LitRPG

LitRPG, short for literary role-playing game, is a literary genre combining the conventions of computer RPGs with science-fiction and fantasy novels. The term was introduced in 2013. In LitRPG, game-like elements form an essential part of the story, and visible RPG statistics (for example strength, intelligence, damage) are a significant part of the reading experience.^[1] This distinguishes the genre from novels that tie in with a game, like those set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons; books that are actual games, such as the choose-your-own-path Fighting Fantasy type of publication; or games that are literarily described, like MUDs and interactive fiction. Typically, the main character in a LitRPG novel is consciously interacting with the game or game-like world and attempting to progress within it.

History

The

• Arcane Ascension (2017–) by Andrew Rowe[9]
• Awaken Online (2016–) by Travis Bagwell^[10][11]
• The Divine Dungeon (2016–2019) by Dakota Krout^[9]
• Dungeon Crawler Carl (2020-) by Matt Dinniman^[12]
• He Who Fights With Monsters (2021–) by Shirtaloon^[12]
• Red Mage (2018–) by Xander Boyce^[12]
• The Wandering Inn (2016–) by pirateaba^[13]
• Worth the Candle (2017–2021) by Alexander Wales^[12]

Russian

• AlterWorld: Play to Live (2013–) by D. Rus (Дмитрий Рус)^[14][12][15]
• Dark Paladin (2017–2018) by Vasily Mahanenko (Василий Маханенко)^[16]
• Dragon Heart (2019–) by Kirill Klevanski^[17][18]
• Fayroll (2017–) by Andrey Vasilyev (Андрей Васильев)^[12]
• Mirror World (2014–2022) by Alexey Osadchuk (Алексей Осадчук)^[16]
• Survival Quest (The Way of the Shaman series) by Vasily Mahanenko^[16]

GameLit

Many of the post-2014 writers in this field insist that depiction of a character's in-game progression must be part of the definition of LitRPG, leading to the emergence of the term GameLit to embrace stories set in a game universe but which do not necessarily embody leveling and skill raising.^[19][20] Some of the earliest examples are Chris Van Allsburg's 1981 Jumanji which is a children's book about a magical board game.^[21][22] and the Guardians of the Flame series (1983–2004) by Joel Rosenberg^[23] in which a group of college students are magically transported into a fantasy role-playing game.