Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi 2022 Top 10 Tankobon

The 2022 edition of Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi has arrived, and with it, their yearly ranking of the Top 10 Tankobon light novels.

Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi polls readers, reviewers, and people in the publishing industry to arrive at their annual rankings. Click here if you’d like to see last year’s Top 10 Tankobon list.

Also, there is the Top 10 Bunkobon list, which you can also check out for 2022 and 2021.

10. I Am the Views and I Am the Death

ボクは再生数、ボクは死 / Boku wa Saiseisuu, Boku wa Shi
Written by Hiroshi Ishikawa with illustrations by Kureta

VR Eros & Violence that surpasses reality!

In order to become the most beautiful girl in the world, I’m going to wear a diaper.

Shinobu Kano, a humble office worker, has become the world’s most beautiful girl, Shino-chan, in the world’s largest VR space, the Sublime Sphere.
In order to meet Tsuyuusora, the high-class prostitute he fell in love with in the VR world, Shino needs a large amount of money, and together with Miyabi Saiki, a senior employee at his company, they plan to earn money and views by distributing extreme and cruel videos.
As they repeatedly set themselves on fire to increase the number of views and earn a large sum of money, Shino grows closer to Tsuyuusora, but gets caught up in the conspiracy surrounding her–!

09. Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools

魔導具師ダリヤはうつむかない / Madougushi Dahliya wa Utsumukania
Written by Hisaya Amagishi with illustrations by
Licensed for English release by J-Novel Club

After dying of overwork in Japan, Dahlia is reborn into a world filled with magic. Raised by a master of magical toolmaking, she develops a passion for the craft and becomes engaged to her father's apprentice. Before her father can see her wed, however, he suddenly passes away. As if this weren't enough, on the day before their wedding, her fiancé announces that he's in love--but not with her! Dahlia finally realizes she needs to live for herself. She vows to be her own woman from now on and devote herself to her craft, even if it's not quite the quiet life she was hoping for! From a chance encounter with a knight to starting her own company, there are challenges aplenty on the horizon. But this young craftswoman is no longer a shrinking violet--she's Dahlia, and she's ready to bloom.

08. It's a Little Hard to be a Villainess of an Otome Game in Modern Society

現代社会で乙女ゲームの悪役令嬢をするのはちょっと大変 / Gendai Shakai de Otome Game no Akuyaku Reijou wo Suru no wa Chotto Taihen
Written by Tofuro Futsukaichi with illustrations by KEI
Licensed for English release by Seven Seas

When an exhausted career woman is reincarnated as Keikain Runa, the villainess of an otome game born in the 1990s, she's determined to win at any cost. She may lose the love interest's heart, but she refuses to be ruined. Armed with the foreknowledge of the economic crash looming on Japan's horizon, Runa must revitalize her father's company and secure her freedom for herself and her new family.

07. THE EXO-DRIVE REINCARNATION GAMES: All-Japan Isekai Battle Tournament!

超世界転生エグゾドライブ/ Chou Sekai Tensei Exo Drive: Gekito! Isekai Zen Nihon Taikaihen
Written Keiso by with illustrations by Tsukasa Kiryuu, zunta
The light novel isn’t licensed, but the manga is licensed for English release by Seven Seas

Being reborn in another world is a tournament sport in this hilarious, action-packed isekai series!

In the not-so-distant future, isekai is a way of life. The world has perfected how to hit an average teenager with a truck to launch them into a new world for a fantasy adventure. But once that's done, how do you keep it entertaining? Set up a televised tournament, of course! Roaring crowds can follow a chosen Hero through his death, rebirth, and quest to save another world, armed with special tech for cheat skills, stat indexes, and whatever else is needed. Surely this is all in good fun and no one would abuse this kind of reincarnation technology…!

06. Babel

Written by Kuji Furumiya with illustrations by Haruyuki Morisawa

A college student, Shizuku Mizuse, has suddenly wandered into a different world from modern Japan. She is at her wits' end after landing at the frontier of a world where swords and magic are the norm, but she happens to meet an eccentric young mage, Eriq, who is studying magic letters.

“–Please, help me, please.”
“Okay, but I'd like to ask you one favor in return. Tell me the letters of your country.”

In order to find a way to return to Japan, the two set out on a journey to the magical kingdom of Farsus. The journey is full of absurd and mysterious mysteries. –And so fate begins to turn.

This is a story about words. It is a story of hope and change in the world that has just begun to emerge from their journey.

05. Ishura

異修羅
Written by Keiso with illustrations by Kureta
Licensed for English release by Yen On

In a world where the Demon King has died, a host of demigods capable of felling him have inherited the world: a master fencer who can figure out how to take out their opponent with a single glance; a lancer so swift they can break the sound barrier; a wyvern rogue who fights with three legendary weapons at once; an all-powerful wizard who can speak thoughts into being; and an angelic assassin who deals instant death. Eager to attain the title of “One True Hero,” these champions each pursue challenges against formidable foes and spark conflicts themselves. The battle to determine the mightiest of the mighty begins.

04. Rebuild World

リビルドワールド
Written by Nafuse with illustrations by Gin

The civilization of the past, now called “Old World”, has produced many “Relics” with its advanced technology. Many rubble of unknown material, high-rise buildings floating in the air, strange medications and a group of weapons that are too powerful to be used by people. After the collapse of science and civilization, people gathered these “Relics”, and over time they were rebuilding human society. In this way the “Hunters” were created, the warriors who face the various dangers of the Old World. Akira, a new hunter boy who wants to go up from the slums, entering the ruins of the Old World he meets a mysterious girl who can only be seen by him as a ghost, in a world where hunters are trying to overcome the legacy of the old civilization.

03. Ascendance of a Bookworm

本好きの下剋上 ～司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません～ / Honzuki no Gekokujou
Written by Miya Kazuki with illustrations by You Shiina
Licensed for English release by J-Novel Club

A certain college girl who's loved books ever since she was a little girl dies in an accident and is reborn in another world she knows nothing about. She is now Myne, the sickly five-year-old daughter of a poor soldier. To make things worse, the world she's been reborn in has a very low literacy rate and books mostly don't exist. She'd have to pay an enormous amount of money to buy one. Myne resolves herself: If there aren't any books, she'll just have to make them! Her goal is to become a librarian. This story begins with her quest to make books so she can live surrounded by them! Dive into this biblio-fantasy written for book lovers and bookworms!

02. Silent Witch: Chinmoku no Majo no Kakushigoto

サイレント・ウィッチ
Written by Matsuri Isora with illustrations by Nanna Fujimi

Miracles don't need chanting. This is the story of the weakest, most timid, yet strongest witch, and how she was reborn. (The Witch of Silence) Monica Everett. The only sorcerer in the world who can use silent (no-chant) magic, and a young hero who slayed the legendary black dragon by herself. But what is her true nature??

“The true reason I practiced silent magic was so that I wouldn't have to speak in public.”

When Monica was chosen as one of the 7 Watchers, without realizing it, she is forced to take a secret mission to protect the second prince…? Weak and timid, yet the strongest. An antisocial, celestial witch hides her true identity and secretly brings evil to justice! \

What will be the new mystery that stands in front of Monica Everett…?

01. Sasaki and Pi-chan

佐々木とピーちゃん / Sasaki to Pi-chan
Written by Buncololi with illustrations by Kantoku
Licensed for English release by Yen On

Even though Sasaki's droll corporate life is constantly filled with work, it leaves him tired and unfulfilled at the end of every day. In search of some companionship to fill the emptiness in his life, he visits a pet shop on a whim, not realizing he's about to change his life forever. After settling on an adorable bird and bringing it home…his new roommate reveals that it's actually an incredible sage from another world who promptly bestows Sasaki with supernatural powers as well as the ability to cross between worlds. All Sasaki wants to do is use these newfound powers to live in peace and comfort, but there are more than a few colorful characters who might get in the way of that…