So you have devoured every delicious morsel of Matt Dinniman’s marvellous creation, and now you find yourself wandering about like a child who has finished all the pudding and peers hopefully into an empty bowl. Fear not, dear reader, for there exist other worlds quite as splendid—perhaps not identical in their particular flavour of mayhem and talking cats, but wondrously satisfying in their own extraordinary ways.
Let us embark together upon a grand expedition through the finest tales that shall scratch that peculiar itch left behind when one has conquered all eighteen floors and simply must have more.
The Primal Hunter by Zogarth
When the multiverse comes calling with all the subtlety of a dinner bell rung by giants, an ordinary office worker named Jake discovers he was perhaps not so ordinary after all. Thrust into a tutorial where survival demands both wit and a willingness to embrace one’s more primal nature, Jake finds himself rather thriving where others falter.
What makes this tale particularly delightful is how it masquerades as simple entertainment whilst concealing remarkable depth. The philosophical questions lurking beneath the monster-hunting and level-gaining shall creep up on you most unexpectedly, rather like finding wisdom at the bottom of your teacup.
Defiance of the Fall by TheFirstDefier
Picture, if you will, poor Zac alone in the wilderness when reality itself decides to play a most unwelcome trick. The multiverse arrives uninvited, bringing with it demons, beasts, and an unfeeling System that cares not one whit for proper introductions. Armed initially with nothing grander than a hatchet, Zac must carve his way toward strength.
This sprawling epic weaves Eastern cultivation traditions with Western progression fantasy in a tapestry that has captivated twenty million readers on Royal Road. The world-building, I am told, reaches heights of the highest order—though one must be patient, for the best adventures require a bit of time to unfold properly.
He Who Fights with Monsters by Shirtaloon
An Australian fellow named Jason wakes in a world of magic and monsters, immediately requiring both courage and—rather pressingly—trousers. What follows is a delicious culture clash as this laid-back gentleman navigates a realm that takes itself terribly seriously whilst he absolutely does not.
The story earned thirteen million views on Royal Road before making its way to Kindle, and small wonder. Jason’s journey from confused newcomer to formidable adventurer never loses its charm, even as the stakes grow considerably more serious. One might call it an isekai with heart, wit, and surprisingly thoughtful commentary on power.
Cradle by Will Wight
In a world where sacred arts flow like rivers of power, young Lindon bears the cruellest label imaginable: Unsouled. Unable to wield the magic that defines his clan’s worth, he seems destined for a life of insignificance—until the heavens themselves show him a terrible future and offer the merest sliver of hope.
This twelve-book journey, completed in 2023, represents what many consider the very pinnacle of cultivation fantasy. Will Wight possesses a rare gift for keeping things perpetually fresh, never allowing his characters to languish in one place when adventure calls from the next horizon. Pure addiction, the readers call it, and they are not wrong.
Iron Prince by Bryce O’Connor and Luke Chmilenko
Reidon Ward entered this world small, sickly, and promptly abandoned. Yet when the most powerful artificial intelligence in human history takes an interest in his potential, everything changes. Granted a Combat Assistance Device with dreadful initial specifications but unlimited room for growth, Reidon begins his long climb through military academy rankings.
“Cradle meets Ender’s Game,” declares Will Wight himself, and one cannot argue with such an endorsement. This science fiction progression fantasy became an instant international bestseller, and the audiobook narrated by Luke Daniels elevates the experience to something quite special indeed.
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
Bob Johansson sells his software company and looks forward to a life of leisure—until a most inconsiderate street crossing ends his earthly existence. He awakens a century later as a computer program, property of the state, destined to pilot an interstellar probe in humanity’s desperate search for new worlds.
What follows is simultaneously hard science fiction and pure delight. As Bob replicates himself across the cosmos, each copy develops its own personality whilst sharing a fondness for classic science fiction references. Named Audible’s Best Science Fiction of 2016, this series scratches an itch you may not have known you possessed.
All the Skills by Honour Rae
In a world where magical spells have been captured into cards and those who build decks wield the greatest power, young Arthur possesses nothing but dreams of someday earning even a trash-tier spell. Then fate grants him a legendary Master of Skills card, and suddenly opportunity and danger arrive hand in hand.
This deckbuilding LitRPG earned praise from Matt Dinniman himself, who noted its “uncommon magic system, a little bit of thievery, and, of course, cool dragons.” The card-based magic provides a refreshingly unique foundation for progression, though do be prepared—just when things grow exciting, the story occasionally leaps forward in time.
Beware of Chicken by CasualFarmer
When a Western soul awakens in the body of a cultivation sect disciple who has just been beaten to death by his peers, the sensible thing would be to pursue power and vengeance. Instead, the new Jin Rou abandons the sect entirely, purchases a farm at the edge of nowhere, and sets about growing vegetables.
This cozy cultivation tale delights in subverting every expectation of the genre. Jin’s accidental disciples include a rooster who awakens as a Spirit Beast and a pig of philosophical bent. It is warm, funny, and unexpectedly profound—though those seeking constant conflict may find the peaceful pace an acquired taste.
Savage Dominion by Luke Chmilenko and G.D. Penman
Maulkin’s unfortunate demise during a date gone spectacularly wrong leads to an unexpected afterlife: rebirth in a hulking demi-human body in the wild world of Amaranth. Marked as an Eternal with a mission to grow stronger, ascend to godhood, and prevent an inbound apocalypse, he discovers that death was merely the beginning of his adventure.
The audiobook, narrated by Luke Daniels, delivers irreverent humour and fast-paced action in equal measure. If you enjoy protagonists who refuse to take cosmic threats entirely seriously whilst still managing heroics, this shall suit you admirably.
Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe
Five years after Corin Cadence’s brother vanished into the Serpent Spire—a colossal tower with ever-shifting rooms, traps, and monsters—Corin embarks on his own journey into its depths. Those who survive the trials return with an attunement, a mark granting magical powers. Those who reach the top might meet the goddess herself.
Winner of the Stabby Award for Best Self-Published Novel of 2017, this tale serves as a love letter to Japanese role-playing games whilst building something entirely its own. The magic system possesses remarkable depth, though be warned: those who dislike detailed world-building may find certain passages overly thorough.
The Wandering Inn by pirateaba
When Erin Solstice finds herself transported to a fantasy world, she does not seek glory or power. She finds an abandoned inn and decides, with admirable practicality, to run it. The sign outside reads “No killing Goblins,” and she serves pasta with sausage, blue fruit juice, and dead acid flies upon request.
This web serial runs to quite extraordinary lengths—over twelve hundred pages in the first book alone, with subsequent volumes growing longer still. It is, as one reviewer noted, literary crack: nearly impossible to stop once begun, despite occasional rough patches in the early chapters.
The Mayor of Noobtown by Ryan Rimmel
After dying and being reborn into a world built like a video game, Jim discovers the demons responsible for his transportation forgot to erase his memories. Unfortunately, the new-player zone he’s been deposited in fell out of use centuries ago, and the monsters never received the memo about going easy on newcomers.
The irreverent humour and clever twists on LitRPG conventions make this a refreshing read, though do note: despite the title, town-building takes rather longer to manifest than one might expect. Jonathan McClain’s audiobook narration captures the wit perfectly for those who prefer their adventures spoken aloud.
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler
Davi has died more times than she can count. Stuck in a time loop, summoned repeatedly to save humanity from the Dark Lord, she has finally had quite enough of playing hero. This time, she intends to switch sides and become the Dark Lord herself—whilst dying rather a lot in the attempt.
Seanan McGuire called it “the Pratchett-esque American isekai you didn’t know you wanted,” and the comparison holds merit. The humour runs dark and the action bloody, but beneath the cynical exterior beats a surprisingly decent heart. Those sensitive to mature content should note the book earns its “raunchy” description honestly.
Azarinth Healer by Rhaegar
Ilea enjoys two things above all others: punching monsters and eating. Transported to a world of magic without quest or guide, she embraces her role as a battle healer—a rare talent allowing her to fight with her fists whilst healing herself and others. Her adventures are equal parts cozy wandering and brutal combat with nightmarish creatures.
With sixty million views on Royal Road, this tale has clearly struck a chord. Ilea’s brazen, slightly unhinged approach to adventuring provides consistent entertainment, though those seeking intricate plots may find the episodic wanderings somewhat loose in structure.
Additional Worthy Adventures
Several more tales deserve mention for those whose appetite remains unsatisfied:
Level: Unknown by David Dalglish offers another doorway into LitRPG adventure, recommended by readers as capturing a similar essence to our beloved dungeon crawler.
God’s Eye by Aleron Kong, written by one styled “the king of LitRPG,” presents the unique perspective of a new god navigating themes of power, corruption, and faith.
Dungeon Lord follows Edward, forced into serving darkness yet determined to resist evil, incorporating themes of individuality and growth alongside satisfying combat.
Your Next Grand Adventure Awaits
There you have it, dear reader—seventeen doorways into worlds where characters grow stronger, systems grant power, and adventure lurks around every corner. Whether you prefer the cozy farming of Beware of Chicken, the cosmic scope of the Bobiverse, or the brutal progression of Defiance of the Fall, something here shall call to you.
The marvellous thing about our genre is that it never truly ends. New tales emerge constantly, each offering fresh takes on beloved conventions. So choose your next adventure, settle into a comfortable reading spot, and prepare to lose yourself once more in the delightful madness of progression fantasy.
Happy reading, and may your levels always rise.
