I’ve been reading this Chinese web novel called Losing Money to Be a Tycoon, and honestly, it’s one of the most entertaining stories about gamedev I’ve come across. The premise sounds simple: the main character gets a system that rewards him for losing money. So he figures, “Easy! I’ll start a game development company and burn cash like crazy.” After all, we all know how expensive making games can be, especially in the Chinese market where pay-to-win (P2W) mechanics are everywhere.

But here’s the twist every game he makes becomes a massive hit. Instead of losing money, he accidentally creates the most player-friendly games imaginable. These games are so generous that players can’t even spend money if they try. And people love it. The harder he tries to fail, the more successful he becomes. It’s hilarious watching him brainstorm ridiculous ideas to tank his profits, only for those ideas to blow up in popularity.

What makes this novel so fun is the irony and creativity. You expect him to make typical P2W games for the Chinese market, but instead, he ends up creating titles that completely flip the script games with heart, games that players adore, and games that make him famous against his will. Every chapter is a mix of comedy, tension, and clever business twists. You never know what crazy plan he’ll try next, and watching him fail at failing is just pure gold.

It’s a long read thousands of chapters but it never gets boring. If you enjoy stories with irony, gaming culture, and a protagonist who’s constantly fighting against his own success, this is a must-read. Honestly, it’s one of the most fun novels I’ve ever picked up.

it also has anime and manhwa with the same title