LitRPG Reads: RPG + DnD + Books = LitRPG

Idle Games That Keep Your Mind Active

A young man in a striped shirt sits on a couch, holding a game controller and looking upward, his mind active. There are pillows behind him and a dog lying on the couch to his side, hinting at a break from idle games.

Honestly, we don’t always have the time to sit down to a two-hour gaming session with headphones and full immersion mode enabled. Life is noisy, lunch breaks are limited, and sometimes the mental reserves just aren’t there. That’s where idle games excel. …

How to Create Flawed D&D Villains Your Players Will Never Forget

by Emily Thorne

A dark-skinned woman with glowing purple eyes and jewelry laughs triumphantly, surrounded by swirling cosmic energy in vibrant purples, pinks, and blues. She wears layered necklaces, rings, and a dramatic purple cloak.

In the grand tapestry of storytelling, especially at the gaming table, there’s something intrinsically captivating about a villain who bleeds, falters, and hides shadows in their heart. The mustache-twirling scoundrel who exists solely to thwart the heroes has its place, but it’s …

What’s Out There For Completionist Gamers?

by Ajay Patel

A dark room with a dual-monitor computer setup on a desk. The monitors display a serene ocean scene under a cloudy sky. A colorful backlit keyboard, mouse, and mouse pad are in front, with headphones hanging on the left monitor.

If you’ve ever found yourself knee-deep in a side quest while the main story is screaming for attention… you’re not alone. Some of us aren’t just playing games—we’re inhabiting them. Not until that map is clear, every quest is tied up, and …

Forgotten Realms Lore Explained: Major Events Every DM Should Know

by Isaac Hanson

A female elf with long hair and a cloak stands in a medieval city. She gazes towards a towering gothic cathedral in the distance. The scene is detailed with stone bridges, archways, and other figures walking in the bustling city.

Welcome to the Forgotten Realms—where legends aren’t just told, they’re lived. In this high-fantasy playground, gods walk the streets, archmages reshape reality, and kingdoms rise or fall on the roll of a die. From the smoldering ruins of ancient empires to the …

DND 2025 Release Schedule: Every Confirmed Book, Boxed Set, and What to Expect Next

by Heidi Jiang

A person with glasses excitedly reads the DND 2025 book at a desk with a laptop and dice. The room, decorated with posters and string lights, is warmly lit, creating a cozy ambiance perfect for diving into its newly confirmed release schedule.

Welcome to 2025, a monumental year for Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts worldwide! This isn’t just any ordinary year—it’s the first wholly dedicated to the eagerly awaited One D&D edition. Imagine this: new core rulebooks elevating gameplay like never before, iconic settings making …

DND Wizard Spells Guide: The Best 5e Spells to Prepare at Every Level (1–20 Breakdown)

by Ajay Patel

A mystical woman stands in a forest, holding a staff with a glowing blue gem. Sunlight filters through trees, illuminating her serene expression and flowing hair. The scene conveys a magical, enchanting atmosphere.

No class in 5E gives you a spellbook thick enough to double as a weapon quite like the Wizard. You want fireballs? Illusions? Runes that fold time in half? Done. But here’s the catch: with all that power comes a relentless question—which …

The Ultimate Step-by-Step DND Character Creation Checklist for 2025

by Heidi Jiang

In 2025, three friends engage in a DND adventure. Two men focus intently on their character sheets, the result of meticulous DND character creation. Meanwhile, a woman smiles from behind her dragon-screen as the Dungeon Master. Dice and snacks fill the table beneath poster-covered brick walls.

Build Better D&D Characters in 2025 Imagine this: you’re about to embark on a new Dungeons & Dragons campaign, one filled with untold adventures, formidable foes, and incredible stories just waiting to unfold. What’s your first step? Crafting your character, of course! …

How to Keep TTRPG Campaigns Exciting Every Week (With No Burn Out or Lost Players)

by Ajay Patel

A man and a woman sit tiredly at a table immersed in their TTRPG campaign. Both have their heads resting on their hands, eyes closed. Miniature figures dot the grid board, while a red screen with a castle image stands before these weary players.

Imagine this: you and your players are knee-deep in a sprawling campaign, with plots weaving through weeks or even months of gameplay. One of the greatest challenges a Game Master faces is ensuring that each session remains as vibrant and engaging as …

What is LitRPG Reads?

Simply put, LitRPG stories take place in a game (or gamelike) world with rpg-style progression. Basically, an RPG in narrative format. RPG + Books = LitRPG! The term LitRPG was originally coined by three Russian authors back around 2010. I cover a lot of Dungeons & Dragons and Tabletop RPG content here too!

About LitRPG Reads

Paul Bellow is a LitRPG author, decades-long gamer, RPG game developer, and publisher of several online communities. In other words, an old school webmaster.

He also developed and runs LitRPG Adventures, a set of advanced RPG generators powered by GPT-3 AI. Here at LitRPG Reads, he publishes articles about LitRPG books, tabletop RPG books, and all sorts of DND content that's free to use in your personal tabletop campaign - i.e. non-commercial use.

Enjoy your stay and reach out on Twitter or Discord if you want to make contact.