What would you consider "high brow" litRPG?

So I decided to read DCC after seeing it about a dozen top lists at the end of the year and enjoyed it decently. I've also previously read Awaken Online, though I stopped after reading the line "white knuckle grip" 5 times in almost as many pages, though that was years ago.

Things is, I have some negative associations with litRPG, a lot of it seems purely power fantasy escapism and scrolling through Amazon will churn out dozens of straight up sexual fantasy books in the genre.

But I like to challenge my assumptions and be proven wrong, I want to be a super well rounded reader, so I suppose I'm linking for recommendations. What would you consider the best of the best in litRPG?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Edit: I didn't expect this request the generate such interesting discussions about the genre, thanks everyone! So far based on some particularly interesting responses my next few reads in no particular order will be: Slumrat Rising, Worth The Candle, and Wandering Inn.