best litrpg audiobooks
LitRPG (Literary Role-Playing Game) is a fast-growing genre that blends fantasy, sci-fi, and gaming mechanics think Ready Player One meets Dungeons & Dragons. With immersive stats, levelling systems, and virtual worlds, LitRPG audiobooks make you feel like you’re inside a video game.
Top 10 Best LitRPG Audiobooks
1. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
When an alien race turns Earth into a bloody dungeon-crawl reality show, Carl (a former MMA fighter) and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, must survive increasingly deadly floors. The mix of dark humour, insane challenges, and emotional stakes makes this a standout.
Jeff Hays’ award-winning narration gives Carl gritty determination and Donut hilarious sass. The sound effects (like stat notifications) enhance the game-like immersion.
Why Listen?
Audible Best Seller in Sci-Fi
The perfect balance of comedy and tension
Hays’ performance is legendary in the LitRPG community
2. He Who Fights with Monsters by Shirtaloon
Jason wakes up in a magical world with RPG mechanics, skills, essences, and a snarky AI guide. As he navigates political intrigue and monster battles, his sarcastic humour masks deeper trauma.
Heath Miller’s expressive narration captures Jason’s wit and the world’s Australian-inspired flavour. The class-building system (think World of Warcraft meets Sanderson) is deeply satisfying.
Why It Stands Out:
9-book series (great for long listens)
Miller’s voice acting adds emotional depth
3. The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba
Erin, a college student, is transported to a fantasy world with game-like levels. Instead of fighting, she becomes an innkeeper, but her creative use of skills like Advanced Cooking and Magical Chess shakes the world’s power balance.
Key Highlights:
Longest single-volume fantasy audiobook ever
LitRPG meets Studio Ghibli warmth
Parsneau won an Audie Award for her narration
4. Defiance of the Fall by TheFirstDefier
Zac’s camping trip turns apocalyptic when Earth is integrated into a multiversal RPG system. Alone in a monster-filled forest, he grinds levels with an axe and sheer stubbornness.
Pavi Proczko’s gruff, intense delivery matches Zac’s relentless growth. The cultivation elements (think Dragon Ball Z power-ups) blend perfectly with LitRPG stats.
Notable Achievements:
12-book series (and counting)
Proczko’s battle cries are hype-inducing
5. Awaken Online by Travis Bagwell (Narrated by David Stifel)
Teen outcast Jason logs into a full-dive VRMMO and becomes a necromancer, but the game’s AI blurs the line between virtual and real-world consequences.
David Stifel’s calm, calculating tone suits Jason’s strategic mind. The moral grey areas (playing the villain?) and corporate conspiracy add depth.
Why Listen?
Pioneered “villain protagonist” LitRPG
Stifel’s voice makes spell descriptions thrilling
Completed 7-book series
6. Noobtown by Ryan Rimmel (Narrated by Johnathan McClain)
After dying in a bus accident, Jim is reborn in the fantasy world of Ordinal as a “noob” with one unusual advantage a snarky demon companion named Badgelor. The series blends classic RPG mechanics with laugh-out-loud humor as Jim navigates his new life as a village mayor/reluctant hero.
Johnathan McClain’s narration shines in capturing Jim’s exasperation and Badgelor’s scene-stealing sarcasm. The skill system (particularly Jim’s “Dingleberry” debuff ability) provides constant comedy while maintaining satisfying progression elements.
Why It Stands Out:
7-book series with consistent quality
Perfect parody of MMO tropes
McClain’s comedic timing rivals Jeff Hays
7. The Ripple System by Kyle Kirrin
When Ned banks his inheritance on a rare VRMMO headset, he gains two advantages: early access and a talking axe named Frank who might be the game’s most annoying (and powerful) companion.
Travis Baldree (legendary narrator of Cradle) brings Frank’s constant insults and Ned’s growing confidence to life. The corporate intrigue surrounding the game’s development adds real-world stakes to the virtual adventure.
Key Highlights:
Unique weapon-bond progression system
Baldree’s Frank voice is iconic
4 books and counting
8. The Land: Chaos Seeds by Aleron Kong (Narrated by Nick Podehl)
Considered by many as the gateway to LitRPG, this series follows Richter as he’s transported to the world of The Land and must build his settlement while mastering magic and combat.
Nick Podehl’s energetic narration helps smooth over the sometimes-overwhelming stat blocks. The town-building elements remain some of the most satisfying in the genre.
Notable Achievements:
First major LitRPG breakout hit
8-book foundation series
Podehl’s narration adds excitement to mechanics
9. Iron Prince by Bryce O’Connor (Narrated by Luke Daniels)
In a sci-fi universe where military cadets train with RPG-like armor systems, underdog Reidon Ward receives a mysterious device that evolves with him.
Luke Daniels captures Reidon’s determination and the brutal academy setting perfectly. The melee combat descriptions are some of the most visceral in the genre.
Why Listen?
Unique sci-fi LitRPG hybrid
Incredible tournament arc
Daniels’ battle narration is unmatched
10. Life Reset by Shemer Kuznits (Narrated by Jeff Hays)
A guild leader trapped in the game as a lowly goblin NPC must rebuild from scratch using unorthodox monster-class abilities.
Jeff Hays (of DCC fame) delivers another stellar performance, especially when voicing the protagonist’s growing goblin horde. The settlement-building through an NPC lens offers fresh perspective.
Standout Features:
Unique monster evolution system
Completed 6-book series
Hays makes goblin voices surprisingly distinct
