Have you been looking for a way to scratch that gaming itch while on the road? Have you run out of interesting games to play? Have you tried everything to recapture that sense of nostalgia from games past and just found yourself bored, grinding through endless levels?
If that is that case, you might want to check out the new LitRPG genre.
Yes, this is an article about books on a site for video games, but we’re discussing books about gaming. Bear with me.
Imagine books that give you everything you’ve ever wanted in a video game. Stories that give us a sense of adventure and mystery that we all crave, but can never get enough of. Tales that take the game just one step farther than is possible with modern technology.
Welcome to LitRPG.
Originally inspired by Light Novels and Manga such as Sword Art Online and Legendary Moonlight Sculptor, the LitRPG genre has undergone a massive transformation on its way over to the West. American authors have taken the gaming elements we all know and love from our favorite MMORPG and RPG games, then fused them with epic, action-oriented adventures where the characters within the story grow and progress the same way they would in a video game.
- Whether you’re looking for an adventure like Eve Online or something more like WoW or ESO, there are a number of up-and-coming authors in this fledgling genre that can meet your needs. We’ve listed a few of our favorites at the end of this article (and you should definitely check them out!), but by no means should you stop there. A whole fan community is growing If you’re interested in learning more about the LitRPG genre and becoming part of an active community, please come and check out the LitRPG Society group on Facebook!
- Or dive right into the reading and check out Ramon Mejia’s exhaustive LitRPG list that he has put together on his website, Geeks Byte Podcast. Ramon has painstakingly broken down subgenres within LitRPG and has provided detailed reviews of each work.
I’ll leave you with one final note; tread with care here. I started off by reading one book, and, within six months, I had devoured everything in the genre. These novels are addictive. You have been warned!
1. Awaken Online, by Travis Bagwell
Frustrated with his life, Jason begins playing a first-of-its-kind virtual reality game. He quickly finds himself on the path to becoming the game’s villain and he starts to suspect that the game is much more than it appears.
Travis Bagwell – Website Facebook Twitter
2. Delvers LLC, by Blaise Corvin
Henry and Jason led normal lives in Seattle before they were abducted to another world. Their kidnapper, the vain, self-styled god Dolos refuses to send them back unless they can accomplish an impossible task. Oddly, Dolos doesn’t seem to care if they succeed or not.
The two modern men will have to survive a world full of monsters and other dangers with nothing but two magic-granting orbs and a duffle bag full of random junk.
Blaise Corvin – Website Facebook Twitter
3. Ascend Online, by Luke Chmilenko
Join Marcus and his friends as they eagerly leap into a revolutionary virtual reality game, and find themselves defending a remote village under siege by massive spiders and a horde of bloodthirsty goblins. But as if that wasn’t enough, they quickly find themselves up against other players, realizing that the game only has one rule: Might Makes Right.
Luke Chmilenko – Facebook Twitter
Header artwork created by JJCanvas
