50 Best Litrpg Books and Audiobooks Ever To Check Out in 2023

LitRPG is unlike any other experience you have had in the past. Once you have tried a litRPG, you would instantly get hooked because it makes you feel like you are playing a game and that you are part of the storyline. This is why we have a good list of the best litRPG books and audiobooks you have to experience.

When it comes to litRPG, there are plenty of different types of experiences that you can have. Some are good, while others are subpar. That is why we are weeding out the best from all of the other litRPG books and audiobooks out there so that it would be easier for you to know which ones you should try out for yourself.

Best LitRPG Books

When it comes to litRPG, the first things that come into mind are the books that belong to that genre. There are other types of literature that are quite similar to litRPG books, but the book version is still the best when it comes to this genre. As such, we are here to look at the 30 best litRPG books available for your entertainment.

1. Survival Quest (The Way Of The Shaman: Book 1) by Vasily Mahanenko

Survival Quest is arguably one of the best and most popular litRPG books ever because of how it comes with a story that is easy to get into, regardless of your background as a gamer. And you will instantly fall in love with the main character, who is arguably one of the most relatable characters in all of litRPG lore.

This litRPG book starts out with Daniel Mahan getting imprisoned for eight years for something that was not entirely his fault. His imprisonment was carried out in a way that allows him to get fully immersed in a virtual world called Barliona, which is a classic fantasy world.

In this world, Daniel is assigned to the shaman class against his own will. While things didn’t exactly go his way, he can aggro rats that he has to grind to earn a level, and that is what he has to do to be able to earn enough money out of the mines.

That said, the most appealing part of this book is the character of Daniel himself. Throughout the entire story, it is difficult to root against him because of how resilient and determined he is to get out of the mines. However, you will also see his kindness and generosity towards his allies, all while showing resistance towards his enemies. The writing is completely immersive and very wonderful in the sense that it is easy to get into.

2. Catharsis by Travis Bagwell

Catharsis is another one of the litRPG books that you should never miss if you really love litRPG. The reason why this is a very good litRPG is that it comes with an overarching story that will allow you to see how important the different events are in the game of Awaken Online, which is the game where the entire story focuses.

Another reason why you would love Catharsis is that it comes with a good story that is similar to your usual high school drama that sees the poor getting bullied by the elite. In this case, we see Alex, the son of one of the top executives of a game company, pushing for the expulsion of Jason, who found himself in an elite school due to a scholarship, just because Alex doesn’t believe that he belongs there.

It may sound like a cliché high school drama, but it is very deep and engrossing, as we see Jason getting isolated from all sorts of different people but still finds success in Awaken Online.

In the game, Jason plays as a necromancer who uses unique tactics to grow in power. As powerful as he became in the game, he found himself against Alex, who was able to grow powerful as well because of his connections and wealth. This allows us to see the two characters squaring off in a rivalry that stemmed from their real-life high school personas. 

3. Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko

Ascend Online is one of the most popular litRPG books because of how it gives you a good glimpse into the main character’s strategic mindset. While most other litRPG books have stories that showcase the character’s good heart, this one allows you to see just how good the character is at solving different puzzles so that he can finish various challenges in a game.

Like most other litRPG books, Ascend Online is focused on a game of the same title. The main character, Marcus, and his gamer friends decide to play the game, which is quite immersive and allows the most successful players to reap amazing rewards.

While things didn’t start out well for Marcus when he began the game, he eventually succeeds thanks to the way he approaches the different challenges the game has to offer. And even if he is as strategic and as ingenious as he is, he never forgets to do the things that are morally right, even if it is only for the NPCs of the game.

4. Eden’s Gate: The Reborn by Edward Brody

Eden’s Gate: The Reborn is another game world litRPG that focuses on a game-like world. However, despite the fact that it doesn’t have the most unique premise, you are going to love Eden’s Gate because of how it comes with an amazing storyline that is different from the usual vanilla litRPG books about crossing into the world of an immersive video game.

As of this writing, there is still only one book out in this series. However, one book is already more than enough for you to get into it. The amazing part about the story of this book is that it departs from the usual Russian or Eastern Europe-centric themes that you often see in litRPG. Instead, a lot of the themes you see in Eden’s Gate are westernized. This makes it an engrossing read for those who prefer American stories.

5. The Dark Paladin by Vasily Mahenenko

Vasily Mahenenko was always popular with his Way of the Shaman books. However, he also has other amazing works in the form of The Dark Paladin, which is growing in popularity and is nearly right up there with Way of the Shaman. And you are going to love the overall premise and themes covered by The Dark Paladin, which we believe is better written and is more intricate than all of his other books.

In The Dark Paladin, what happens is that the entire world is simply a match, and dying means that you may end up waking up in an actual world. However, this is only true if you have actually done something worthwhile in your life. The real world in which someone can wake up to is actually modeled after a fantasy RPG. So, when you wake up to the actual world, you can choose different courses to train in, and that is where the premise of the book begins.

What we really love about this book is the fact that the author did a really good job in creating and modeling a planet that is pretty much the best part of all of the fantasy RPG worlds put together. After all, litRPG is all about world construction, and those who excel at constructing an entire world that is engrossing for the readers are the best litRPG writers out there.

And what you will love about the atmosphere of the world of The Dark Paladin is that it comes with the kind of bleakness that you see in The Hunger Games but is still quite unique on its own.

6. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Dungeon Crawler can go number one on anybody else’s list because it is that good. While it doesn’t get the top spot on our list, what we are going to say about it is that it really is very good and can easily become the top litRPG book on any other list due to how it comes with the kind of story and world building that you can never get from any other book. There are even those who tell their friends to never start with Dungeon Crawler because it is so good that any other book won’t be able to match up to it.

Regardless of what we think about how good Dungeon Crawler is, what we are going to say is that it is better for you to experience it for yourself so that you can really see how good it is. It might not have the top spot on our list, but we do agree that this is one of the best litRPG books you could ever see in the market.

And don’t let us spoil you the premise of the entire book, as it is best for you to experience it yourself. Then again, if you are a newbie to the genre, you might not want to start out with Dungeon Crawler because it would be difficult to find something that could be as good as it is.

7. Advent (Red Mage, Book 1) by Xander Boyce

Advent is a great and fun read that will immediately catch your attention from the first word you read. And that is because there are plenty of different things that will allow you to feel immersed, as the story itself is very engrossing, especially considering that it can very well happen in the real world.

The story is focused on a real-world apocalypse caused by an alien invasion, and petty officer Drew Michalik, the hero of the story, now has to cope with the events that are unfolding before him. In many ways, the world has become a survival game for him and everyone else around him. But the difference here is that there is no level-up system in a world that is entirely merciless. Nevertheless, as a veteran of MMORPGs, Drew was able to adapt fast to the situation.

Using his experience to his advantage, Drew was able to find different solutions to real-world problems that he usually encounters in the games that he plays. Because of his ingenuity, people began rallying to him and treating him as a leader. And the fact that people looked at him as their leader made the other senior military officers jealous of the younger and more capable leader.

8. Blood Eye (Land of Dreams, Book 1) by Morgan Cole

Blood Eye may not be the most successful litRPG book you will see on Amazon or any other online catalog (probably due to the fact that it doesn’t make use of the term “litRPG” in its title). However, it deserves a spot on our list because of how it is quite unusual even when compared to some of the most unique litRPG books you can ever find in the market. And that is why it is as high as it is on this list.

The best part about this book is that it comes with a well-rounded main character that you can easily sympathize with. And once you have sympathized with the character, you will easily see yourself getting hooked on the story.

In this book, we have our main character named John in a world where drones have taken the place of humans in labor-intensive tasks. As such, it becomes difficult for any ordinary and honest laborer to make a living, as John is merely trying to find a way to get his family out of poverty. And the way he does so is by succeeding in an MMORPG called Land of Dreams, which allowed him to generate income.

9. More than a Game (Fayroll, Book 1) by Andrey Vasilyev

More than a Game is another amazing book that was written by a Russian author. Like most litRPG books, More than a Game is focused on a fantasy world that dwells on the main character that is actually new to the genre. And what makes this a good thing is that it allows us to see the mechanics of the game from the eyes of a newbie, as most other litRPG books focus more on characters that already know the ins and outs of their respective games.

More than a Game follows Harriton, who gets selected by a company to become the promoter of their fantasy game in a newspaper. As such, he was given a full immersion capsule that allows him to dive into the world, as he needs to get to know more about the game to be able to write about it. And his success in the game is crucial to the success of the piece that he is going to write regarding the game.

Again, because Harriton is a newbie, it allows us to see what newbies feel whenever they play a fantasy game for the very first time. We get to understand how things work in this game through the eyes of someone new to an online game. This makes it an interesting read for those who want to see how the world works through the eyes of a newbie.

10. Project Daily Grind (Mirror World Book 1) by Alexey Osadchuk

Project Daily Grind is actually something that reflects what happened in China, where certain offenders were forced to mine gold at World of Warcraft for 14 straight hours every single day. This game is actually the litRPG version of that story, as it allows us to see from the perspective of what being forced to grind is for a captive.

Because of how the overall premise of the game is focused on the narrative of someone who is forced to grind for hours and hours, it becomes pretty engrossing because we get to see things from the narrative of a person who is basically a slave. It isn’t like the usual nerd-turned-hero game that we see in litRPG books because Project Daily Grind talks about someone who has to be a slave in a game so that he can cover the medical expenses of his dying child.

In that sense, there is something deeper and more meaningful in what the character is doing, unlike other litRPG books that merely explore the heroic deeds of a real-life nerd.

11. AlterWorld: Play to Live. A LitRPG Series (Book 1) by D. Rus

AlterWorld can be somewhat of a red flag for some people because it comes with themes that are a bit controversial. For one, it can be a bit too dark and grim because of how it is set in a world that will not allow people to die but still allows them to get wounded over and over. This means that torture is not out of the question here. Of course, you also need to know that AlterWorld explores real-life themes that can be controversial, such as sexism, homophobia, and racism, among others.

Still, despite how controversial this litRPG can be, there is no doubt that this can be an enjoyable experience for some people who don’t care about the red flags that it comes with. The book is about a game called AlterWorld, which allows you to upload your consciousness so that you are basically living your entire life in the game.

The hero of the game is Max, who wants to live in the afterlife in AlterWorld because he is suffering from terminal cancer in the real world. And what you will like about the book, aside from the different themes it covers, is the fact that Max is great at strategizing his way out of the different situations he encounters in the game.

12. Opening Moves (The Game3) by Cosimo Yap

Opening Moves is a good litRPG book that anime lovers will certainly enjoy because it resembles the Gun Gale arc of the Sword Art Online anime. In that regard, it should be an amazing read for those who enjoy sci-fi litRPG that focuses on conquering different territories that span galaxies. And there are those who would even say that it combines some of the elements of Ender’s Game, Ready Player One, and Dragon Ball Z all in one litRPG book.

The book is all about how Earth was able to contact other alien races as a part of a galaxy-wide battle involving the different resources available to each planet. So, what happens here is that the battle will be played in a VR game that involves the entire galaxy. This means that the world’s fate rests in the hands of a character who you will really enjoy because of how clueless and goofy he can be.

13. Otherland by Tad Williams

There was a time when the entire litRPG movement was still in its early days. At that time, some books were not yet called litRPG because the name was yet to be coined. However, because of the narrative and the realistic visualization of the world that is built in some books, there is no argument that some books can still be classified under litRPG. Otherland by Tad Williams is one of those books.

What you will like about Otherland is that Tad Williams was able to use his amazing giftedness as a writer in the fantasy genre to develop a story that you will truly love. Of course, Williams is responsible for Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, which is one of the books that inspired George RR Martin to write his Game of Thrones book.

That said, what you are going to love about Otherland is that it comes with some of the best elements of litRPG even though it wasn’t classified in that category at the time of its writing. He is much better than most other litRPG writers at using words and developing characters and plots that focus on the characters themselves.

Of course, Tad Williams was able to build a good world that stands out even when compared to the best litRPG books. As such, despite being one of the older books on this list, you are still going to love Otherland.

14. The Crafting of Chess: A LitRPG Adventure by Kit Falbo

The Crafting of Chess is one of the best books at giving you a resolution to the story that you will really love. Of course, the reason why we are bringing this up is that too many litRPG books are so focused on the progression of the story and the characters that they forget about how important a strong and powerful ending is. That is where The Crafting of Chess excels, as you will love the fact that it was able to bring about an amazing resolution to an equally amazing story.

This book focuses on a character who you will truly sympathize with because of how human and ordinary he can be. What happens here is that the character, named Nate, knows all of the different scams in life because he was brought up by his hustler grandfather. However, he wants to get away from the life of scams and uses his talent for chess to win it big. But when he discovers that he can win $2 million in the MMORPG Fair Quest, he sets out to win it all.

15. Crota (The Gods’ Game, Book 1) by Rohan M. Vider

Crota isn’t the most popular litRPG book but trust us when we say that it’s going to be a book that you will love. The reason here is that it shows you the struggle of someone who has to work hard for what he wants to achieve in an entirely different universe. Unlike most other litRPG books that see the main character having an advantage over the other characters, the main character in Crota struggles in a grim and hard way and doesn’t take any shortcuts.

In a way, Crota is like the isekai anime series that that are very popular in Japan today because the main character, Kyra, died in the real world and was drawn to a universe where different gods compete with one another. Because the gods cared nothing for his existence, Kyra was thrown to a realm that is ruled by high-level undead creatures that will not allow any new player to progress. 

This is where it becomes interesting because you will really see how hard Kyra struggles to progress in an area that is bound to keep newbies grounded. The struggles that he has to go through allow you to sympathize with him, and this is not something you often encounter in litRPG books.

16. The Land: Founding (Chaos Seeds, Book 1) by Aleron Kong

The Land: Founding is one of the best books when it comes to reader engagement because, by the time you read the first few sentences of this book, you are instantly engaged and drawn into its entire story. It might be true that Aleron Kong isn’t the most lovable litRPG author because of how he likes to draw attention to himself in the worst ways possible. Still, that doesn’t take away the fact that he hit it big with this book.

What The Land: Founding is all about is that it has the usual MMORPG story that most litRPG books come with. It starts off with James, who calls himself Richter in a pocket MMORPG universe, exploring his new environment and taking the time to increase his level until he becomes a destabilizing force in the community. On top of that, he resurrects when he dies.

Even though this book may come with the usual themes that most litRPG books come with, what you are going to like about it is that it comes with the best type of storytelling you can read in a litRPG book. It was written in a way that will allow you to keep yourself engaged. At the end of the day, that is all that matters when it comes to any kind of literary piece.

17. The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba

The Wandering Inn is one of the best litRPG books of all time, even though it was only released just recently. There are even some people who would rank it at the top or near the top when it comes to their favorites, but we settled with this spot because there are plenty of other books that are still more popular and just as good or even better than The Wandering Inn.

Regardless, the reason why you will love this litRPG book is that it uses a formula and a genre that is not similar to what you usually encounter in most other books. Instead of the action-fantasy genre that you often see, The Wandering Inn is a slice-of-life story that follows Erin, who is working as an Inn Keeper in a fantasy world.

This means that it tells the story of a character that is usually overlooked in RPGs and litRPGs alike, but we do promise you that it can bring you to tears because of how good it is.

Even though The Wandering Inn can be dramatic, it can also be full of action and excitement. It also comes with a lot of pages that can allow you to read it for a long time without getting bored with the entire story and narrative.

18. Iron Prince by Bryce O’Connor and Luke Chmilenko

If you are a fan of the progression fantasy genre that is usually used in litRPG books, you will love Iron Prince. Of course, you may also be familiar with one of its authors because of how Luke Chmilenko is one of the most popular litRPG authors in the world. And when you combine his thought process with Bryce O’Connor’s imagination and writing, you will certainly see why Iron Prince is as good as it is.

The thing you will love about Iron Prince is that the main character, Rei, has to progress despite the many disadvantages before him. Despite that, he manages to make the best out of any situation with a positive attitude, which can be rare when you look at the situations he was in during the entire book.

We promise you that, by the end of this book, there will be so much to love about it, especially if you are into progression stories that focus on the character getting stronger and leveling up.

19. Ritualist (Completionist Chronicles, Book 1) by Dakota Krout

Ritualist is one of the best litRPG books of 2021, as it is a fairly new title to the litRPG genre. And you will love the fact that this book comes with all of the different elements that are common in litRPG books, but are entirely unique to Ritualist. In a way, it hits all the right notes in the right way because of its amazing world-building, great references, compelling characters, and engaging plot.

That said, there should be nothing stopping you from reading Ritualist because of how it comes with all of the right things that a litRPG book should have. The only problem that some people may have about it is that it is too wishful, to some extent. Still, that doesn’t take away the fact that it’s going to be a good experience that any litRPG fan should be able to enjoy.

20. He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon

He Who Fights With Monsters is one of the most popular litRPG books of all time because of how it has been read by over 13 million people. And there are plenty of good reasons why this is as popular as it is, as it comes with all of the best elements that any litRPG book should have.

Of course, as the name suggests, the book is all about monsters that the main character, Jason, needs to fight. The world is set in a video game-like environment that offers a lot of different things for Jason to discover, as he hunts for monsters while also joining different parties in various monster hunts.

While the chapters following the first 100 may not be as good, you will still love the book because of how it is actually full of different things that you will love about a good litRPG. That said, you should instantly fall in love with the setting and the different characters in the first 100 chapters, but you may want to temper your expectations after that.

21. Stone Will (Dragon Heart, Book 1) by Kirill Klevanski

Stone Will is book 1 of the amazing Dragon Heart litRPG series that comes with a lot of different things that make litRPG books so popular. For one, the best part about Stone Will is that it comes with the amazing interface system that is prevalent in litRPG books. This makes it an interesting and fun read that is also quite interactive.

One of the things you will notice is that Stone Will is inspired by wuxia, which is a genre of Chinese fiction that isn’t too different from litRPG. Still, Stone Will is very much a litRPG because it comes with all of the different things that you will love about litRPG books. It might come off as slow at times because of how it focuses more on narrative and world-building. But that doesn’t take away the fact that it should still be a good read for all of the progression fantasy litRPG fans out there.

22. Dungeon Lord by Hugo Huesca

Dungeon Lord is another one of those litRPG books that are part of an entire series. This time, it is part of Hugo Huesca’s Wraith’s Haunt series. And the reason why this book belongs on this list is the protagonist, which is a very likable character that you will instantly feel sympathy towards. That is something that you don’t always find in litRPG books.

The entire book takes place in a fantasy video game world called Ivalis, which is a world full of gods, heroes, and monsters. It might sound cliché, especially when you consider how it is quite similar to the Overlord manga and anime. But trust us when we say that Dungeon Lord is unique in its own right and should be a good experience for any litRPG readers out there.

23. Dodge Tank: Crystal Shards Online 1 by Rick Scott

If there is something special about Dodge Tank, which is part of the Crystal Shards Online series, it’s that it is a very immersive litRPG book that will instantly make you read every single word. On top of that, it comes with a sympathetic character that you cannot help but like. It even has game mechanics that are actually quite understandable, and that only makes it even more immersive for any reader out there.

Dodge Tank takes place in a dystopian deep underground world, where the main character named Ryan is a teenager that has to earn rent for his family. He does so by playing an MMORPG, which helps him earn enough for his family and for his mom’s fatal lung disease. This is why we cannot help but root for Ryan, as he struggles with life.

As the name of the book suggests, Ryan becomes a dodge tank character that allows him to absorb damage from boss fights and also dodge attacks at a high rate. He did so when he lucked into a rare item in the game, and that is when his fortunes turned around for the better. But while Ryan may be overpowered, he isn’t the same kind of overpowered hero that you often see in litRPG. And that balances things out.

24. Hack: A LitRPG Novel (Tower Of Gates, Book 1) by Paul Bellow

Hack: A LitRPG Novel isn’t the deepest litRPG book you will find in the market because it does lack the emotional attachment that most people want to have with the characters of the book. However, it does have a good way of showing us some of the good elements that make litRPG a unique genre on its own. After all, a good litRPG focuses on world building and in-game dynamics.

What Hack is all about is that it follows three central characters who were able to sneak into a recently built MMORPG that is yet to be made public. There is a reason why the MMORPG is yet to be released, as the three got stuck in it when they tried to exit.

As such, the characters become trapped in a world that is entirely foreign, and that forces them to try to level up and challenge dangerous opponents in the hopes of finding a way out of the situation. And to make things worse, other human players who manage to get in the game are far stronger than they are.

So, despite how the book lacks the ability to make us feel attached to the characters, it doesn’t lack imagination and world building.

25. Killstreak: Respawn by Stuart Thaman

Killstreak is quite a unique litRPG story because of the very fact that it follows a revenge story. In that sense, it doesn’t come with the usual RPG-like mechanics that you often see in other books, but that doesn’t make it any less of a good read than other books are.

The story follows a character named Kadorax, who became the most dangerous assassin in existence. He became so good at his craft that he became the leader of the most feared assassin group. However, an event that forced him out of his leadership spot as the top assassin happened. And now, he is on a mission to ruin the goals of the people who wronged him while regaining his former glory in the process of doing so.

26. The Trapped Mind Project by Michael Chatfield

The Trapped Mind Project is a good read that will force you to actually rethink the way you see the world because of how it has a way of twisting things around. So, while most litRPG stories are focused on looking at fantasy worlds as alternate virtual reality worlds, The Trapped Mind Project has a different way of looking at it.

In this book, Austin Zane goes to Emerilia, which is a virtual reality simulation game. However, as he plays the game to escape his mundane life on Earth, he discovers that the real Earth that he has been living in his entire life is actually the simulation. Meanwhile, Emerilia is the real world.

27. Rogue Dungeon by Eden Hudson and James A. Hunter

Rogue Dungeon may not be the most popular name in the entire litRPG industry, but it actually is quite the read if you try to get to know more about this literary piece. And it also comes with the usual elements that you often see in the best litRPG books.

What this book is about is that it follows Roark, a mage with a roguish personality that isn’t too common among mages. He is also a part of the Freedom Fighters, who want to unseat the Tyrant King. However, in doing so, Roark found himself getting entangled in an intense computer game named Hearthworld, where none of his spells work. And the worst part is that he cannot even log out.

28. Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe

Sufficiently Advanced Magic should be a good litRPG read for those who prefer to read books that aren’t too mainstream but are still very good. It was even one of the best litRPG books released during 2018.

This book is focused on a colossal tower called the Serpent Spire, which is full of different traps and puzzles that people have been trying to conquer. And the reason why many people have been trying to conquer the tower’s secrets is that there is a goddess that will allow you to have any gift if you manage to reach the top of the tower. Now, it is up to Corin to try to conquer the tower five decades after his brother failed to do so and never returned.

29. Genesis: A LitRPG Journey by Jonathan Yanez and Ross Buzzell

Genesis is a good litRPG book that can actually be attractive enough for non-gamers. That’s because it comes with some elements that you don’t often see in most litRPG books, which often target gamers.

Whatever the case may be, Genesis is a story that follows a guy who finds himself on a fantastic journey in an entirely new world full of magical beasts. It may sound like the usual vanilla litRPG story, but it comes with hints and other similar tips that will help keep non-gamers engaged.

30. Succubus by AJ Markam

Succubus is one of the most unique litRPG books on the market because of how it was able to combine the elements of litRPG and erotica in a manner that can be quite seductive for readers. In that sense, it is actually reserved for mature readers, as there are plenty of mildly erotic scenes that might not be for everyone.

The story revolves around the main character named Ian and his succubus in a virtual reality world. This very same succubus often teases Ian, but it also has an alter ego that is plotting something in secret.

Best LitRPG Audiobooks

For those who don’t want to spend hours reading their way through litRPG books, there are litRPG audiobooks that you can listen to. The best part about these audiobooks is that all you need to do is to listen to the story as it unfolds while also playing your part in the entire RPG adventure that these audiobooks have to offer. As such, we are here to look at some of the best litRPG audiobooks that you may want to listen to.

1. The Land: Founding by Aleron Kong

We had already talked about The Land: Founding when we discussed its book version. Its audiobook version isn’t different when it comes to the overall story and premise of this litRPG book. However, it’s an amazing story that is even better when it comes to its audiobook version.

What you are going to like about the audiobook version is that it was able to deliver the right notes as the narrator tells the story. The plot is already good enough when you read it on your own, but the narration makes it more engaging. In that sense, the audiobook is made even better by the narration of the story, as it was told in a way that isn’t too fast but isn’t too slow as well.

The narrator was also able to deliver the brand of comedy and flow that makes The Land one of the best litRPG audiobooks the market has to offer.

2. One More Last Time: A LitRPG/Gamelit Novel by Eric Ugland

One More Last Time is a newcomer on this list because we weren’t able to talk about it in its book version. However, its audiobook version belongs on this list because of how the narration was sable to make it a lot more interesting than it should be. After all, a good storyteller can make any kind of story the best version of itself as long as it is told in the right way.

One More Last Time is a very interesting litRPG audiobook because of how it follows the theme of second chances, as it focuses on a main character that is ready to commit suicide but was given another chance to turn his life around in an MMORPG. This allows us to connect to the character on a deep level, all while the narration hits the emotional level of the audiobook the right way.

3. Ritualist by Dakota Krout

If you want to get to know more about the premise of Ritualist, it should be best to read what we think about its book version. While the book version of this litRPG story is already good enough, you will instantly fall for its audiobook version because of how it was able to get the narration of the story perfectly. 

Unlike other audiobooks that are quite bland, the narrator of Ritualist seemingly has a way of making the story more interesting through the changes in their tone and in the way they approach every scene on a personal level. This will allow you to connect with the story on a deeper level, much like how you would connect with its book version.

4. Catharsis by Travis Bagwell

Catharsis is already one of the best litRPG books on the market. Its audiobook version stands as one of the best in the market as well because of how it was able to keep pace with the entire story without sounding too slow or too fast. It allows you to understand the story and the flow of the narration without having to rewind the audiobook.

In the audiobook version of Catharsis, we are able to connect with Jason’s character on a deeper level. On top of that, it is easier to understand the different twists and turns that come with the story as you listen to the narration instead of reading it. While there is nothing wrong with reading the book version, listening to the audiobook version of this litRPG story is an entirely different experience that you might want to try out.

5. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One is probably the most recognizable name on this list because of the fact that this book was turned into a successful film that hits all the right notes for those who grew up during the 80s and 90s. Of course, while it isn’t technically a litRPG in terms of its classification, Ready Player One still has the same elements that make it similar to any litRPG story out there.

If you want to appreciate the visuals of this story, you might want to watch the film instead. However, if you want to visualize the story in great detail, it is best to listen to Ready Player One’s audiobook version. The best part about the narration is that the narrator comes with an eccentric tone that is able to capture the futuristic aspect of the story. They were also able to capture the 80s and 90s teen geek tone that anyone who lived in those decades can instantly relate to.

6. Survival Quest by Vasily Mahanenko

Survival Quest is one of the most popular litRPG stories of all time. While we have already talked about its book version in great detail, the audiobook version also deserves some credit because of how it was able to give a great narration of an all-time great litRPG story. The narration might not be better than the ones at the top of this list, but it deserves a lot of credit, especially when you factor in how Survival Quest isn’t the easiest story to narrate.

So, if you like the book version of Survival Quest, you might want to try out its audiobook version for a completely different experience. And you can simply sit back, relax, and use your ears to imagine all of the different scenes happening in this amazing litRPG audiobook.

7. Dungeon Born by Dakota Krout

Dungeon Born by Dakota Krout is another one of the newcomers we have on this list because its audiobook version stands out really well. Of course, this isn’t the first Dakota Krout litRPG story we have on this list, as we all know that this author is one of the best when it comes to the entire litRPG industry.

The story of this audiobook follows sheep-herder Cal, who crosses paths with a powerful dungeon that he uses to become stronger and become a powerful adventure. However, there is a beast in the dungeon that he has to slay, and it is up to Cal to become stronger so that he can be powerful enough to slay this mighty beast.

So, the reason why this audiobook stands out is due to how the narration was able to capture the nostalgia in the different settings that you will encounter in the book. It allows you to see the story from the words of the narrative, as you can picture out the fantasy world in your head while you sit back and listen to this amazing story. On top of that, the RPG mechanics were fleshed out quite perfectly in the narration of the audiobook.

8. Super Sales on Super Heroes by William Arand

Super Sales on Super Heroes is yet another newcomer that is actually more western than most of the litRPG books on this list. The basic premise of this story is focused on a world where everyone has a special power, but the main character has the worst power of them all, as he can only modify any items and make them his. 

Because the main character doesn’t have the best power, he lives a comparatively normal life and works a normal job. However, when a supervillain takes over the city, the protagonist is forced into a situation wherein he has to go to the black market to find items that he can modify to become more powerful. 

The best part about this audiobook is that it is actually a pretty light and enjoyable listening experience that doesn’t focus on mature subject matters but still is amazing in its own right. It was the author’s ability to combine the elements of superheroes and litRPG in one amazing story and the narrator’s perfect narration that makes this audiobook one of our favorites.

9. The Goblin Horde: A LitRPG Adventure by Ivan Kal

The Goblin Horde is another one of the newcomers that is amazing as an audiobook. And the reason why this is an amazing audiobook is the narration’s ability to capture the scenery and the different fantasy elements well enough. Of course, the audiobook itself has an amazing story that may be vanilla to an extent but is still very much enjoyable.

The book follows the story of Morgan, who lived a pretty chill life until a car accident killed him. In a way, it sounds a bit too cliché because we have seen plenty of manga and anime with a similar opening. However, Morgan was sent to an entirely new world where he now needs to level up and grow strong enough to fight monsters and save the new world from the Goblin King.

In a way, it’s your vanilla litRPG and isekai storyline, but that doesn’t take away the fact that it is a very interesting and enjoyable experience that you can listen to whenever you want to have a relaxing day of litRPG.

10. Blood of Gods by David Dalglish and Robert Duperre

Blood of Gods is an over-the-top litRPG audiobook that dwells on gods, Karak and Ashhur. These brothers are the gods of Dezrel, which they made to be a haven for humans. However, the mortals became too proud to the point that they triggered the wrath of the gods. This eventually leads to a bloody war between the nations of humans and their immortal gods.

From there, the story shifts over to Bardiya, who is the servant of the god Ashhur. He and his people found themselves shackled in the middle of a death march in the desert. Now, it is up to Asshur and Bardiya to find a way to protect their people.

The audiobook version of this story was able to capture a lot of different elements well enough, despite the fact that Blood of Gods may be a bit over-the-top even when compared to some of the most popular litRPG books around.

11. Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko

We had already talked about Ascend Online on a deeper level when we tackled its book version. Now, when it comes to the audiobook version, this litRPG story is an entirely new experience of the same story because of the very fact that it was able to retell the story at a masterful level. As good as Ascend Online already is, the audiobook version breathes new life into it.

What we really like about the audiobook version of Ascend Online is that every word was skillfully spoken, all while the narrator was able to introduce the backstory at a masterful level. This allows you to understand what the entire plot is all about, as you learn more about how the story develops the interesting characters. And if you are a newbie in the litRPG genre, you might want to start out with Ascend Online’s audiobook.

12. Gestation by John Gold

Gestation is another newcomer on this list, as it is an amazing litRPG audiobook that was able to perfectly get the story at all the right notes. And the story itself is one of the most unique litRPG stories you will ever encounter in your entire life, as it is something you don’t always see in the vanilla litRPG industry.

The story revolves around a 12-year old named Anji, who was placed in a government orphanage program. What happens here is that he and the other orphans were placed in a virtual reality simulation called Chrysalis, as the in-game family takes care of them and gives them all of the love that they could not get in the real world. In that sense, it is a very unique story that you don’t even see in other types of literature.

But instead of a family that was supposed to take care of him, Anji was placed under the care of bloodthirsty demons and flesh-eating worms in the nine circles of Hell. This forces him to perform different types of rituals just to survive. His childhood was all but taken away from him, as Anji is now in a trial by fire in the worst possible place anyone can find themselves into.

Now that you understand the plot of this audiobook, you will notice how the narrator was able to hit the emotional notes of this unique story in the right way. It might be one of the darkest litRPG audiobooks on the market, but it’s a very compelling story that you might want to get into if you really are a fan of litRPG.

13. Arcane Kingdom Online: The Chosen by Jakob Tanner

Arcane Kingdom Online: The Chosen follows a similar story to the usual vanilla isekai-like litRPG that you see. The backstory is pretty simple but is still quite unique in its own right, as the book follows the main character Clay, who was infected by the zero virus and had less than 24 hours to live.

To try to cheat death, Clay uploaded himself into the most advanced VR simulation game ever—the mysterious Arcane Kingdom Online. However, while he did cheat his real-life death by logging into the game, he soon understands that cheating death has a price to pay, especially in this new world that isn’t quite as easy to live in as the real world itself.

In that regard, it’s an entirely new problem for Clay because he needs to learn to survive in a new world that he knows nothing about. On top of that, the world of Arcane Kingdom Online is in turmoil, and it is up to him to survive in a world that is different and more difficult than what he was used to before.

14. Welcome to Ludus by Blaise Corvin

Welcome to Ludus is a different take to the usual vanilla litRPG books that you often see or read. This audiobook is a masterfully written piece that was beautifully narrated in a way that is similar to how someone calls a play-by-play in a sports game.

That’s because listening to this audiobook is quite similar to how you look over someone’s shoulder while they play a video game. In that sense, the narration is very immersive and is able to keep you engaged, especially when you consider how the characters were defined well enough and how the entire world was built properly, even when narrated.

The story follows Henry and Jason, who live in Seattle. However, a god named Dolos kidnaps them and teleports them to an entirely new world. They can return to their normal lives under the condition that they must do one impossible task. And the god doesn’t even care whether or not they succeed.

Luckily for them, the characters know a thing or two about martial arts and have skills that are quite useful in another world. As such, they already have an edge in this new world, but they still need to find a way to complete the impossible task that Dolos wants them to do if they want to go back to the real world.

15. The Cursed Princedom by G. Akella

The Cursed Princedom is a great litRPG audiobook that was able to build on the amazing world construction that the author was able to accomplish. That said, the narration is spot on in terms of what the narrator was able to do when it comes to telling a completely unique story, all while avoiding some of the usual flaws and mistakes that are prevalent in the genre. And the best part is that there aren’t plenty of flashbacks that you often encounter in many different litRPG stories.

This book’s story follows how players of a game called Realm of Arkon were forced to identify between VR and the real world because of how similar the two have become. However, this brings about an evil power named Roman, who searched Arkon for the Demon Grounds to become even more powerful.

And the thing about it is that Krian, the one controlling Roman, doesn’t even know that it’s the real thing and that he is on his way to destroying the entire world by controlling the evil character that he doesn’t even know is real.

16. Monster by Sergey Belsky

Monster is another one of the more unique litRPG audiobooks on this list because it has a premise that is quite new and unexplored. On top of that, the narration was able to allow us to understand the perspective of the main character well enough so that we can pretend that we are in his shoes. This makes it a pretty compelling litRPG that is more than worth the try.

The main character of this story is a virtual game developer who uses a beetle monster in a game. However, the character loses all of its memories and doesn’t even know that it is a monster. As the character increases his intelligence stats, he gets more of his memories back. But the problem is that he doesn’t fully trust his memories and is in search of the truth.

17. Reincarnation: A Xianxia Cultivation Series by Michael Head

Reincarnation is another one of the newer titles on this list, considering that we are only talking about its audiobook version and not its book version. Nevertheless, it is still a compelling listen that you may want to try if you want to have a good experience and a new kind of litRPG experience that you might not have had before.

The story follows Jim, who was transported back in time to the moment he first started growing. In that sense, he has the chance to right the wrongs that he had in his previous life, as he now knows what he needs to do to set things right in this second chance that he has. In a way, he wants to make amends for the wrong things he did in his past life.

In this new life, Jim wants to be the top name in the horticulture world and wants to make sure that he does not attract the wrong kind of attention, as there might be some people who are looking to take advantage of what he knows about the future. After all, Jim has seen the end of the world and was now determined to find a way around it.

18. The Time Master by Dmitry Bilik

The Time Master is another one of the litRPG audiobooks that focuses on time instead of any other theme. And because of its unique story, it is worth listening to, especially when you consider how well the narration was done.

The story of The Time Master follows the main character Sergei, who decides to pick a fight with the entire neighborhood so that he can defend a little boy. He then discovers that the person he defeated can turn back time. The guy vanishes, and Sergei now has the very same ability.

This prompts Sergei to travel the world to acquire new skills and abilities, all while discovering that there are other people with powers. However, he now has to contend with other people who also have powers, as they might want to take Sergei’s own abilities for themselves.

19. The Search of the Uldans Vasily Mahanenko

The Search of the Uldans is another one of Mahanenko’s best works. While this book didn’t reach our list of best litRPG books, its audiobook is as amazing as any audiobook in the market because of how it was able to narrate the story better than most other audiobooks there are. This is why this litRPG audiobook is worth the time and effort to listen to.

This book’s story focuses on Captain Surgeon, who wants to be a space pirate and is often found dreaming the life of looting, pillaging, and plundering for the sake of adventure and money. However, there are several obstacles along the way to his dream of becoming a space pirate. In that sense, the story isn’t as deep as you may have wanted it to be, but it still is a pretty interesting listening experience that is more than worth your while.

20. Earthdom: A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG Audiobook by Ryan Debruyn

Earthdom: A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG Audiobook is a litRPG story that is actually focused more on its audiobook version, as it was able to capture the audiobook experience of a litRPG better than most other stories out there. It’s a fun listen that was able to build up its world really well, all while feeding you a lot of different scenes that are easy to imagine thanks to the superb narration of the story.

The story of Earthdom starts off with the last minutes of Barkclay’s life, who was rescued and transported to another dimension. He never imagined that he would end up getting reincarnated in this new life, as he now has a chance to live a second life after his first one was entirely spent.

In this new life, Barkclay now has to keep mankind safe, as Gaia has sent the Golems to protect the environment. However, in doing so, Gaia pushed humanity into famine, as the population only grew to a number that has become impossible to feed. As such, you will see how the main character’s responsibilities grow in this new world he finds himself in.