Best Manhwa Like Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling, serialized by Webtoon in 2018, is a major factor that increased the popularity of the manhwa/webcomic industry because it presented an interesting, irresistible storyline filled with incredible fights and immensely powerful characters. The story developed from one with a weak, powerless protagonist to a tale featuring a main character with immeasurable powers.

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The popularity of the series has led many manhwa readers to wonder if there are other stories with similar narratives. Luckily, there are. These manhwa share similarities with Solo Leveling in terms of an overpowered protagonist, intense fighting scenes, and/or profound magical abilities. So, if you are looking for manhwa like Solo Leveling, here’s a list starting with stories with the least similarities to others with the exact same narratives, all of which are enjoyable reads.

Updated July 11, 2025, by Mark Sammut: Solo Leveling is almost unquestionably the biggest manhwa of all time, so it has likely served to introduce many people to South Korean comics. While the industry has hundreds of great stories that share nothing in common with its most famous series, there are also plenty of very good manhwa similar to Solo Leveling. Another recommendation, Return of the Mad Demon, has been added, along with information regarding a manhwa’s availability on Tapas or Webtoon.

18

Solo Max-Level Newbie (Or I’m the Max-Level Newbie)

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5

• Author: Maslow, Swing Bat
• Release Years: Ongoing
• Genre: Action, Fantasy
• Available on Yonder

With a title that is reminiscent of Solo Leveling, Solo Max-Level Newbie is one of the more obvious alternatives out there, and it is a mostly amusing read that delivers similar thrills. Now, this manhwa does not have a particularly great story and is stuffed with prototypical overpowered main character tropes, to the point that Jinhyuk Kang could make or break the series for a lot of people. While not awful by any means, Jinhyuk is pretty much a conventional OP protagonist who barely changes throughout the story and mostly exists to stomp everyone around him. Still, that can be entertaining, so it is not a criticism.

The premise shares a few direct similarities with Solo Leveling. After Jinhyuk becomes the first player to complete a trash game, its Tower of Trials appears in the real world, and humanity has to clear all its floors or face annihilation. Due to being the only one to finish the game and also having the ability to level up, Jinhyuk is pretty much the only one with any chance to do anything. That said, Alice is an awesome character who steals the spotlight whenever she makes an appearance.

17

Swordmaster’s Youngest Son

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

• Author: Hwangje Penguin, Lee Jewon
• Release Years: Ongoing
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Swordmaster’s Youngest Son explores a tale and combination of swordsmanship, magic, and the usual supernatural monsters that seem to always trail after the former and the latter. Centered around the central character and youngest son of the Runcandel Household, Jin Runcandel is destined to head the Runcandel Household, known as the Clan of Swords and the strongest swordmaster clan.

However, despite his best efforts, Jin can never meet the standards and is banished from the clan. However, he eventually contracts with the guardian deity of the Runcandel clan, Solderet. He is freed from the curse that hindered his abilities, but Jin meets a pitiful end at the hands of a mysterious killer. In the next moment, however, Jin awakens as a baby at a time before his life woes begin. Given a second chance, Jin vows to fulfill the destiny that awaits him.

Swordmaster’s Youngest Son has a fairly different setting than Solo Leveling, but the manhwa incorporates some similarities through the introduction of Solderet, the God of Shadows and Swords, who gives Jin his powers and guides him through his next life. Like Sung, Jin led a life defined by weakness, only to be granted a unique power that pushes him well beyond the norm.

16

Leveling Up With The Gods

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.3 / 5

• Author: Heuk Ain, Ohyeon
• Release Years: Ongoing
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Set in a world ruled and dominated by the activities of the mysterious Tower, Leveling With The Gods presents the daunting tale of the central character, Kim Yuwon, the prodigious warrior and the lone survivor of the battle between the Inner and Outer Gods that ultimately led to humanity’s destruction.

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Defeated and alone, Kim Yuwon is presented with another opportunity to correct his mistakes as he returns to the past, to the point where he began as a warrior of the Tower. Renewed with vigor and determination, Yuwon must conquer the Tower once more; however, it remains to be seen if he can prevent humanity’s seemingly inevitable fate of destruction. Leveling With The Gods is a fairly traditional example of an OP MC regression manhwa, which is basically its own subcategory. Still, the story is quite enjoyable and manages to make Kim feel powerful while still allowing fights to have some tension.

15

The Player Who Can’t Level Up

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

• Author: GavinGe, Park Jeongjae
• Release Years: Ongoing
• Genre: Action, Adventure
• Available on Tapas

The Player That Can’t Level Up takes place in a world bombarded by the supernatural and fantastical. Society is forever altered by the appearance of the mysterious Tower of Babel. With its appearance, humans become able to manifest supernatural powers to climb and try to conquer the Tower. One such human is the central character, Kim Gigyu. Delighted at finally receiving his invitation to become a player and unlocking a unique ability, Gigyu thinks his life of struggles is over as he can finally provide for his sick mother and little sister.

However, he seemingly becomes worse off as he cannot increase his level, even after several attempts. After five years of serving as the Tower’s tour guide, Gigyu discovers an ability to link with ‘Egos’ and raise his level. Armed with his new ability, Kim Gigyu sets his sights once more on climbing the Tower by getting stronger. While focusing on a specific tower rather than different dungeons, The Player That Can’t Level Up is relatively similar to Solo Leveling, with both stories focusing on a weak-to-ridiculously-strong protagonist. As far as OP fantasies are concerned, this is among the better manhwa options.

14

Return Of The Mad Demon

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.3/5

• Author: JP, Hi Lee, Jinseong Yu
• Release Years: Ongoing
• Genre: Action, Fantasy, Murim, Comedy
• Available On Webtoon

OK, Return of the Mad Demon strikes a very, very different tone than Solo Leveling, to the point that it might be a dealbreaker if you are looking for something that takes itself as seriously as the latter. However, if you want an overpowered protagonist who is constantly growing stronger, along with fantastic art and cool fights, you should 100% check out this ongoing manhwa. Also, Jaha Lee and Sung Jinwoo have slightly similar origins. Both characters used to be weaklings before they became extremely powerful, and death plays a major role in their journeys.

In the case of Jaha, he swallows a peculiar item before jumping to his demise, which causes him to revive as his younger self and, more importantly, speedrun his growth. He uses this new opportunity to start a sect and take out a bunch of evil people, all the while very much living up to his moniker as the “mad demon.” While Sung transforms enemies into his Shadows, Jaha can absorb people’s QI, effectively making their strength his own. The mechanics of these powers are not remotely comparable, but they both allow their protagonists to boost their power by using other warriors.

Now, like I said, Return of the Mad Demon‘s tone is nothing like Solo Leveling. The manhwa is very comedic, with Jaha constantly dishing out hilarious comments. Don’t get me wrong, the fight sequences are good and fairly plentiful, but they take somewhat of a backseat to the humor.

13

The Beginning After The End

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.5/5

• Author: TurtleMe, Fuyuki123
• Release Years: Ongoing
• Genre: Action, Fantasy, Adventure
• Available on Tapas

The Beginning After The End is often compared with Solo Leveling due to their striking similarities, even though both stories are set in worlds with different power systems. The Beginning After The End is a reincarnation story based on the webnovel, written by TurtleMe. The story stars King Grey, who is reincarnated into the continent of Dicathen, as Arthur Leywin.

Using the knowledge of his past life in this new, fantasy world, Arthur mastered the concept of mana quicker than normal, allowing him to become a powerful mage at a young age. The fantasy-lined story presents adventures, fights, and characters that will constantly pique your curiosity. Arthur is a refreshing protagonist who takes a more analytical approach to his development, and he gradually becomes more approachable and human as the story develops. TBATE has a more ambitious story than Solo Leveling.

12

Return To Player

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

Return to Player explores a tale of mythology combined with the reality of modern society. Humanity lived rather ordinarily until a decade ago when a group of gods turned humanity into players of a deadly and sadistic game of minster killing. One of these players is the protagonist, Sehan Kim, who has already seen how it all ends— the destruction of all of humanity except for himself. As humanity’s last remaining survivor, Sehan is given another chance to go back in time for a second playthrough.

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This time, however, this joyous game of death of the gods will not go as planned, as Sehan is determined to control the threads of fate in this second playthrough. Armed with the experience of the first playthrough, Sehan vows to beat the gods at their own game.

11

Tomb Raider King

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.9/5

• Author: Sanji Jiksong, 3B2S
• Release Years: 2019-2023
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Available on Tapas

Human life takes a drastic turn when the mysterious God Tombs, begins to appear. Within these tombs are relics that grant their users extraordinary power. Tomb Raider King tells the tale of a man who became the world’s most feared tomb raider.

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The series is centered on Jooheon Suh, a tomb raider betrayed and murdered by his employer after he discovers some powerful relics. Jooheon’s life is not done yet, as he reawakens 15 years in the past, just around the period when God Tombs begin to appear. Retaining all the knowledge and experience from his previous life, Jooheon, motivated by revenge, begins the journey to become the world’s most feared relic collector.

10

Solo Necromancy (Or The Lone Necromancer)

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.9/5

Solo Necromancy revolves around the central character, Seongwu, a former special forces soldier who returns to college after completing his National Service. His ordinary student life comes to a shocking halt when he and everyone else are suddenly faced with a mysterious prompt asking them to choose.

With no choice other than to choose, Seongwu chooses necromancy, and so he becomes a necromancer. With these new abilities and modern society on the verge of literal collapse, Seongwu decides to use his new skills to protect and save those around him. With a name like Solo Necromancy, this manhwa does not hide the fact that it might share some common ground with Solo Leveling, which is by no means a bad thing. They also shine in the same areas, in the sense that they are entertaining power fantasies with great art and exciting fights. Their stories are fine, but not the main focus.

9

The World After The Fall

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1/5

• Author: sing N song, Undead Gamja
• Release Years: Ongoing
• Genre: Action, Fantasy
• Available On Webtoon

Mysterious Towers began to appear worldwide, and within these Towers are monsters spawned to destroy humanity. Summoned to these Towers are humans called Tower Walkers; presented with a choice in the face of defeat and certain death, whether to run or to keep fighting.

The story’s protagonist, Jaehwan, chooses a fate perhaps worse than death; that is, to keep fighting for the original timeline. Stubbornness or bravery? Only his strength can tell which and whether he will reach the end of the Towers remains to be seen. The World After The Fall has a reputation for being messy, and I admit that the early chapters can be a bit difficult to follow; however, the manhwa improves as it goes along, becoming pretty great after a while. The fights are also fantastic.