Updated November 28, 2022 by Ernie
We’ve known a lot of anime where the main character is a pure genius who outsmarts his opponents and leaves the viewers in awe. Now, it’s time to talk about some of the Best Light Novels With Genius Main Characters. Are you guys curious? Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
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Light Novels With a Genius Protagonist
16. Chrome Shelled Regios
| Title | Chrome Shelled Regios |
| Genre | Sci-Fi, Fantasy |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | 157 |
| Volumes | 25 |
| Authors | Amagi, Shuusuke, Miyuu |
| Published | 2006 |
Chrome Shelled Regios takes us to a post-apocalyptic world where beasts called Limbeekoon or Filled Monsters have taken over everything. The rest of humanity is forced to defend themselves using the power of Kei and weapons called Dite. We’re introduced to Layfon Alseif who wants to start a new life in the Academy City of Zulleni. He has the kind of past that he wants to forget but the student council president named Nina Antalk recognizes his abilities and wants him to join her group. Layfon is a genius and has powers beyond human comprehension. Will Layfon accept this offer or want to lay low for the rest of his life?
15. Emblem of the Branded
| Title | Emblem of the Branded |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | 106 |
| Volumes | 12 |
| Authors | Sugihara, Tomonori, 3 |
| Published | 2008 |
Emblem of the Branded introduces us to a war between the countries Mephius and Garbera. But the two countries are willing to end their 10-year-long war through a political marriage between the two royal families. Enter Orba who looks exactly like the crown prince of Mephius. It is decided that he will be substituting for the prince during the wedding. On the other hand, Vleena, the princess, is thinking of trapping the prince because of her own interests. However, Orba is not someone to be underestimated. How will things turn out after the wedding?
14. Goblin Slayer
| Title | Goblin Slayer |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | Unknown |
| Authors | Kannatsuki, Noboru, Kagyuu, Kumo |
| Published | 2016 |
Goblin Slayer tells us the story of a priestess who is all excited to go on her adventure as she has joined a party. However, she and her party members end up going into a dangerous dungeon where they are attacked by a bunch of goblins. The goblins start torturing the priestess’ party but when it’s her turn to be tortured and killed mercilessly, she’s saved by a man who calls himself the Goblin Slayer. The Goblin Slayer is an extremely smart person who knows how to combat goblins that have wreaked havoc in their world. The priestess decides to form a party with him and a bunch of other strong people. Their journey to slaying goblins starts right there.
13. Detective Conan
| Title | Detective Conan |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | Unknown |
| Authors | Aoyama, Gosho, Tani, Yutaka |
| Published | 2005 |
Detective Conan is a story about a popular teenage detective named Shinichi Kudo who is a big fan of Sherlock Holmes and is trying to follow in his footsteps. Because of his exceptional intelligence and observation skills, Shinchi is able to solve most cases easily. It was another normal day for him when he was trying to investigate. However, he was kidnapped and forced to try a drug that shrank his body and turned him into a 7-year-old kid. He decided to change his identity and now his new name is Conan Edogawa. Will he be able to locate the culprit with his new identity?
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12. Zaregoto Series
| Title | Zaregato Series |
| Genre | Action, Mystery |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | 71 |
| Volumes | 9 |
| Authors | NISIO, ISIN, Take |
| Published | 2016 |
Zaregato tells us the story of our unnamed protagonists who hates being in the limelight but is somehow dragged into being the center of attention. He gets involved in a lot of mysteries and murders. He tries hard to solve the mysteries but in the end, everything he does is meaningless and unfruitful.
11. The Irregular at Magical High School
| Title | The Irregular at Magic High School |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | 32 |
| Authors | Sato, Tsutomu, Ishida, Kana |
| Published | 2011 |
The Irregular at Magical High School takes us to the year 2095 where the practice of magic is mandatory. Enter two siblings named Tatsuya and Miyuki who have enrolled in the First Magic High School of Japan. But according to the school’s rules, Miyuki gets to take the prestigious Course 1 and Tatsuya has to take the Course 2. Though his tests reveal himself to be weak and unreliable, he possesses exceptional knowledge and is physically fit as well. That’s how he becomes irregular at his school.
10. Steins; Gate
| Title | Steins; Gate |
| Genre | Sci-Fi |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | 17 |
| Volumes | 5 |
| Authors | Sakai, Kyuuta, Miwa, Kiyomune |
| Published | 2013 |
Steins; Gate tells us the story of a group of friends who have successfully created a machine that is able to send messages to the past. As they research more on the time travel phenomenon, another organization named SERN who are doing their own research about time traveling learn about them and want to capture them. Now, our protagonists must find a way in order to continue their research and also not get caught by SERN.
9. Overlord
| Title | Overlord |
| Genre | Adventure, Fantasy |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | Unknown |
| Authors | Maruyama, Kugane, so-bin |
| Published | 2012 |
Momonga is obsessed with an online RPG named Yggdrasil and spends most of his time playing it. The developers then announced the shut-down of the game After during the shutdown, he discovers that he is unable to log out of the game and it is revealed that he is actually inside the game and as his favorite character, the demon lord, Ainz Ooal Gown. Now, Ainz is extremely overpowered and smart. He can literally do anything he wants in that game. He aims to take over the entire game world and wants to get acknowledged as well.
8. Oregairu
| Title | Oregairu |
| Genre | Romance, Comedy |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | 168 |
| Volumes | 18 |
| Authors | Watari, Wataru, Ponkan |
| Published | 2011 |
Oregairu features our genius main character named Hikigaya Havciman who is forced to join a club at school that serves other students because of his controversial views in an essay. He finds out that he’s not alone in that club. Cold and beautiful Yukino Yukinoshita and fun and bubbly Yui Yuigahama are also part of that club. They must get along with each other despite having different personalities.
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7. Hyouka
| Title | Hyouka |
| Genre | Drama, Mystery |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | Unknown |
| Authors | Yonezaba, Honobu |
| Published | 2001 |
Hyouka tells us the story of Houtarou Oreki who is a conservationist and is forced to join the Classics Club at his school by his sister. There, he comes across Chitanda who is a highly curious girl. As Houtarou is a genius, Chitanda constantly pesters him whenever she’s curious about something. Their group also includes Satoshi and Ibara who try to solve different cases and mysteries in their school.
6. How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom
| Title | How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | Unknown |
| Authors | Dozeumaru, Fuyuyuki |
| Published | 2016 |
The light novel tells us the story of Kazuya Souma who is suddenly summoned to a fantasy world and is betrothed to the princess. He’s made the king after he gave the royal family valuable advice. It is because of his intelligence that all the people of the kingdom admire him and depend on him. He’s making the kingdom better than before using his well-thought tactics. Will he never want to go back to his own world?
5. Gosick
| Title | Gosick |
| Genre | Drama, Mystery |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | 9 |
| Authors | Sakuraba, Kazuki, Takeda, Hinata |
| Published | 2003 |
Gosick takes us to the early 20th century where we’re introduced to a boy named Kazuya. He is transferred to a prestigious academy in Saubure. Kazuya is all excited to start his new school life and make new friends. However, the students of his class are not interested in befriending him as they have branded him the “Black Reaper”. One day, while Kazuya is wandering at the top of the Library, he comes across a garden and finds a blonde-haired girl named Victorique who never leaves the building. She’s fascinated by unsolved mysteries and wants to solve them with Kazuya. Together, they decide to solve some of the most chilling cases that even the local detective can’t solve.
4. No Game No Life
| Title | No Game no Life |
| Genre | Comedy, Fantasy |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | Unknown |
| Authors | Kamiya, Yuu |
| Published | 2012 |
No Game no Life introduces us to two genius siblings named Shiro and Sora who get transported into a game world where everything could be solved by playing games and challenging each other. The two siblings are great at playing games and start winning each challenge thrown at them.What they aim for is to become the kings of the game world they were transported into. Will they be able to gain that position using their brains?
3. The Saga of Tanya the Evil
| Title | The Saga of Tanya the Evil |
| Genre | Adventure, Fantasy |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | Unknown |
| Authors | Shinotsuki, Shinobu, Zen, Carlo |
| Published | 2013 |
The light novel tells us the story of a man who gets reincarnated into a fantasy world after challenging the Being X. He finds himself in the body of a little girl named Tanya who serves in the military. She’s a genius and is able to take out her opponents without much effort. Now, Tanya decides to climb up the ranks of the military and become the best of the best.
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2. Altina the Sword Princess
| Title | Altina the Sword Princess |
| Genre | Action, Adventure |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | Unknown |
| Volumes | Unknown |
| Authors | Murasaki, Yukiya, Himesuz |
| Published | 2012 |
This light novel introduces us to an incapable soldier named Regis who comes across princess Altina in a remote region he was transferred to. The princess wields the supreme ruler’s sword. As she is the illegitimate child of the Emperor, she was appointed to become the commander of the army of that area. She doesn’t lose heart and trusts Regis to be her tactician. Will Regis be able to help her in any way?
1. Classroom of the Elite
| Title | Classroom of the Elite |
| Genre | Drama |
| Type | Light Novel |
| Chapters | 110 |
| Volumes | 14 |
| Authors | Tomose, Shunsaku, Kinugasa, Shougo |
| Published | 2015 |
Classroom of the Elite takes us to the Tokyo Koudo Ikusei Senior High School where the employment rate after graduating is 100%. We’re introduced to Kiyotaka Ayanokoji who is a genius but keeps it a secret from everyone. He tries to be the boring guy that no one wants to interact with. He actually has a dark past that no one knows about. He purposefully ends up in Class 1-D which is full of problem students. He tries to remain out of the limelight but does his work from the shadows. Will he ever reveal his true self in front of others?
Conclusion
We’re at the end of our blog about some of the most intelligent main characters found in light novels. Comment down below your favorite anime from this list. We’ll come back with more Light Novels blogs. See you guys in the next one!
