EXTENDED BY AN AVID LIGHT NOVEL READER 2022 FEBRUARY
Light novels became extremely popular in the 2010s and it isn’t an accident. Light novels have great stories, they take the refreshing and cheeky style of mangas and manhwas, but they have more freedom in terms of imagination. This article is suitable for both anime and light novel lovers. We separated this list article into two sections.
In the first we are looking for new animes based on light novels in 2022, in the second part we take the classic anime titles that are our favorite for those who aren’t familiar with light novels.
New Light Novel Animes of 2022
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime, by Fuse
Light novel 2017 – Anime 2021
Satoru Mikami is 37 years old and living and working in a thankless position when, one day, he is cut down by a criminal. As he transitions into his new world as a “slime”, there are unforeseen consequences linked to his collective group of monster friends. Without giving away too much from the story, the protagonist has the special ability picking up the forms of other who he defeated, this skill is called as “predator”.
Rimuru soon finds himself drawing the interest of all the major powers in the world, including figures of legend and royalty, and demon lords, some of whom hope to rejoin his clan, while others desire to eliminate or exploit him.
In The Land Of Leadale, by Ceez
Light novel 2020 – Anime 2022
The crevasse accident that put Keina-now Cayna-Lee on life support resulted in the last “freedom report” from the dystopian MMO World of Leadale. When she comes to, she notices that her troubles resemble those of the distant past, but she still feels disconnected and out of place in this unfamiliar surroundings.
In the Land of Leadale is a refreshing change from the typical light novel. I was expecting a slice of life story, but it turned out to be much more. The protagonist is reincarnated as his video game avatar and is thrust into a world of magic and adventure with his friends. It’s an exciting story with plenty of twists and turns.
This book is worth checking out, before the anime goes live!
Trapped in a Dating Sim, by Yomu Mishima
Light novel 2020 – Anime 2022
An off-the-wall trip through romance, monster robots, and dating simulation game jokes! Office worker Leon is reincarnated into a dating simulation game, where women reign supreme and only the best-looking men have a seat at the table. But Leon has a secret weapon: he remembered everything from the past, including a complete playthrough of the game in which he is now stuck.
The problem, however, is that the main character is not the only one who has come to this world having rendered fictional games before this. Someone has intentionally acquired the affections of the heroine’s love interest. This makes the situation complicated for the main character, who knew the now excommunicated real heroine.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, by Rifujin na Magonote
Light novel 2019 – Anime 2021
Ignored by the members of his family and languishing on the streets, an unemployed 35-year-old shut-in thinks he’s out of options. Just as he’s hit and killed by a speeding truck, awakening to discover that he’s once again a young child among a race of savages, Rudeus Greyrat refuses to repeat his mistakes. He’ll never again repeat the indignities he underwent as a pauper on the streets of Magerius.
Through his childhood, he becomes a pupil of aged demon slayer Roxy Migurdia, a former mate of goddess Sylphiette, as well as a tutor for noble heiress Eris Boreas Greyrat. The news story describes the highlights of his young life as he tries to circumvent the missteps of his previous life and career.
The Rising of the Shield Hero, by Aneko Yusagi
Light novel 2019 (originally published as web novel 2012) – Anime 2019
Naofumi Iwatani, a disagreeable gamer who is a shojo manga lover, suddenly finds himself summoned to a totally other universe! He arrives and discovers that he is one of four individuals with legendary weapons whose mission is to save the Earth from its prophesied destruction. As the least accomplished of the trio of heroes, Naofumi finds himself defenseless, penniless, isolated, and alone.
I enjoyed reading the series. One of the reasons why is that this is an anti-hero twist on a summoned to another world story.
Mushi Kaburihime, by Yui Wei
Light novel 2015 – Anime 2022
As a noble, Eliana Bernstein lovingly adores the company of books. As such, she’s prepared to accept an exchange proposal from Crown Prince Christopher Selkirk Asherald—namely that he will protect her time, and in return she’ll become Prince Christopher’s betrothed in whatever form.
Eliana Bernstein is the granddaughter of the Marquis, who became the fiancée of Her Highness Christopher, the prince. She has the alias “Insect Kaburihime”, meaning “Pile of books,” due to her interest in them. Her engagement to the prince is closed, but there are rumors in her ears recently. He has subdued the power struggle.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale, Miri Mikawa
Light novel 2010 – Anime 2023
After her mother passes away, Ann decides to become a Silver Sugar Master from her homeland in Highland. She leaves for the town of Lewiston, where the Royal Family hosts a sugar sculpture festival. To become a Silver Sugar Master, she has first to win first place and a prestigious medal from the royal family.
In this world, people consider fairies to be menial beings and consequently presume to change their wings to control them the way people overtly permeate another human body. Ann reluctantly buys a fairy called Shall known as “to watch her while traveling to Lewiston”, but she ponders the release of Shall, which needs a bodyguard on the dangerous roads on the way to the festival.
So I’m a Spider, So What?, by Okina Baba
Light novel 2015 – Anime 2021
This series has a unique twist relative to the Reincarnated in Another World as such and such trope. The hero appears to be weak and has to use his own lesser skills to survive.
The main character has a lot of monologues most of the time, but there’s never a dull moment, in fact a lot of fun. I really like the best how instead of possessing magic abilities, she is only the smartest and therefore most powerful creature. I can’t wait to see what happens next volume.
Overall a funny and gritty light novel anime, with a lot of entertaining characters.
Overlord, by Kugane Maruyama
Light novel 2012 – Manga 2014 – Anime 2015
YGGDRASIL is a Dive Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game or a DMMORPG. Released in the year 2126, the game stood out among other DMMORPGs for its noteworthy player interaction with the game. Until the servers of the game are shut down. The real story starts in the last seconds of the game.
When the d-time arrives, Momonga realizes that the video game hasn’t been turned off, instead, it appears as if Nazarick has been spontaneously transported to another universe along with its own NPCs gathering sentience. Momonga has been trapped in a holographic construct of Nazarick’s video game character.
She Professed Herself Pupil Of The Wise Man, by Ryusen Hirotsugu
Light novel 2021 – Anime 2022
Sakamori Kagami was one of the top players in the world of the video game VRMMO Ark Earth Online as Danblf, a veteran summoner who fits his high status because of his seniority. When he passes out in one game, he is transported to a world which resembles his virtual environment but where he becomes a timid little girl instead of the all-powerful avatar.
I was drawn to a series, and I’ve enjoyed all the parts so far just like the one about gender swapping. The initial draw of the series to me was the expansion of the world! Ryusen Hirotsugu’s story will be definitely a light novel anime hit on the screen.
Classic Light Novel Animes
Howl’s Moving Castle, by Hayao Miyazaki
Light novel 1986 – Anime movie 2004
This is one of our favorite classic title, which is also available in picture book form.
Howl is the proud master of some kind of superhuman power and humility. His castle is astilted in technology and innovation, moving through the landscape like a dragon that left its flue full of smoke.
Howl saves the young Sophie Hatter from the wizard’s spell before transforming her into an old woman.
Hayao Miyazaki is a dreamer who has extremely unique stories, no surprise that this 1986 light novel became a hit on the screen.
Sword Art Online, by Reki Kawahara
Light novel 2002 – Anime 2017
An augmented reality massively multiplayer online world had an unusually great reception. As Kirito and Asuna explored, it started off as just a game, but quickly they came to see that the line between the virtual and actual world was much blurrier than they had thought.
The series takes place in the future and focuses on Kazuto Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki as they journey through various virtual reality worlds.
The author first published the story between 2002 and 2008 on his website as web novel. Light novels published by ASCII Media Works began in ASCII’s Dengeki Bunko imprint in April 2009.
From the New World, by Yusuke Kishi
Light novel 2008 – Anime 2012
In the year AD 3013, 0.3 percent of the population possessed “Canto,” or psychic abilities. Those who had Canto began to use this ability to injure as well as others, and the unconscious and conscious recourse to these powers had a catastrophic effect on the local environment and negatively modified the animals’ natural behavior.
Saki Watanabe, age 12, begins her second day in the unified class, eager to learn new abilities. One by one, classmates start disappearing; an enormous leopard starts wrecking the town of Kamisu 66. The creature’s attack rating is worsening.
Conclusion
These were the best light novel anime titles of 2022. We hope you could pick a new title from this list. If you have any suggestions just check our twitter and comment under the post.
If you are looking for modern mangas check out our favorite titles.