Action Lovers (Minimum 3.8 Rating on Novelupdates)

Action Lovers (Minimum 3.8 Rating on Novelupdates)
This list is catered towards action loving, seinen readers. If you are looking for novels with action as the main element, this is it.

Been reading novels for a long time now and I don't usually read novels below 4.0 rating on novelupdates. I have to say Korean novels fit my cup of tea the most given that characters are usually more mature and realistic. CN Novels have too much face slapping while JP novels have s*upid titles "I was just walking one day and suddenly my d1ck got bigger" and beta MCs. Do let me know if there are good JP novels out there seriously...

If you read on leviatan/zero/reaper/method scans, I think these novels will be to your liking.

I ranked the novels based on 3 criteria: (1) Action (2) Plot and (3) Writing

(1) Action: Action is reliant on the quality and quantity of the fighting scenes. For example, usage of battle skills to amplify the battle scenes or having a well thought out battle plan during a battle.

(2) Plot: Plot is heavily determined by the quality and quantity of adventures. Does not mean the story is the most logical. This is the most subjective.

(3) Writing: Writing is influenced by the author's style of writing and quality of translations. Does the author disseminate information in a clear and coherent manner for readers to digest? Are there proper links between transitions from different places or chapters.

May Contain spoilers.

#1 - 19: Good Novels
#20 & Beyond: Popular Novels that fail to meet my standards
8 24069 63
52 Followers
Ireadalot
Created: Apr 27th, 2020, Updated: Jul 2nd, 2021
Created Apr 27th, 2020
Updated Jul 2nd, 2021
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CN (4.3)
90 Chapters Every 211.7 Day(s) 15767 Readers 163 Reviews 08-17-2015
Another popular OG novel that is loved by many. Action scenes are great with strong focus on action. Plot-wise below average. But to be fair this is not a plot centered novel so no point harping on the plot.... more>>
JP (4.1)
8 Chapters Every 393 Day(s) 4252 Readers 33 Reviews 05-24-2016
This is like the LMS equivalent in the novel world. The one that got many to start reading isekai/vr novels. The story is average and this novel is kinda overrated given it's popularity. And the crucial flaw in many JP novels: MC is beta as fk... more>>
KR (3.9)
20 Chapters Every 100.4 Day(s) 4307 Readers 51 Reviews 03-21-2020
Rated this A-tier previously but I changed my rating. The start is really slow and I predict that the novel is less action centric that you would read the description to be. Basically there are dungeons that the MC enters but the story doesn't really focus on the dungeons. There are a lot of character interactions outside of the dungeons and on his personal life and I would say do not expect there to be great development in the dungeons (action part). I would generally say that this novel has a similar vibe to novel's extra: the webtoon style of writing. You would expect some action but you kinda know there isn't going to be... more>>
KR (3)
20 Chapters Every 100.3 Day(s) 1901 Readers 14 Reviews 03-25-2020
A Tier. The only exception to the 3.8 rating cutoff. C'mon Novelupdates rated this 3.5? NU must be kidding me sometimes. Daily release of chapters (supposedly). At the latest chapter of the tutorial arc but oh well real story starts after that so we'll see how it goes. For now I can see that the story doesn't flow smoothly from chapter to chapter.... more>>
CN (2.7)
20 Chapters Every 107 Day(s) 1419 Readers 29 Reviews 12-22-2019
Haven't read CN action cultivation novels for a while and I just wanted to give this low-rated novel a try just for fun. The storyline and writing in this is super similar to PMG. I can see why this has been rated 2.9.... more>>
CN (3)
2507 Chapters Every 132.2 Day(s) 10434 Readers 178 Reviews 11-22-2018
To be honest I actually thought the first 300 chapters or so were great. After that the novel was centered around "Kill!" "Slash!" "Die!" "Hahahaha!"... more>>
KR (3.8)
#32Ark
32 Chapters Every 245.8 Day(s) 5491 Readers 43 Reviews 12-10-2014
Most heavily compared to LMS given the era they both were in. Even without taking lms into comparison, I have to say this just doesn't... more>>
KR (3.9)
80 Chapters Every 29.3 Day(s) 9464 Readers 51 Reviews 02-20-2024
Same Author as Second Coming of Gluttony (Shared Universe). Tutorial Arc is great but don't bother reading it after that.
JP (4.4)
206 Chapters Every 116.3 Day(s) 22939 Readers 209 Reviews 11-28-2022
Had a 4.5 rating so I decided to give it a try. Was quite interesting at the start but I couldn't stand the kiddy vibes.... more>>
CN (3.8)
39 Chapters Every 204.1 Day(s) 13950 Readers 212 Reviews 12-16-2015
Very Popular novel. Isn't bad but ain't good either. Was reading it until webnovel decided to f sh*t up. Doesn't have power moves, inheritance sites... more>>
CN (2.9)
1382 Chapters Every 33.5 Day(s) 8210 Readers 65 Reviews 01-27-2023
One of the OG Cn VRs. Don't bother reading this, has all your typical CN pitfalls.
CN (3.8)
20 Chapters Every 593 Day(s) 18180 Readers 332 Reviews 06-01-2016
Popular novel. Dude is OP but tr*sh talks everyone he meets but does not display his power. Read it up to chap 600+ and he... more>>
CN (3.7)
25 Chapters Every 407.5 Day(s) 20968 Readers 237 Reviews 11-02-2015
My First ever CN novel. Got to know this because of how good the manhua was. I believe all reviewers have the same consensus: Story... more>>
CN (3.5)
3708 Chapters Every 2.5 Day(s) 12117 Readers 124 Reviews 04-21-2024
Would rather read peerless martial god over this shit. Very typical xuanhuan novel with no positive characteristics to make it stand out. Typical low tier... more>>
CN (3.8)
50 Chapters Every 220.3 Day(s) 12154 Readers 155 Reviews 04-08-2015
Another popular OG novel that got propogated by the manhua. Too draggy for my liking. I suggest you just read the manhua. Two things I... more>>
CN (3.8)
904 Chapters Every 81.7 Day(s) 15562 Readers 156 Reviews 01-26-2021
Another kinda OG novel. Absolutely great until they went to Heaven Realm. Had lots of unique characteristics to make it stand out from other CN... more>>
KR (4.1)
45 Chapters Every 112.1 Day(s) 3234 Readers 22 Reviews 10-13-2019
Same author as KOTB. The reason this fails is that it has the same vibe as Novel's Extra, this genre just has too much drama... more>>
KR (4.1)
0 Chapters Every 1995 Day(s) 13111 Readers 95 Reviews 11-08-2018
Super beta kiddy style of writing in this novel. I actually enjoyed the first 50 chapters or so due to the unique leveling system and... more>>
KR (4)
373 Chapters Every 85.2 Day(s) 18468 Readers 164 Reviews 01-17-2021
As a fan of tutorial arcs, I have to say that this novel just sucks. The whole novel is based on the damn tutorial and... more>>
KR (4)
23 Chapters Every 123.9 Day(s) 7003 Readers 85 Reviews 08-07-2022
I'll give this novel a passing grade. It's fine if the action scenes are lack luster but the story must be good. Don't think this... more>>
KR (3.8)
334 Chapters Every 16.9 Day(s) 6588 Readers 63 Reviews 08-20-2023
Read this because it's a KR novel with rating of 4.6, I should have checked who the author was. I am not a fan of... more>>
CN (3.5)
39 Chapters Every 493.1 Day(s) 8751 Readers 111 Reviews 05-10-2016
This fails mainly due to fight scenes being boring. Adventures aren't that good either.
CN (3.8)
3129 Chapters Every 10.5 Day(s) 12538 Readers 163 Reviews 01-08-2024
Would read this if I had nothing else to read. I don't hate this. Would rank this slightly below TMW.... more>>
CN (3.2)
117 Chapters Every 599.6 Day(s) 10584 Readers 146 Reviews 05-26-2016
No. Super bad combat scenes and bad story. Do not try.
CN (3.9)
278 Chapters Every 442.3 Day(s) 13565 Readers 174 Reviews 03-21-2017
Boring plot, fight scenes.
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Comments (8)
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  1. Valven
    Valven· May 20, 2020 11:35 PM
    Awesome and informative list. I'd like to think my tastes aren't generic at all because I jump genres a lot, but I'd definitely read these once I feel like I need some action. 
    Reply · 1 Like · ·
  2. kaaliya
    kaaliya· May 12, 2020 01:00 AM

    I am surprised you didn't mention Overgeared there. (God Grid is awesome af)

    But One of the best lists I have seen on NU. Good to see that there is someone who isn't reviewing just based on the ratings. 

    EXCELLENT LIST OF LIGHT NOVELS.clear.png

    Reply · 1 Like · ·
  3. Meloonseed
    Meloonseed· May 8, 2020 03:38 AM
    Personally, I like avoiding novels with Xianxia and Xuanhuan tags on them. But your taste in high rated novels that you didn't like is pretty similar to mine, so maybe I'll check them out.
    Reply · 1 Like · ·
  4. danish341
    danish341· May 4, 2020 07:46 AM

    'The second coming of gluttony' has the finest content and the best translator working in it. Well, to be clear the romantic and drama genre is of course as you say, but the 'Action' is nonpareil I would say!

    It is the best one on my list of course...clear.png

    Reply · 1 Like · ·
  5. Daresan
    Daresan· Jul 17, 2020 09:41 PM

    Lol Agt at n1? Cough Are you high mate? Cough

    Reply · ·
    • Bruce008
      Bruce008· Dec 3, 2020 06:16 PM
      I understand if you don't like it but see the number of comments, number of readers on every web novel site and you'll find ATG in one of the top list of not number 1. MGA is number 1 in most of the websites. But ATG is not far behind. 
      Reply · ·
  6. Anard
    Anard· Jul 9, 2020 04:02 AM

    agreed with most of your opinions except for I am the Monarch, i agree that it starts slow but it picks up later and have great kingdom and army building

    and not all the novels from  KobatoChanDaiSuki are bad eg god of cooking is good one

    Reply · ·
  7. Draakon
    Draakon· May 20, 2020 07:26 PM

     I see that you don't get what Previous Life was Sword Emperor. This Life is tr*sh Prince is a about.

    Forget about humor, it's typical japanese degradation of OP protagonist, apparently Japanese love feeling of shadenfreude way too much, the novel is not about this. I think that at this point It cab be told with high degree of confidence that this is novel about following ideals, and sacrifices on this road. MC trained by some mu*der-hobo in ideals of typical Wuxia world, he suffered by following this ideals, he started to hate this ideals of wuxia swordmaster and when he dies with regret, he abandoned them completely. And then, he lived without purpose becoming "useless" until picking new one, one, that makes use of some of his achivement in previous life. And now he tries to follow it. And other important people in this book also follow their own ideals, and ready to die for them, or even make the world burn. And then is the question, vocalized by protagonist several time, "does such ideals worth it"?

    I don't think that 12-14 old kids will get it, It's seems not everybody older get's it.

    And he doesn't go that far to hide his strenght as Lazy Swordman or tr*sh of the Count Family or dozens other of reincarnators, he simple hate the way of sword at first, and then a bit of unshure, if he shall put it all into his new ideal yet and lacks an ambition. But shall somebody he important to him come in danger, he isn't going to risk their life to hide his strenght.

    Reply · ·