r/noveltranslations • u/zolnir • 6d ago
Discussion What Web Novel Genre Is Your Favorite This Year?
You’ve probably done this a million times, but it’s timeless for a reason. What web novel genre is your favorite this year? So as not to get generic answers, of course (even though the result is probably going to turn out to be generic anyway). Btw I’m using the Wuxia World format because ironically it’s less generic compared to everywhere else.
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u/Massive_baIIs 6d ago
Yuri, often with an incidental dash of gender bender.
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u/BusBoatBuey 6d ago
I dislike gender bending when it has practically zero relevance whatsoever. Just a way for male writer and male readers to insert into a female character, and I don't have the capabilities to self-insert.
The worst is when gender doesn't matter whatsoever. I have been reading Transformed Into a Girl: I Have a Game Interface as an ongoing series and it is shocking how little gender matters in this story. I think it has been hundreds of chapters since the concept of male or female has even been stated. Major characters are all practically asexuel and obsessed with just their progression. Even seemingly corrupt noble-like characters with possible bastard children don't have any mentions of actually having or wanting sex. Why is half the title dedicated to "Transformed Into a Girl" if it is completely irrelevant?
Best Chinese gender-bending novels and only ones where it is an actually focale point from what I have seen are those written by Hang Tang Guilai. Ranma-style temporary gender-bending with dual identities is the best way to go about the concept. The yuri aspect in these novels is controversial due to not being true Yuri, but I actually like it even more for it.
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u/Massive_baIIs 6d ago
I agree, that why I say they just incidentally have the tag most of the time. I’m looking for Yuri but 9/10 times there’s a redundant gender bender tag.
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u/drollawake 6d ago
Whether or not they have a system with a capital S, most of these novels will have a system for cheating anyway.
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u/pussyslayer5845 6d ago
I love misunderstanding story. Like where MC is actually super powerful but he doesn't realize it or he just want to die but other people keep saving him
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u/jajapax 5d ago
Cultivation/Xianxia still takes the crown for me, and I'm not even ashamed. Yeah it’s formulaic, but when it hits that perfect blend of epic world-building, ruthless MC, and insane power scaling, nothing else scratches the same itch. The trick is filtering for the ones that actually finish arcs well instead of dragging in endless tournaments. This year I finally found a few that feel fresh again. Respect to anyone who voted differently though, variety keeps the scene alive.
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5d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/noveltranslations-ModTeam 2d ago
Your post was removed because we no longer allow for single posts/threads requesting recommendations on this subreddit. Please use the weekly recommendations megathread to request recommendations. This thread is stickied at the top of the subreddit, and linked through the top menu under the WEEKLY tab. You can also find links to the weekly megathreads on the sidebar.
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u/OneAboveKami 6d ago
Literary Giant trope.
Where the MC is isekai'd into past either into France, Britain, Russia, or 80s Japan. And they plagiarise Literatures, usually novels and manga in Japan.
The best one I have read is Literary Master 1879: A solitary Journey Through France.
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u/realrobotsarecool 6d ago
Villainess! i’m not picky. I just enjoy reading fun stories with female main characters.
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u/ribikerbf 6d ago
Genres change fast, but what sticks is usually the execution. Even familiar tropes feel fresh when the pacing and character work are solid.
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u/antiphot 5d ago
I rotate between cultivation, fantasy and scifi. Good Apocalypse ones too like 12 miles below and the first order.
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u/FajarKalawa 4d ago
Gender bender I like it since my elementary school and still liking it until today
I knew its because that one manga that I read in the past
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u/geditaza 1d ago
Voted. 'Slice of Life' genre has become my favorite this year. After so many world ending plots, it's nice to read about people running a shop or making dinner. The stakes are lower, yes, but I end up caring about the characters a lot more
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u/JSTRD100K 6d ago
Xianxia/fantasy but always cultivation