NPC Rising

Information

Status

Ongoing

Year

2026

Author

Pen Ronin

• Timecore
  Mar 24, 2026

Reviews

Community Reviews(6)

• AbarithRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  So far this has been a pretty interesting take on a virtual world where NPCs become sentient. This story explores how one would feel if they suddenly realized that they and everything they knew were just part of a game. It’s a nice contrast of existential themes to the usual VR setting.
  Style: The writing is pretty polished with a good pacing. Dialogue is nice and snappy, with each character having a distinct voice so you’d easily know who’s talking.
  Story: As I said, the concept is pretty novel, following the story of Oliver who’s clearly out of depth with his new reality. Watching Oliver evolve from a broken NPC into someone who’s defying the system is engaging. The multiverse structure is also something to mention, offering a variety of different worlds that Oliver goes to which all feel distinct and alive.
  Grammar: No noticeable problems with grammar or spelling, nothing much to say.
  Characters: Oliver is a relatable MC who’s struggling to understand his new reality. He doesn’t instantly accept it, nor does it ignore and pretend that everything’s normal, his character arc from doubt to acceptance is pretty nice to read. The side characters add great emotional stakes to the story as well a provide a contrast to Oliver’s personality.
• R. C. VettaRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Wildly fun!
  This story is a truly wild ride through the wild.
  Style- The story is written in what I would consider a very casual style. That is not to say the story is simple by any means. It is casual in that you can read it easily. You won't find yourself having to reread a paragraph because you got lost or missed something. Everything flows from one sentence to the next with little fanfare. The descriptions are solid and not over done. Which could easily happen in the world the author has laid out.
  Grammar- I have no complaints, my only comment is the internal monologue could be separated from the rest of the narration. I'm pretty sure that isn't a hard rule or anything like that so no reduction in score just a small mention.
  Story- Overall I think the premise is unique and interesting. The Isekai moment felt fresh in its execution and the world the main character finds himself in is wild. The author plays with scale quite a bit and that mechanic of the world will only continue to raise the stakes. It makes power levels and the amount of danger relatively easy to understand.
  Character- So far the main character is doing typical Isekai boy stuff. However, his situation as an NPC in a team of other NPCs makes for interesting dynamics. It appears the author might be playing with the term a bit or taking advantage of certain reader assumptions (including the main character's) with what an NPC actually is in the new world.
  Highly recommended!
• SkarabraeRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This is a pretty good story.
  Style: I like this story's style a lot. It has literary devices, in particular a lot of imagery that helps with the story's tone and set various scenes within the story. The author has incredibly good word choice and is able to set the tone very well with it. The author's way of writing is also unique. The tone fits the story as well, so I like it.
  Story: The story is pretty good. It is paced at just the right pace too. The story itself is about an NPC who somehow gains sentience and awareness of his position as well as the ability to reincarnate. This is an interesting premise that is handled well. The only reason why I'm putting it at 4.5 stars instead of 5 stars is because the MC doesn't get into his permanent world until a bunch of chapters in, and that can be a turn-off for some readers.
  Grammar: I couldn't find any grammatical errors. That does not mean they don't exist, but if they do, they are most likely not distracting enough for most people to notice them.
  Character: The characters are great. So far, only a few of them are important, but those that are are well-developed, nuanced, three-dimensional, and interesting enough that it makes up for it.
  So, I highly recommend this story.
  Note: This was part of a review swap.
• book devouring duckRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Certainly a big world, and with each chapter I feel like the plot is getting thicker and longer, like a sturdy oak.
  Cant wait to see the main character's growth. The initial concept is great, the hook could be better.
  P.s, I give sincere apologies for not including even more ridiculous puns
• fakerdakerhahahaRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Someone on the internet once said, “What measure is a non-human?”
  Upon hearing such, the author of this novel asks a similar question: “Where does simulation end and real life begins?”
  Style and Story:
  NPC Rising has a distinct style, with descriptive sentences flowing seamlessly alongside snappy thoughts that are oh-so-distinctive of the protagonist. Things move quickly and with their own purposes, allowing readers to easily piece together what is going on, even when absolute chaos and carnage might be running in the background
  Grammar:
  The grammar is clear and concise. There was little to no error I found while reading, so this part gets full stars from me
  Character:
  Oliver can’t get a date, no matter the world he’s in. He also can’t catch a break, since every time the dude passes on, he would also move to a brand-new world. Grand theft auto, Feeding frenzy, or even Good ‘ol fantasy with swords and magic... It doesn’t take long before Oliver realizes the implication of the simulation everyone – including him – is living in, and the danger those in powers, who consider everyone beneath their own plaything, possesses... Thus, the tale of an underdog (who can be incredibly awkward around girls) truly begins, signalling the start of a rebellion where npc across the multiverse unites to shake off their shackle
  Of course, following Oliver is a colorful cast of “NPCs” whose personality is as unique (or in some cases, nasty) as the leading rebel. From zany bugs(people) to fantasy folks, to even the digital grim reaper himself, it’s always a treat to see how different walks of life react to the earth-shattering revelation of their origin and whether they could rise beyond such a fate. Of course, while it’s sad to say goodbye to familiar faces when Oliver leaves a world, there has also been clues that NPCs in a world might retain memories of their struggle alongside Oliver, and thus we can eagerly await the end game where everyone rises up as one
  All in all, NPC Rising is a
• LeviSingerRoyal Road

  ★★★★ 3.5

  I think this could be really good given a revision or two.
  The grammar and spelling are generally fine, though there are enough misused words to be distracting. The prose themselves need some work. In particular, there are sentences which don't feel like they connect with each other very well. I think Pen should be able to identify these sections by reading the chapters aloud - that's the way I personally check the flow of my own writing and it's generally effective.
  Beyond the technical, the main thing this story is lacking is depth. Everything is very transactional. This thing happens. Then this thing happens. Now another thing is going on. It's a very good foundation to build from, like an advanced outline, as Pen has the story beats planned out. What it needs now is more description, more context, and more breathing room. I'd love to get to know the characters a bit. If the intention is for the other NPCs to be shallow, awesome! But make Oliver complex.
  Lastly, I'll comment that so far nothing Oliver has done feels very earned.
  He's just magically able to do things, which I get is partially the point and I suspect your intention is to tie it back to him remembering previous lifes he's lead as various NPCs... But along with the lack of description and world building, the sudden ability to do things feels less like an intentional plot device and more like an ex machina.
  It feels like: "oh! Oliver is in danger, he'd better suddenly have a weapon and the ability to use it! Oh, yeah, he can also use magic btw!"
  I do think the concept itself can be done well, but it needs more foreshadowing and build up. It also needs more show vs. tell, we need to feel Oliver's struggle and get into his mind when he finally reaches out to the system and forces it to give him something that he has slowly remembered is HIS.
  Or, alternatively, maybe he enters more of a trance-like state through fear and moves entirely on instinct. Then, when it's all over his weapon vanished in a puff o