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.
While all the upcoming manhwa share elements with Solo Leveling, their degree of similarity varies considerably. In certain cases, these manhwa are just good alternatives for people who enjoy Sung Jinwoo’s story.
Updated October 18, 2025, by Mark Sammut: Manhwa similar to Solo Leveling are basically their own genre. This time, we added one blatant copy (Boundless Ascension) and a story that is kind of similar (Hero’s Diner).
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.
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.
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.5/5
- Author: Sing N song, Sleepy-C
- Release Years: Ongoing
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Available On Webtoon
Many manhwa series share the same narratives and power systems, which can make these series predictable. However, if readers are looking for something different with a touch of Solo Leveling vibes, the ideal title is Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. The story’s protagonist, Dokja Kim, was a regular salary office worker preoccupied with reading the novel “Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse.”

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Shockingly, when the novel’s last chapter is released, the world the protagonist lives in changes into that of the novel. Dokja then puts his knowledge of the novel to good use, exploiting the world’s secrets to his advantage to increase his chances of survival. While Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint is considerably slower than Solo Leveling, especially in its early chapters, the manhwa does a fantastic job of exploring Dokja’s personality and growth. While less of a power fantasy, the story is epic, ambitious, and complete.
Nano Machine
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.4/5
Nano Machine is a manhwa series following a protagonist who obtains powers like those of Sung Jin-Woo. At the start of the series, Cheon Yeo Woon obtained the Nano Machine, a unique power-up system, from his mysterious descendant. This “Nano Machine” helped Cheon Yeo Woon learn martial arts in a profound manner.
After going through rigorous training, with the Nano Machine’s aid, Cheon was able to master incredible swordsmanship that enabled him to earn the rank of the Vice-Lord, heir to the throne of the Great Heavenly Demonic Cult. Nano Machine embodies the weak-to-strong theme present in Solo Leveling. It’s the perfect replay of the manhwa, but in a different world and setting.
Boundless Ascension
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8/5
- Author: 2love, Seonun, Shyatan
- Release Years: Ongoing
- Genre: Action, Fantasy, Magic
- Available on Webtoon
Boundless Ascension‘s alternate name is Boundless Necromancer, just in case the Solo Leveling inspiration was not obvious enough from the concept. Earth has a dungeon problem that causes monsters to show up and kill, an experience Seong-yun went through as a child. Older but not really all that much stronger, Seong-yun’s attempts to become a Hunter meet a dead-end as he learns that his fighting skills are extremely below average. He has no potential. Then, he gets a weird invite to take part in trials, setting him down the road to becoming an OP necromancer.
Boundless Ascension is mostly just decent, and the Solo Leveling similarities do not help since it handles most of the same concepts worse than its more popular counterpart. That said, the manhwa is still decent and works well enough as a power fantasy with almost non-stop action.
Return Of The Disaster-Class Hero
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1/5
- Author: Sanji Jiksong, Lee Beomgeun
- Release Years: Ongoing
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
Solo Leveling was released in 2018, and it’s been quite a while since the manhwa’s ending. So, for readers looking for a new manhwa with as much potential as Solo Leveling, with an overpowered protagonist to match, Return of the Disaster Class Hero is a must-read.
Filled with betrayal and treachery, the manhwa features the return of Lee Gun, who returns to take his revenge on his teammates, the 12 saints who betrayed him by trapping him in a dungeon to fight monsters with incredible regeneration abilities. Due to his immense willpower, Lee Gun escaped from the dungeon, emerging with newfound powers and looks. Now, he intends to show no mercy to treacherous teammates for the pains they put him through.
The Boxer
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.4/5
The Boxer is a manhwa serialized on Webtoon since 2019. The story features a cold, talented protagonist, Yu, who is introduced to the boxing world. Despite being new to the boxing world, Yu managed to defeat renowned, experienced boxers due to his incredible skill and fighting abilities. Training under the legendary boxing coach, K, Yu works his way through the boxing world, defeating world-class boxers with ease and finesse, closely similar to the famous Saitama from the One-Punch Man series.
The Boxer subtly hosts the hard work vs. raw talent ideal using the story’s contrasting characters. Yu shares certain similarities with Sung Jin-woo, but in the world of sports. Following this similarity, you can add The Boxer to your reading list.
The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1/5
The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years is based on the fantasy webnovel series starring several powerful characters. The manhwa is based on Lucas Traumen, the nine-star mage who is trapped in the abyss for 4000 years after his fight with Lord. Luckily, he manages to reincarnate into the body of Frey Blake, who committed suicide to escape from his miserable life.

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Lucas then starts his new life with a new personality while training to reach his former power level and surpass it. However, soon, the antagonists of the series, the Demi-gods, resurface again. To combat these powerful beings, Lucas/Frey Blake now tries to speed up his growth as a mage while allying himself with powerful forces to counter the Demi-gods’ threat. This narrative is quite similar to Sung Jin-woo’s from Solo Leveling and his battles against the Monarchs. Based on this note, The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years is a must-see for Solo Leveling fans.
Eleceed
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.5/5
Eleceed is a Webtoon series written by Son Je-Ho and illustrated by ZHENA. Eleceed is set in a world of the awakened – people with unique abilities disguised as regular humans. The main character, Ji-woo, a kind-hearted boy with a love for cats, possesses an ability involving speed. Initially, he was unaware that they were people like him until he met Kayden, a powerful ranker in the form of a cat.
Soon, Jiwoo is thrust into a different world – a world he belongs to, featuring powerful individuals and organizations. Training under Kayden and Curtin, Ji-woo sets up to be a powerful awakened, using his incredible speed-based techniques. Eleceed is a great mix of action and comedy. The manhwa is quite similar to Solo Leveling; however, it also focuses on friendship and is way, way funnier.
Second Life Ranker
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.3/5
- Author: Sadoyeon, Nongnong
- Release Years: Ongoing
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
- Available on Tapas
Second Life Ranker is a fantasy series that shares striking similarities with the Solo Leveling series. However, on the contrary, the manhwa begins on a tragic note. With the protagonist, Yeon-woo, suddenly receiving news of his younger brother’s death, he is forced to journey into the Obelisk to inquire about the tower’s secrets and ultimately learn about the cause of his brother’s death.
The Obelisk is a unique tower that grants one magical ability as they ascend and undergo perilous adventures. Eventually, Yeon-woo gains formidable powers and magical abilities, signaling the overpowered protagonist trope present in Solo Leveling. Second Life Ranker is a must-read for Solo Leveling fans as it takes readers through Solo Leveling-like adventures but in a different setting.