In an instant with the latest update of the popular MMORPG Elder Tale, thirty thousand Japanese gamers find themselves abruptly transported out of their mundane lives and into the realm of the game. However, they soon discover they are unable to log out. Shiroe, a socially awkward college student who is a seasoned gamer, quickly adapts to the situation and sets out to explore the possibilities of this new virtual world. To establish order in the virtual city of Akihabara, Shiroe must lead others and negotiate with the "native" NPC inhabitants. He is joined by his hapless friend Naotsugu, who had previously abandoned the game, and the diminutive yet fierce assassin Akatsuki, who pledges her loyalty to Shiroe. As the story unfolds, Log Horizon combines fantasy, adventure, and politics to showcase the gaming experience through the clever strategies of a mastermind determined to solve a daunting mystery.