Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

Description

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Kenichi Yamada was a 35-year-old salaryman. As a hardcore game enthusiast, he was saddened by the modern trend towards casual games.

So, when a site claimed to be “for people who like to do things the hard way,” he just couldn’t resist. Thus, he was reincarnated into another world as Allen, playing on Hell Mode.

This is fantasy light novel about Allen’s journey as a summoner.

Reincarnated as a serf, he starts from nothing.

His journey begins with absolutely no knowledge of the world around him, just like those games he played 10, 20 years ago.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Hell Mode: Yarikomi Suki No Gamer Wa Haisettei No Isekai De Musou Suru
Hellmode ~Gamer Who Likes to Speedrun Becomes Peerless in a Parallel World with Obsolete Setting~
Hell Mode ~The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing~
ヘルモード ~やり込み好きのゲーマーは廃設定の異世界で無双する~
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Garbage Brave: Isekai Ni Shoukan Sare Suterareta Yuusha No Fukushuu Monogatari (LN) (3)
Moto Sekai Ichi’i no Sub-chara Ikusei Nikki (2)
I Was Reborn, but I Was Told That the Popular Standard Skills Were No Good, so I Chose the Skill of Collecting [Title] (2)
Going to Another World on Your Own! ~a Story That Begins With a Not-so-sweet Upbringing (2)
SSS-Class Suicide Hunter (1)
Garbage Brave: Isekai Ni Shoukan Sare Suterareta Yuusha No Fukushuu Monogatari (WN) (1)
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Latest Release

Date Group Release
03/26/24 iNoveltranslation v11c630
03/12/24 iNoveltranslation v11c629
03/10/24 iNoveltranslation v11c628
03/08/24 iNoveltranslation v11c627
02/24/24 iNoveltranslation v11c626
02/19/24 iNoveltranslation v11c625
02/16/24 iNoveltranslation v11c624
02/10/24 iNoveltranslation v11c623
02/06/24 iNoveltranslation v11c622
02/04/24 iNoveltranslation v11c621
02/01/24 iNoveltranslation v11c620
01/25/24 iNoveltranslation v11c619
01/20/24 iNoveltranslation v11c618
01/16/24 iNoveltranslation v11c617
01/13/24 iNoveltranslation v11c616
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42 Reviews sorted by


Tenome
Tenome rated it
November 3, 2022
Status: v2
It starts off sorta interesting, but it devolves into your usual isekai party adventuring story (goes to school, tournament arc, Demon Lord, save the nation of elves, etc.). The "summoning" part doesn't really come into play until midway through volume 2, either. Also, the bane of any isekai fantasy RPG: endless pages of spreadsheet statistics. Overall it's meh.
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
GoldSweeper
GoldSweeper rated it
September 28, 2022
Status: v6c325
Better than expected. Had thought that it would be streamlined to boredom but author actually takes time to expand on the world building and the surrounding circumstances.

The main issue I find with the story is that the MC seems to be abit soft towards the injustices done towards him. I had expected a more hardline approach towards the Kings when they try to take advantage of him and hinder his progress.

The second issue is the so called "modes". Although it is explained at the start that the normal / easy... more>> mode is like the base mode it takes a while to actually expound that the base mode is like the demo game. Hard mode is the full game and hell mode is the full game with all dlcs. So rather than saying it is a difficulty setting its more like at what point do you get softlocked in the game which can be a huge c*ckblock when you are trying to progress.

All in all its actually quite good although I am still hoping it doesn't devolve into generic ending. <<less
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
SilverFox99
SilverFox99 rated it
March 1, 2022
Status: v3c199
The novel is quite slow, though its refreshing as it explores things that usually are not explored in the usual isekai and sometimes it can takes an unexpected turn. As for those who loves training arc or just see the MC grows, this novel is really satisfying. While it take a long time for him to grow, it feels really satisfying once he did.
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Kiritsuna
Kiritsuna rated it
November 30, 2021
Status: --
I wonder what the synopsis sounds similar to? Oh yeah, a pair of siblings who also got called to a game in a similar way.

I thought the title was interesting, but the MC is insufferable. I also hate having so many time-skips. Can't you write a solid story without abusing that?

3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Bobwillrule
Bobwillrule rated it
August 12, 2021
Status: --
This book is the your average isekai trope thing.

... more>>
Spoiler

MC goes to random website and gets transferred to another world. The abilities are pretty ordinary, like MC summon f rank beasts at first and then E rank and so on.

[collapse]

But what's different is that the MC doesn't become op quickly it takes time and chapters for him to gain power. The thing is, sometimes it gets a bit too slow for me, and it becomes boring (maybe I need to work on my patience.)

I would say the story is kinda plain but also not tr*sh. Somewhere between mediocre and good. Overall read if you don't have anything else to read, but definitely prioritize this over those other tr*shy isekai out there. (I'm not an isekai hater) <<less
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Benjam35
Benjam35 rated it
July 9, 2021
Status: c57
The things I like about this are many. The main characters completion attitude, the way he uses knowledge, the way he needs to build up to become powerful. All of these things are great. If you simply like it when people are immediately powerful this book is not for you. If you like the grind it is for you. I just hope it doesn't turn weird as time goes on like so many others
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Spiritogre
Spiritogre rated it
August 1, 2023
Status: vol. 6
When I started reading this I wasn’t so sure if it’s good. The first volume is a tad boring at times which is very common for a story with a MC reincarnated as a baby. The “toddler years” are rarely a fun read since it’s more or less 100 percent slice of life of a little albeit unique child.

Also the “hell mode” here isn’t really a hell mode since everyone else is in normal mode, meaning the monsters are not stronger for him, only the MC needs 100 times the... more>> XP to level up. Also his level cap is higher thanks to the hell mode so in the end he can be much stronger than people in normal mode... if he ever reaches that point, that is.

The real actions starts in the middle of volume 2 and from there it is a real fun read with each volume getting more intense. In volume 3 it’s about conquering dungeons and in volume 4 the war for the world finally takes off.

Each volume covers one arc of the webnovel which makes them longer than usual light novels, almost double the length of most ordinary light novels.

So far I don’t get the harem tag, sure, there are a few girls around him but also the same amount of guys (actually quite more guys in ordinary life interactions), even his party is about 50:50. <<less
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jokepachi
jokepachi rated it
February 28, 2023
Status: v9c448
Finally caught up to the latest chapter 448... and I can say this series Average at BEST, however it's subpar majority of the time. Good god, is Allen some kind of automaton AI in his past life and not some Japanese guy? Yeah, he says he cares about his parents, his siblings and other people but reading through everything it just feels like things you just say without much though like "oh, it look like it's going to rain to today" or "hm, this ketchups' spicy" the only thing ever... more>> in his mind is Levelgrindlevelgrindlevelgrind I wonder if he really looks at the people around him as "real people" and not just NPC's that are just put there for him Level-up for the sake of Levelling-up...

Harem? Or maybe even Romance? You can forget that it's highly unlikely. With how he is, he's kind of at the level of IS's Ichika Orimura's level of denseness, so yeah. Not happening. <<less
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wandarer
wandarer rated it
June 22, 2022
Status: Completed
The Overlord and SAO that I wanted.

THIS is what game-based fantasy should be. A working stats, big brainer moves from characters, GIGACHAD MC. DAAANGGG BOII, MY HEART NEVER RACED SO FAST READING A NOVEL BEFORE (it was vol 2 when allen stood his ground against that viscount's men).

what I really like about this novel is that you feel like you're reading a streamer's final fantasy run turned into a novel, and it included their strats. the attention to details is just amazing; Monsters are actually spawned, the 'world' is based... more>> on numbers, there's cause and effects on every actions.

Oh, and I like how things are handled. like when Allen's grinding in a dungeon. Normally, I'd sleep whenever a dungeon is introduced in a novel. why? cuz most novels cared only about levelling up and only focusing on other objectives. in Hell Mode tho, it isn't. The author put his focus into the story development instead of the objective.

my fav quote in this novel: "Stats don't lie"

and I saw a review on how slow it is. surely he likes it fast haha.... aaaaah.... what does he read anyway? Reincarnated Assassin? oops, I might trigger the whole fanbase here.

p.s. if you like Hell Mode, might wanna try "Min-Maxing my TRPG Build". just... dont quit until you read the 3rd vol. And "Outer Ragna". it's susly similar to it 4r. <<less
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lgnwls
lgnwls rated it
April 15, 2022
Status: c231
It was pretty good. I like how the author looks at different aspects such as touching on the political and then switching to training and then switching to fighting in and covering kind of world building basically.
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
hose246
hose246 rated it
April 8, 2022
Status: c126
The start of this novel is pretty good, with the leveling and stuff. But the author completely butchered his characters.

Honestly tho, when this novel first started, I thought it's gonna be an above average grinding novel. Which it is at the start, and also at the later part, just without the above average title.

The leveling is slow but entertaining, I understand why people might hate it because it's actually pretty slow. But it being slow also make you feel a sense of accomplishment when the skills finally leveled. So there's... more>> no problem for me on that part.

The problem starts when the character introduced the side characters. But tbh, they don't even feel like side characters, they felt more like walking-talking mannequins with no personality. Whatever little personality the characters have at the start got completely erased by the author during the academy arc.

There's also the problem with the events that happened in the story. A lot of them just felt forced and incomprehensible. Like with the demon war thingy. Why are the countries hiding this war from the general public? The reasons the author provided is too little to actually be reasons. And there's also the part where the protagonist went through something similar to a post-nut clarity with his "Oh, so I'm summoned to this world to end the demon war". Like, bruh, that's just so d*mn random.

The author also ignored many details during the writing of the novel, and I'm too lazy to list them out.

The only reason I'm giving this a two star is because I actually enjoyed the first 100 something chapters albeit only slightly and tentatively. <<less
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
slurm
slurm rated it
November 26, 2021
Status: --
I cant stand the subservient beta male that the MC is. He is already handicapped by choosing hellmode and decides to make things harder on himself constantly. It just frustrating how pathetic he seems even though he does the "impossible" only to lose to those who cant do the impossible
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Chaosrune
Chaosrune rated it
June 28, 2021
Status: c21
Super boring story, the first 20 chapters are a big snorefest with the most interesting stuff happening to his childhood friend.

Really generic plot development, with everyone thinking that the MC has no potential, super gifted friend. There is nothing special about the story.

Maybe in another 100 chapters or so the story could be great, but at this point it's another painfully generic isekai story
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Dennamen
Dennamen rated it
December 11, 2023
Status: v3c104
I guess first two volumes are okay, not long nor short, enough to lead from prologue to culmination at one point on the plot.

If it were like 20 chapter long, it would be unimmersive as konosuba-like novels, and any longer felt like slice of life.
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
animefan61082
animefan61082 rated it
January 27, 2023
Status: c1
I like the story the and character, but the only problem is the author. It about the power scaling

The author literally make the MC weak, like literally, the MC who is hell mode doesn't get something, yea it all hell mode and it all hard, but at least give him something.

while other characters who are normal mode gets buffs, and get very good weapon. While that MC doesn't get nothing.

Like he also got the worst divide skill, [creation] skill, divide skill. I thought it was good, but is suck, it... more>> not even a creation, it kinda is but not at the same time. It like crafting in Minecraft where he needs stuff to buff his monsters, he need a lot of stuff just for to make his monsters to get stronger or to get a skill for his monsters.

Not a creation at all, he should have name the skill different, like [crafting-adding] or [update, transformation] which he kinda has something similar. Like changing jobs, But the skill suck. Creation is something to create, not adding or something like that which was the skill and it suck.

Sometimes the power scale doesn't match up, the MC is strong without God's/goddesses blessings, while the other characters have it, and they also change jobs like 5 time. And the MC still the strongest. Like huh?

So 3/5 <<less
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PeaNutZ
PeaNutZ rated it
September 21, 2022
Status: --
I don't see the hellmode being in play (aside from being born as Serf), but that summoner class who has more star then even swordsman is hella op tho, not to mention he can summon several tiger/big cats/whatever it is and completely screw the enemies (he also get increased stats based on his summoned beast if im not wrong)
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
whitenight2013
whitenight2013 rated it
June 24, 2022
Status: c267
This novel likes to get straight to the point which is good and bad. On the one hand, it is very refreshing to not need several chapters devoted to nothing.

... more>>
Spoiler

This big war ends, and the MC is just, "yeah, im outta here". No chapter of everyone thanking the MC and praising him.

[collapse]

It really feels like the MC is trying to speed run this life and cuts out most of the stuff that would eat up time. Because of this though, a lot of the side characters feel underdeveloped. This isn't a problem in volumeb1, but from 2 on, you do feel like things could use a bit more flourish.

It is also neat how each volume is completely different from the ones before it. Each volume has a change in location with a different goal in mind. It keeps things from falling into a rut and feeling samey. It also means if there is something you don't like or feel like the story isn't doing well, (like politics or village building), you can rest assured that the plot will move on to something else. <<less
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
IsekaiDude
IsekaiDude rated it
March 28, 2022
Status: v3c105
unexpectedly good, the story is consistent and you have no deus ex machina, the story give you all the information and everything that the main character can do at the moment, because of that even when he struggles if you stop to think of a solution for his problem you can pretty much predict what he will do, and that's not a bad thing. If you like Jrpg you will probably like this novel
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Fitoor
Fitoor rated it
December 19, 2021
Status: c155
Really good novel. The MC is born a serf and later works as a subordinate to nobles. But he treats it like a job in the modern world, neither being too subservient like a Japanes Beta Male stereotype nor being too edgy.

The Hellmode implies that he'll be weaker than normal people. However since this is an actual world, where people can actually die, being a summoner allows him to fight without risking death, so the MC can keep up with the Normal mode people by just fighting a lot more... more>> risky enemies a lot more frequently, and essentially becomes a one man army in the later chapters.

I loved his interactions with his family. It's rare for MCs to even have parents usually much less have a good relationship with them. The world building is also well thought out. Something random in the first arc will be explained in the later arcs.

What I didn't like:

The side characters could be explained a lot more. There's the axe guy who seems like a cardboard cut out, just doing what the MC wants. Interlude chapters from their POV would have helped alot.

It's kind of unrealistic how much freedom a little kid has to go and fight monsters. We know that being a summoner makes him safe. But the adult characters don't know much about it. Still they are like, "wow, this 8 year old has hunted giant monsters, so cool, let's let him go alone and hunt more". <<less
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montblanc512
montblanc512 rated it
December 4, 2021
Status: c99
Good translation and decently interesting characters. The plot pacing is pretty slow, think the manga is on chapter 14, but that lines up with chapter 70 something of the LN. Despite the glacial pace I like the plot that we have gotten.

There's one huge thing that's bugging me though, and that is the power scaling makes absolutely no sense. The writer seems to want the Protagonist to be an insanely talented super cheat character, but he has managed to beat a total of one adult, and it was a grunt... more>> kidnapper. It makes no sense. One chapter he's performing "impossible" feats, doing things that it'd require an entire A rank adventure team to handle, and the next chapter he's running because he doesn't think he can defeat a bandit. It's extremely confusing. He can conquer an orc settlement alone, but thinks he'd lose against a slightly strong human. <<less
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
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