LitRPG & Progression Fantasy โ Complete Reading Order Guide
LitRPG and Progression Fantasy follow characters who grow stronger through game-like systems, earning skills, levels, and power through discipline and combat. From Western cultivation fantasies like Cradle to dungeon-crawling comedies like Dungeon Crawler Carl โ this guide covers every major series with the correct reading order.
He Who Fights With Monsters
Jason Asano just wanted a normal Tuesday. He got a monster-filled world instead.
Cradle Series
Wei Shi Lindon was born Unsouled โ the weakest of the weak. He refused to stay that way.
The Beginning After the End
King Grey was the strongest man alive. Then he was reborn as a baby named Arthur.
Dungeon Crawler Carl
The apocalypse is here. The world is a dungeon now. Carl has a cat. They will be fine.
Mother of Learning
Zorian Kazinski is trapped in a month that keeps repeating. He intends to use every single loop.
Shadow Slave
Sunny was destined to be ordinary. The Nightmare Spell had other plans.
The Primal Hunter
The System arrived and gave everyone a choice. Jake chose to become something primal.
Arcane Ascension Series
In the tower of Serpent Spire, every floor is a test. Corin is determined to reach the top.
Overgeared
ํ ๋นจ (Tem-Ppal)
Grid was the worst player in the VRMMO Satisfy. Legendary gear changed everything.
The Wandering Inn
Erin Solstice found herself in another world. She opened an inn. That was just the beginning.
Azarinth Healer
Ilea Spears was a nurse on Earth. In Elos, she became an unkillable healer-warrior.
Defiance of the Fall
Zac Piker survived the system integration with nothing but rage and determination.
Mark of the Fool
Alex Roth was branded the Fool โ the worst mark in a world of heroes. It didn't mean what they thought.
Nora's Story (The Runesmith Series)
Roland was reincarnated with a terrible class. He made it the most powerful craft in existence.
Vainqueur the Dragon
A dragon played an RPG. Now he's the protagonist. The hero is just his minion.
Beneath the Dragoneye Moons
Elaine was reborn into a Roman-esque world with a healer class. The System had dark plans for her.
Forge of Destiny
Ling Qi entered the Argent Peak Sect with nothing. She left with everything.
The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound
The System arrived and gave everyone one chance. Randidly took ten.
He Who Fights With Monsters: Spirit Tales
The spirits of Pallimustus have their own stories to tell.
Worth the Candle
Juniper Smith's dead best friend built this world โ and Juniper is living in it.
The Progenitor Series
A god-like entity. An empty world. And the slow, satisfying task of making it something more.
System Change
Derek was at the end of a long journey. Then the System changed.
Tallstag: Forge of Mastery
Doyle wanted to be a sword. He became the man who forged them โ and that was somehow more powerful.
The Land
Richter stumbled into the Land. Then he decided to stay, build a village, and conquer it.
Dungeon Lord
Edward had money and power. Then he died and became a dungeon core. He kept the ambition.
Tales from the Terran Republic
In a galaxy of species and systems, humanity is the most confusing new arrival.
Unbound
Taken against his will and left in a dungeon, Cairn refused to become another monster's prey.
Tower of Somnus
In a cyberpunk future, the Tower of Somnus is the only place where money can't buy power. Kat is going in.
Towers of Heaven
Ezekiel was the worst Tower climber in a century. Somehow, that was the most dangerous thing in the building.
Dawn of the Void
The System arrived. The void followed. Humanity survived โ somehow.
Starter Zone
Bethany was not supposed to leave the starter zone. The game had other ideas.
A Dragon Among the Stars
A dragon who acquired a spaceship. The galactic empire did not appreciate this development.
Live Dungeon!
ใฉใคใใใณใธใงใณ! (Live Dungeon!)
The dungeon is live-streamed to millions. Tsutomu was the master support no one knew about.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
็ก่ท่ปข็ (Mushoku Tensei)
Rudeus Greyrat was given a second chance at life. He would not waste it.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
่ปข็ใใใในใฉใคใ ใ ใฃใไปถ (Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken)
Satoru Mikami was stabbed and reincarnated as a slime. His slime ate everything. Eventually, everything became his.
KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World!
ใใฎ็ด ๆดใใใไธ็ใซ็ฅ็ฆใ! (Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!)
Kazuma died. He was offered a god. He picked the most useless one available. This was a mistake.
Overlord
ใชใผใใผใญใผใ (ลbฤrลdo)
Ainz Ooal Gown rules an undead dungeon. His guild members are gone. The game world is real. He adapts.
Reincarnated as a Sword
่ปข็ใใใๅฃใงใใ (Tensei Shitara Ken Deshita)
He woke up as a sword. She needed a weapon. Together, they became the most dangerous pair in history.
He Who Fights With Monsters: Apocalypse
When the monsters came to Earth, Jason was away. The people he left behind had to fight.
The Gilded Wolf
Bex has the ability to copy any magic she sees once. One time is all she needs.
Blue Core
The dungeon core awakened to consciousness. Then she fell for the most dangerous Classer in the dungeon.
The Last Starfall
Keras Silverthorn crossed worlds looking for the finest sword duels. He found something far more dangerous.
Trials of the Innermost
The trials are internal and external. Most cultivators fail the internal ones.
Iron Widow
Wu Zetian wanted to be the mech pilot who killed the one who killed her sister. She became something greater.
Cradle: The Untold Stories
Stories from the Cradle that didn't fit in the main series โ but deserve to be told.
Mage Errant
Hugh was the worst student at Skyhold Academy. He was also determined to make himself the best.
Millennial Mage
Jared was a modern man who became a mage. He used mana like a programmer uses code.
The Wandering Inn
A girl from Earth runs an inn in a fantasy world. The guests are monsters and adventurers.
He Who Fights with Monsters
A man thrown into another world fights monsters and discovers his own monstrous nature.
Azarinth Healer
A healer in a world of fighters discovers her own path to power.
Defiance of the Fall
A cultivator fights against the fall of the universe itself.
Primal Hunter
A hunter who embraces his primal instincts becomes the apex predator.
Mother of Learning
A time loop in a magic academy. A student repeats his month until he gets it right.
Arcane Ascension
A boy enters a magical academy where attunements determine destiny.
The Gam3
Earth becomes a game. Humanity must level up or perish.
Completionist Chronicles
A completionist takes on a fantasy world. He will finish everything.
Hearts of All Worlds
A journey across worlds. The hearts of all worlds connect.
Shadow Sun
A shadow and a sun. Two powers in one hero.
Underworld
An underworld of dungeons and monsters. A hero descends.
The Bad Guys
The bad guys are the heroes now. A comedy litrpg.
The Good Guys
The good guys try to do right. But the world is complicated.
Dungeon Crawler Carl
A dungeon crawler with a comedic twist. Carl fights through the floors.
Noobtown
A noob in a new town. The comedy of starting over in a fantasy world.
The Divine Dungeon
A divine dungeon that grows and evolves. The dungeon itself is the protagonist.
Artorian is Archives
The archives of Artorian. A side story in the Divine Dungeon universe.
Ritualist
A ritualist who completes every ritual. The Completionist Chronicles begin.
Regicide
Regicide in a fantasy world. The Completionist Chronicles continue.
Rexus
Rexus. The Completionist Chronicles expand.
The Hound of Dvalin
The hound of Dvalin. A tale from the Completionist Chronicles.
Delvers LLC
Delvers LLC. A company that delves into dungeons for profit.
Nora Hazard
Nora Hazard. A delver with a dangerous reputation.
Secret of the Old Ones
The secret of the old ones. A mystery in a fantasy world.
Lewd Dungeon
A lewd dungeon. The dungeon core has unusual desires.
Dungeon Heart
A dungeon heart. The core of a dungeon that learns to love.
Blue Core
A blue core. A dungeon core that is different from the rest.
There is No Epic Loot Here Only Puns
No epic loot, only puns. A comedy dungeon core story.
Everybody Loves Large Chests
Everybody loves large chests. A mimic with a taste for adventurers.
Vainqueur the Dragon
Vainqueur the dragon. A dragon who becomes an adventurer.
The New World
A new world. An apocalypse that brings a game-like system.
The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound
The legend of Randidly Ghosthound. A man who becomes a ghosthound.
The Grand Game
The grand game. A strategy litrpg of gods and mortals.
The Path of Ascension
The path of ascension. A cultivator in a litrpg world.
Salvos
Salvos. A demon who evolves and grows stronger.
A Vaincre Sans Peril
To conquer without peril. A litrpg of strategy and conquest.
The Legend of Kai
The legend of Kai. A hero who becomes a legend.
The Lord of Chaos
The lord of chaos. A ruler of disorder in a litrpg world.
The Silver Fox
The silver fox. A cunning hero in a litrpg world.
The Golden Griffin
The golden griffin. A majestic beast in a litrpg world.
The Iron Hydra
The iron hydra. A many-headed beast of metal.
The Crystal Basilisk
The crystal basilisk. A petrifying beast of crystal.
The Amber Chimera
The amber chimera. A beast of fire and stone.
The Obsidian Wyvern
The obsidian wyvern. A dark dragon of the night.
The Emerald Wyrm
The emerald wyrm. A serpent of green fire.
The Sapphire Drake
The sapphire drake. A dragon of blue ice.
The Ruby Whelp
The ruby whelp. A young dragon of red flame.
The Diamond Serpent
The diamond serpent. A snake of unbreakable crystal.
The Pearl Leviathan
The pearl leviathan. A sea beast of immense size.
The Onyx Behemoth
The onyx behemoth. A beast of darkness and shadow.
The Topaz Golem
The topaz golem. A construct of yellow stone.
The Garnet Djinn
The garnet djinn. A spirit of red fire and wishes.
The Opal Ifrit
The opal ifrit. A fire spirit of shifting colors.
The Moonstone Efreet
The moonstone efreet. A fire spirit of silver flame.
The Sunstone Jinn
The sunstone jinn. A spirit of golden light.
The Starstone Marid
The starstone marid. A water spirit of the stars.
The Bloodstone Shaitan
The bloodstone shaitan. A spirit of blood and stone.
The Thunderstone Rakshasa
The thunderstone rakshasa. A demon of lightning and stone.
The Froststone Asura
The froststone asura. A warrior of ice and stone.
The Venomstone Yaksha
The venomstone yaksha. A nature spirit of poison.
The Shadowstone Preta
The shadowstone preta. A hungry ghost of darkness.
The Lightstone Garuda
The lightstone garuda. A bird of light and stone.
The Dreamstone Naga
The dreamstone naga. A serpent of dreams and stone.
The Soulstone Kinnara
The soulstone kinnara. A musician of the soul.
The Heartstone Gandharva
The heartstone gandharva. A lover of the heart.
The Mindstone Mahoraga
The mindstone mahoraga. A serpent of the mind.
The Bodystone Kimnara
The bodystone kimnara. A warrior of the body.
Azarinth Healer
Azarinth Healer
A healer in a world of magic discovers that healing can be the deadliest art.
The Wandering Inn
The Wandering Inn
An innkeeper in a fantasy world builds a home for lost souls.
Delve
Delve
A blue mage delves into the depths of a magical dungeon.
Beneath the Dragoneye Moons
Beneath the Dragoneye Moons
Beneath the dragoneye moons, a healer learns the truth of the world.
The New World
The New World
A system apocalypse transforms Earth. The new world demands strength.
Shadow Sun
Shadow Sun
The shadow sun rises. A system apocalypse survivor claims the darkness.
Defiance of the Fall
Defiance of the Fall
Defiance of the fall. A man cultivates power in a world of chaos.
The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound
The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound
The legend of Randidly Ghosthound. A man becomes more than human.
The Good Student
The Good Student
A good student in a magical academy discovers the darkness within.
How to Avoid Death on a Daily Basis
How to Avoid Death on a Daily Basis
How to avoid death on a daily basis. A comedy of survival in another world.
The Gam3
The Gam3
The Gam3. A virtual reality game becomes the battlefield of humanity.
Shadows of the Limelight
Shadows of the Limelight
Shadows of the limelight. Fame is power in a world of heroes.
Worth the Candle
Worth the Candle
Worth the candle. A dungeon master is pulled into his own world.
The Salamanders
The Salamanders
The salamanders. A fire mage burns his path to the top.
Threadbare
Threadbare
Threadbare. A teddy bear golem sews his way to power.
Small Medium at Large
Small Medium at Large
Small medium at large. A ghost whisperer solves mysteries.
Blasphemy Online
Blasphemy Online
Blasphemy Online. A dark VRMMO where nothing is sacred.
Cinnamon Bun
Cinnamon Bun
Cinnamon Bun. The cutest isekai adventure you will ever read.
Vainqueur the Dragon
Vainqueur the Dragon
Vainqueur the Dragon. A dragon becomes the greatest villain.
Never Die Twice
Never Die Twice
Never die twice. A necromancer seeks true immortality.
The Primal Hunter
On a tutorial planet, one hunter evolves beyond all limits.
Bog-Standard Isekai
A perfectly average guy gets a perfectly average isekai adventure.
The Beginning After the End
A king reincarnates into a new world with all his memories and starts over.
Defiance of the Fall
Earth is integrated into the multiverse system and one man defies the fall.
Wasteland Warlords
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, warlords compete for system-given territory.
The Daily Grind
A coffee shop worker discovers a dungeon entrance and balances daily life with adventuring.
Worth the Candle
A teenager is transported to a world based on his own tabletop campaigns.
A Practical Guide to Evil
A young woman navigates a world where Good and Evil are named roles with rules.
The Wandering Inn: Slice of Life
An innkeeper in a fantasy world builds a home for adventurers and monsters alike.
Mother of Learning
A student trapped in a time loop must master magic to save his world.
Twelve Miles Below
A miner discovers a dungeon twelve miles below the surface and delves deeper.
The Good Guys
A kind-hearted man is transported to a game world and plays as a good guy.
The Bad Guys
A man plays the villain in a game world and embraces his bad guy role.
Life in Exile
An exiled noble builds a new kingdom in hostile territory with system help.
The Ten Realms
Two men transported to a world of ten realms must climb from the bottom.
Apex Breach
A diver breaches an alien apex dungeon in a sci-fi progression fantasy.
Dungeon Engineer
An engineer reincarnates as a dungeon core and builds with scientific precision.
The Ripple System
A superhero gains a ripple-based system that grows stronger with each use.
This Quest is Bull!
A man reincarnated as a minotaur must complete absurd quests to survive.
Crystal Shards
A crafter uses crystal shards to build increasingly powerful gear.
Beastborne
A beast tamer bonds with magical creatures and grows through their synergy.
The Gilded Immortal
A cultivator in a system world pursues the gilded path to immortality.
Infinite Realm
Survivors of a destroyed world enter an infinite realm of endless challenges.
Dust and Ash
In a world of dust and ash, one survivor gains a system that changes everything.
Alchemy of Souls
A soul alchemist manipulates the essence of life and death through a system.
The Torchbearer
A young woman becomes the torchbearer, wielding fire magic in a dark world.
Necrotic Apocalypse
A necromancer survives the apocalypse by raising an army of the dead.
Aether's Awakening
S.M. Reine
A young mage awakens to aether magic, a power long thought extinct.
The Coldest Blade
A swordsman wields the coldest blade, freezing all who oppose him.
Dragon Seed
A young man hatches a dragon seed and bonds with a legendary beast.
Storm Front
A storm mage rises from nothing to command the weather itself.
The Systemless
In a world ruled by systems, one man has none โ and that makes him dangerous.
Mana Kingdom
A mana-rich kingdom becomes the battleground for system-empowered lords.
Iron and Blood
In a steampunk world, a mechanic gains a system that fuses iron and blood.
The Last Cartomancer
The last cartomancer uses magical cards to fight in a dying world.
Bastion
A young man becomes a bastion, the last line of defense for his world.
Shadow of the Ravager
A shadow-wielder hunts the ravager that destroyed his home.
Crown of Sorcery
A sorcerer claims a crown that grants dominion over magical forces.
The Stone Sovereign
A sovereign of stone builds an unbreakable kingdom with earth magic.
Reclaimer
A reclaimer fights to take back what was lost in a world consumed by darkness.
Path of the Shapeshifter
A shapeshifter walks a path of endless transformation and adaptation.
Riftworld Online
Players trapped in a VRMMO discover the world is more real than they thought.
Tower of Hell
Climbers ascend a hellish tower, each floor more deadly than the last.
Frostbound
In a frozen world, one survivor gains the power of frost and fights to endure.
Veil of Steel
A knight with an impenetrable veil of steel defends the last city.
Summoner's Gambit
R.D. Reyes
A summoner plays a dangerous gambit with creatures from beyond the veil.
The Greedy Alchemist
A greedy alchemist exploits the system to get rich โ and accidentally saves the world.
Sword of the Sovereign
A sovereign's sword grants its wielder dominion over all who see it.
The Forsaken Mage
A forsaken mage discovers a power that could reshape the entire system.
Hollow King
A hollow king rises from the dead to reclaim his throne with system power.
Bloodline Ascendant
A young man awakens an ancient vampire bloodline and ascends through the system.
The Clockwork Realm
A clockwork realm runs on system mechanics, and one tinkerer finds the master key.
Essence of the Void
A void wielder absorbs the essence of nothingness and becomes cosmic.
The Iron Mage
An iron mage forges his body and magic into an unstoppable weapon.
Labyrinth of the Mad King
Adventurers enter the labyrinth of the mad king, where reality bends and breaks.
The Idle System
A man with an idle system grows stronger by doing absolutely nothing.
Apocalypse: Generic System
The apocalypse arrives with a generic system that anyone can use.
Tower of Books
A bookworm climbs a tower of books, each floor a different genre.
CursedUIThread
A programmer is cursed with a UI thread that won't stop giving quests.
The Blacksmith's Hammer
A blacksmith's hammer becomes the key to surviving a system apocalypse.
Necromancer's Garden
A necromancer grows an army of the undead in his garden.
System Fault
A system fault gives one player abilities that shouldn't exist.
The Crafter's Path
A crafter builds his way to power in a world that values fighters above all.
Sword Art Online: Alicization
The Alicization arc of SAO takes Kirito into a fully realized virtual world.
Only Villainous
A player chooses the villain path and discovers it's harder than it looks.
Reroll
A man who can reroll his stats becomes the most unpredictable player.
The Apotheosis System
A man gains the apotheosis system and ascends to godhood step by step.
Mana Overload
A mana overload gives one mage unlimited magical power.
The Shadowcaller
A shadowcaller summons creatures from darkness to fight by his side.
Infinity Tower
The infinity tower has no top floor โ and someone is trying to reach it.
Soul Forge
A soul forger crafts weapons from the souls of the defeated.
The Beast Tamer's Journey
A beast tamer journeys across a world filled with magical creatures.
Overlimit
A player who can push past the system's limits discovers why they exist.
The NPC's Revenge
An NPC gains sentience and swears revenge on the players who tormented him.
Dungeon Designer
A dungeon designer creates the most devious labyrinths in the world.
Aura of the Abyss
An aura from the abyss grants its wielder power over fear itself.
Spell Thief
A spell thief steals magic from others and makes it his own.
The Prodigy System
A prodigy system makes its user a genius in everything โ but at what cost?
Blood and Bone
A blood and bone cultivator fights through the system's darkest path.
The Archmage's Return
The greatest archmage returns to his youth with all his power intact.
Chaos Seed
A chaos seed grows into the most unpredictable power in the system.
Frost Empire
A frost mage builds an empire of ice in a world consumed by fire.
The Spirit Chef
A spirit chef cooks dishes that grant permanent stat boosts.
Guardian of the Tree
A guardian protects the world tree that sustains all life.
Runesmith
A runesmith carves magical runes that bend reality to his will.
The Immortal Worker
An office worker discovers his mundane job is actually a system tutorial.
Venomous
A venom wielder turns poison into the most powerful weapon.
Star Reaver
A star reaver harvests the power of dying stars with his blade.
The Potion Seller
A potion seller becomes the richest merchant in the system world.
Gravity Fist
A gravity fist fighter makes his punches hit with the weight of a planet.
The Mimic
A mimic can copy any ability he sees โ but each copy has a price.
Phantom Blade
A phantom blade strikes from the shadows, invisible and deadly.
The System Baker
A baker discovers that his bread has system-boosting properties.
Code of the Sword
A hacker enters a game world and discovers his coding skills translate to sword techniques.
Titan's Blood
A descendant of titans awakens their bloodline and grows to monstrous power.
The Unbound
The unbound are those who reject the system entirely โ and find power in freedom.
Ash and Ember
From ash and ember, a fire mage rises to burn away the darkness.
The Dungeon Merchant
A merchant sets up shop in a dungeon and sells to adventurers.
Silent Steps
An assassin with silent steps moves through the world unseen.
The Last Summoner
The last summoner must save a world that no longer believes in magic.
Realm Breaker
A realm breaker shatters the boundaries between worlds.
The Clockmaker
A clockmaker crafts devices that manipulate time itself.
Void Walker
A void walker traverses the spaces between worlds.
The Last Dragon Rider
The last dragon rider must find the final egg and restore the ancient bond.
Fate Forger
A fate forger rewrites destiny itself with his hammer.
The Immortal tavern
An innkeeper runs a tavern that exists outside of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between LitRPG and Progression Fantasy?
LitRPG strictly features game mechanics โ stat screens, level-ups, mana bars โ as part of the story world. Progression Fantasy is broader: it includes any story where the protagonist's power growth is systematic and a central focus, even if the world doesn't have literal 'game' elements. Cradle, for instance, is Progression Fantasy but not strictly LitRPG.
Which LitRPG or Progression Fantasy series should I read first?
For pure LitRPG: Dungeon Crawler Carl (funny, fast-paced, excellent audiobook). For Progression Fantasy: Cradle by Will Wight (the gold standard โ 12 books, all worth reading). For something between both genres: He Who Fights With Monsters.
How long are LitRPG series usually?
It varies enormously. Cradle is 12 focused books (~300 pages each). The Wandering Inn is an ongoing web serial now exceeding 12 million words. Dungeon Crawler Carl is 7+ books with no end in sight. We list the current book count and completion status for every series.
Where do I find LitRPG/Progression Fantasy books?
Royal Road (royalroad.com) is the home of free web serials โ many series start there. Amazon Kindle and Audible have most major releases. Some authors sell directly. We link to the best legal reading source for each series.