I'm looking for a novel/manhwa/manga/manga set in a game setting. I don't mean a story were MC lives in normal Earth and he logs in to his RPG game where the story is set. What I want is more like MC is isekaid to another world were the setting is game like or MC's normal world becomes suddenly flooded with monsters and dungeons and people start to awaken.
So my requirements are:
A. The story SHOULDNT BE WISH FULFILMENT. I really really hate that type of story.
B. Harems are not preferable but I can tolerate them as long as
a. Harem members aren't 2D
b. All the harem members don't fall for the MC (3 at most is
fine)
c. MC ends up with one girl (doesn't matter if he banged others
in the past)
C. The rules of the world should make sens. Like fantasy has a hard magic system if the rules of the setting are fleshed out and the author doesn't break the rules in a whim that would be great. No stories where MC with a low level but exceptional skills somehow manages to single handedly defeat an Antagonist with a high level.. So at least the setting and the rules have to make sense.
D. I want to see the MC put in effort. Something like the novel 'Possesing Nothing' . In Possessing Nothing is a great example because the guy puts blood, sweat and tears into his achievements. Its true that he takes pills, potions ...etc but I can actually feel the effort (It's sad that it later become more like a cultivation novel which I'm not a fan off).
E. So I know something like my requirement in D is hard to find so I need to compromise. it's fine if MC does get his easy way out but I don't want everyone around him to start worshipping him and say he is great, he is strongest...etc you know none of that wish fulfillment nonsense. What would be nice is something like Peerless Dad where MC is OP but there are many OP characters out there and not all of them are his friends and some do wipe the ground with him. I know that Peerless Dad is a martial arts novel bit the emphasis on cultivation is so low that recommending a story like that would be fine.
F. If the MC is a girl that's fine too..... Now I'm curious I haven't come across a female MC in a game setting where the main focus is action not romance. Please recommend and the requirements are as above.
G. No yaoi/Yuri, shonen-ai/shojo-ai (even as subplots). Genderbender as in cross dressing is fine but actual sex change that gives a yaoi/Yuri vibe isn't okay. Something like male MC in his past life was a female but in his current life completely considers himself as male and is attracted to females is fine.
H. No Adult tag but Mature is fine

I really hope someone Recs me something. Thanks in advance

Not sure what you mean with "wish fulfillment", but The Gamer should fit the rest, although admittedly things are kinda easy for the mc (he does put in effort though)

The World Is Full of Monsters Now, Therefore I Want to Live As I Wish should also fit everything, at least in the first few chapter's I've read

If you want a female mc, you can try Kumo desu ga, nani ka?

________________
Be careful of your thoughts, for they will become words.

Be careful of your words, for they will become actions.

Be careful of your actions, for they will become habits.

Be careful of your habits, for they will become character.

Be careful of your character, for it will become your destiny.

It's better as an anime but Log Horizon fits most criteria. Romance is more subtle and almost nonexistent though.

I've read the gamer and the plot was just meandering around so I got bored fast. Does it get better later on. And the guy has it way way too easy.

I'll check out the other two manga you mentioned. Thanks for the recs

@Contently
No romance is totally fine. Thanks for the recommendation

Last edited by lambchopsil at 9:26 am, Sep 3 2020

"I've read the gamer and the plot was just meandering around so I got bored fast. Does it get better later on"
If you get a few chapters in, some ridiculous people turn up and the plot picks up a bit. Things also get a little bit harder for the mc, but he still has it pretty easy in my opinion.

If hardship is what you're after, then [/m]Kumo desu ga, nani ka?[m] has lots of it. The heroine even almost dies a few times.

________________
Be careful of your thoughts, for they will become words.

Be careful of your words, for they will become actions.

Be careful of your actions, for they will become habits.

Be careful of your habits, for they will become character.

Be careful of your character, for it will become your destiny.

I highly recommend checking Room of Swords.
The story is relatively original, the characters are nice, and there's even some mystery. All in all, a pretty cool webtoon set in a game world setting.

I'd highly recommend: "The novel's extra"

It fits all your criteria.
It's also one of the few novels that I've read where the female heroines has a well developed character. has an ambition, has their own likeable personalitiess and not all of them just falls for the mc very easily, It takes a proper romance routes that are even better than most generic romance novel.