Top 25 Sports Novels in 2026

2026 Edition

Updated January 27, 2026

By Genre

25 Novels

Sports novels have a built-in advantage: competition creates natural story structure. Games have winners and losers, seasons have arcs, and improvement can be measured objectively. The challenge is making matches engaging in prose form without the visual excitement of watching actual sports. Authors who solve this problem create surprisingly addictive reads.

I find sports novels work best when they balance technical detail with character drama. Too much play-by-play gets tedious. Too little makes victories feel unearned. The entries here understand that readers care about who wins because they care about who's playing, not the other way around. Team dynamics and personal growth carry the genre.

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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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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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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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EDITORS CHOICE
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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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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#6 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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#7 PICK
DASH
4.5
(561 ratings)
Genre: adult, drama, mature
Jeong Jiheon was once a promising swimmer, but retired early due to an injury and is now working diligently at a sports agency. Currently, the greatest interest in the sports market is none other than Kwon Jaekyoung, and numerous agencies are fighting fiercely behind the scenes to scout him.
First Impressions
DASH is a sports romance that dives into the complexities of relationships, self-worth, and personal growth, all set within a unique ABO world. As a reader, I found it to be a compelling and engaging story, even with its occasional slow burn pacing. Initially, I was drawn in by the premise of a story that blends sports and the omegaverse, a combination that felt refreshingly different. The fact that it's been adapted into a drama CD and manhwa also piqued my interest. I quickly found myself invested in the characters and their journeys, eager to see how their relationship would unfold....
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#8 PICK
FOG
4.5
(540 ratings)
Genre: drama, romance, shounen ai
Yu Sui and Shi Luo met each other when they were much younger. One was a pro-gamer, a widely-renowned, best of the best, in-game medic.
First Impressions
"FOG" has been quite the ride! It's a complete original web novel in the genres of drama, romance, shounen ai, sports, and yaoi. I went in expecting a fluffy e-sports romance, and while it definitely delivers on the romance, it offers a surprisingly emotional and angsty experience, especially in the beginning. Initially, I was a bit thrown by the angst and the initial animosity between the main characters. The story dives right in with a past conflict between the MC, Shi Luo, and the ML, Yu Sui, that isn't immediately clear. This created an intriguing tension, but it also took me a little whil...
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#9 PICK
When an Alpha is Marked by One of His Own Kind
4.3
(343 ratings)
Genre: comedy, drama, mature
Within the industry, everyone knew Team DG’s captain Lu Zhe and Team BLX’s top laner Shen Qiao didn’t get along. They said it was due to hormones.
First Impressions
This novel was quite a ride! "When an Alpha is Marked by One of His Own Kind" offers a unique blend of e-sports drama, ABO dynamics, and a second-chance romance, creating an engaging experience. I went in expecting a strong, competitive dynamic, and while it delivered in some aspects, it also had a few shortcomings. Initially, I was hooked by the premise of an Alpha/Alpha pairing in the competitive world of e-sports, specifically League of Legends. The concept of two dominant personalities clashing, both in and out of the game, was incredibly appealing. The early chapters drew me in with the p...
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#10 PICK
God Level Summoner
4.3
(396 ratings)
Genre: action, adventure, sports
This story is about a god level player, Li Cangyu, who returns to the game Miracle after being away for several years. The story explores him playing the game and setting up a team in an attempt to finally win a trophy in the Miracle Professional League.
First Impressions
"God Level Summoner" had been on my radar for a while, and after finally diving in, I can see why it has such a dedicated following. As a fan of gaming novels, especially those with a BL twist, I was eager to see if it lived up to the hype. Overall, I found it to be a charming and enjoyable read, though not without its minor flaws. The initial chapters immediately drew me in with the familiar e-sports setting, reminiscent of "The King's Avatar," but with its own unique flavor. I appreciated the focus on building a new team and the hints of romance sprinkled throughout the beginning. The protag...
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#11 PICK
You’re Beautiful When You Smile
4.3
(364 ratings)
Genre: comedy, drama, romance
If it was me, I wouldn’t date a professional gamer. If I had that kind of patience, then I might as well use it to get into Tsinghua University or Beijing University.
First Impressions
"You're Beautiful When You Smile" is a novel I dove into with high expectations, given its popularity and the buzz around its drama adaptation. As a fan of both romance and e-sports themes, I was eager to see how well this story blended the two. Overall, I found it an enjoyable, though not flawless, read. Initially, I was drawn in by the premise: a female protagonist entering the male-dominated world of professional League of Legends. The early chapters had me laughing out loud. The banter between the main characters, Tong Yao and Lu Sicheng, is undeniably hilarious, and the female lead's spun...
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12
#12 PICK
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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13
#13 PICK
It’s My Turn to Take the Stage to Fly
4.6
(236 ratings)
Genre: action, adventure, comedy
Jiang Chen, an esports prodigy, led his team to win the championship in the first and second seasons of the Dreamscape Professional League. He should have had boundless prospects, but unfortunately, he was struck with a terminal illness and had to retire at the peak of his career.
First Impressions
This novel, "It’s My Turn to Take the Stage to Fly," was quite the ride! Going in, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. The tags are a wild mix of genres, but I was ultimately charmed by the premise and decided to give it a shot. I was immediately hooked by the unique setup: a protagonist waking up from cryosleep decades later and diving into a VR game. The initial chapters were genuinely funny, especially the beta testing moments. I found myself chuckling at the interactions and curious to see where the story would go....
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14
#14 PICK
I Became Popular After Online Dating With A Big Shot
4.1
(375 ratings)
Genre: drama, romance, slice of life
On his 17th birthday, Shen Chi was kicked out by the Shen family. He bought himself an innocent and beautiful virtual girlfriend.
First Impressions
"I Became Popular After Online Dating With A Big Shot" promised a sweet escape, and while it delivered on some fronts, I found myself grappling with its uneven execution. It's a story of two lonely souls finding solace in each other, but the road to happiness is paved with angst, and, unfortunately, some translation issues. The premise is intriguing: an MC who's been dealt a rough hand in life finds an unexpected connection through online gaming with an older, established ML. I was initially drawn in by the potential for a heartwarming, slow-burn romance. Several readers echoed this sentiment,...
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Conclusion

Sports represented vary from mainstream choices like basketball and soccer to niche options. If you have a specific sport preference, check individual entries since that obviously affects enjoyment significantly. Knowledge of the sport helps but isn't always required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our rankings consider multiple factors: reader ratings (40%), popularity and reading lists (25%), review quality (20%), and editorial assessment (15%). We update regularly to reflect new releases and changing reader preferences.

We update our rankings monthly to ensure they reflect the latest reader ratings and new novel releases.

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

This Omega is Sweet and Wild

First Impressions

All-Round Mid Laner

First Impressions

The E-Sports Circle’s Toxic Assembly Camp

First Impressions

DASH

First Impressions

FOG

First Impressions

When an Alpha is Marked by One of His Own Kind

First Impressions

God Level Summoner

First Impressions

You’re Beautiful When You Smile

First Impressions

Glory

First Impressions