Minimum Requirements for LitRPG/Isekai

[Localforeigner]

I've been mulling over writing a story that would be and Isekai with some litRpg elements. But as these are both new genres for me, I'm curious as to what are the requirements to belong in those genres? How much 'system' does a litRpg need to show to qualify? Do you have to have a working set of game mechanics, or just levels and numbers? Does it have to be fantasy (I was thinking of superheroes actually) for Isekai?

I've read a few litrpgs and isekai, but I'm not totally immersed in those genres. I am trying to pick up some more though.

 

[LostLibrarian]

The definition would be "Game World with an RPG System". So depending on the way you write, there isn't a need to add all those tables, stats, numbers, and that stuff. Even no visible system at all would still qualify for the usual definition.

That said, many readers will expect clear systems, a lot of stats, tables, defined rules, etc, so those might become disappointed and leave (together with a meh rating). That shouldn't stop you from using those tags if you want, but you should be clear on what a lot of the readers will expect. Numbers, tables, (fast) leveling/grinding. That said, given on the execution, people will also just love growing numbers as well.

Depending on what you do, there is also the possibility of using "GameLit"/"Gameworld" as tags instead.
I use those instead of LitRPG because the game system isn't the center piece of my story...

 

[Cossimeri]

I've been mulling over writing a story that would be and Isekai with some litRpg elements. But as these are both new genres for me, I'm curious as to what are the requirements to belong in those genres? How much 'system' does a litRpg need to show to qualify? Do you have to have a working set of game mechanics, or just levels and numbers? Does it have to be fantasy (I was thinking of superheroes actually) for Isekai?

I've read a few litrpgs and isekai, but I'm not totally immersed in those genres. I am trying to pick up some more though.

Breaking this down easily:

LitRPG - If your characters have levels, and some verifiably repeatable way to view their skills/abilities as one would in an RPG. ("Status Screen", "Character Sheet", etc). Then you're golden. Sure some readers may expect more. But really... few are going to complain. Many stories don't fit their genres perfectly. I have the "Comedy" genre on a few of my stories and it isn't as if every chapter is a laughing riot. It's more just a handshake with the reader, my way of telling them I don't want everything to be taken extremely serious. That sometimes things are bent just because I want them to chuckle.

Isekai - This just means "other world". If your protag is taken from their homeworld and brought to another, that is isekai. So Superheroes qualify perfectly.

~Hope that helped a little.

 

[DubstheDuke]

I think as long as there is a system which is computer based then it's a litRPG. Even if the abilities don't have levels or numbers. Take slime for example. Almost none of the abilities in slime are numerical, just attribute based and ability based.

 

[Reisinling]

I've been mulling over writing a story that would be and Isekai with some litRpg elements. But as these are both new genres for me, I'm curious as to what are the requirements to belong in those genres? How much 'system' does a litRpg need to show to qualify? Do you have to have a working set of game mechanics, or just levels and numbers? Does it have to be fantasy (I was thinking of superheroes actually) for Isekai?

I've read a few litrpgs and isekai, but I'm not totally immersed in those genres. I am trying to pick up some more though.

Yeees join the dark side.. another one, poisoned by the sweet fruit of trends and easy likes.

 

[Horizon42]

I've been mulling over writing a story that would be and Isekai with some litRpg elements. But as these are both new genres for me, I'm curious as to what are the requirements to belong in those genres? How much 'system' does a litRpg need to show to qualify? Do you have to have a working set of game mechanics, or just levels and numbers? Does it have to be fantasy (I was thinking of superheroes actually) for Isekai?

I've read a few litrpgs and isekai, but I'm not totally immersed in those genres. I am trying to pick up some more though.

It needs an easily identifiable progression of power and the world needs to reflect that system. Whether it's fantasy, sci-fi, levels, stats, it doesn't matter.

 

[Businesssn]

The minimum

hp

Mp

 

[Businesssn]

The lowest

Hp

 

[CadmarLegend]

Breaking this down easily:

LitRPG - If your characters have levels, and some verifiably repeatable way to view their skills/abilities as one would in an RPG. ("Status Screen", "Character Sheet", etc). Then you're golden. Sure some readers may expect more. But really... few are going to complain. Many stories don't fit their genres perfectly. I have the "Comedy" genre on a few of my stories and it isn't as if every chapter is a laughing riot. It's more just a handshake with the reader, my way of telling them I don't want everything to be taken extremely serious. That sometimes things are bent just because I want them to chuckle.

Isekai - This just means "other world". If your protag is taken from their homeworld and brought to another, that is isekai. So Superheroes qualify perfectly.

~Hope that helped a little.

Exactly.... you really don't leave much space for other facts.....

 

[Localforeigner]

The definition would be "Game World with an RPG System". So depending on the way you write, there isn't a need to add all those tables, stats, numbers, and that stuff. Even no visible system at all would still qualify for the usual definition.

That said, many readers will expect clear systems, a lot of stats, tables, defined rules, etc, so those might become disappointed and leave (together with a meh rating). That shouldn't stop you from using those tags if you want, but you should be clear on what a lot of the readers will expect. Numbers, tables, (fast) leveling/grinding. That said, given on the execution, people will also just love growing numbers as well.

Depending on what you do, there is also the possibility of using "GameLit"/"Gameworld" as tags instead.
I use those instead of LitRPG because the game system isn't the center piece of my story...

Thanks for that! I was thinking of having some system mechanics, but not all the time. Like the MC works under the impact of the system without the rest of the world really working that way was my plot thought.

 

[Localforeigner]

Breaking this down easily:

LitRPG - If your characters have levels, and some verifiably repeatable way to view their skills/abilities as one would in an RPG. ("Status Screen", "Character Sheet", etc). Then you're golden. Sure some readers may expect more. But really... few are going to complain. Many stories don't fit their genres perfectly. I have the "Comedy" genre on a few of my stories and it isn't as if every chapter is a laughing riot. It's more just a handshake with the reader, my way of telling them I don't want everything to be taken extremely serious. That sometimes things are bent just because I want them to chuckle.

Isekai - This just means "other world". If your protag is taken from their homeworld and brought to another, that is isekai. So Superheroes qualify perfectly.

~Hope that helped a little.

Yes! Thank you, that's extremely helpful!

 

[Ai-chan]

I've been mulling over writing a story that would be and Isekai with some litRpg elements. But as these are both new genres for me, I'm curious as to what are the requirements to belong in those genres? How much 'system' does a litRpg need to show to qualify? Do you have to have a working set of game mechanics, or just levels and numbers? Does it have to be fantasy (I was thinking of superheroes actually) for Isekai?

I've read a few litrpgs and isekai, but I'm not totally immersed in those genres. I am trying to pick up some more though.

LitRPG is short for Literary RPG. What this means is, you write a story as if you're playing an RPG game. What system you want is entirely up to you. Maybe you want to make the standard Diablo-clone type of story, which means your story would have 'Strength, Agility, Constitution, Intelligence, Magic List and Current Buffs'. If you want to make something like DnD instead, you would probably add Perks and Feats as well. Maybe you'd have Level too.

Or you could make it low litrpg and just give them classes and learned skills but otherwise not allow them to rise in level, only proficiencies. That can work too. Basically, if it works as an RPG game, it is litrpg.

Isekai is simply 'another world'. Yes, that's the exact meaning. It's not superhero genre. For an isekai to be isekai, there must be another world being a consistent plot in the story. If your character was supposed to go to another world, but didn't due to some reason, that's not isekai. However, if his entire class goes to another world and we get scenes of them surviving in another world, then that is isekai.

Isekai doesn't have to be fantasy. It can also be sci-fi. If your character ends up in another planet or alternate reality due to some strange quantum anomaly, that's also isekai. The difference is, it's a sci-fi isekai with no magic. Maybe instead of getting magic powers, your protagonist steals a plasma pulse rifle and continues to slaughter ugly alien scum because he's a human supremacist in a world without humans.

Stephen King's The Dark Tower and its universe can also be considered isekai. The 10th Kingdom, a Hallmark movie is also isekai.

Isekai and litrpg are two completely different things. They can work together, but they don't have to work together. You can make isekai without magic. Even if you make the protagonist a normal person in another world, that's still isekai.