If you’ve ever loved getting lost in a fantasy novel—or spent hours questing through an RPG—you may be surprised to learn there’s a genre that combines both. It’s called LitRPG (short for “Literary Role-Playing Game”), and it’s one of the fastest-growing niches in modern fiction.
LitRPG (Literary Role-Playing Game) is a fiction genre that combines traditional storytelling with video game mechanics like stats, leveling, skills, and quests. Characters progress much like players in an RPG, making the story feel like both a novel and a game at the same time.
LitRPG doesn’t just tell you a story. It immerses you in a world where quests, leveling, skills, and statistics are just as real as swords, magic, and monsters. Readers get all the thrill of watching a character’s journey unfold and the satisfaction of seeing them grind for experience points, unlock achievements, and gain new abilities.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the genre:
- The LitRPG definition and origins
- What makes it different from GameLit and progression fantasy
- Why so many readers are hooked
- The best LitRPG books to start with
What Is LitRPG? (The Simple Definition)
At its core, LitRPG is a genre of fiction that combines traditional storytelling with role-playing game mechanics. Characters live in—or get transported into—worlds that follow the rules of an RPG: they track stats, gain skills, level up, and complete quests.
The “RPG” part comes directly from video games and tabletop role-playing games. Readers might see characters monitoring health bars, unlocking skill trees, earning loot, or choosing class abilities—just like a player would. The “Lit” part reminds us that it’s still a story: there are characters to care about, mysteries to solve, and epic worlds to explore.
Where Did LitRPG Come From?
The roots of LitRPG can be traced back to the early 2010s in Russia, when the term was coined by Eksmo Publishing, one of the largest publishing houses in Russia. They used it to describe stories that explicitly merged literature with role-playing game systems.
Before that, elements of the genre existed in Japanese light novels like Sword Art Online and in early web fiction experiments.
The genre quickly spread worldwide thanks to platforms like Royal Road and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, where indie authors could release serialized stories directly to fans. Writers like Aleron Kong (The Land) and Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl) helped popularize LitRPG in English, bringing the genre to bestseller lists and even audiobook charts.
Today, LitRPG has grown into an international community of authors and readers, with conventions, online forums, and hundreds of active series.
How LitRPG Differs From GameLit and Progression Fantasy
LitRPG often gets lumped together with GameLit and progression fantasy, but there are key differences:
- LitRPG – Always includes explicit game mechanics (stats, levels, skills, or system messages). Readers watch the numbers go up.
- GameLit – Includes game-like settings, but may not show the mechanics. A story can feel like a video game without listing XP or strength points.
- Progression Fantasy – Focuses on steady growth and mastery, but through in-world systems (like magic cultivation or training), not game code.
Think of it this way: all LitRPG is GameLit, and some GameLit overlaps with progression fantasy—but LitRPG is unique for making the rules of the world visible to the reader.
Why Readers Love LitRPG
So why is LitRPG becoming one of the hottest subgenres in fantasy and sci-fi? Here are a few reasons:
- Visible Progression – Readers get the dopamine hit of watching numbers climb, just like in a video game.
- High Stakes + Strategy – Success isn’t just about heroics; it’s about smart choices, stat builds, and resource management.
- Escapism for Gamers – It scratches the itch of playing a long campaign while being able to enjoy it anywhere, even without a console or PC.
- Fast-Paced & Addictive – Many LitRPGs are serialized, releasing in frequent chunks that keep readers hooked.
- Community & Fandom – LitRPG has a strong online culture, with fan art, forums, and passionate discussions about builds, systems, and favorite characters.
The Best LitRPG Books to Start With
If you’re curious where to begin, here are some of the most recommended LitRPG books and series:
- The Land by Aleron Kong – One of the first breakout English-language LitRPGs, blending humor, adventure, and classic RPG systems.
- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman – A darkly funny, action-packed series that has become a fan favorite.
- He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon (Travis Deverell) – A witty, character-driven LitRPG with a mix of comedy and epic battles.
- Awaken Online by Travis Bagwell – A LitRPG with a darker twist, exploring morality, power, and what it means to play the villain.
- Reborn: Apocalypse by L.M. Kerr – A popular blend of LitRPG and apocalypse survival, perfect for readers who like high tension.
Frequently Asked Questions About LitRPG
LitRPG (Literary Role-Playing Game) is a fiction genre where stories include game mechanics like stats, skills, leveling, and quests. Characters grow much like players in a video game, making the experience a mix between traditional fantasy storytelling and immersive role-playing systems.
Not quite. All LitRPG is GameLit, but not all GameLit is LitRPG. GameLit features game-like settings but doesn’t always show the numbers—LitRPG always includes visible mechanics like levels, stats, or system messages.
Progression fantasy focuses on steady growth through in-world systems, like magical cultivation or training. LitRPG shows that growth through explicit game mechanics: quests, experience points, level-ups, and skill trees that the reader can follow.
The term was first popularized by Eksmo Publishing in Russia around 2013 to describe this unique fusion of literature and role-playing mechanics.
Some of the most well-known titles include The Land by Aleron Kong, Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon, and Awaken Online by Travis Bagwell.
Yes. In fact, LitRPG thrives in audiobook format thanks to engaging narrators and serialized pacing. Dungeon Crawler Carl recently became a breakout hit on audio charts.
Many LitRPG authors publish on Royal Road, a free web fiction platform with thousands of stories. You can also find LitRPG on Amazon Kindle, Audible, and in audiobook form, which is especially popular with fans.
Great entry points include The Land by Aleron Kong, Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon, and Awaken Online by Travis Bagwell. These books highlight the most popular LitRPG styles.