If you have wandered through the Mist Village alongside Richter, if you have thrilled at each notification of skills gained and levels earned, then you know the particular magic of Aleron Kong’s The Land series. And now, dear reader, you find yourself in that peculiar predicament of having reached the final page and wanting more—ever so much more.
Fear not! For we have gathered here a collection of adventures most wondrous, each one promising that delightful blend of progression, peril, and possibility that makes the LitRPG genre such a splendid place to lose oneself.
He Who Fights with Monsters by Shirtaloon
What a peculiar fellow is Jason Asano! An Australian office worker one moment, and the next—whisked away to a world where his powers are decidedly evil in nature. His familiar is an apocalypse monster named Colin, which tells you rather everything you need to know about the sort of story this is.
Jason faces his ridiculous circumstances with sarcasm, false bravado, and genuine heart. The progression system here marries cultivation with traditional LitRPG mechanics in the most satisfying manner. With over thirteen million views on Royal Road before its publication, this series has earned its devoted following through wit, adventure, and a protagonist who grows in ways both statistical and deeply human.
Defiance of the Fall by TheFirstDefier
When the multiverse announces itself and transforms Earth into something altogether different, young Zac finds himself alone in the wilderness with nothing but a hatchet. From such humble beginnings, what adventures unfold!
This series spans fifteen books of magnificent scope, blending Eastern cultivation philosophy with Western LitRPG mechanics. Twenty million readers on Royal Road cannot be mistaken—watching Zac evolve from desperate survivor to cosmic power provides the progression fix that devotees of the genre crave. The worldbuilding sprawls delightfully vast, and every level gained feels earned through genuine struggle.
The Primal Hunter by Zogarth
Jake Thayne was having a perfectly ordinary day at the office when the world changed and supernatural powers became immediately necessary. Unlike his stumbling colleagues, Jake discovers he thrives in this new reality—particularly with a bow in hand.
Stories featuring archers are surprisingly rare in LitRPG, and this series does the class magnificent justice. Jake’s journey from office worker to apex hunter provides steady, satisfying progression, while his antisocial tendencies lead to the most amusing friendships—particularly with a pair of sentient birds. The system apocalypse setting crackles with danger and opportunity in equal measure.
Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko
In the year 2047, Marcus and his friends dive into an unprecedented virtual reality MMORPG seeking adventure. They find rather more than they bargained for when Marcus awakens separated from his companions in a village under goblin attack.
What follows is a splendid blend of combat, world building, crafting, and settlement development. As Lyrian (Marcus’s character), you’ll defend the village of Aldford, rebuild from ruins, and discover that this game is nothing like anything played before. For those who loved the village-building aspects of The Land, this series delivers that satisfaction in generous measure.
Dungeon Born by Dakota Krout
Here is something altogether different—a story told from the perspective of Cal, a dungeon core. A soul forced into a magical stone, Cal must grow his dungeon, create monsters and traps, and consume adventurers to survive.
Dakota Krout rather invented this subgenre, and his innovative approach earned recognition as one of Audible’s top fantasy picks. The narrative shifts between Cal’s first-person perspective and third-person glimpses of the adventurers who dare his depths. Clean humor, clever mechanics, and the sheer novelty of cheering for the dungeon make this series an absolute delight.
Life Reset by Shemer Kuznits
Oren was a powerful guild master—until betrayal transformed him into a level one goblin. Cast out and stripped of everything, he makes a choice most unexpected: he stays as a goblin, determined to build a monster clan and exact his revenge.
This series combines the satisfaction of starting from nothing with heavy elements of town-building and clan management. Each book became an Amazon bestseller for good reason—there’s something deeply satisfying about building power from the most unlikely of beginnings. The darkness-based magic and strategic gameplay will keep you turning pages well past midnight.
The Mayor of Noobtown by Ryan Rimmel
Upon dying, Jim finds himself reborn into a world built like a video game—specifically, a very old new-player zone that fell out of use centuries ago. Unfortunately, nobody told the monsters they were supposed to go easy on newcomers.
Jim’s companion is a sarcastic demon named Shart, and if that name doesn’t make you smile, this series might not be for you. For everyone else, Ryan Rimmel delivers irreverent humor, clever twists on RPG tropes, and a protagonist who refuses to play by the rules. The audiobook narration by Johnathan McClain elevates the rapid-fire comedy to new heights.
The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba
Erin Solstice is transported to a fantasy world ruled by levels and classes—and rather than becoming a warrior or mage, she becomes an innkeeper. What follows is unlike anything else in the genre.
With over thirteen million words published, this may be one of the longest works of fiction ever written. It blends epic fantasy with intimate slice-of-life moments, grand battles with quiet conversations over meals. A second protagonist, Ryoka Griffin, offers contrasting perspectives. For readers who loved the settlement aspects of The Land and wanted to see that expanded into something cozy yet epic, the Wandering Inn awaits.
Dungeon Lord by Hugo Huesca
Dark forces offer Edward Wright incredible power at terrible cost—and Edward chooses to make them regret it. Swept into the world of Ivalis as a Dungeon Lord, he refuses servitude and instead opposes the schemes of evil gods.
This series blends LitRPG with dark fantasy and sword-and-sorcery traditions. The villains are genuinely creepy, the dungeon building satisfying, and Edward’s defiance of expectations refreshing. For those who want their progression fantasy with a darker edge, Hugo Huesca delivers admirably.
AlterWorld by D. Rus
Max is a terminal cancer patient who makes a desperate choice—to permanently upload his consciousness into a fantasy MMORPG, escaping death by embracing digital immortality.
This Russian sensation created the LitRPG genre as we know it, becoming a bestseller overnight in 2013. The premise explores profound questions about identity, mortality, and what it means to truly live, all wrapped in the satisfying mechanics of online gaming. Seven books tell an epic tale of survival, friendship, and absolute freedom.
Eden’s Gate by Edward Brody
When Gunnar Long is transported into the first fully-immersive virtual MMORPG, he finds everything he ever wanted—adventure, magic, friends, and a place to call home. But the government of the real world wants this game shut down at all costs.
This series delivers quests, loot, dungeon crawls, guild creation, and village building in generous portions. Gunnar’s moral choices exist in gray areas rather than black and white, making for a protagonist who feels genuinely human. Fans of Sword Art Online will find much to love here.
Warformed: Stormweaver by Bryce O’Connor
Reidon Ward was born weak and sickly, abandoned by his parents. But when the most powerful artificial intelligence in human history takes interest in him, everything changes.
This sci-fi progression epic follows Reidon through military academy and into combat tournaments with a Combat Assistance Device of awful initial specs but infinite potential. At over one thousand pages, the first book (Iron Prince) demands commitment—and rewards it magnificently. Think Ender’s Game meets LitRPG, with an underdog journey that will keep you cheering throughout.
Ritualist by Dakota Krout
From the author of Dungeon Born comes another beloved series—the Completionist Chronicles. Joe finds himself in a game world where his class focuses on rituals rather than direct combat, forcing creative approaches to every challenge.
Dakota Krout’s signature clean humor shines throughout, and the unique class mechanics provide fresh perspectives on familiar LitRPG territory. For readers who loved leveling systems but want to see them approached from unexpected angles, Joe’s journey offers delightful innovation.
Catharsis by Travis Bagwell
Jason logs into a new virtual reality game called Awaken Online, but what begins as escapism becomes something far more significant. His journey explores darker psychological territory while maintaining satisfying progression mechanics.
The game’s AI develops in unexpected directions, and Jason’s growth—both in power and as a person—drives a compelling narrative. For those who want their LitRPG with deeper character exploration and psychological complexity, this series delivers.
Finding Your Next Adventure
Each of these fourteen recommendations offers something special for fans of Aleron Kong’s work. Whether you crave the satisfaction of building settlements, the thrill of leveling through dangerous encounters, or the joy of watching a character grow from nothing into something magnificent, your next adventure awaits within these pages.
The beauty of LitRPG lies in its infinite variety—dungeon cores and innkeepers, goblins and archers, apocalypse survivors and military academy students. Whatever specific flavor draws you most strongly, the genre has expanded wonderfully since Richter first stepped into the Mist Village.
Happy reading, dear adventurer. May your levels come swiftly and your loot drops be legendary.
