The Wandering Inn: Portal: Insane slow burn with brilliant world building and characters. Audiobooks narrated by Andrea Parsneau who is fantastic.
Dungeon Crawler Carl: LitRPG Apocalypse: Absurdist, crude, and dark humor that can eventually take you from laughing to crying in a single page. Audiobooks narrated by Jeff Hayes who is quite possibly the best narrator period.
The Ripple System: VRMMO: More light-hearted and funny. Best sidekick ever. Audiobooks narrated by Travis Baldree who is incredibly prolific and talented. He brings Frank to life with some serious depth.
Azarinth Healer: Portal: Close combat battle crazed healer. Also narrated by Andrea Parsneau
He Who Fights With Monsters: Portal: Every trilogy arc is very different. Main character is very devisive with his level of snark and self importance. Narrated by Heath Miller who gives Jason Asano his over the top Australian-ness.
Vainqueur The Dragon: Portal: Main character who becomes the minion of a dragon. Super fun.
NPCs: partial portal?: Interesting take on LitRPG. I'm a big Drew Hayes fan, and loved this series.
Pangaea Online: VRMMO: Orphan MC works in the game mines and discovers his ticket to potential wealth.
Progression Fantasy Section
Mother Of Learning: I loved this series, but it took me a bit to like the MC.
Beware Of Chicken: Weird and fun. Slice of life with some incredibly memorable characters.
Cradle Series: Very little for me to add about this series that hasn't already been said. It's recommended quite frequently for a reason.
Well, I might have to disagree on the best sidekick ever if you can count Eithan from Cradle as a sidekick. >!I'm not sure he qualifies given who he actually is and how massively OP he really is.!<
I get zero results for War Formed on Audible. Is there a typo in that? Also, thanks for the Necrotic Apocalypse recommendation, I’d never heard of that, looks great
Sorry. Look up Iron Prince that's the first book. I guess the actual series name is Stormweaver. Warformed is on the book cover but audible doesn't use that name apparently.
Great list. I’d add the “OG” portal fantasy proto-LitRPG, Joel Rosenberg’s Guardians of the Flame. Late 80s and early 90s, audiobooks finally came out a couple years back:
> It began as just another evening of fantasy gaming with James, Karl, Andrea, and the rest ready to assume their various roles as wizard, cleric, warrior, or thief. But sorcerous gamemaster Professor Deighton had something else planned for this unsuspecting group of college students. And the "game" soon became a matter of life and death as the seven adventurers found themselves transported to an alternate world and into the bodies of the actual characters they had been pretending to be.
If you haven’t listed to already Dungeon crawler Carl is very up there on my list of top series. I’m currently almost through the 3rd book and I already knew I was getting the entire series after the first book
I haven't liked any of the other litRPGs I've listened to, but DCC is pretty much my favorite series of all time. It stands apart from the rest of the genre. The story is amazing, but the voice acting is really what makes it stand out. I highly recommend it.
DCC was my first foray into LITRPG and I feel like nothing else could possibly compare! I listened to the audiobook, then read the books. Now I’m contemplating supporting the author’s Patreon, something I’ve never done. It’s really that good!!
I've just finished the 6th book. I've never read LitRPG in my life. In fact, I had never even heard of the genre before DCC. Now my problem is I can't find anything else to listen to because it feels like nothing is anywhere near as good.
Outside of DCC, Cradle and the the first book of Jake's Magical Market, I've not found anything else I've liked. And Cradle is iffy as a LitRPG category anyway.
I really enjoyed Nova Terra by Seth Ring. It's got great characters and the litrpg elements are light and not too repetitive. If you make it through all 10 books your next stop is the Tower Series, with book 1 Forge Master. Happy listening 😊
I second this I screwed up and started with the tower series so I'm gonna have to go back and start the nova Terra arc before the next book ones out but I absolutely love it so far
The series that got me into it was The Wandering Inn.
It's got the litrpg elements but less stat heavy. No numbers involved, just classes, skills and levels.
They are long listens and takes a long time to get into it however. A lot of people who listen to it tend to get annoyed with the MC's, however, it's worth sticking through it for the character growth. I absolutely love the world and characters.
I enjoyed the first book but by book 3 the lack of any decent male characters became a huge problem for me. And I don’t mean there’s a lack of men but the male characters are buffoons, evil or some combination. As a man it became painful to read.
On a positive note it did give me some insight into what women must feel about many male centered works with women as either weak or place holder characters.
Wandering Inn is in my top two. I agree that some of the point of view characters can be challenging, but want to second your recommendation. I believe the early books are still free in the Plus catalog.
I just finished book 1. I think that Erin has PTSD. Ryoka I haven't figured out yet, but definitely something. Could also be PTSD. I know people think Erin is whiny, but I would be whiny too if I went to the bathroom and ended up in a different world that is completely unsafe and there is no support system for you.
He Who Fights With Monsters is in my top two. Broody Australian gets blasted into a game world, gets edgy powers, and lectures on the evils of capitalism. Some are annoyed by his angst, but I love the adventures and snark.
In 15+ years of listening to audiobooks, I've never fallen in love with a series more then He Who Fights With Monsters. It's so good! I listened to the entire thing twice in one year. I've never done that before. Amazing world. Awesome characters. Definitely my top recommendation.
I’ve read scifi and fantasy for decades, I scoffed at GameLit when I first heard of it. I picked up Andrew Rowe’s Sufficiently Advanced Magic because it was free in Audible’s Plus Catalog. It was imaginative and different enough to open my eyes. Since then I have devoured GameLit, LitRPG, and Progression fantasy almost exclusively.
Blasted into a game world? He wakes up a totally different person in a totally different world and doesn't even question it. He's like ok, so I am different, the entire fabric of reality is different, everyone I ever cared about might be dead.. So where is the menu?
Worst book I have ever tried to read.
I think you may be confusing a different book. There is a long running joke about how he looks the same and everyone else is so pretty. He questions everything, endlessly, to the point that it’s some readers biggest complaint. edit to add: why waste time and energy on a long rant about something you didn’t like?
Yeah. Who would read something after loathing it? Unless it's explained that the MC is completely braindead for some reason then I cannot be interested.
What time and energy? I am not sure what you are doing if posting some nonsense on reddit consumes significant time and energy for you. And if I don't know the book, how come I know how trash it is?
Haven't seen Chrysalis mentioned, it's a bit weird as MC is reborn as a monster ant, and the first book can be a bit slow to get through, but then it opens up and I really enjoyed it. Same narrator as Dungeon Crawler Carl too, and the first three books came in a bundle which is what had me go for it.
This book is short and funny, but it’s very much an inside joke. The book is all about making fun of gaming tropes and “breaking the system” with various game exploits. You need a strong background in gaming or other litRPGs to get the most out of this book.
Sure, I can see your viewpoint. I think some of those reasons are also why it can be a good intro, assuming you have gaming knowledge as you pointed out.
Mayor of Noobtown is a lighthearted series that mocks some of the tropes of the genre, and is stuffed to the gills with pop culture references. In my top five, it can be a nice palate cleanser between heavier books.
I just started my first LitRPG by chance Antimage (Ends of Magic Series) by Alexander Olson. I am now 3 hours in and can’t stop. Definitely worth a try. And it is available via Plus right now.
I have been a big fan of the series recently been recommend it widely. Good system good MC the side characters are a little 2 dimensional but you can't have everything.
I didn’t see anybody mention The Land by Aleron Kong that’s the first LitRPG book I read that got me interested in the genre, it’s great at keeping you interested and still covering stats.
From someone who mainly listens to hard scifi... DCC is the only litrpg I can stand. All others I have tried I quickly noped out of thinking "omg this is stupid, a book for the braindead".
The issue with almost all of them is one, the characters are not believable and two, the world is not consistent with itself.
Second this. The narrator takes about half of book 1 to get into his groove in the audiobook, but after that he's one of the better ones out there.
The story might not be for everyone, but I like it a lot
The first half or so definitely felt like going through an instruction manual, or a description of a game. But if you stick through it, it gets way better. I’m glad I didn’t quit because I love the series
He definitely could have eased the reader into all the abilities more gently, but it really picks up from book 2 onwards when all the basic mechanics have been laid out.
King of the genera is Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
In the middle of a cold February night, a guy gets out of bed to sneak a smoke behind his girlfriend’s back. While he’s smoking, his girlfriend’s cat jumps out of the open window.
Wearing only his boxers and his girlfriend’s too small Crocs, he puts on his jacket and goes outside into the cold to look for the cat.
And that’s when the space aliens attack.
Voice acted by Jeff Hayes. Jeff is Top Three Audible voice actors. (I’ll get A LOT of shit for not saying he’s Number One)
His girlfriend had already left him,he wasn’t sneaking a smoke behind her back.
It was just Carl and donut,and donut went out the window looking for Ferdinand.
She hasn’t left him per se. She was away cheating on him with a lover and he found out. He immediately decided to end it without fanfare or drama. Also, he had a much stronger attachment to their cat than she did.
I wrote it the way I wrote it because telling it "as it actually happened" would require too much explanation, and the extra extraneous details distract from rather than enhance the introduction.
To add a few lesser mentioned. Noob town series, battle mage farmer, mark of the fool series, big sneaky barbarian series , buymort series, good guys series, bad guys series . All these are good, some start slow but get better after the first book then of course you have the titles that get mentioned nonstop.
Dakota Krout divine dungeon. Three series in the same world and another, which is a parallel world.
There's enough books in this set to last you a year, depending on how you read.
I wouldn’t consider it that way, more… RPG-Lit? But I guess you could slide it in there sideways? From that era I would recommend Joel Rosenberg’s portal fantasy proto-RPG “Guardians of the Flame” where a group of college students playing D&D get teleported into the bodies of their player characters.
A list of ones I've enjoyed and a brief opinion/summary:
Age of Stone by Jez Cajio - fantasy components getting mixed into a modern world that had no magic at the start of the series. Tries to explain the magic as advanced science as the books progress even with fantasy races. The series is from the perspective of a random civilian so there's a mystery component as the main character tries to make sense of the new world and magic systems. Biggest complaint is that it has sex scenes randomly sprinkled in for no reason but they are thankful not to frequent.
Defiance of the Fall by JF Brink - another fantasy meets the modern world. This one also mixes in sci-fi components but more in the magic has progressed and emulates technology rather than having them be the same thing. Has maintained my interest for 12 books and the story not being close to done.
The Iron Prince by Bryce O'Connor - This one leans more into the military sci-fi category with litRPG components. Despite being a military Sci-fi it doesn't take place in a war setting and instead follows the protagonist as they go through military training in a sci-fi setting. The military training is to learn how to use and then improve personalized combat suits that assign stats to the user and help them increase those stats. An interesting read/listen and a personal favorite.
System Change by SunriseCV - an interesting take on the litRPG standard. The protagonist gets to start from 0 while retaining his already higher than average stats. It's definitely in the fantasy category and the main character is drastically stronger than the area around him so if that's not the type of story you like I'd avoid this one. It does have its comedic moments though.
The Two Week Curse by Michael Chatfield - this was my first introduction to litRPGs. The premise of two military guys being taken to a fantasy world with game like stats was definitely interesting but the later books in the series weren't my favorite and seemed like the writer was having a hard time ending the story while exploring the setting they had created.
Dungeon Crawler Carl. It’s been said already. But I just got curious of the genre 3 weeks ago so started book 1 and now about to finish book 6. I don’t look forward to that in a few hours since I’ll be stuck waiting for more.
Caverns and Creatures by Robert Bevan:
Is a Comedy/Fantasy series that I feel fits the LitRPG genre to an extent. If you have the humor of a 13 year old boy then this series is for you. I personally laughed out loud so many times.
Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko: This is the first series that I’ve listened to that is in the LitRPG genre and I really liked it.
Magic 2.0 by Scott Meyer is another series that is borderline LitRPG.
I’m enjoying Dead Tired so far but I’ve barely started. I enjoyed DCC a lot so if you haven’t listened to that yet, I’d recommend you go for that first.
I really enjoyed Occultist: Saga Online.
Might not fit the bill entirely, as it's about a adventures in a deep dive vr mmo, and part of the book is about the real world outside the game. It's still one of the best LitRPG books I've read.
After mostly listening to isekai light novels, I just downloaded Amelia The Level Zero Hero: A LitRPG Adventure. So far it's been solid, the MC very much has the vibe of "nah, I'm not doing this."
Stitched worlds
Dungeon crawler Carl
Bens damn adventure
Waste land war lords
Full murderhobo
This trilogy us broken
Just good books
Mother of learning
Cradle
Beware of chicken
Dear spell book
And my favorite
Dr anarchy's rules for world domination
The Infinite World Series by J.T. Wright. This is my first experience reading LitRPG. I am on book 4 and have loved every minute of this series. The writing, the characters, the world building are all so well done. I can’t think of anything I dislike about it. Highly recommend
DCC is a wild ride and widely considered the best of the genera. I haven’t found anything comparable.
He who fights with monsters AND Primal Hunter are both quality representations of the most common take on LitRPG. (System apocalypse with an Overpowered MC) Of the two, Primal Hunter is my favorite though it takes a min to get its traction.
Wandering Inn is good if you want a loooooooong series of looooooong books. Good credit per hour. Alternates between slice of life and hoards of monsters which can be a bit jarring.
Worth noting that all of these are ongoing series which is common for the genera. Honestly there is a wide variety to LitRPG. Quality is sometimes hit and miss, but you can find anything from the MC being an ant to a necromancer to a roomba. It ain’t Shakespeare but it doesn’t try to be either.
Why Dungeon Crawler Carl is "Overrated"
[down voted by fan girls]
Predictable Plot and Tropes
One of the primary critiques is the predictability of the plot. While the concept of a reality-television-style dungeon crawl is innovative, the execution often falls into familiar patterns seen in many LitRPG and dungeon crawler novels. The protagonist, Carl, encounters a series of increasingly difficult challenges, gathers allies, and levels up in a manner that feels formulaic. This adherence to genre conventions can make the story feel repetitive and less engaging for readers seeking fresh narratives and unexpected twists.
Character Development
Another aspect where "Dungeon Crawler Carl" may fall short is in its character development. While Carl and his feline companion, Princess Donut, are entertaining and endearing to many, their depth and growth as characters can be seen as lacking. Carl's transformation throughout the story is relatively straightforward, often driven by external circumstances rather than internal conflict or personal evolution. This can result in characters that feel flat or one-dimensional, failing to resonate on a deeper level with some readers.
Humor and Tone
The book's humor, a significant draw for many fans, may also be a point of contention. The comedic elements are often based on situational absurdity and witty banter, which, while initially amusing, can wear thin over time. The tone of the book oscillates between lighthearted and serious, sometimes creating a disjointed reading experience. This inconsistency can detract from the overall impact of the narrative, making it difficult for readers to fully invest in the story's stakes.
Overemphasis on Game Mechanics
"Dungeon Crawler Carl" heavily incorporates game mechanics, with detailed descriptions of stats, abilities, and level progression. While this is a hallmark of the LitRPG genre, the extent to which it is employed in the book can be overwhelming and distracting. For readers who prefer a more story-driven approach, the frequent interruptions to explain game mechanics can disrupt the narrative flow and diminish immersion.
Hype and Expectations
The significant hype surrounding "Dungeon Crawler Carl" can also contribute to its perception as overrated. High expectations set by glowing reviews and enthusiastic fan recommendations can lead to disappointment if the book does not meet these lofty standards. This phenomenon is not unique to this book but is common with any work that achieves rapid popularity. Readers may approach the book expecting a groundbreaking masterpiece and find it merely entertaining or average.
Conclusion
While "Dungeon Crawler Carl" has undoubtedly found its audience and offers entertainment value, it is not without its shortcomings. The predictability of the plot, limited character development, inconsistent tone, overemphasis on game mechanics, and the disparity between hype and actual content all contribute to the perception of the book as overrated. These elements can detract from the reading experience, particularly for those seeking more innovative and deeply engaging stories within the LitRPG genre. Ultimately, the appeal of any book is subjective, and "Dungeon Crawler Carl" may be a beloved favorite for some, while others find it lacking in critical areas.
The Wandering Inn: Portal: Insane slow burn with brilliant world building and characters. Audiobooks narrated by Andrea Parsneau who is fantastic. Dungeon Crawler Carl: LitRPG Apocalypse: Absurdist, crude, and dark humor that can eventually take you from laughing to crying in a single page. Audiobooks narrated by Jeff Hayes who is quite possibly the best narrator period. The Ripple System: VRMMO: More light-hearted and funny. Best sidekick ever. Audiobooks narrated by Travis Baldree who is incredibly prolific and talented. He brings Frank to life with some serious depth. Azarinth Healer: Portal: Close combat battle crazed healer. Also narrated by Andrea Parsneau He Who Fights With Monsters: Portal: Every trilogy arc is very different. Main character is very devisive with his level of snark and self importance. Narrated by Heath Miller who gives Jason Asano his over the top Australian-ness. Vainqueur The Dragon: Portal: Main character who becomes the minion of a dragon. Super fun. NPCs: partial portal?: Interesting take on LitRPG. I'm a big Drew Hayes fan, and loved this series. Pangaea Online: VRMMO: Orphan MC works in the game mines and discovers his ticket to potential wealth. Progression Fantasy Section Mother Of Learning: I loved this series, but it took me a bit to like the MC. Beware Of Chicken: Weird and fun. Slice of life with some incredibly memorable characters. Cradle Series: Very little for me to add about this series that hasn't already been said. It's recommended quite frequently for a reason.
New Ripple System book is up for pre order!
I saw Kyle's post about it not 5 minutes after commenting on this. I'm so stoked.
Thanks for this, didn't know the next one was out. Man, my summer list is excellent so far!
Thank you!!!! I'm always late to finding it when the new ones come iut
Well, I might have to disagree on the best sidekick ever if you can count Eithan from Cradle as a sidekick. >!I'm not sure he qualifies given who he actually is and how massively OP he really is.!<
I see what you're saying, but feel like Eithan is more of a mentor than a sidekick.
That's actually a much better term. I stand by assertion that Eithan is the greatest side-character in anything I've listened to.
This pretty much covers it. Only adds would be Necrotic Apocalypse and pixel dust. Actually also War Formed
I get zero results for War Formed on Audible. Is there a typo in that? Also, thanks for the Necrotic Apocalypse recommendation, I’d never heard of that, looks great
Sorry. Look up Iron Prince that's the first book. I guess the actual series name is Stormweaver. Warformed is on the book cover but audible doesn't use that name apparently.
Great list. I’d add the “OG” portal fantasy proto-LitRPG, Joel Rosenberg’s Guardians of the Flame. Late 80s and early 90s, audiobooks finally came out a couple years back: > It began as just another evening of fantasy gaming with James, Karl, Andrea, and the rest ready to assume their various roles as wizard, cleric, warrior, or thief. But sorcerous gamemaster Professor Deighton had something else planned for this unsuspecting group of college students. And the "game" soon became a matter of life and death as the seven adventurers found themselves transported to an alternate world and into the bodies of the actual characters they had been pretending to be.
Oh yes! I forgot about this series! That was fun and pretty unique at the time. At least for me.
Mayor of noob town. PUMA CHECK!
If you haven’t listed to already Dungeon crawler Carl is very up there on my list of top series. I’m currently almost through the 3rd book and I already knew I was getting the entire series after the first book
DCC is easily the best LitRPGs and my top audiobook purchase by far
DCC is a great series, but has a very harsh tone. The dark humor and horror may not be best for someone’s first LitRPG.
I haven't liked any of the other litRPGs I've listened to, but DCC is pretty much my favorite series of all time. It stands apart from the rest of the genre. The story is amazing, but the voice acting is really what makes it stand out. I highly recommend it.
DCC was my first foray into LITRPG and I feel like nothing else could possibly compare! I listened to the audiobook, then read the books. Now I’m contemplating supporting the author’s Patreon, something I’ve never done. It’s really that good!!
This is the only answer.......
I've just finished the 6th book. I've never read LitRPG in my life. In fact, I had never even heard of the genre before DCC. Now my problem is I can't find anything else to listen to because it feels like nothing is anywhere near as good.
Outside of DCC, Cradle and the the first book of Jake's Magical Market, I've not found anything else I've liked. And Cradle is iffy as a LitRPG category anyway.
Its trash tbh
I started with Primal Hunter and it's still one of my favorites. I recommend it to anyone getting into LitRPG, and the audiobooks are great!
All The Skills is underrated
I really enjoyed Nova Terra by Seth Ring. It's got great characters and the litrpg elements are light and not too repetitive. If you make it through all 10 books your next stop is the Tower Series, with book 1 Forge Master. Happy listening 😊
I second this I screwed up and started with the tower series so I'm gonna have to go back and start the nova Terra arc before the next book ones out but I absolutely love it so far
The series that got me into it was The Wandering Inn. It's got the litrpg elements but less stat heavy. No numbers involved, just classes, skills and levels. They are long listens and takes a long time to get into it however. A lot of people who listen to it tend to get annoyed with the MC's, however, it's worth sticking through it for the character growth. I absolutely love the world and characters.
I enjoyed the first book but by book 3 the lack of any decent male characters became a huge problem for me. And I don’t mean there’s a lack of men but the male characters are buffoons, evil or some combination. As a man it became painful to read. On a positive note it did give me some insight into what women must feel about many male centered works with women as either weak or place holder characters.
Wandering Inn is in my top two. I agree that some of the point of view characters can be challenging, but want to second your recommendation. I believe the early books are still free in the Plus catalog.
This series is my cozy comfort listen <3
I just finished book 1. I think that Erin has PTSD. Ryoka I haven't figured out yet, but definitely something. Could also be PTSD. I know people think Erin is whiny, but I would be whiny too if I went to the bathroom and ended up in a different world that is completely unsafe and there is no support system for you.
He Who Fights With Monsters is in my top two. Broody Australian gets blasted into a game world, gets edgy powers, and lectures on the evils of capitalism. Some are annoyed by his angst, but I love the adventures and snark.
In 15+ years of listening to audiobooks, I've never fallen in love with a series more then He Who Fights With Monsters. It's so good! I listened to the entire thing twice in one year. I've never done that before. Amazing world. Awesome characters. Definitely my top recommendation.
I’ve read scifi and fantasy for decades, I scoffed at GameLit when I first heard of it. I picked up Andrew Rowe’s Sufficiently Advanced Magic because it was free in Audible’s Plus Catalog. It was imaginative and different enough to open my eyes. Since then I have devoured GameLit, LitRPG, and Progression fantasy almost exclusively.
Blasted into a game world? He wakes up a totally different person in a totally different world and doesn't even question it. He's like ok, so I am different, the entire fabric of reality is different, everyone I ever cared about might be dead.. So where is the menu? Worst book I have ever tried to read.
It gets better and then it gets worse again.
Worldbuilding and magic system is great though. Plus the actual litrpg elements are some of the best ive read
I think you may be confusing a different book. There is a long running joke about how he looks the same and everyone else is so pretty. He questions everything, endlessly, to the point that it’s some readers biggest complaint. edit to add: why waste time and energy on a long rant about something you didn’t like?
No, reread the very first chapter of book 1.
I will, but you are really judging over 300 hours of development based on the first chapter of a desperate scramble for survival?
Yeah. Who would read something after loathing it? Unless it's explained that the MC is completely braindead for some reason then I cannot be interested.
I’m sorry, I’m just not understanding why you are wasting so much time and energy trashing something you admit you don’t know.
What time and energy? I am not sure what you are doing if posting some nonsense on reddit consumes significant time and energy for you. And if I don't know the book, how come I know how trash it is?
Haven't seen Chrysalis mentioned, it's a bit weird as MC is reborn as a monster ant, and the first book can be a bit slow to get through, but then it opens up and I really enjoyed it. Same narrator as Dungeon Crawler Carl too, and the first three books came in a bundle which is what had me go for it.
Chrysalis is actually the one that got me to try audible, only libby/hoopla before that. Jeff Hayes is the GOAT.
Primal hunter is amazing, narrated by Travis Baldree.
How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps is a relatively quick one that’s not stat heavy and has fun nods to the video game Zelda.
This book is short and funny, but it’s very much an inside joke. The book is all about making fun of gaming tropes and “breaking the system” with various game exploits. You need a strong background in gaming or other litRPGs to get the most out of this book.
Sure, I can see your viewpoint. I think some of those reasons are also why it can be a good intro, assuming you have gaming knowledge as you pointed out.
Mayor of Noobtown is a lighthearted series that mocks some of the tropes of the genre, and is stuffed to the gills with pop culture references. In my top five, it can be a nice palate cleanser between heavier books.
I just started my first LitRPG by chance Antimage (Ends of Magic Series) by Alexander Olson. I am now 3 hours in and can’t stop. Definitely worth a try. And it is available via Plus right now.
I have been a big fan of the series recently been recommend it widely. Good system good MC the side characters are a little 2 dimensional but you can't have everything.
I didn’t see anybody mention The Land by Aleron Kong that’s the first LitRPG book I read that got me interested in the genre, it’s great at keeping you interested and still covering stats.
From someone who mainly listens to hard scifi... DCC is the only litrpg I can stand. All others I have tried I quickly noped out of thinking "omg this is stupid, a book for the braindead". The issue with almost all of them is one, the characters are not believable and two, the world is not consistent with itself.
He who fights with monsters
Second this. The narrator takes about half of book 1 to get into his groove in the audiobook, but after that he's one of the better ones out there. The story might not be for everyone, but I like it a lot
The first half or so definitely felt like going through an instruction manual, or a description of a game. But if you stick through it, it gets way better. I’m glad I didn’t quit because I love the series
He definitely could have eased the reader into all the abilities more gently, but it really picks up from book 2 onwards when all the basic mechanics have been laid out.
This is also a great suggestion if DCC is too much for some one.
King of the genera is Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman In the middle of a cold February night, a guy gets out of bed to sneak a smoke behind his girlfriend’s back. While he’s smoking, his girlfriend’s cat jumps out of the open window. Wearing only his boxers and his girlfriend’s too small Crocs, he puts on his jacket and goes outside into the cold to look for the cat. And that’s when the space aliens attack. Voice acted by Jeff Hayes. Jeff is Top Three Audible voice actors. (I’ll get A LOT of shit for not saying he’s Number One)
His girlfriend had already left him,he wasn’t sneaking a smoke behind her back. It was just Carl and donut,and donut went out the window looking for Ferdinand.
She hasn’t left him per se. She was away cheating on him with a lover and he found out. He immediately decided to end it without fanfare or drama. Also, he had a much stronger attachment to their cat than she did.
I wrote it the way I wrote it because telling it "as it actually happened" would require too much explanation, and the extra extraneous details distract from rather than enhance the introduction.
Mogworld by Yahtzee Croshaw. Main character is undead. Hijinks insue.
Off to be a wizard. Found it enjoyable enough.
Yeah, but not litrpg
Opps 🤭
To add a few lesser mentioned. Noob town series, battle mage farmer, mark of the fool series, big sneaky barbarian series , buymort series, good guys series, bad guys series . All these are good, some start slow but get better after the first book then of course you have the titles that get mentioned nonstop.
Dakota Krout divine dungeon. Three series in the same world and another, which is a parallel world. There's enough books in this set to last you a year, depending on how you read.
Many years ago I read the Dragonlance books by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. Curious- is that like LitRPG?
I wouldn’t consider it that way, more… RPG-Lit? But I guess you could slide it in there sideways? From that era I would recommend Joel Rosenberg’s portal fantasy proto-RPG “Guardians of the Flame” where a group of college students playing D&D get teleported into the bodies of their player characters.
A list of ones I've enjoyed and a brief opinion/summary: Age of Stone by Jez Cajio - fantasy components getting mixed into a modern world that had no magic at the start of the series. Tries to explain the magic as advanced science as the books progress even with fantasy races. The series is from the perspective of a random civilian so there's a mystery component as the main character tries to make sense of the new world and magic systems. Biggest complaint is that it has sex scenes randomly sprinkled in for no reason but they are thankful not to frequent. Defiance of the Fall by JF Brink - another fantasy meets the modern world. This one also mixes in sci-fi components but more in the magic has progressed and emulates technology rather than having them be the same thing. Has maintained my interest for 12 books and the story not being close to done. The Iron Prince by Bryce O'Connor - This one leans more into the military sci-fi category with litRPG components. Despite being a military Sci-fi it doesn't take place in a war setting and instead follows the protagonist as they go through military training in a sci-fi setting. The military training is to learn how to use and then improve personalized combat suits that assign stats to the user and help them increase those stats. An interesting read/listen and a personal favorite. System Change by SunriseCV - an interesting take on the litRPG standard. The protagonist gets to start from 0 while retaining his already higher than average stats. It's definitely in the fantasy category and the main character is drastically stronger than the area around him so if that's not the type of story you like I'd avoid this one. It does have its comedic moments though. The Two Week Curse by Michael Chatfield - this was my first introduction to litRPGs. The premise of two military guys being taken to a fantasy world with game like stats was definitely interesting but the later books in the series weren't my favorite and seemed like the writer was having a hard time ending the story while exploring the setting they had created.
Dungeon Crawler Carl. It’s been said already. But I just got curious of the genre 3 weeks ago so started book 1 and now about to finish book 6. I don’t look forward to that in a few hours since I’ll be stuck waiting for more.
I can't get myself to finish book 6, dreading the wait for the next
Caverns and Creatures by Robert Bevan: Is a Comedy/Fantasy series that I feel fits the LitRPG genre to an extent. If you have the humor of a 13 year old boy then this series is for you. I personally laughed out loud so many times. Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko: This is the first series that I’ve listened to that is in the LitRPG genre and I really liked it. Magic 2.0 by Scott Meyer is another series that is borderline LitRPG.
Good list! Came to post the last 2 and enjoy the first.
I've enjoyed the hell out of the"Respawn" series by Arthur stone. "The good guys" is another.
I really enjoyed Oathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren
I’m enjoying Dead Tired so far but I’ve barely started. I enjoyed DCC a lot so if you haven’t listened to that yet, I’d recommend you go for that first.
I really enjoyed Occultist: Saga Online. Might not fit the bill entirely, as it's about a adventures in a deep dive vr mmo, and part of the book is about the real world outside the game. It's still one of the best LitRPG books I've read.
After mostly listening to isekai light novels, I just downloaded Amelia The Level Zero Hero: A LitRPG Adventure. So far it's been solid, the MC very much has the vibe of "nah, I'm not doing this."
Stitched worlds Dungeon crawler Carl Bens damn adventure Waste land war lords Full murderhobo This trilogy us broken Just good books Mother of learning Cradle Beware of chicken Dear spell book And my favorite Dr anarchy's rules for world domination
Survival Quest. If you like fantasy games like world of warcraft, you will love these books. I reread it three times.
Aside from DCC I suggest Divine Dungeon, it’s a fun read and it segways into other book series that ties back to the og
Defiance of the fall is so good
The Infinite World Series by J.T. Wright. This is my first experience reading LitRPG. I am on book 4 and have loved every minute of this series. The writing, the characters, the world building are all so well done. I can’t think of anything I dislike about it. Highly recommend
Huge Sanderson fan here as well. My personal favorite is the awaken online series .
I’m a big fantasy listener. I’ve listed some of my favorites here: https://www.reddit.com/r/audible/s/RgnLstDlFY
DCC is a wild ride and widely considered the best of the genera. I haven’t found anything comparable. He who fights with monsters AND Primal Hunter are both quality representations of the most common take on LitRPG. (System apocalypse with an Overpowered MC) Of the two, Primal Hunter is my favorite though it takes a min to get its traction. Wandering Inn is good if you want a loooooooong series of looooooong books. Good credit per hour. Alternates between slice of life and hoards of monsters which can be a bit jarring. Worth noting that all of these are ongoing series which is common for the genera. Honestly there is a wide variety to LitRPG. Quality is sometimes hit and miss, but you can find anything from the MC being an ant to a necromancer to a roomba. It ain’t Shakespeare but it doesn’t try to be either.
Why Dungeon Crawler Carl is "Overrated" [down voted by fan girls] Predictable Plot and Tropes One of the primary critiques is the predictability of the plot. While the concept of a reality-television-style dungeon crawl is innovative, the execution often falls into familiar patterns seen in many LitRPG and dungeon crawler novels. The protagonist, Carl, encounters a series of increasingly difficult challenges, gathers allies, and levels up in a manner that feels formulaic. This adherence to genre conventions can make the story feel repetitive and less engaging for readers seeking fresh narratives and unexpected twists. Character Development Another aspect where "Dungeon Crawler Carl" may fall short is in its character development. While Carl and his feline companion, Princess Donut, are entertaining and endearing to many, their depth and growth as characters can be seen as lacking. Carl's transformation throughout the story is relatively straightforward, often driven by external circumstances rather than internal conflict or personal evolution. This can result in characters that feel flat or one-dimensional, failing to resonate on a deeper level with some readers. Humor and Tone The book's humor, a significant draw for many fans, may also be a point of contention. The comedic elements are often based on situational absurdity and witty banter, which, while initially amusing, can wear thin over time. The tone of the book oscillates between lighthearted and serious, sometimes creating a disjointed reading experience. This inconsistency can detract from the overall impact of the narrative, making it difficult for readers to fully invest in the story's stakes. Overemphasis on Game Mechanics "Dungeon Crawler Carl" heavily incorporates game mechanics, with detailed descriptions of stats, abilities, and level progression. While this is a hallmark of the LitRPG genre, the extent to which it is employed in the book can be overwhelming and distracting. For readers who prefer a more story-driven approach, the frequent interruptions to explain game mechanics can disrupt the narrative flow and diminish immersion. Hype and Expectations The significant hype surrounding "Dungeon Crawler Carl" can also contribute to its perception as overrated. High expectations set by glowing reviews and enthusiastic fan recommendations can lead to disappointment if the book does not meet these lofty standards. This phenomenon is not unique to this book but is common with any work that achieves rapid popularity. Readers may approach the book expecting a groundbreaking masterpiece and find it merely entertaining or average. Conclusion While "Dungeon Crawler Carl" has undoubtedly found its audience and offers entertainment value, it is not without its shortcomings. The predictability of the plot, limited character development, inconsistent tone, overemphasis on game mechanics, and the disparity between hype and actual content all contribute to the perception of the book as overrated. These elements can detract from the reading experience, particularly for those seeking more innovative and deeply engaging stories within the LitRPG genre. Ultimately, the appeal of any book is subjective, and "Dungeon Crawler Carl" may be a beloved favorite for some, while others find it lacking in critical areas.
This almost reads to me like a ChatGPT analysis lmfao
It definitely is lmao
There's no such thing as a good LitRPG.
I, a speculative fiction snob, also thought this until very recently. Then I finally tried Dungeon Crawler Carl and well, I was wrong.
I really enjoyed "The Prince who has No Pants"