This is one of those stories if you are invested in it everything seems fine but if you stop for a moment and question anything the house of cards crumble. It starts interesting and sells a somewhat fresh premise. And when you get caught up with that momentum it seems like a decent story. MC makes educated guesses and nobody, no matter how powerful, is infallible. So he gets to bluff and play around.

Except it's a scam. Imagine playing a DnD session and you have that player in your group.... more>> You know the guy who insults king (NPC quest giver) and DM has just rolls with it because it would be a hassle to wipe the team for lese majeste and rewrite character sheets.

MC is that guy. He attacks people who he shouldn't attack but plot armor protects him. He sacrifices limbs like nothing but don't worry there is always a priest or potion to grow them back. He gets to trick and swindle people he shouldn't be able to. He acts like he knows the script before hand and have plot armor. <<less

PS: Shame I couldn't reply on Triarkdown's review, this guy must have been reading the novel with their eyes close.

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*Activating Barbarian Convincing Mode*

... more>> U like hardcore survival? Bored of easy-win fights and 2-dimensional characters? Well damn man this gem is for you!

I think it's better if you read the manwha first so you can easily visualize how fck up the MC's situation for survival. I highly recommend it!

Anyway here's the list of why I'm so hyped for this novel and manwha:

• Chapter pacing doesn't feel too fast nor too slow, just the right amount. Every chapter is worth it and it doesn't have chapter padding like the typical Chinese novels.

• The English translation is great on Yonder. Unfortunately, it's far behind the raw even though they're releasing 5 chaps a week. Ugh, I guess this falls under the Cons. (For desperate people, go visit Booktoki301)

• Peak battle scenes are superb. I've read so many novels and only a few manage to make me feel how intense the battles are. This one absolutely takes the cake in my ranking list.

• Characters are more fleshed out. The narrative lets you understand the intent or motivation behind their actions. No one is branded as inherently good or evil, it all depends on the situation and which side you are on.

GOOD NEWS here!!!⬇️

Spoiler

• The romance is not annoying.

-Yes there's a bit of romance but you can sigh in relief because me and my fellow brothers on Yonder, Booktoki, and Naver, ultimately came to an agreement on the fact that you can enjoy the story despite the existence of this cursed tag.

But wait, what about the harem??

Spoiler

There are no specific tag features in Naver and Yonder so we won't really know, but I won't deny the possibility of it becoming a harem route.

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A soup for the soul for non-harem enjoyers:

Spoiler

Yeah sure there are girls around MC but atm there is no hint that he likes multiple girls. Also, his confucian views about the relationship between a man and a woman still hold weight. So at least you won't have to worry about the coming 598 chapters.

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The story is still far from ending. Author likes to leave out several unsolved mysteries, enough for readers to anticipate the future development of the story.

Btw I like the foreshadowing in the novel which eventually comes to light after 50-200 or so chapters. This proves that the Author has already laid out the groundwork for the timeline of the story and where it is heading.

Well, at this point, I'm basically praising the author, but allow me to do it because I still can't get over that one guy on Reddit calling this novel the work of a sixth grader. The novel has a whoppingly high rating and has been at the very top of the ranking board several times for a reason. <<less

Very interesting.

It's a game world reincarnation story, but that game world is like a old school, hard and complex one.

It's just the start but seems good so far.

... more>> Translation is good, but it takes a long time to post new chapters, like 2 weeks? most of the time it's 1 ch per week, sometimes it takes almost 3 weeks for a chapter, just hope the translator post more often.

It's usually 1 ch per week, but if you want a extra chapter in that week, you need to first be a ko-fi member for 5 bucks, then you need to commission a chapter for 25 bucks more, this is all in order to get a single extra chapter in one week, 30 bucks is almost the price of a physical volume of a famous light novel like Overlord (9, 99 if on kindle), you'd need to donate 500 bucks to commission 20 chapters and that is not even close to a full novel's volume, 5 bucks for a translation of a single chapter from a web novel would be more reasonable, I guess that's why we rarely get a extra chapter per week, I would have commissioned a couple of extra chapters if it was 5 bucks per ch, but at that price range it's difficult for a average reader to commission extra chapters weekly, maybe it's intentional since the translator's time is divided between multiple novels and it's probably something he does on the side... <<less

A refreshing change from the recent glut of Korean novels which have the transmigrated protagonist pitted against a predetermined game or novel plot; here, the protagonist simply finds himself as a barbarian in the game world turned real, but that's where the similarities end. Not only does this allow for a higher degree of freedom in navigating the new world, but it does away with the need for elaborate and cumbersome political intrigue, machinations, maneuverings, misunderstandings, and forced interactions. As a result, there is an immediacy to the writing, even... more>> as incidents unfold at a reasonable pace. The character setting is also well thought out as making the protagonist — a modern thinking man — a barbarian, actually allows him to compensate for those very traits (in addition to his in-game knowledge) that appear to be his race's weakness, i.e., illiteracy, and a lack of both critical thinking and prudence. This also serves the dual purpose of allowing the protagonist to outmanoeuvre the enemy by going against expectations engendered by the knowledge of the usual habits of his race. That said, what most deserves praise is the author's ability in making me feel like, that, at no point, does the world seem to bend over backwards to the protagonist's will; rather whatever the protagonist wishes to gain, he has to extract from an indifferent world, by sheer dint of his own grit, ingenuity, knowledge and research.

The other enjoyable parts include the limited character cast gradually fleshed-out, a focus on the protagonist (a somewhat typical Korean protagonist, with a good head on his shoulders and thankfully, not the kind who is a complete jerk), physical action and melee fights (the perks of having a barbarian for protagonist), the realism (the plot armour isn't obvious and the protagonist's decisions don't seem to present challenges to common sense as of yet), the humor, an absence of the ubiquitous and distracting system interface, and the urgency that informs the writing without making it feel rushed (the leveling up feels graduated and comfortable). The writing appears sound and the translation gets a special mention for being exceptionally smooth. <<less

It felt pretty refreshing. Korean novels are damn good most of the time but this one falls on the upper side of them so far. Recently, there's been an influx of good ones but translation is bloody slow for most of them. The translation for this one is exceptional but I really can't wait a year for 80 chapter at its pace. Ya'll, let's learn korean kekw

First of all this novel stands out just by pure writing quality (which is partly due to translator's great work) but it has a lot of going besides it:

• • The setup is fundamentally clich , but the details aren't e.g. Where in standard isekai novel whether someone is from another world is inconsequential here protagonist revealing himself would straight up lead to his death, which leads me to my second point

• • The world is really hostile - from the labyrinth itself to the fact that if "citizens" of labyrinth city don't pay taxes they go straight to the gallows, it is actually easier to list things that are friendly to denizens of this fantasy world (I am coming up empty)

• • The above mentioned hostility isn't just stated and then ignored - author makes good on promise and throws stuff and the protagonist, which he ultimately overcomes (would be really short novel if he didn't) but the outcomes are often suboptimal or straight up setbacks and often include situations that protagonist would love to straight up avoid

• • On top of all that humour is really good and it helps with keeping the story fresh

• • And finally the pacing is great - reading the novel 20 chapters in a row I never have felt a snag or wished the story went faster/slower and even after catching up with current releases, reading weakly is still great. Each chapter delivers enough content on its own that you feel satisfied (chapters are above average length) and leaves you hyped enough that you remain eager for the next chapter

Easy 5 stars even by standards of novels in general and not just webnovels, hard recommend.

"Surviving the Game as a Barbarian" is a captivating and refreshing novel that brings a unique twist to the reincarnation genre. The story follows the protagonist as he navigates a dark and treacherous game world, where survival is a constant struggle. The author's world-building is exceptional, creating a gritty and realistic setting that immerses readers in the protagonist's journey.

One notable aspect of the novel is the protagonist's growth and development. Unlike many isekai stories, the MC isn't overpowered from the start. Instead, he starts off as a weak barbarian and... more>> faces numerous challenges and setbacks along the way. This adds depth to the story and makes the MC's progress feel earned and satisfying.

The novel also shines in its portrayal of the game world and its inhabitants. The author depicts a society filled with greed and hostility, where even the protagonist's own kind can pose a threat. This creates a sense of danger and adds tension to the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Additionally, the relationships between characters are well-crafted and engaging. While romance isn't a central focus, there are subtle hints of it throughout the story, adding depth to the protagonist's interactions. The side characters introduced so far are likable and provide meaningful contributions to the plot.

Some readers may find polarizing is the extreme situations the protagonist finds himself in. The author portrays the protagonist facing terrible scenarios repeatedly which even within the series is portrayed as "too much" an example of this is how he on his first 2 trips ends up meeting 4+ looter groups out to kill him, while avarage adventurer would maybe have that happen once a year or so, which can be both captivating and overwhelming. It's a storytelling method that may appeal to some readers but might turn others away.

Overall, "Surviving the Game as a Barbarian" is a hidden gem among isekai novels. With its strong writing, realistic characters, and captivating plot, this novel is a must-read for fans of the genre. Be prepared for a dark and challenging journey, where survival is the ultimate goal.

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Good at start. The story afterwards is just being criminal committing crime but justifying the crime by tr*sh reasons. The MC has brain at start then just goes full idiot than the barbarians he calls idiots. The author probably got bullied in kr sites into writing s*upid stuff like killing and starting riot in whole adventure branch to get one single guy.

I will very recommended this novel to read. This is really gem.

One of the best korean novel i've read so far. This novel has a good world construction, also the story is very solid. Raising the theme of survival in city with a dungeon/tower, the protagonist really starts from weak. He not only had to watch out for monsters but other adventurers as well. Sometimes the protagonist will feel helpless, even losing his teammates. And also the protagonist can't let people know if he's a player, because in that world... more>> the transmigrate player is given the call "demon" and is considered as bad person/criminal (?)

Unlike some stories that start well, then the quality slowly decrease. This novel gets more solid and exciting with each chapter go.

The battles with powerful monsters, the battles with other adventurers, also the mystery of why so many people were transferred to that world, etc. Were really very interesting.

BEHELRRAAA!! <<less

This novel gains the Ichigoeater Super StrawBeary Seal of Approval!

The character is smart, but more streetwise than textbook, which I appreciate. His intuition has kept him alive since the start. The world is a bit interesting, not as typical as your usual 'fantasy adventure isekai' fare. I can't say anything about the side characters yet, since I've only met one so far and don't know her too well yet, but I think I like her. I also see that there's no harem tag (not even romance), so I'm a bit... more>> hopeful that this won't go that route. Though, it might just be that the translator hasn't made it that far to add the tags. Still, I'm hopeful.

Most importantly, the MC is a 100% badass while still being a realist, though he acts a little crazy sometimes (I would too, in that situation). Seems he may have a mysterious, tragic past or something that he's somewhat forgotten, but I'm into it. Definitely worth a read. I don't normally give out 5 stars this early, but this is the first time in a long while that I've felt really hopeful for a story. Chapter 14 ended on a cliffie, and I am stressed~! <<less

As of this review, I am currently ~300 chapters into the raws.

Overall the story is decent but there is one major flaw that completely ruined the experience for me several times throughout the course of my reading. The author construes the plot such that the protagonist will find himself in the worst imaginable situations possible time and time again. There is no middle ground here, it's always either 0 or 100. Some may enjoy this seemingly sadistically perverse and gutwrenching method of storytelling, but I for one prefer when story... more>> events are less predictable and more diverse. If every single time it's the worse possible thing that could happen then you know exactly what to expect, there's no subtlety or variation in the tricks the author pulls to attempt to engage the reader.

It can be both boring and frustrating to read through but what makes it even worse is the way in which the author resolves these conflicts within his story. To make a long story short: plot armor. The author ensures that the protagonist will always make it out, no matter what - but only after mentally torturing his readers first. To give a few examples; there were several instances in which the main character faces off against traditionally 'squishy' characters only for them to facetank all the damage in the world. It doesn't make sense that a healer, an assassin and a summoner can get hit by explosions, mace swings, etc. Only to get up and shrug it off as if nothing happened.

The author often sets up scenes such that the protagonist will struggle and sacrifice over the course of several/many chapters to get in just one hit against his enemy only for it to do nothing for no reason other than that the author felt like it. In other words, the author doesn't write the story with any sense of consistency. Characters are as strong as he needs them to be in that moment even if it contradicts the logic of his own world. Healers and damage dealers should not be more durable than tanks. <<less

Well... I really like this one, the first 54 chapters were fan translated then it was picked up by YONDER APP. So to read the rest, you need to read it in that app... but you can only read 1 chapter free per day and thats only if this novel is with within the DAILY FREE CHAPTERS bonus. Sometimes the novel does not even gets free chapters so you will have to wait until then. For example. This week daily free chapters were available, so what I did was use... more>> create temporary emails that cease to exist after 10 min, made 30 of those, wrote them in a notepad and I just switched accounts to read the next chapter. Thankfully. Today there was a gift of 20 free chapters for that novel. So with only 3 accounts I could read 60 chapters ahead and caught the raws.

The novel itself is very funny... there is subtle romance and hints of a harem but MC is not sure if he wants to return or stay and this becomes apparent after months of surviving there, on earth he is alone, just living to work, there he is just living to fight, but he has comrades in the barbaric world now.... To make it easier to understand. MC transmigrated to a barbarian at the coming of age ceremony of his new body. Problem is, he is not the only one, hundreds of players are forced into this world and take over the bodies of others EACH MONTH... and the natives do not like this. So as soon as they discover you are a player (they call us EVIL SPIRITS), you are executed if caught, no question asked. The natives have already stablished what to look for to hunt "Players".

So far, its believed that to return, someone must clear the last floor in the dungeon that opens up once per month and within the dungoen... the rules of the jungle rules. <<less

Good read. MC is transported into the gam he was playing, a typical plot but not the same as most.

There is no game elements such as a hud or system messages for the MC. We the readers get to see some but so far the MC isnt given any hints like that.

MC is placed in the body of a barbarian and needs to act like one or the people of that world will think him possessed (which is true afterall) and kill him.

MC is a hardcore player who knows lots... more>> of details but not everything due to it not being a 2D game anymore.

Unlike typical novels of this type the MC doesnt know the upcoming events or anything like that, and that the game was a rougelike style game.

So far the side characters are all interesting, nothing amazing but they arent nothing but tropes.

Translations is good, easy to read and flows well. <<less

A very fun novel overall. When I saw the author, I was a bit hesitant on reading this novel because spoiler alert, his previous novel's ending s**ked ass. This novel isn't close to finishing yet but it's a fun read. The only reason why I can't give this one 5 stars is because it hasn't ended yet. The way the MC acts because he's a barbarian is quite entertaining. If anyone wants to have a light read about being s**ked into a game (which has a twist), I think this... more>> is the novel for you. <<less

Really promising. This is what I was looking for!! Action! With a little bit of despair and seasoned with an unyielding spirit. All of it, for one reason: Bjorn (MC) wants to life.

First, the way the history advance is natural, like it really happened. No gaps there.

And the MC is growing real time and his ideas for survival are refreshing to see.

... more>> But... The translation is slow like hell!! It really hurts when I come and it's still on the same chapter that I left it.

And something funny about it is...

Spoiler

The tag "multiple reincarnated individuals" LOL 😂😂. It's true, but... Until the second episode!!!

And you Will have to wait a good while to see another transmigrator

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Good pacing so far and the protagonist is neither unreasonably competent nor is he s*upid.

Also, this is definitely a story where the protagonist has a really hard time.

Not too much to say about the story as we're only 7 chapters in at the time of this review.

A pretty interesting novel with somewhat a refreshing MC. Just read for 3 chapters and im waiting for the tl to translate more chapters. Really promising Novel so far though it is still early.

I've read this up to 607, RAWS have updated but not available for months... The story doesn't seem close to finished and it's not because the author is milking it. The story is developing organically and different characters have different motivations. There are deaths and triumphs, and changes that occur in the story. People grow without being around the MC. There are a bunch of different plots, betrayals, twists and plans (not just the MC) with thoughtful logic and reasoning. This story is good enough to lose brain cells mtling.... more>> Currently the MC is stuck in the dungeon basement power leveling and we still don't know how he will eventually escape. Please let this update

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I think "Surviving the Game as a Barbarian" is a refreshing and engaging novel that takes a unique approach to the LitRPG reincarnation genre. With exceptional world-building and a captivating cast of characters, I strongly recommend everyone to read this novel, especially after the recent webcomic adaptation.

The story feels like a mix between "The Second Coming of Gluttony, " "Dungeon Defense, " and "Sovereign of Judgment, " offering a fresh and engaging reading experience. One of the most appealing aspects of the novel is its realism and how the protagonist,... more>> a modern thinking man, must navigate an indifferent and hostile world by relying on his own strength, quick thinking, and insights. The characters are gradually fleshed-out, and the writing style maintains a fast-paced tone that never feels rushed.

The humor in the novel adds to the overall enjoyment and keeps the story fresh. The pacing is excellent, with each chapter making you want to read the next. The quality of the writing is exceptional, making it easy to recommend to anyone even when compared to well published fictions.

While the fan translation ended at chapter 53, you can read the official novel on Yonder. They currently have up to chapter 180+. Asides that, you can also read the webcomic from fan sites like AsuraScan. Overall, if you like this type of story, you should definitely check it out! <<less

This novel is a hidden Treasure! There are many Isekai novels out there, but the premise of this one is quite unique and special. Before anything else is said, I would like to add that I am a s*ave to good power creeping novels and in my opinion "Surviving the Game as a Barbarian" hits the right spots. The world is really darkish and it has an emphasis on how greedy everyone, especially humans are. The MC is a Barbarian so not quite human, which leads to various disadvantages. (Of... more>> course there are advantages to being a Barbarian too) He has transmigrated into a game world, but the reality is not quite like a game. He only gets a few, but lacks a lot of game features, which makes it quite difficult to operate, since the MC is a game maniac. He can't really judge the stat benefits he receives from certain boosts or items. He either remembers the stats or he has to figure them out. He slowly but surely tries to become stronger in his current reality. Taking up a relatively rare path (class or whatever you may call it). I don't want to spoil too much, so just give it a try if my description caught your attention. I tried to keep story related information and subjective opinions to myself, to allow you to make your own view. Now stop reading this sh*t and start the goddamn story! <<less