Top 10 Light Novel Like Sword Art Online [2024 List]

Sword Art Online

In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online-a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other-opens its virtual doors, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in the game world by manipulating their brain waves to create a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG-a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad to regain your freedom. But in the warped world of SAO, "game over" means certain death-both virtual and real...

Sword Art Online It is also Known as: ソードアート・オンライン, S.A.O, SAO

Genres: Science Fiction , Virtual Reality , Fantasy , Romance , Action , Adventure , Swordplay

Try our anime quiz: Anime Characters Guessing Quiz/Game

10. Real Account

Real Account

In a world driven by fictionalized friendship, courtesy of the program named "Real Account," the table suddenly turns, and the cybernetic world turns real! How will they survive?

has finished publishing and it has 182 Chapters. It is also Known as: リアルアカウント, Real Account

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9. No Game No Life

No Game No Life

Meet Sora and Shiro, a brother and sister who are loser shut-ins by normal standards. But these siblings don't play by the rules of the "crappy game" that is average society. In the world of gaming, this genius pair reigns supreme, their invincible avatar so famous that it's the stuff of urban legend.

So when a young boy calling himself God summons the siblings to a fantastic alternate world where war is forbidden and all conflicts - even those involving national borders - are decided by the outcome of games, Sora and Shiro have pretty much hit the jackpot. But they soon learn that in this world, humanity, cornered and outnumbered by other species, survives within the confines of one city. Will Sora and Shiro, two failures at life, turn out to be the saviors of mankind? Let the games begin...!

No Game No Life is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ノーゲーム・ノーライフ, NGNL

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8. Kasou Ryouiki no Elysion

Kasou Ryouiki no Elysion

An incredibly athletic older brother, Tenryu Taiga. A programming genius girl, Tenryu Fuyuki. Siblings separated for 8 years ended up living under one roof again, after facing the problem—a lack of funds for living expanses.

Fuyuki proposes a way to earn money, a core system deeply involved in people's daily lives, a game that awards you money as a prize for defeating malicious bugs in cyber world, the 《Aries》 structure. Taiga after becoming a warrior in the game relying on his inborn senses, is puzzled by the unfamiliar sensation.

One day Saionji Rui, Fuyuki's best friend appears and is attacked by a mysterious bug― "I'll be waiting, my prince." Hybrid fantasy battle of cheating siblings begins here!

Kasou Ryouiki no Elysion has finished publishing and it has 21 Chapters. It is also Known as: 仮想領域のエリュシオン, Kasou Ryouiki no Elysion

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7. RealPG

RealPG

Motoba Hitachi has lived a boring high school life, until his kouhai invited him to a real-life simulation event of Incubate Castle, an online game they both played. But, what seemed like a harmless replication of the game turned out to be as real as it could get. Now, Hitachi must find allies to get out and survive this reality of a game.

RealPG has finished publishing and it has 15 Chapters. It is also Known as: REALPG, Real PG, RPG

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6. Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling

In a world where awakened beings called “Hunters” must battle deadly monsters to protect humanity, Sung Jinwoo, nicknamed “the weakest hunter of all mankind,” finds himself in a constant struggle for survival. One day, after a brutal encounter in an overpowered dungeon wipes out his party and threatens to end his life, a mysterious System chooses him as its sole player: Jinwoo has been granted the rare opportunity to level up his abilities, possibly beyond any known limits. Follow Jinwoo’s journey as he takes on ever-stronger enemies, both human and monster, to discover the secrets deep within the dungeons and the ultimate extent of his powers.



Note: Chapter count includes a prologue and 21 side stories.

Solo Leveling has finished publishing and it has 201 Chapters. It is also Known as: Boku dake Level Up na Ken, 俺だけレベルアップな件, Only I level up, I Level Up Alone, Поднятие уровня в одиночку, Na Honjaman Level-Up, Only I Level Up, Ore Dake Level Up na Ken, Поднятие уровня в одиночку, Тільки я візьму новий рівень, تکرو, 我独自升级

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5. Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

Naofumi Iwatani, an uncharismatic otaku who spends his days on games and manga, suddenly finds himself summoned to a parallel universe! He discovers he is one of four heroes equipped with legendary weapons and tasked with saving the world from its prophesied destruction.

As the Shield Hero, the weakest of the heroes, all is not as it seems. Naofumi is soon alone, penniless, and betrayed. With no one to turn to, and nowhere to run, he is left with only his shield. Now, Naofumi must rise to become the legendary Shield Hero and save the world!

The Rising of the Shield Hero is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 盾の勇者の成り上がり, Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

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4. Zero no Shiniki

Zero no Shiniki

Kanzaki Rei is an avid gamer, but one day he hit rock-bottom due to his debts. During the night while sleeping, a strange phenomenon happened and sent him inside the game he previously played. A world of life and death awaits.

Zero no Shiniki has finished publishing and it has 12 Chapters. It is also Known as: 零の神域, Rei's Sanctuary, Rei no Shiniki

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3. Online: The Comic

Online: The Comic

Mai Yashiro (22) was an average office worker until the day a video game console arrived in her mailbox. The game she is forced to play, "Nightmare," is a dangerous game in which one risks both the lives of the ones they love and their own body!! If you refuse to play, those dear to you die. If you lose battles in the game, parts of your body (your arms or legs, your voice, etc.) cease functioning. The horror of this game spreads throughout society in a flash, and, to fight it, Mai's company creates a "Nightmare" Strategy Team. After being assigned to this team, Mai and her dependable comrades boldly rise up against this hellish game. Adapted from the super-popular novel which has received over 40,000,000 hits online!!

Online: The Comic is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: オンライン The Comic, Online: The Comic

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2. Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

Naofumi Iwatani, an uncharismatic Otaku who spends his days on games and manga, suddenly finds himself summoned to a parallel universe! He discovers he is one of four heroes equipped with legendary weapons and tasked with saving the world from its prophesied destruction. As the Shield Hero, the weakest of the heroes, all is not as it seems. Naofumi is soon alone, penniless, and betrayed. With no one to turn to, and nowhere to run, he is left with only his shield. Now, Naofumi must rise to become the legendary Shield Hero and save the world!

The Rising of the Shield Hero: The Manga Companion is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 盾の勇者の成り上がり, Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

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1. Accel World

Accel World

No matter what age it is, the "Bullied Child" will never disappear. The overweight, Middle School student, Haruyuki, was one such kid. The only time he could relax completely, was when he would play a squash game on the local network the school had set up. He loved playing this simple game as he can forget painful times while immersed in it.
It was fall. He was passing his time like this until one day, he had an encounter with the school's most beautiful, refined girl, "Snow Black", which changed his life abruptly. Introduced to the software she transmitted, Haruyuki learned about "Accel World." A program that enhances one's mind capabilities, with certain side-effects.
It was the moment the guy on the lowest rung at school became "Burst Linker," protecting the Princess as her knight.

Accel World is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: アクセル・ワールド, Accel World

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