Disclaimer: These rankings ONLY INCLUDE PHYSICAL COPIES SOLD, meaning any digital copies sold aren’t included
Mangas and light novel series have captivated fans worldwide, drawing them into realms of boundless curiosity and vivid imagination. These popular light novels are often adapted into television series, further fueling their global appeal. With immense popularity among fans, these engaging stories transcend borders, earning widespread recognition and acclaim.
Readily available and cherished by readers everywhere, many of these novels become instant bestsellers upon release. To celebrate their success, we’ve compiled a list of the top-selling light novels of 2024. As the year comes to a close, let’s dive into the stories that have captured hearts and dominated the charts this year.
1. The Apothecary Diaries
With the highest number of copies sold we have, The Apothecary Diaries. The current obsession of fans, this series is something that was recently announced to have a season 2. Based on the popular light novel series, the series takes its fans into an ancient era where an apothecary investigates a tragedy happening in the kingdom alongside a eunuch. The series has sold up to 1,350,491 copies worldwide.
2. Haikyuu!
Making it to the second list, we have Haikyuu, another Shonen series. One of the widely watched anime series, this coming-of-age and sports action series talks about the obsession of a junior high school boy who wants to make it to the international games. Filled with aspirations and lots of fun, the series had 4 seasons and a movie that will conclude the series legacy. It has sold up to 800,574 copies worldwide.
3. Classroom of Elite
The futuristic Japan harbors some of the brilliant kids who can take the future; this series brings an interesting side of storytelling. The Classroom of the Elite series is one of the most popular anime series running both physically and streaming on OTT platforms. Sold up to 373.167 copies, the series is coming back with season 4.
4. Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
Another light novel romance, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, has made it to the no. 4 list. This popular light novel talks about the lives of two high school kids who are opposites but share some romantic feelings for each other. Alya, who is the beauty of her class, is secretly in love with a boy named Masachika Kuze.
He seems disinterested but shares similar feelings. Alya speaks a bit of Russian and flirts with him, but she doesn’t know that Kuze too knows Russian. This light novel has recently been adapted into a series and also got a green light for season 2. It has sold up to 312,160 copies worldwide.
5. The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten
Next up we have, the anime series The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten has brought love and high school romance to manga lovers. The series with 10 volumes and 2 short series has sold up to 234,363 copies worldwide. The plot of the series talks about two high schoolers who are unaware of each other’s feelings but slowly fall into a relationship that no one has anticipated.
The anime adaptation of the series came in October 2023, and the second season was announced right after the first.
3. MSG SEED Freedom
MSG SEED Freedom is another exciting light novel that gained huge popularity the minute it came out. This light novel first came in earlier this year and brought a wave of craze with its science fiction backdrop. Set in a futuristic scenario a team known by the name COMPASS monitors activities that indulge in overcoming regional turmoil especially in space and outer space. It has sold up to 193,558 worldwide.
With 5 volumes and many more to come, it teases fans for an intriguing space fantasy thriller.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
With approx. 146,347 the popular fantasy light novel That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. The series foretells an interesting story of Aman, who is killed by a robber and then is reincarnated into a slime. His journey to protect and fight battles is something he is amazed to see and how he can transform into something and anything he wants.
With 20 volumes, the series has been adapted into series and movies. With the last season airing this year, fans will be missing the series until the next season is announced.
4. Too Many Losing Heroines!
This exciting series is on the verge of getting a sequel soon. An interesting journey of a high school girl who is dealing with heartbreaks and witnessing a new sense of meaning while she copes with her life. A boy named Kazuhiko witnesses these breakups and titles these girls as young women losing heroines.
With a great number of fans following and the light novel raging all over the world, it has become the best-selling, making approx. It has sold 127,142 copies worldwide.
6. Blue Lock
Another to the list is Blue Lock. With 110.199 worldwide copies, this popular manga anime is something that fans have been hyping about since it came out. With season 2 still running, the series is widely popular with its storytelling and an enigmatic approach to sports. The series has 31 volumes, which means more of the seasons will be teased.
The light novel series first came out in August 2018, the first season of the sports thriller came out in October 2022, and season 2 has been running since October 2024. This widely popular series has an interesting storyline of a group of footballers who are trained under a program called Blue Lock, where the players are trained to compete in international matches like FIFA and represent their country. Jinpachi Ego, who is training the team, is on a mission to bring the best strikers the world has ever seen.
10. Detective Conan: Detective Series
At the no. 1 position, we have Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Pentagram. The popular light novel series that was released in 1994 is still one of the most hyped mangas to date. With approx. 103,412 copies sold worldwide, the light novel series is still one of the best series released. The Million Dollar Pentagram is a movie based on the popular comic series.
This movie earned global recognition and became the highest-grosser in Japan and also the highest-grossing Conan detective series ever. The plot of the Shonen series revolves around a kid named Jimmy who is experienced and is transformed into an elementary teen. His abilities surpass the adults, and he uses his quick wit to solve mystery cases.
Among all these light novels, which ones are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below.
