Since publishing my litRPG book Original Enchantment, I’ve had friends ask the obvious question, “What is litRPG?” There are a lot of good answers online that explore the question in-depth, but here’s a shorter version for those who don’t want to read a full essay.
LitRPG in a Nutshell
It’s a genre of writing where the story is set in a world that operates like a video game (and often is one). The main character does RPG-like things (questing, crafting, monster-slaying) and you get to watch their game stats grow.
Things Like LitRPG You May Already Know
- Have you ever read or watched Ready Player One? You’re in the right ballpark; that’s from a parent genre called gamelit. Add in a focus on game elements and stats and you’ve got litRPG.
- Have you ever watched an isekai (“another world”) anime like Sword Art Online? LitRPG is basically the same thing except in novel format.
- Have you ever played a tabletop roleplaying game like Dungeons & Dragons? Imagine you were transported into a D&D-like world and could view your stats and level up.
- Have you ever played a computer RPG like World of Warcraft? Same deal. Imagine you got stuck playing as your WoW character.
- Have you ever played a live-action roleplaying game? LitRPG is similar except the main character knows they’re playing a game and the mechanics of the world are laws of nature rather than game rules.
Related Terms
LitRPG is a sub-genre of gamelit. Gamelit stories take place inside games but don’t focus on the game’s stats. LitRPG is also a sub-genre of progression fantasy, where the main character advances through an established progression system. The difference is that progression fantasy doesn’t always take place in a game.
For the Nerds in the Room
You’re right; Sword Art Online isn’t necessarily the best example of isekai. Likewise, not every litRPG takes place in a traditional fantasy setting like D&D and WoW. These are just the most well-known examples. I’m sure there are 100 other nuances you could correct. This list isn’t for you, and dwelling on the details too much may scare the new folks away. Now shoo. 😛