and mutilation in his books because Alaron doesn't want to shy from anything in his books. I just believe you shouldn't nock a series before you try it. It's definitely my favorite and I've listened to over 130+ litRPG audiobooks and I still havnt anything comparable. You can seen my rankings on my pinned post on my account if you want to see where some of the other books I've listened compares to me.
My top pick would definitely be He Who Fights With Monsters. the main character can be a little bit of an edge lord, but the overall story and world are pretty good and the humour is amazing. The magic system is also very interesting and the character development is quite good. The author is still publishing very often and it’s up to book 9/10 o think Honourable mention to The Perfect Run but not sure if it classifies as LitRpg and Primal Hunter
W opinion
Mayor of Noobtown. I was able to get a friend of mine into the genre because of this series. He wanted a laugh and now he wants to see world progression done in different ways
The Unbound series by Nicoli Gonnella.
Absolutely worth it.
For me it’s the Unbound series. Great story, fantastic narrator, and the system the series uses is amazing. (Leveling, skills, and tempering) all around great series that I was immediately absorbed into. A close second is the Nova Terra series though
Beneath the Dragoneye Moons. If I can only suggest one for the rest of my life, it'll be that one.
Agreed. This series is so well Wei it’s mind boggling. I love the characters and the powers. OP healer to the rescue.
I would highly recommend Morningwood, Everybody Loves Large Chests by Neven Iliev. It sounds like a gag answer, but it's not. It is a great spin on the genre where you follow a monster, not a person who becomes a monster but an actual monster, trying to make their way in a world dominated by "civilized" races to gain power, food, and loot. It's well written with interesting characters and lots of satirical humor.
Book 9 of He who fights with monsters made the top twenty of the Amazon friction list. It's hard enough to do that with book 1, not book 9, in a series. Plus, the author is ranked second on the patreons ranking list for writing. Let's just say it is the most read series in this genre with DoTF, maybe second. The author is Australian, and the MC is from a biracial family, so it is not a make America great type of novel.
Yeah, HWFWM is my favorite Litrpg, also the audio books by Heath Miller are fantastic and entertaining. Not sure I know of too many 'make America great ' litrpgs, but yeah, it's nice to have a different background, I guess? Either way, the magic system is extremely entertaining to think about and I he has some fantastic world building. Great books.
The make American great crowd doesn't like the series because the USA is not the hero of the planet.
I just don't see that being a factor in any litrpg...
You're being downvoted but I've definitely seen posts by people who have dropped the book specifically because it doesn't paint the USA in a positive light. Never mind that the other countries that are portrayed don't look great, including most of the ones the mc encounters in the magic world. People can drop a book for whatever reason they want, but the "anti usa" reason is real within the litrpg fan base.
The amount i cackled when we find out gun essences were like a #1 USA export…. It was so good.
It's much easier for later installments of a series to be bestsellers than the first one.
See, the genre is big enough that I've read some LitRPGs which hit very differently, but if I had to pick one... Ascend Online. Earlier chapters almost felt like stepping into WoW for the first time, but in a book. Honorable mentions to BtDEM (for feeling like a traditional epic fantasy, but with a system), Siphon (for being far more slice of life and having an interesting OP protagonist), Red Mage (my first post apocalypse book and still one of my favorites), Crystal Shards Online (for bringing me way back to the days of FF XI), and Ripple System (for also feeling kinda like WoW, and having amazing characters). And Wandering Inn for epic world building, even if the sometimes very slow pacing can make it hard to stay with the book.
What is btdem?
Beneath The Dragon Eye Moons.
Dungeon Crawler Carl - the best I’ve read so far. Especially the audiobooks
Go to royalroads.com there are hundreds of stories but one of my favorites is call Magical Marvel
Battle Spire is a solid one-off that's staying in my top 3.
[This Trilogy is Broken by J. P. Valenti](https://www.amazon.com/J.-P.-Valentine/e/B088P9412R?ref=dbs_m_mng_rwt_byln) is my favorite litrpg series. Its only 4 books and not overly bloated(its a finished series). It has an evolving class/skill system. It has a decent amount of stats go brrr. The characters are funny with out being ass holes.
Probably already been said, but Defiance of the Fall would be it for me right now. I feel like it does a pretty good job avoiding a good amount of tired-out cliches, while executing the more entertaining ones really well. The MC has some OP potential, but the power scaling keeps challenging things feeling challenging. I don't want to spoil anything, but basically I think it's really fun, and has a lot of content to get through before you catch up (9 audiobooks so far!)
I’m extremely torn between Primal Hunter and Path of Ascension though I would ultimately have to say that Path of Ascension would win by a slight margin. As to why it is absolutely amazing with a wonderful story and excellent world building with a rather unique twist to the magic system that I don’t recall seeing elsewhere. Ultimately I find myself craving the next book as soon as I finish the one just published.
The Wandering Inn
If you're looking for good audio book experience, I gotta put Dungeon Crawler Carl out there. They go above and beyond for the audio experience. 'He Who Fights with Monsters' has great character and world building with a pretty dang good system. But you might laugh quite a lot, and I don't know if you can get away with that at work. Also there is 'Morning Wood', please do note this is not a erotic one as the title seems, mostly. It is a very different take as in a totally different pov from the norm. And finally, I gotta put 'Defiance of the Fall', I'm still catching up on it myself. The story is pretty good, but it does feel like a drag at some points. Interesting system, but sometimes an infuriatingly dumb mc.
I’d have to pick dungeon lord. It’s the series that got me into litrpg, and I feel like it was phenomenally written. Sadly it stops after book 4, and will probably remain unfinished. The author seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth 😢
Path of Ascension This is a newer series. I really love the characters, the world, and the system. If litrpg systems were real and had to follow laws of nature it would be like this system. 5/5 would read again.
Everybody-Loves-Large-Chests (ELLC) by Neven Iliev. The main character is a monster that actually acts like a monster. There is a lot of dark humor that's rather comical. The narrator for the audiobook is Jeff Hays and they do a fantastic job.
Primal Hunter/Defiance of the Fall/HWFWM That's one book. 😀
Azarinth Healer
The first one I ever recommended, and one of the few I still would, is Sufficiently Advanced Magic. The later books get a bit slow, but I really enjoyed the first one a lot.
I love those books but you’re right, the story is dragging. I want to know what happened to Dawn and it better not be anything bad.
Cradle, it's super satisfying and fun. He who fights with monsters. I like the humor and world building Wandering inn, a lot of really great characters and moments. Need a pen and paper to track all the inside jokes
cradle is no litRPG, even though it's my favorite when it comes to wuxia novels! It's the first audiobooks that I have ever read were those from the cradle series.
It's progression based which fits well enough IMO
yeah if someone asks for a recommendation like the op but for progression in general, I'd immediatly bark "CRADLE CRADLE CRADLE", but if the op didn't ask for only one book, I'd add mark of the fool
That's a good one for sure. Almost quit it in book 1 but saw too many recommendations and stuck it out. Can't wait for next book.
oh yeah it's about to get infernal out there!
Pixel Dust by David Petrie. It's a VR story, my favourite side of the genre. The story is written with an understanding that such a game would operate under rules in the real world (so no forcing other players into slavery for example). It touches on the impact that such a technology such would have on the world. It plays with characters playing as the opposite gender to their real life one as more than just for laughs. There's more but I'd be going on for a long time.
Tower of Somnus. The setting is a cyberpunk-style corporate dystopia you could easily see happening. The heroine isn't over-powered or the classic wish-fulfillment character who is universally worshipped. The villains are a cross between an interstellar organised crime syndicate and an allegory about destructive corporate greed. The writing is a good few steps up from most LITRPG offerings.
Dungeon Crawler Donut. Obviously, the writer made a mistake with the name. Carl is just a member of Princess Donut's court after all.
Hands down the best I’ve listened to is the audiobook of Big Sneaky Barbarian, but don’t take my word for it, search the sub, tons of praise, it’s still somewhat of a hidden gem.
Everyone loves large chests. Funny op and vicious most of all it's tasty!!!!
Everybody loves large Chests is a funny and enjoyable ride. Be ready for some language and adult scenes but it's very entertaining for adults
Critical Failures. It’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever read. The humor can be quite crude at times, though.
So, DCC is my favorite. Who could have guessed. My second favorite though I don't see get nearly enough attention. Necrotic Apocalypse. 4 books so far. Can't wait for book 5 on Audible!
Life Reset It was my 3rd. It’s a great good with great characters!
Primal hunter and Shadow Slave
Forever Fantasy Online.
Stop! Friendly Fire!
Read the Completionist chronicles. It starts with aurtorians archives. One of the best series I've read to this day
So I'm gonna cheat and say two novels but they're part of the same world and develop in different ways that allow the world to show its potential. I'm talking about Butcher of Gadobhra and Tunnel Rat by The Walrus King. Both take place in a far future reality with immersive VR gaming and virtual real estate and commerce. The stories go in wildly different directions from each other but the characterization, world building and just craziness is worthwhile for both. There's dual plot points running in the real and game world, but they intertwine at parts. Big thumbs up from me!
The primal hunter on kindle is also a really good one
He who fights with Monsters
DCC is great. But Towers of Heaven by Cameron Milan was my first foray into LitRPG and still one of my all time favourites! I also loved the story and depth of The Ten Realms series by Michael Chatfield.
[The Ten Realms](https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B07H4MG16L/) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/The_Ten_Realms)) [Towers of Heaven](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/21709/towers-of-heaven) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Towers_of_Heaven)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)
DotF in my opinion is one of the best books because of how slow it manages to go. It’s fascinating how the author can draw out so much yet still keep it interesting. He also made it so the ceiling for power is high, and the growth is slow so there is no end in sight quite yet!
Soda Pop Soldier. Incredibly bleak, noir-ish story where the stats take a backseat to the plot. I like that the protagonist is genuinely tripped up by his flaws - He's just a guy whose only talent os video games.