4 ways to have the most fun reading LitRPG 🪄 📖

Looking for something new to read?

If you're...

• into fantasy and sci-fi books

• a gamer (video and/or tabletop)

• a lover of reading

• bored by the same old books

• up for an adventure

...then LitRPG — a niche genre that combines the magic of fantasy and sci-fi/fantasy with the thrill of gaming — might be what you're looking for!

LitRPG (short for "literary role-playing games") is an exciting genre of fiction that brings the hallmarks of gaming to the fantasy/sci-fi realm. LitRPG books are stories that incorporate the mechanics and rules of a game environment into the worlds they create.

But LitRPG isn't like reading a Choose Your Own Adventure or playing a tabletop game. There are no decisions or dice rolls for you to make. You read LitPRG like you'd read any other book.

Think of it like a novelization of a game. You'll get all the fun characters and action of a game, but the end of the book won't depend on your actions. You just read it and enjoy!

Here's a quick explanation:

LitRPG might be your thing if...

• You're a gamer but not a big reader. Maybe you want to read more but you find a lot of books "boring". Whether you're into video games like Legends of Zelda, or tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, LitRPG books will bring familiar worlds and characters to your personal library.

• You're a fantasy/sci-fi reader but not a huge gamer. You don't have to be an avid gamer, or even play games at all. LitRPG books are about completely new worlds that aren't connected to games on the market, so you don't need to be familiar with popular games. You won't do the same heavy lifting (or thumbing?) as you would with a video game, or make difficult decisions like you would in a tabletop game.

• You just love reading and want something new. If what you've been reading lately is a bit too deep and dark, LitRPG is light and fun for the most part.

What are the best ways to enjoy LitRPG?

The actual reading process isn't all that different from reading any genre you might like — but with any genre, there are some things to know.

The following tips will help you get started on your LitRPG quest.

Setting

All LitRPG books are set in magical game-like environments that have their own rules (known as a "game system").

They can be set in a variety of worlds:

• A magical kingdom with warriors, mythical creatures, and evil monarchs

• A high-tech, futuristic sci-fi planet that's under attack from alien invaders

They might even start in the real world and have a game-like world imposed on them — like in the Minecraft movie, when the main characters pass through a portal into the Minecraft world.

Plot

You'll follow the main character as they travel through the world to achieve quests and beat bosses. Along the way, they'll gain skills and experience points, pick up objects, interact with other characters, fight enemies, and solve challenges.

To master a video game, you need to know how to interact with the environment. LitRPG is similar in that the mechanics of the book's world — its "game system" — is just as important as character development or plot twists.

Pay attention to key gaming elements in the book:

• NPCs: these "non-player characters" are who your main character will interact with. Some are friendly and helpful, while others...not so much.

• Story glyphs: items like scrolls, plaques, or other objects. They have text on them that reveals useful information about the plot and characters.

• Stats: as your character moves through the game, they'll gain skills points, gather weapons and gear, and collect supplies to beat the final boss or achieve the quest. And don't worry, you won't have to do any math equations!

Most LitRPG books don't have morals or lessons to take away after you read them. They usually don't contain deep insights into human life.

Most LitRPG games have simple characters and plotlines. Much like in video games, the main character is the good guy, and the book is all about their quest to defeat the final boss and conquer the environment.

And that's ok — the point of reading LitRPG is to have fun!

A lot of LitRPG fans swear by a series called Dungeon Crawler Carl. Here's one testimonial from a BookTok reader who calls it "a banger":

And if you're a movie buff, many LitRPG fans consider the original book for Ready Player One — about a character who has to escape from a virtual reality game — as a classic of the genre. It's a great starter book if you've seen the movie.

Meet Dorian. He's working his first job after graduating from college. After completing his training, his company rewards him with a gift certificate to his favorite local bookstore.

As he opens the gift card envelope, his eyes light up. He can finally get one of those LitRPG books he's been hearing about!

Suddenly, a gold cloud surrounds him, and he is whisked away to a magical world: his local bookstore.

There, he encounters a helpful guide bearing the name of "Angie". She engages him in conversation.

"Welcome to our store, traveller!" Angie greets him excitedly. "What do you fancy on such a fine day?"

"Uh, I'd love some LitRPG suggestions," he responds." I'm not sure about it though, I've never read one before. I can only get one book with this gift card, so it's gotta be good!"

Angie puts on some glasses and looks Dorian up and down. But it's not any old pair of specs — it has special technology that Angie uses to uncover some stats on Dorian:

To hear an audio description of Dorian's character sheet, click play on the audio player below:

She beckons him to a hidden room in the back of the store, where she hands him two glowing books.

"Read the descriptions on the backs of these books," she instructs. "Choose wisely!"

To hear an audio description of each book, click play on the audio player below:

Get ready for your LitRPG adventure!