Top 11 Sports Novels in 2026

2026 Edition

Updated January 27, 2026

By Genre

11 Novels

Sports novels are a smaller category in web fiction compared to manga or anime. The format works well for training montages and competition arcs, but sustaining thousands of chapters around a single sport requires creativity. Most successful entries involve protagonists with special advantages like regression memories or system assistance.

Korean sports web novels often focus on esports or soccer. Japanese light novels cover various sports but tend toward shorter formats. Chinese sports web fiction is rare. The limited catalog means this list draws from across origins to find quality entries.

Completed
1
TOP PICK
I Can Do It
4.7
(1.1K ratings)
Genre: comedy, romance, slice of life
In a certain League of Legends (LOL) match, a streamer well-known for infuriating people, was providing commentary and live streaming. Streamer: This support, so tr*sh.
First Impressions
"I Can Do It" is a delightful dive into the world of e-sports, sprinkled with humor, a dash of romance, and a whole lot of heart. As someone who enjoys a good slice-of-life story, this one definitely hit the spot. Initially, I was drawn in by the premise of a streamer turned pro gamer. The main character, Jian Rong (Soft), is instantly likable – a feisty, trash-talking genius who's secretly a softie, especially around the ML, Lu Boyuan (Road). The slow-burn romance was also a big draw for me, and I was eager to see how it would unfold....
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Completed
2
RUNNER UP
The King’s Avatar
4.3
(1.3K ratings)
Genre: action, adventure, comedy
In the online game Glory, Ye Xiu is regarded as a textbook and a top-tier pro-player. However, due to a myriad reasons, he is kicked from the team.
First Impressions
When I first dove into The King's Avatar, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. An esports novel centered around a keyboard and mouse MMO? It sounded a bit…unromantic. But I was quickly drawn in by the story of Ye Xiu, a fallen pro gamer trying to reclaim his former glory. The initial chapters hooked me with their melancholic tone and a glimpse into a world that felt both familiar and uniquely compelling. What immediately stood out to me was the level of detail in the game mechanics and the overall realism of the esports atmosphere. The author clearly knows their stuff, and it shows. Unlike s...
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Completed
3
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
PUBG Online Romance of the Century
4.6
(698 ratings)
Genre: comedy, romance, sports
As a new anchor of StarTV, Yu Yan’s ruthless tr*sh-talk, natural rifle-shooting skills, and character of never searching houses earned him a big crowd of fans. He felt like he was a good anchor who treated all fans of his stream equally—you can suck at the game, you can get knocked down, but if ...
First Impressions
I dove into "PUBG Online Romance of the Century" with a bit of trepidation, as e-sports stories aren't usually my thing. However, the high ratings and intriguing summary pulled me in, and I'm glad they did. This novel turned out to be a delightful blend of fluffy romance, gaming excitement, and surprisingly insightful character development. The initial chapters had me hooked. The setup is simple: Yu Yan, a lively and skilled gamer, becomes a streamer and catches the eye of Yi Chen, a seemingly cold CEO. I immediately found Yu Yan to be an engaging protagonist – witty, a bit of a trash-talker, ...
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Completed
4
EDITORS CHOICE
Glory
4.6
(441 ratings)
Genre: action, comedy, romance
This novel is also known as [I was caught and brought back after using and tossing aside the Great Demon King of e-sports…]Wei Xiao––the former rookie king of the league, now an accompanying player and tr*sh talk king, had a stupefied look on his face! Someone bought 10,000 games with him!
First Impressions
"Glory" is an esports BL novel that completely sucked me in. With a solid 4.6/5 rating from readers, I went in with high expectations, and for the most part, it delivered. It's a blend of action, comedy, romance, and sports, and it manages to juggle these elements surprisingly well. From the start, I was struck by the vibrant characters and the energetic pace. The dynamic between the leads, Wei Xiao and Lu Feng, is immediately engaging. Wei Xiao's shamelessness and Lu Feng's cool exterior create a compelling contrast that had me hooked. The esports setting is also well-integrated, making it en...
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Completed
5
EDITORS CHOICE
All-Round Mid Laner
4.6
(531 ratings)
Genre: comedy, romance, shounen ai
After waking from a car accident, professional esports player Ye Shaoyang found himself transmigrated into a mystifying ABO world where he was living as a noobish streamer. In order to support himself in this new life, Ye Shaoyang decided to return to his old job and climb the ranks in the espor...
First Impressions
"All-Round Mid Laner" had been on my radar for a while, and I finally dove in. It's a blend of esports action, ABO dynamics, and slow-burn romance, a combination that either soars or crashes. I found myself largely enjoying the ride, though some aspects held it back from being a perfect game. The premise is simple: a transmigrated esports pro finds himself in a new world, an ABO world at that, and aims for the top. What immediately grabbed me was the focus on the game itself. I'm not a hardcore MOBA player, but the author's descriptions of the matches and strategies made it easy to follow. The...
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Completed
6
#6 PICK
This Omega is Sweet and Wild
4.6
(573 ratings)
Genre: comedy, romance, school life
Li Cheng is an omega, but he is thoroughly like an alpha. He regards teachers like friends, is unrivalled in the swimming pool and also has 80 betas as his lil’ brothers.
First Impressions
This novel was quite a ride! "This Omega is Sweet and Wild" promises a unique take on the ABO genre, and for the most part, it delivers. I went in expecting a fluffy romance, and while there's plenty of sweetness, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the characters and their individual journeys. The premise immediately grabbed me: a "tyrant" omega meets a cold, aloof alpha. Classic enemies-to-lovers setup, right? What I didn't anticipate was how much I'd enjoy the characters' personalities. I was immediately drawn to the MC, Li Cheng. He's a breath of fresh air, a strong and confident om...
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7
#7 PICK
The E-Sports Circle’s Toxic Assembly Camp
4.6
(570 ratings)
Genre: action, romance, shounen ai
Chief tactician Lin Yan entered an e-sports novel. At this time, there was still a whole year to go before the original plot started.
First Impressions
"The E-Sports Circle’s Toxic Assembly Camp" is a wild ride into the competitive gaming world, and I'm honestly hooked. It's a blend of action, romance, and a touch of the supernatural, all wrapped up in an e-sports setting that feels surprisingly fresh. The novel follows Lin Yan, a cunning strategist who transmigrates into an e-sports novel and decides to shake things up. From the start, I was drawn in by the premise. Instead of the typical hot-blooded young player, we get a sharp, witty manager with a past. The dynamic between Lin Yan and Jing Yuanzhou, the ML, is immediately captivating. It'...
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Conclusion

Rankings favor sports novels that use the genre's inherent drama well rather than treating athletics as window dressing for standard progression fantasy. The selection is smaller than other genres, so quality expectations are relative to what's available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our rankings combine reader ratings (40%), popularity metrics (25%), engagement data (20%), and editorial review (15%). We update rankings quarterly to reflect the latest reader sentiments.

The best sports novels excel in their genre-specific elements while delivering compelling characters and plots. Reader satisfaction and re-readability are key factors in our selection.

We update our rankings quarterly throughout 2026 to incorporate new releases, changing reader preferences, and updated rating data.

How We Create Our 2026 Rankings

Our 2026 novel rankings are created through a comprehensive, data-driven process that combines quantitative metrics with qualitative editorial review. Here's how we ensure our rankings reflect the best novels available today.

Data Collection

We aggregate reading data, ratings, and engagement metrics from thousands of readers across multiple platforms, updated regularly throughout 2026.

Community Input

Reader ratings and reviews form the foundation of our rankings. We weight votes based on verified reading history to ensure authenticity.

Quality Scoring

Each novel receives a composite score based on average rating, vote count, reading list additions, and reader retention metrics.

Editorial Review

Our editorial team reviews top candidates for writing quality, translation accuracy, and overall reader experience.

Regular Updates

Rankings are refreshed quarterly to reflect new releases, updated ratings, and shifting reader preferences in 2026.

Transparency

We publish our methodology openly so readers understand exactly how novels earn their positions in our rankings.

Our 2026 Ranking Criteria

40%Reader Rating Score (weighted by vote count and recency)
25%Popularity Metrics (reading list additions, active readers)
20%Engagement Score (comments, reviews, recommendations)
15%Editorial Assessment (writing quality, translation, completeness)

Last updated: January 27, 2026 | Rankings reflect data collected through 2026

Ranked Novels

I Can Do It

First Impressions

The King’s Avatar

First Impressions

PUBG Online Romance of the Century

First Impressions

Glory

First Impressions

All-Round Mid Laner

First Impressions