Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing (Novel) Vol. 01

Hell Mode Novel Vol. 01

“‘Level up even while offline’?! That’s not a game on ‘easy mode’—that’s just an AFK game!”

The online game Yamada Kenichi had been playing religiously is shutting down its servers, leaving him with a void in his heart. He looks for a new game to fill it, but everything he finds is way too easy. The kind of game he likes—the kind punishing enough to make players want to spend thousands of hours on it—just isn’t around anymore. “What’s this? ‘You are invited to a game that will never end.’”

Kenichi stumbles upon an untitled game, one promising incomparable challenge with unprecedented potential. Without hesitation, he selects the “Hell Mode” difficulty. Lo and behold, he finds himself reincarnated in another world as a serf! Now called Allen, he sets out to unlock the secrets of his mystery-laden Summoner class; without the convenience of walkthroughs, game guides, or online forums, he must grope his way to the top of his new world!

Biographical Notes:

Hell Mode: Yarikomizuki no Gamer wa Hai Settei no Isekai de Musou suru written by Hamuo began as a web novel on Shousetsuka ni Narou on November 17, 2019. The first official volume was published on July 15, 2020 by Earth Star Entertainment under the Earth Star Novel label. The series has been published digitally in English as Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing by J-Novel Club since October 13, 2021, and in print by Yen Press under the J-Novel Club imprint since June 6, 2023.

Title Notes:

Hell Mode is a video game-inspired isekai (another world) light novel that received considerable success through its digital publication by J-Novel Club.

Light novel fans have shown much enthusiasm for relatable video game content, as seen with the success of Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense.

More details on Hamuo:

Hamuo’s Twitter Page

More works by Hamuo