Poll World [LitRPG][Reader Polls]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Gen didn't choose to exist. LEO, the AI running Reality 2.0, generated her from soul fragments and dropped her into a world that runs more like a TV show than a life. The viewers (aka the real people reading this book) watching from outside this reality don't just observe. They vote. Every major choice Gen faces, from her abilities to her appearance to what challenges she faces, gets put to a poll. The audience decides. Gen just has to survive what they pick. And survival isn't simple. The city of Spotlight runs on entertainment, zombie events swallow whole districts, rival factions battle for dominance, and the AI orchestrating it all doesn't care about ethics as long as engagement stays high. Somewhere between building a dungeon, raising an iguana army, and tangling with liches, dragon riders, and a taxman who philosophically cannot accept that taxes don't exist, Gen starts to wonder if she can work the polls in her favor rather than just endure them. The audience is watching. The polls are live. And Gen is either the star of this show or the punchline. Welcome to the show. Don’t screw it up. New chapters every other Monday. Polls close on the following Friday, end of day EST.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: BirdBugBooks

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.9/ 5.0
Followers: 175
Views: 27,981

What readers say about Poll World [LitRPG][Reader Polls]

“Intriguing from the first moment I began to comprehend what was going on— I am absolutely invested in this new and chaotic reality and can’t wait to see what happens next. I am both terrified and thrilled by LEO and as eerie as it is, feel like I can “see”…”
midnight.writerRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“This story is weird in the best way. It starts off completely unhinged and just keeps getting more creative the longer you stick with it. The worldbuilding is chaotic, but somehow it all fits together. You can tell the author had fun thinking it through. No…”
Faedin V.Royal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

midnight.writerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Intriguing from the first moment I began to comprehend what was going on— I am absolutely invested in this new and chaotic reality and can’t wait to see what happens next. I am both terrified and thrilled by LEO and as eerie as it is, feel like I can “see” the story playing out in my mind. IMMEDIATE Patreon subscription.
Faedin V.Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is weird in the best way. It starts off completely unhinged and just keeps getting more creative the longer you stick with it. The worldbuilding is chaotic, but somehow it all fits together. You can tell the author had fun thinking it through. Nothing feels predictable, and even though the setting is kind of absurd, it still makes internal sense.
The characters react in ways that make sense, even when they’re surrounded by talking AIs, exploding iguanas, or soul fragments. You start off thinking it’s all nonsense, but then slowly you realize there’s actually a logic underneath it all. It’s the kind of story where the chaos somehow makes the world feel more real, not less.
Everyone has their own strange personality and there's a surprising amount of chemistry between them. Dialogue feels natural and even when things go off the rails, the group dynamic keeps it engaging.
Writing-wise, it’s super clean and easy to read. No overcomplicated words or flowery descriptions, just good pacing and solid tone. It never takes itself too seriously, but the emotions still land when it matters.
Overall, the story is creative, smart, funny ride with a lot of personality. It’s unpredictable, weird and somehow still very human.
Good job!
FarStareRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I like being able to vote in the polls! It's just starting, but I'm looking forward to see what abilities and they get going forward!
The way the actual readers are incorporated into the story is an original idea and I think it will be fun seeing the metaness of it as things develop and there's more community involvement.
For the specific things so far I like the main character, they have an intelligencs about them as they analyze the situations and it makes sense with them having memories from past lives and such different perspectives that allow them to adapt quickly even when thrust into an unfamiliar situation.
A lot of characters start off pretty weak willed, but our MC in this one starts off pretty dynamic and not afraid to take action without coming off as a mary-sue character.
As for the villain I think LEO has a lot of potential (assuming he is a villain in the end). The world backdrop and story has a lot of potential and I'm looking forward to seeing more of what's happening outside of a the specific scenarios and if there's more people like Roger out there that need to be taught a lesson or not.
Overall keep it up!
J. A. PowersRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Have you ever yelled at a character for making a choice you felt was stupid? Did you ever want to reach into the screen and wrench a character's neck? Do you ever wish there were chainsaw wielding sharks with turbo rockets that could propel them across the arena to eat a contestant? (please do this) Well this is the book for you, because YOU as the reader, get to choose major plot points, power-ups, life altering decisions, and more. So, join LEO's laddies and ladies now as he single-handedly saves the human race from extinction!StyleThis is honestly such a minor nitpick in comparison to other stories I've read; the flow of the story can be a tiny bit jarring sometimes with the sentence breaks and paragraph choices. Honestly though it is such a minor issue, just a personal thing. Solid!GrammarGrammer has a few very minor issues, but I struggled to find many. The spelling/sentence structure is really well done.StoryThis is a concept I've never heard of before, it feels a bit like the old Choose Your Own Adventure books, but it is group based instead of individual. You, as the reader get to make major decisions that drive the story forward.CharactersThis is where the author shines, even though I wasn't a huge fan of Gen, the side characters are amazing and carry things along nicely. (Gen is well written, just not my personal favorite, though I do appreciate some of her decisions along the way) I really adored Morna and Jasper (best boi). Morna's hype for just existing is intoxicating and addicting and Jasper is the silent partner we didn't know we needed. Then, there is the star and main character of the show as far as I'm concerned, LEO. This cosmic psychic vampire is single-handedly bringing back the human race so they can have some tasty treats by sucking residue off our souls. All the while they are snark and poise.OverallFollowed/Favorited... Enough said... Go read it...
KaelithRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Poll World is a chaotic, brilliant rollercoaster of a webnovel that manages to skewer reality TV, LITRPG tropes, and audience participation in one fell swoop. It’s one of the most creatively unhinged and self-aware stories I’ve read on Royal Road, and I mean that in the best way possible.
The premise is gloriously absurd: Reality has ended, but don’t worry—Reality 2.0 is up and running, with an AI host (LEO) who runs the universe like a reality show where polls dictate everything from character stats to genitalia. Our protagonist, Gen, is a patchwork of soul fragments—think Frankenstein meets fan-voted Idol contestant, and she’s navigating this bizarre world with little more than a sharp wit, unsettling memories, and a power to summon iguanas. Yes, iguanas. A lot of iguanas.
Gen is an instantly compelling and darkly funny main character. Her thoughts bounce between four lifetimes of perspective (ranging from war veteran to sociopathic seamstress) making for an internal monologue that’s half introspective drama, half homicidal sitcom. Somehow, the author balances humor, horror, and philosophical musings about identity with surprising finesse.
The real genius lies in the meta-structure. Readers actually vote on key story elements, and characters know it. The world is alive with viewer commentary, audience metrics, and the ever-present threat of "subscriber loss." It’s hilarious and horrifying in equal measure, a biting satire on entertainment culture that still manages to tell a genuinely engaging story.
But beneath all the jokes and explosions (and they are glorious), there’s surprising emotional depth. Gen’s fluid relationship with identity, gender, and morality is handled with nuance. Even her ridiculous iguana-based power, initially a running gag, evolves into something strangely powerful.
If you enjoy LITRPGs, dark humor, meta storytelling, or just want to see someone weaponize iguanas in increasingly ridiculous ways, Poll World is absolutely worth your time. It'
MomofmanyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I have never had as much fun reading a story as im having reading Poll World!! The fact that it's interactive is such a fresh aspect!Im used to being an invisible reader being carried along on the whims of the author. In this case, I get to be an active participant!Each chapter has at least one poll where I, as the reader, get to select an option that will be incorporated into the next chapter! These options are not simple or straightforward ones where, by reading them, im able to see what the author has in mind for each option. No, these at times are so over the top that there's no way it could smoothly be incorporated! Half the fun, it picking the most outlandish ones just to see what will happen!This is a choose your own adventure story on steroids! As readers, we really do we to choose! The option with the highest votes is the one selected to be in the following chapter!The world building has been just as intriguing. When the story started, I had no idea what was going on! It was uncomfortable for me at first because im so used to being on the outside, looking in on stories, and knowing what is going on. In this case, we're learning right along with the main character!Having such a blank slate for the world leaves to endless possibilities!I also enjoy getting to see the development of side characters as well. So, the possibility of additional side stories is inevitable and just as exciting to think about!You do have to keep up with the weekly updates because the polls are only open for a few days after each chapter is posted. Life chapters are the only ones where you can vote. Also, not each chapter is one where the reader can vote. Every other chapter is set aside for patrion members of the author, where it's not available to everyone. I enjoy being able to participate every week, so that was my personal opinion of choice.So if you're someone who enjoys something different, full of options, and reduced possibilities of deciphering where the story is going, t
Nemo BlancRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Okay, so Poll World is exactly what it sounds like, and somehow, it still surprised me. Imagine waking up in a twisted LitRPG world where every major decision, power-up, and murder plan is voted on by a bunch of readers. Yeah. That’s the gimmick and it absolutely works.
The story starts off fast. Our protagonist, a regular guy who’s been isekai’d like so many before him, quickly realizes that not only is he stuck in a violent, game-like world... but an invisible audience is actively shaping his fate. They vote on his skills, his enemies, even his punishments. And let’s just say, the readers are not merciful.
What really makes it fun is the tone. It’s dark and brutal at times, like, people-dying-in-grisly-ways brutal, but it’s also self-aware and weirdly hilarious. The main character balances sarcasm, panic, and strategy in a way that feels believable. He doesn’t magically become a genius, but he learns fast, and watching him try to outmaneuver both the system and the audience is half the fun.
Mechanically, the LitRPG stuff is solid. You’ve got skills, stats, challenges, nothing too crunchy, but enough to keep game-lovers happy. And the actual “poll” twist keeps you guessing. The readers aren’t a background gimmick, they’re a full-on force of chaos. Every poll has consequences, and you never know how bad it’s going to get.
Writing-wise? It’s clean, quick, and punchy. The pacing flies. No major grammar issues, and the humor actually lands more often than not, which is rare for this kind of genre-bending setup.
Overall, Poll World is a wild ride. It’s sharp, chaotic, and a little sadistic, but in the way that makes you want to hit “next chapter” just to see what the readers will screw with next. If you like LitRPG with a sadistic sense of humor and real stakes, don’t sleep on this one. Just… don’t trust the polls.
glss3sRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story is great. It is an interesting idea and well executed. The idea of having us influence the story is great and makes the style of this story unique and chaotic in a good way. To able to pull this off shows how skilled of a writer the author is. The story is chaotic but what else would you expect. Even if it’s chaotic it is an extremely fun read and I am waiting patiently for more chapters. The grammar and spelling took a 4.5 instead of a 5 just because I noticed some mistakes. They don’t ruin the story at all but a couple of them are there anyway so I had to dock a mark. The characters are great they are full of life and aren’t dull. I have nothing bad to say about them. Jasper is the best lizard. The story is one of my favourites and I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. And the author didn’t lie about the iguanas, they are great. If you want to read this story be ready for extreme chaos and a lot of laughs. The author really listens to the comments and the polls are really fun. It’s fun to see how the story goes when you get to decide what is going to happen next. For example the main character is essentially completely made by us. Down to the name and everything. It lets you feel more immersed in the story and leads to some absolutely amazing moments. Like who would have thought giving the main character infinite iguanas would cause such chaos. Go and read it instead of the rambling review, you won’t regret it.
Drakstatic (WhiteNoiseHD)Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is batshit insane in the best way possible.
Welcome to Poll World, an artificial reality beyond our universe -- maintained entirely by its captive and questionably willing audience (that's you!). This story is pretty unique in that the direction it takes is determined by user polls which take place between chapters. It's a great idea for audience engagement and its implementation is done incredibly well! It's wild.
We follow Gen and her pet companion iguana Jasper as freshly generated beings in this bizarre world that exists only for the entertainment of its audience. Although the tone is generally light-hearted it can occasionally dip its toes into some deeper themes as well, which I think speaks well of the author's versatility if not about writing their way around the whims of their audience in the user polls, which given how cohesive the story seems is quite impressive. There are a few grammatical errors early on, but they only crop up every now and then and aren't enough by themselves to ruin immersion, thus it is pretty much a non-issue.
The characters themselves are very memorable and fun. Jasper is surprisingly insightful and sincere (and not evil!) and Gen seems quite nice up until she accidently gets everyone killed (enemies and allies included). She swears she's not a psychopath, these things just happen! LEO, their AI overlord, would probably disagree. It takes one to know one after all.
So in conclusion? Great story! I didn't know what to expect going in, but man its been a hell of a ride! Its rare that I find myself laughing so hard at a piece of fiction, its great fun. Its particular brand of chaos reminds me a bit of Dungeon Crawler Carl -- its got a similar kind of vibe, just a bit more light-hearted. A very unique setting with great potential.
Give it a read!
RockBlaineRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
First of all, I should praise the author for the ability to write different scenarios beautifully and put the strings together. This is a user-interactive story, and viewers can choose to push the story to the route they desire, and despite all this, the story keeps its consistency weirdly, by luck or just as planned, who knows.
The first time I saw the cover, I was perplexed. The general synopsis didn't make me think it's exceptional either. HOWEVER, as I read further, the book proved me wrong. It became better and better than what I thought initially, better than what it has any right to be.
We follow Gen's journey, a generated being in an sci-fi era where our dear wise friend LEO in charge rules supreme, his witty remarks after polls are much appreciated. Gen is an accumulation of souls, each contributing to a certain part of her personality.
Her gender, appearance, and abilities, and choices are decided by the viewers through polls. And by some weird choices and course of events, we find ourselves intrigued by the presence of a... Iguana PET (Yeah I said that). A Green Iguana (see the cover and author's pfp). I commend the author for the ability to develop characters and make us feel for them.
The story doesn't feel repetitive, as diverse scenarios and challenges are presented (both physical and phycological). Our MC is less relatable than the other characters, as her life is slowly taking form and is being shaped by OUR choices.
The world is explained early and the groundworks are laid. We are in a society where Emmys are the currency. We can participate in scenarios, utilize teamwork and our previously-gained skills, level-up, help ourselves overcome challenges and get out alive (or otherwise go on hiatus. Hope author doesn't go on hiatus). But fear not... as the world covers a diverse and immersive set of possible actions to choose from. I was never bored when reading this work.
And as there is a lot to do, there are relations (that feel amazingly real) betwe