How would you bring technology into a fantasy world? Make sense of the magics? Feed people and get rid of the corrupt nobles? This is specifically on developing a city or territory, not:
- Developing a dungeon/core (see my other list: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/10742/)... more>>

First, a few worthy mentions that aren't on NU:
1. Castle Kingside (rewrite) - a lot of inspiration from Release that Witch, imo improved! Warning: it's slow. Kingdom only begins around c60ish.
2. The iron teeth - although territory development comes late in the story, it's well done and exotic, being based on a goblin kingdom
3. 1632 (published book) - an American village goes back to the 30 years war. It's much less fantastical, but has a lot of similar elements to other kingdom building novels.
4. The Eagle's Flight - highly intricate fantasy webnovel
5. Defiance of the fall
6. Randidly Ghosthound - neither Randidly nor Defiance of the Fall focus on kingdom building, but they both have elements related to setting up a post-apocalypse system city - complete the quest to get the village crystal/coin!
7. The Expansion (Legend of the Arch Magus) - [have not yet read] - recommendation from Hitexh in the comments
8. Enlightened Empire - weaker than the others <<less

Isekais are fun reads when done right, cringey when generic, and horrible when done wrong.... more>>

Sorted from Best to Worst with the ratings being pretty biased.

Honorable Mentions: The Beginning after the End (NOT ON NU) {4.35/5} It's cool, that's all I can really say.

THE LIST NOW HAS A SECOND PART IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/8455/ <<less

S tier - absolute masterpiece ... more>>

A tier - excellent

B tier - really good

All of the novels have enough chapters, have something special and are my favourites, therefore there are no bad novels here.

Of course this is purely my opinion. <<less

These are novels that i believe have reached the peak. They are not flawless but they have certain attributes that couldn't be any better. It could be a single genre or multiple. But every one of these novels are something I have relished. ... more>>

They are not listed in any order other than when I remembered them. And this is not an exhaustive list. There are many novels that i have loved reading but didn't include because while they were good they did not reach the peak in any attribute or i have read but lost my memory of them to rate them precisely as a masterpiece.  <<less

The web novels in this list are not ranked.  I look for in protagonists these characteristics:... more>>

Ambitious//Ruthless/Intelligent.

I too favour Kingdom building novels.

Also in this list, I only included novels that I read somewhat or finished. <<less

Another story is: "Tyranny of Steel" The story progress something like Release That Witch. MC makes Austria become a power house by introducing gun technology... more>> in an era of cold weapon. Some reader says its unacceptable since MC does not have super power like the witches in Release That Witch but the author keep mentioning the MC have an almost photographic memory and he is an engineering soldier who focus on technology knowledge. Warning: MC is grooming his teenage fiancé to be his wife. There are s*x scenes too. (Recommended but with warning: Adult/Mature tag.)  <<less

i dont like pie from the sky and lucky mc(i get jelaus), i dont like dense mc(i myself can do dense staf), dont like sliceOfLife, dont like selfsacrificing hero, dont like destiny chosen. dont like revenge as final goal.... more>>

btw, why no mc throw pepper in face of thugs? pepper nowaday is really cheap. carrying pepper better than carrying knife or bat. <<less

Serious/Seinen themes with as less cliché elements as possible. Preferably clever and calm MCs. No harems, maybe one odd love interest but nothing frivolous. Negligible... more>> comedy tropes.  <<less

Novels I enjoyed/am planning to read in the future. A lot are in the kingdom building, some otome game, some reincarnation. Novels are generally ranked... more>> by page from favorite to least favorite. <<less

The best Chinese novels this site has to offer.

Novels that I've read or I'm currently reading. These aren't the only ones that I've read but they are the ones that deserved to be... more>> mentioned. <<less

As an avid wuxia/xianxia/litrpg novel reader for the past 8+ years these are some of the best of the best out of the hundreds I've read. I personally enjoyed the journeys and some even have somewhat decent endings. All are mostly completed novels, with a few enjoyable ongoing ones, arranged from highest rated to lowest. Most are worth the read. Of course these are all my own personal preferences, everyone has their own.... more>>

Also a few highly recommended Novels outside of NU you may enjoy (see synopsis in comment section):

1. Mother of Learning

2. Shadow s*ave (S-L-A-V-E)

3. Supremacy Games

4. The Primal Hunter

Disclaimer: These novels are highly addictive and can get you lost in and immersed in their own worlds resulting in a lot of personal time/life wasted, read at your own risk. <<less

Novels Ive read (or am reading) pertaining to stretegies, leadership, kingdoms, wars, etc... more>>

NO PARTICULAR ORDER <<less

Need that starting from humble beginnings progressing to vast empires and kingdoms fix? Or a weak MC that grows with a small territory into becoming... more>> a broken MC with a large kingdom. Novels suggested are based around territory-building and character-growth.  (Some may contain romance/harem tags) <<less

Could have forgotten some but most should be in here. Also this is mostly as a recommendations guide to my veteran friend Yoda, if other... more>> stumble upon it, feel free to take a look. <<less

Big world, many races, crafting, and travelling. There are exciting moments, funny moments,  even boring moments, finding hidden treasures in a side road shop, heart thumping moments when you met with formidable foes, feeling the vastness of the world as you gaze at the world map, feeling the cultures of locals, fortunate encounters.... more>>

This list seeks the freedom of adventure as much as possible

do try this song, feels very representing this listhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVWapbw_8-0

*Unsorted, there are quite a few series that have their link taken off from novel updates list. Well, just check the google in that case. Or trv vnmeido. <<less

Smart, Scheming Geniuses that win by brains instead of brawn.

Western style fantasy novels w/ great protagonist and great world building.... more>>

Please recommend some similar novels through the comment section. Thank youu <<less

Library.

I've been reading LN since 2017, I initially started with JP and then moved on to KR and CN, especially those with character names that don't appear as random jargon to my eyes (as most of the CN ones), but with a few exceptions (some KN ones).... more>>

I mostly prefer fantasy with a bit of romance on the side, but also don't mind other genres when done well. These are the ones I liked that I hope will keep you entertained.

I will keep adding more as I remember/read others.

Honourable mentions (not on NU):

 The beginning after the End, Mother of Learning, Supreme Magus, Underland <<less

MC rebuilds or create his own Organization or his own Kingdom.

This is for transmigration, not:
- Second chances in fantasy (https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/10749/)
- Transmigrated as a monster (https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/10686/)
- Transmigrated as a dungeon core/master (https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/10742/)
- Traditional fantasy (drafting this one)... more>>

Great EN transmigration novels:
- Metaworld Chronicles
- Castle Kingside
- The Calamity of a Reborn Witch
- Elydes
- Dreaming of sunshine (Naruto ff)
- Surviving the Succession
- Jackal Among Thieves
- The Essence of Cultivation
- Borne of Caution/Desire (Pokemon)
- Memoirs of your local small-time villainess
- Delve
- Beneath the Dragoneye Moons
- Beware of chicken
- Deathworld Commando Reborn
- Mark of the Crijik
- Eight (discontinued)
- Victor of Tucson
- The Calamitous Bob
- The Last Orellen
- He Who Fights with Monsters
- Unbound
- Savage Divinity
- Worth the Candle
- The Many Lives of Cadence Lee
- Way of the Shaman (translated from Russian, published, with VRMMO elements)
- How to avoid death on a daily basis
- Azarinth Healer
- Wandering Inn
- Ar'Kendrithyst
- The Arcane Emperor
- Cursed Era <<less

10 Kingdom Building novels that stand out, with actual good Kingdom Building. ... more>>

Unfortunately I cannot include WNs not on this website. If I could, it would include:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
= Enlightened Empire = 

(https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/20920/enlightened-empire)

+ Mixed Kingdom Building, Politics & Action. A lot of thought put into the world and it's authenticity.

- Some conflicts can feel frustrating & HIATUS

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
= The Iron Teeth: A Goblin's Tale = 

(https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/4293/the-iron-teeth-a-goblins-tale)

+ Heavy Action Adventure, Kingdom Building towards the end. The best depiction of Goblin's ever.

- So many things left untold.   <<less

My personal favourite reads... more>>

Refer to lists 4/5 rating, 3/5 rating and 2/5 rating for more novels <<less

All these are novels I personally read and liked.
The first 10 are soo good that sometimes I wish i could find a memory erasing device... more>> just to read them again. jk <<less