Kingdom-Building Web Novel Recommendation: Building Empires One Scheme at a Time
Truth be told, it’s a kingdom-building story that brought me into the world of web novels (I’m looking at you, Moonlight Sculptor). So, this list has a very special place in my heart so much I took time and made sure that those who read this will only get the best.
I had to read each title and over fifty other top stories in this genre, carefully choosing the best out there. These stories are the ones that kept me sleepless because they were just too good to put down. Without further ado, here’s my list.
My Top 15 Kingdom-Building Web Novel to Binge Read
- Common Sense of a Duke’s Daughter
- Game of the World Tree
- Black Corporation: Joseon
- Release that Witch
- Chronicles of Primordial Wars
- This Game Is Too Realistic
- Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece
- The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor
- World of Cultivation
- Absolute Dweller
- I am the Monarch
- Gospel of Blood
- Dungeon Defense
- Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era
- The Amber Sword
1. Common Sense of a Duke’s Daughter
What will you do if you abruptly transmigrate into your favorite novel’s number one villainess? Worse, instead of the start of the plot, you have transmigrated at the end of it all, where most antagonists will be trounced, killed, or exiled.
Thrown to the countryside as punishment, Iris must adapt fast, forge her own path, and build a new life. Come to think of it? With no more drama and scheming, perhaps this ending might not be so bad after all.
My Rating: Common Sense of a Duke’s Daughter is a high-tier kingdom-building webtoon worth a 9/10. It has straightforward prose, a lighthearted otome-isekai storyline, and solid character arcs.
Anyway, if you’re looking for a well-done romance web novel with a smart, no-nonsense heroine, then you’re in for a treat. And the best part? It’s finished, so go ahead and binge.
2. Game of the World Tree
A millennium ago, the War of the Gods crushed the World Tree, toppling the once-glorious Elven civilization. Now, a new World Tree awakens, and the twist? She’s a reincarnated soul from Earth.
Taking over the name of Eve Yggdrasil, she must revive the Elven race to survive. Her strategy? Lure Earth gamers into her world with a fake next-gen VR game. You know, the full-dive gaming experience we’ve all been waiting for.
My Rating: Game of the World Tree is a gripping kingdom-building web novel deserving of a 10/10. It stands out with its sleek pacing, hilarious characters, and crisp plotline. The prose? Simple yet immersive.
It also has tons of comedic memes millennial and Gen-Z peeps will find relatable. Anyway, if you’re searching for a well-done tale about gamers and myths, then this is for you.
3. Black Corporation Joseon
Kim Jinho’s hobby isn’t normal for an ordinary Korean man. Instead of enjoying what the modern world offers, he enjoys recreating old-style military equipment. You know, the classic first industrial stuff. The punchline? He dies because of an accidental nitroglycerin spill.
Fate, however, has grander plans for this maniac. Instead of going to the underworld, he reincarnates into the Joseon era. His father? King Sejong the Great. With an open-minded monarch and a maniacal inventor prince, just imagine the change that’s about to hit the shelf.
My Rating: I’ll rate Black Corporation Joseon a gripping 8/10. This kingdom-building web novel hooks readers with its hilarious character interactions, crunchy payoffs, and sleek pacing.
Of course, it’s not all perfect. The reaction of the ministers and even the king to the sudden great change feels iffy. For a conservative society, I expected more resistance and breakneck scheming from the shadows, but it all went too smooth for the MC.
4. Release that Witch
Chen Yan is a dog-tired engineer suffering from endless deadlines. His ending? Death by overwork. The hook? Instead of the underworld, he awakens as Rolan, a washed-up prince in some sort of medieval fantasy world.
Armed with engineering prowess and a bunch of friendly witches, he sets out on a mission. His goal? Change the world and build the greatest kingdom this land has ever known.
My Rating: Release That Witch earns a hearty 9/10 and my must-read seal. This kingdom-building web novel boasts top-tier world-building, witty characters, and a fast-paced plotline.
Still, I have a gripe about its later arcs. How do I say this? The latter arc feels weak, dwelling more on the supernatural rather than territory management, which is its chief strength.
5. Chronicles of Primordial Wars
Shao Xuan is only visiting a new archaeological site with a friend when he picks up an odd white stone. Little does he know it wasn’t just an ordinary stone. After picking it up, he suddenly finds himself thrown back in time.
The punchline? It’s not in the 90s. Not to ancient China. Nope. Straight to the Stone Age. Now he’s living in a savage world where survival of the fittest is the only law.
My Rating: Chronicles of Primordial Wars scores a solid 9/10. What makes this kingdom-building web novel special is its stunning Ancient Stone Age setting. It also boasts a gripping plotline, immersive pacing, and a kickass main character.
I’ve read hundreds of stories in this genre, and this tale remains one of the most memorable. The plot progression and flow are just so crazy fun, making it a full-blown page-turner. If you also like xuanhuan web novels, this might be the tale for you.
6. This Game Is Too Realistic
Chu Guang is just another salesman in the modern era. But fate has other plans for him, and he suddenly finds himself transported into a wilderness. No, not just your ordinary woods, but in a radioactive post-apocalyptic land where only the strong rule.
The hook? Well, some sort of super advance machine has allowed him to manage clones and connect them to the modern world. His goal? Rebuild and tame these chaotic lands by selling this world as a game to his Earthling friends. Yeah, as expected of a hardcore salesman, alright.
My Rating: This Game Is Too Realistic scores a striking 9/10. To be honest, this is my favorite kingdom-building web novel right now. Its stunning post-apocalyptic and steampunk vibe just calls to me so hard I’m binge-reading all of its available chapters.
Unlike its peers, it incorporates a lot of gaming and millennial/Gen Z memes into the story. Reading it makes me feel it’s tailored for my generation. It might have an iffy start, but the well-executed plot progression turns into an addicting read.
7. Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece
What will you do if you suddenly get transported into the Greco-Persian warring period? Worse, you’re no royal, but a mere mercenary trying to make a living. Well, that’s the gist of Davos’ problems.
His plan? Adapt fast and later start a kingdom of his own. It might sound far-fetched, but with his modern-era knowledge of history, it might just be possible. But yeah, first he must survive this brutal war.
My Rating: Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece is a gripping kingdom-building webtoon worthy of an 8/10. It has a smooth prose, more-than-skin-deep historical lore, and stunning plot arcs.
And unlike its peers, it stands out with its refreshing Greco-Roman setting. The MC might not be Alexander the Great, but his growth as a ruler is unexpectedly fun to follow.
8. The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor
Hyun Lee’s life is one of hardship. After the death of his parents, he has to become the breadwinner of his home. At a young age, he worked tirelessly to make ends meet while also paying the enormous debt his deceased parents had left behind.
Desperate to earn cash, he dives into Royal Road, the most popular VRMMORPG. His goal? Grind, scheme, scam, and milk all the cash he could from the game.
My Rating: The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor is a classic kingdom-building web novel worthy of a 9/10. It stands tall with its humorous MC, gritty world-building, and striking progression fantasy plot.
If there’s Sword Art Online for the anime community, this cookie is its equivalent in the web novel fandom. Truth be told, this tale is the one that introduced me to the world of online novels.
9. World of Cultivation
Zou Mo Ge is a dirt-poor disciple of the Wu Kong Sword Sect. His dreams? Strike it rich, count endless strings of money, and retire happy. He likes money so much that the people of his sect call him Scalping Zombie.
But behind the facade of this greedy man lies an iron will. He is always laser focus on his goal of becoming the richest man in the cultivation world. And if that means becoming the greatest cultivator of his time, then so be it.
My Rating: World of Cultivation is a delightful brew of cultivation, mystery, comedy, and action themes. It has solid prose, a comedic cast, and an unexpectedly engaging MC. Quality-wise, it deserves my 10/10 and a full-stamp of recommendation.
Just a heads up; this web novel won’t go straight into kingdom-building stuff. It’s quite slowburn, but the payoffs are just downright awesome. And if you also enjoy cultivation web novels, then don’t miss this goodie.
10. Absolute Dweller
Kim Jaehyeon’s shut-in life takes a wild twist when he suddenly finds himself trapped in his apartment. Worse, the outside world has already turned into a brutal apocalyptic land where monsters reign.
With nowhere to go, Jaehyeon can only find comfort because he has earned a domain-type ability. The best of it all? He can expand it little by little so that can protect himself and the people from all monstrous beasts.
My Rating: Absolute Dweller deserves a solid 8/10. This kingdom-building web novel boasts a classic leveling power system, relatable characters, and a familiar K-novel style prose.
It also has a high-stakes apocalyptic flavor. As for its weakness, it lacks a certain character and plot depth. But hey, it makes up for it by being unexpectedly breezy to read.
11. I am the Monarch
Roan is just an ordinary villager with big dreams. Thus, to change his dull rural life, he runs away from home, aiming to become the Great General. Unfortunately, dreams are fickle traps, and he ends up becoming a ragged squad commander for 20 years. His ending? Death.
But what if he earns a second chance and returns to the past? Well, this time, our dreamy soldier has a better plan. If dreaming of becoming a general won’t work, how about trying to become a ruler instead?
My Rating: I am the Monarch is a must-read kingdom-building web novel worth a 9/10. This goodie has epic battle scenes, classic weak-to-strong tropes, and gripping character progression.
If you enjoy war-centered medieval fantasy, then this might just be for you. Enjoyment-wise, it’s a gritty read perfect for fans of regression and second-chance stories.
12. Gospel of Blood
What will you do if you suddenly wake up as the heiress of a rich count? Well, that’s the current problem of Charlotte de Castell—a fresh transmigrator from Earth.
The hook? Well, it seems her new identity bears a deeper secret. She is also the overseer of the shadows, the ruler of blood, and the order in the darkness. She is an ancient being who once ruled kingdoms and nations. The one and only Progenitor.
My Rating: Gospel of Blood is a lore-rich kingdom-building web novel worth an 8/10. It stands out with its sleek plot arcs, well-executed secret-identity tropes, and immersive prose. If you enjoy badass vampire fantasy stories, then this might just be your cup of tea.
13. Dungeon Defense
Life takes a wild turn for a NEET gamer when he suddenly receives a silly offer to change the ending of his favorite game? The twist? He accidentally clicks accept and finds himself transported into the game as Dantalian.
The problem? Dantalian is the weakest of the Demon Lords. Worse, he is an infamous broke whose only skill is his eloquence. Of course, he has no plans of continuing to be one. With his game knowledge, he plans to turn plagues into profit, rig battles, and climb the demonic ranks.
My Rating: Dungeon Defense is a grim kingdom-building web novel deserving of a 9/10. It has a gripping dark plot, clever characters, and stunning world-building.
But what makes this story pop is the character interactions. How do I say this? It has a depth that hooks you from start to the end. Just a fair warning: this cookie isn’t for the prude.
14. Chronicles of the Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era
Shizuko is just an ordinary high school student living a repetitive student life. So imagine her surprise when she suddenly finds herself transported into the chaotic Sengoku Era. Worse, she has no cheat-like abilities or special powers to change the world.
All she can do is cook tasty food for the people in these warring times. Little does she know that the things she thinks are tiny contributions can be life-changing for many. And yes, that includes her new warlord boss, Oda Nobunaga.
My Rating: I’ll give Chronicles of the Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era a solid 9/10. This kingdom-building web novel boasts an intriguing Sengoku-era setting, slice-of-life subplot, and chill characters.
Yes, it has its badass moments, but I enjoyed the lifestyle progression the MC brought into the past. If you’re looking for a well-done return-to-the-past web novel, this cookie won’t disappoint.
15. The Amber Sword
Sophie’s name might sound girly, but he is one solid dud. His hobbies? Playing Amber Sword—a hardcore VRMMORPG game with high-stakes story progression and brutal fighting.
The punchline? Out of nowhere, he suddenly finds himself transported into the game itself. Worse, he has taken over the body of a cannon fodder NPC. Dead-set on surviving, he sets out to find this world’s key characters, grab onto their thighs, and survive.
My Rating: The Amber Sword is one of the biggest surprises on this list. I’ve read it expecting something cliched, but turns out to be a gritty epic saga. It stands out with its stunning lore, intriguing power system, and hilarious characters.
It reminds me a lot of the Lord of the Rings franchise. Anyway, if you’re looking for a gripping medieval fantasy tale, this is for you. Overall, this kingdom-building web novel deserves a solid 9/10 and a must-read stamp.
Final Thoughts About Kingdom-Building Web Novel
Yes, I’d proudly admit it. I’m a hardcore fan of kingdom-building novels. But who can blame me? I enjoy good ol’ medieval scheming, epic wars, and steady nation-building tropes.
Anyway, if you’re some like me who enjoys this kind of stuff, then don’t miss any stories on this list. Alright, see you in my next recommendations!