The Hidden Appeal of LitRPG

TLDR: LitRPG is appealing because it offers a comprehensible, fair system in contrast to real-world systems that are opaque and rigged. Even when the RPG system is antagonistic, its mechanistic nature is still a more attractive route to power than what’s available to the average person. 

To dig into the idea further, keep reading. 

Firstly, let’s start with a brief definition, a place to get us started: 

LitRPG is a genre of science fiction and fantasy which features characteristics typically found in role-playing games, like Dungeons & Dragons and World of Warcraft. The stories usually involve at least one character who has access to an advancement system consisting of things like levels, classes/professions, attributes, skills, and/or other ways of quantifying human potential. The storylines often make progression through this advancement system a main feature of their appeal. 

The key word in the above definition is advancement. Whether the RPG system is friendly, neutral, or even antagonistic, its mechanical nature creates a dependability that scrappy protagonists can make use of. Whether it’s through hard work, their mastery over games, or using cleverness to identify weaknesses to exploit, the system becomes an avenue for growth. 

That’s unlike the real world, where a person can easily feel their hard work, their mastery over the things they care about, and their cleverness in overcoming problems don’t matter. Where those things aren’t recognized. At least not by those who do matter: the ones who run the real-world systems, like the bosses, the politicians, the religious leaders, etc. 

This underlying lack of faith in real-world systems is what makes fantasy-RPG systems so attractive. Swing a sword a thousand times, and you unlock a special class or achievement that will then let you go on to defeat the monster outside of town, which in turn will lead to recognition by the mayor, who perhaps will send you on a special quest. You get the idea. 

Essentially, the hero begins the story with everything they need for their efforts to matter. Through the RPG system, they can bypass whatever restrictions may be placed on them by society due to lack of status, wealth, education, etc. 

For example, in Dungeon Crawler Carl, Carl succeeds not because he's inherently special, but because he learns the system's rules and exploits them ruthlessly—something theoretically anyone could do if the playing field was honestly level. 

The way to move the story forward is through growth, and the RPG system is an ally in that process, even when it’s antagonistic. Because an antagonistic RPG system is still more dependable than our real-world one. Just ask all the small-business owners who—no matter how much they sweated for it—went bankrupt because they couldn’t compete against the giant corporations down the street. 

LitRPG is often described as escapist power fantasy, but I think that’s doing a disservice to the genre. Given the above, it’s clear that escapism is baked into it, but in the sense that readers are expressing dissatisfaction with the status quo. The desire to succeed and do better is being expressed through the characters on the page, in the same way that stories have done for centuries. 

Humans are storytellers by nature. Historically, it’s one of the main ways we teach and learn. And more recently, it’s how we dream of what can be. 

I'm not suggesting RPG systems are the solution to real world problems, but their popularity suggests that the current real-world system isn’t cutting it for many, that they’re looking for something more dependable. 

The other argument I often hear is that LitRPG is only appealing because of the dopamine hits that come when “the numbers go up.” I won’t deny that those moments are legitimately satisfying, but they’re also more than chemical manipulation. Those dopamine hits are a symptom of the dependable progression, not the core draw. 

Otherwise, why read LitRPG when you can watch TikTok videos instead? That delivers dopamine hits faster and with less effort. The fact readers choose LitRPG, which requires sustained attention and investment, suggests they're after something deeper than just chemical stimulation. 

At this point, you may be thinking, “Is Samer saying that LitRPGs are just power fantasies for people who feel powerless?” 

My answer to you is no. That’s not the case at all. Because stories are one of the ways by which humans learn how to develop agency. We find many of our heroes in fiction. They can inspire us to do more than dream by showing us how to make meaningful choices and imagine the results of those choices. We internalize these patterns and can eventually learn to recognize similar opportunities in our own lives. 

The desire for a fair, comprehensible system is meaningful rather than juvenile. And even if we don’t live in that kind of world, we can still strive to create fairer systems and ensure hard work actually leads to opportunity. 

All the above is rather heady, so let me conclude by saying this: LitRPG is also fun. The genre, by its nature, is meant to be enjoyed. And hopefully, if the story is well written, there’s substance under the chemical wash of neurotransmitters. Under the fantasy, there are truths about humans overcoming the worst obstacles. 

I love the genre, and I absolutely have a blast writing in it. If you haven’t already, give it a shot. Below are some places to start:

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman is a series of adventures heavily dosed with humor and heart. 

He Who Fights with Monsters by Shirtaloon mixes Australian snark with clever system exploitation. 

The Wandering Inn by pirateaba is a slice-of-life epic where an innkeeper builds a community around her. 

You’re also welcome to try my own work: 

Eight is the story of an old man who wakes up in an eight-year-old body on a dangerous world and must survive using experience, not power. 

Fate’s Attendant starts with a broken soldier, a mysterious card deck, and a giant badger named Auntie Ling, then shifts into a cultivation fantasy where cunning matters as much as strength. 

And these are a few of my favorites in the genre: 

Bog Standard Isekai by Miles English features a protagonist who tears through portal fantasy tropes with style. 

Oh, Great! I was Reincarnated as a Farmer by Benjamin Kerei is a wholesome comedy about a min-maxer who discovers how farming can be a viable build. 

Azarinth Healer by Rhaegar has lots of combat and progression, featuring a healer who gets stronger through fighting. 

Jake's Magical Market by J.R. Mathews stars a protagonist who starts his journey by running a magical business. 

Enjoy!