LitRPG, short for literary role-playing game, is a literary genre combining the conventions of computer role-playing games with science fiction and fantasy novels, a term introduced in 2013. Game-like elements form an essential part of the story, and visible role-playing-game statistics are a significant part of the reading experience, distinguishing the genre from novels that merely tie in with an existing game world, literal game-book publications such as the Fighting Fantasy choose-your-own-adventure series, and games described in literary form such as MUDs and interactive fiction. The protagonist of a LitRPG novel is typically consciously aware of interacting with the game or game-like world and works deliberately to progress within its rules.
Facts
Place of OriginRussia: the term was identified and named by a Russian publishing initiative, with EKSMO, a major Russian publishing house, starting the first dedicated multiple author LitRPG project in 2013. 1 Notable ExampleAndre Norton's novel Quag Keep (1978), an early precedent in which characters enter the world of a Dungeons and Dragons game. 1 Defining TraitGame-like elements form an essential part of the story, with visible role playing game statistics such as strength, intelligence and damage a significant part of the reading experience. 1 Connections
Sources
1. LitRPG (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia)History section
Andre Norton's Quag Keep (1978) enters the world of the characters of a D&D game.
Lead section
In LitRPG, game-like elements form an essential part of the story, and visible RPG statistics (for example strength, intelligence, damage) are a significant part of the reading experience.
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