LitRPG is Literary Role Playing Games. It is a subset of progression stories, stories where characters grow stronger and develop. In LitRPG the growth is measured through increased stats as would be seen in a role-playing game and it is integral to the story. If there are blocks of stats in the text it is considered crunchy. The stories can be fantasy, science fiction, as well as horror or another genre as long as there is a game mechanic progression. There are many subdivisions. A discussion of a few of these subdivisions follows. The suggestions are examples I have read over the past few years since I found the related genres, it is not a complete list set in any manner.<\/p>\n
At the heart of these stories, the characters grow stronger and develop through some pathway. They may cultivate chi, gain experience, absorb energy, gain better magic or cards, or through another system. LitRPG stories typically progress using standard role-playing game mechanics for development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cultivation stories are not LitRPG, but they are closely related. The mechanics often draw from Eastern teachings related to improving health through meditation. The characters get stronger as they clear the channels and nodes in their bodies by circulating Chi. Cultivators are often associated with alchemists and gatherers to obtain medicines, plants, and animal cores which can ease their development path. The exact path can vary from relatively simple circulation of energy to more complex layering of bodily enhancement through stages from simple body enhancement to gaining practical immortality.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>A Thousand Li <\/span><\/i>by Tao Wong; Unintended Cultivator by Eric Dontigney; <\/span>The Metier Apocalypse <\/span><\/i>by Frank G. Albelo, <\/span>Beware of Chicken<\/span><\/i> by Casual Farmer<\/span><\/p>\n This is a subset of LitRPG that involves being part of a gameworld but may not involve the standard game stat progression. Characters may grow or not, so it is not a complete union with progression stories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>Guardians of the Flame<\/span><\/i> by Joel Rosenberg; <\/span>Ready Player One<\/span><\/i> by Ernest Cline; <\/span>Tallrock <\/span><\/i>by Xander Boyce<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In these stories the magic or action is related to decks similar to the Collectable Card Games such as Magic the Gathering,Dominion, and Pok\u00e9mon. The cards maintain rarity, levels, and powering. The action is typically turn-based.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>All the Skills <\/span><\/i>by Honour Rae, <\/span>The Alchemist Series<\/span><\/i> by Vasily Mahenenko, and <\/span>In the System series<\/span><\/i> by Petr Zhguyov<\/span><\/p>\n These stories take on more game management driving the story. The main character is forced to compete with others in a top level sometimes godlike role. The view of the world may take on a hex appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>CivCEO<\/span><\/i> by Andrew Karevik, <\/span>Magic Kingdom at War<\/span><\/i> by Tao Wong, and <\/span>Civilization: Barbarians<\/span><\/i> by Tim Underwood<\/span><\/p>\n These progression stories include developing harems. Typically there are several women in a relationship with a male main character. There are reverse harem stories which have several men with a female lead. The dynamics of the relationship are a major plot point. The sex scenes may be on or offscreen. I don\u2019t have a lot of experience with this genre.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>Eternal Dominion <\/span><\/i>by Bern Dean, <\/span>Level Up!<\/span><\/i> by Simon Archer, <\/span>Aether’s Revival<\/span><\/i> by Daniel Schinhofen<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Games are a natural match to LItRPG as the progression and stats are part of the gaming system. These stories are often game playing often focusing on a new launch as players scramble to do well. In many of these stories, the economy has moved online and players can use game gains in real life. Another major story type is \u201ctrapped in the game.\u201d The plot revolves around surviving and eventually escaping.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>Kaiju Battlefield Surgeon <\/span><\/i>by Matt Dinniman, <\/span>Light Online<\/span><\/i> by Tom Laracombe, <\/span>Limitless Lands: The Commander’s Tale<\/span><\/i> by Dean Henegar, <\/span>The World Series <\/span><\/i>by Jason Cheek, <\/span>Ascend Online<\/span><\/i> by Luke Chmilenko, <\/span>Bushido Online: the Battle Begins<\/span><\/i> by Nikita Thorn, Koyesta Online: Early Access by John Cressman<\/span><\/p>\n Stories where the main character gets sent to another world. If they go through a hole and remain\u00a0 themselves it is a portal fantasy. If a person wakes up in another world and are not in their old body is an isekai. If a person dies after being hit by a truck, it is a truck-kun. The adventures they have vary from that start point. But the characters will see some form of progression and it may be either a system style or cultivation development path.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>Beware of Chicken<\/span><\/i> by Casualfarmer, Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker by Alvin Atwater, <\/span>Azarinth Healer<\/span><\/i> by Rhaegar<\/span><\/p>\n These are stories where the main character is sent back in time with future knowledge. They are often on a mission to change something to make the future better. These are often tied to a system apocalypse style story or a tower climb. They often feature rapid growth as the characters know the exploits or how to achieve world firsts.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>Eternal Dominion <\/span><\/i>by Bern Dean, <\/span>Tower Climber<\/span><\/i> by Jacob Tanner, <\/span>Reborn Apocalypse<\/span><\/i> by LM Kerr<\/span><\/p>\n Not every story needs to fight the big bad. For the times when you need the lighter tales there are stories where people just want to get away. Maybe have a cup of coffee or settle down on a farm.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>Cozy Isekai Craftsman: Lockwood <\/span><\/i>by Blaise Corvin,<\/span> Light Online <\/span><\/i>by Tom Laracombe, <\/span>Blade\u2019s Rest<\/span><\/i> by Tom Watts, <\/span>Casual Farming <\/span><\/i>by Wolfe Locke, <\/span>Artisan <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>Trader Jim\u2019s <\/span><\/i>by Jason Hill, Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree,\u00a0 <\/span>Clearing: Legendary Farmer<\/span><\/i> by Elizabeth Oswald, <\/span>One Moo’r Plow<\/span><\/i> by Exemplar Invictus<\/span><\/p>\n Not all progression stories are fantasy. Sometimes aliens arrive and change the world because they need Earth\u2019s resources or just hate humanity. Technology advances are often driven by nanites.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>Inheritance<\/span><\/i> by Morgan Cole, <\/span>Drone Ensign<\/span><\/i> by Kyle Johnson, <\/span>Condition Evolution<\/span><\/i> by Kevin Sinclair, <\/span>Rise of Mankind<\/span><\/i> by Jez Cajiao,<\/span> First Line of Defence<\/span><\/i> by Benjamin Kerei<\/span><\/p>\n These are tales of the world ending. The advent of magic or a system is typical. In some cases mana ruins technology, while in others technology still works but monsters kill off a lot of humanity. These stories are often adapting to the new world, but may include planning revenge on the system creators.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>The System <\/span><\/i>by Tao Wong, <\/span>Foundations <\/span><\/i>by Cale Plamann, <\/span>AI Apocalypse: Restart <\/span><\/i>by J. David Baxter, <\/span>Sponsored Apocalypse<\/span><\/i> by Blaise Corvin,<\/span> Fort at the End of the World<\/span><\/i> by Justin Marks, and of course <\/span>Dungeon Crawler <\/span><\/i>by Matt Dinniman<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes our heroes delve dungeons and other times they reach for the skies. Heroes in these stories are trying to reach the top. The floors are often not contained in a physical tower, but are a series of portals to floors that can vary greatly in size. The tower floors are places which offer a great opportunity for growth and loot. The story may be almost solely in the tower or may be a mix of time in the tower and outside.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>Towers of Heaven <\/span><\/i>by Cameron Milan,<\/span> Speed Runner<\/span><\/i> by Adam Elliott, <\/span>Guild Master <\/span><\/i>by Ivan Kal, <\/span>Tower Climber <\/span><\/i>by Jakob Tanner, <\/span>Foundations <\/span><\/i>by Cale Plamann, <\/span>The Change: A Livestreamed Dungeon Crawl<\/span><\/i> by Shane Purdy<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes characters are completely nerfed. Level 0 characters often have limited skills and abilities, but if they pull off a major feat, they can have major advantages. This can also apply to people trapped at a low level due to a weird class or special circuimatance.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/b>Alpha Zero<\/span><\/i> by Arthur Stone,\u00a0 <\/span>Zero Ranker <\/span><\/i>by Cobyboy,<\/span><\/h2>\n
Cultivation<\/span><\/h2>\n
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GameLit<\/span><\/h2>\n
Deck Builders<\/span><\/h2>\n
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4x Lit<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Haremlit<\/span><\/h2>\n
Virtual Games<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Isekai\/Portal Fantasy<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Regression\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Cozy and Crafting<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Space and science based<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Apocalypse<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Tower Climber<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Zeros<\/span><\/h2>\n