Overview
- The series Return of the Disaster Class Hero centers on Lee Geon, who seeks vengeance against those who betrayed him, sharing the same studio as the popular manhwa Solo Leveling.
- Leveling Up Alone follows Han Yeol as he evolves into a formidable Hunter, developing his powers and Skills over time.
- In Solo Max-Level Newbie, Kang Jihyeok navigates a game that intertwines with reality, merging elements of the chaotic Dungeon Breaks familiar to Solo Leveling enthusiasts.
Quick Navigation
- Return of the Disaster Class Hero
- Leveling Up Alone
- Solo Max-Level Newbie
- Player Who Can’t Level Up
- The Gamer
The Solo Leveling franchise has emerged as a monumental success, with its anime adaptation consistently setting viewership records and captivating fans every week. As we anticipate the next chapters, numerous projects inspired by this phenomenon are making their debut.
With the immense popularity of Solo Leveling, fans are on the lookout for similar manhwa that capture its essence. Below, we present a curated list of titles that echo the themes and styles of Solo Leveling, potentially offering a fresh yet familiar experience for readers. Many of these titles even nod to concepts of solitude and leveling up within their names.
In recent trends, many manhwa titles have adopted a straightforward expository style, reminiscent of popular isekai narratives. The original Korean titles of such works often receive English adaptations that simplify their meanings without losing their core significance. An apt example is Solo Leveling, originally titled Na Honjaman Rebeleop, translating to “Only I Level Up”.This trend extends to similarly styled manhwa like Leveling Up Alone, which humorously maximizes the thematic overlap with Solo Leveling.
It’s noteworthy that many contemporary authors, such as Tatsuki Fujimoto of Chainsaw Man fame, have acknowledged the influence of existing materials, positioning their works in a lineage of adaptations that draw heavily from particular sources. While this may risk a certain repetitiveness in storytelling, it also offers a platform for creativity and innovation within the genre. Here are some of the standout manhwa titles echoing Solo Leveling:
5 Return of the Disaster Class Hero
A Close Relative of Solo Leveling
- Author: SAN. G (story), BGman and HEATS (art, adaptation) [REDICE Studio]
- Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Published: December 2021 – ongoing
- Platform: Tappytoon
Return of the Disaster Class Hero follows Lee Geon, the thirteenth of twelve saints endowed with powers by the Zodiac constellations to safeguard the world from monstrous threats known as “Calamities”.Despite being overlooked by the Zodiac Gods, Lee Geon rises to become the strongest among the saints. After being deceived and left for dead by his peers in the Tower of Demons, he endured two decades of betrayal while they claimed his accolades as their own. Now, having escaped from the Tower, Lee Geon is set to seek revenge against those who wronged him.
This series shares several similarities with Solo Leveling, particularly in its artistic style and narrative themes. The concepts of Calamities and the Saints echo the Rulers from Solo Leveling, leading to parallels in character journey dynamics. Readers can expect a thrilling exploration of themes similar to those found in Solo Leveling, particularly concerning resilience in the face of betrayal and the quest for justice.
4 Leveling Up Alone
A Play on Solo Leveling?
- Author: Sinfeel, BANGDOG
- Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Published: April 2021 – ongoing
- Platform: Tapas
The comically titled Leveling Up Alone reads like an alternate timeline of Solo Leveling. The narrative begins amidst chaos as monsters emerge globally from rifts. A peculiar young man appears before a gathering of global leaders, proposing a deal: humanity can combat these monsters if it joins a multiversal alliance. Fast forward 28 years, and the Earth teeters on the brink of collapse, but thanks to this alliance, Hunters equipped with extraordinary abilities arise.
Protagonist Lee Han Yeol, however, starts as an unremarkable porter with no powers. In a tense moment while rescuing a fellow porter, Han Yeol’s dormant abilities awaken, accompanied by Kabis, his newly formed “Ego”.This series cleverly blends elements of Solo Leveling with aspects from other popular titles, providing a unique take on the journey of a protagonist evolving into a powerful Hunter.
3 Solo Max-Level Newbie
An Echo of Solo Leveling
- Author: swingbat, WAN. Z [REDICE Studio]
- Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Published: February 2022 – ongoing
- Platform: WEBTOON
Another creation from REDICE Studio, Solo Max-Level Newbie features a lead character strikingly similar to Sung Jinwoo, complete with classic attributes found in many popular titles. Kang Jihyeok is entrenched in the virtual reality game, Tower of Trials, a perilous game where players have suffered catastrophic losses. Jihyeok, the first player to conquer the Tower, faces new challenges when the game’s mechanics suddenly blend with reality, creating a high-stakes environment where he must utilize his distinct skills to secure survival.
2 Player Who Can’t Level Up
The Dilemma of Advancement
- Author: Tae_A, Parrot Kim, GaVinGe
- Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Published: February 2022 – ongoing
- Platform: Tapas
Player Who Can’t Level Up follows a similar premise to Solo Leveling, where monstrous threats emerge from “Gates”and some people gain superhuman abilities. However, this time, the protagonist Kim Kigyu is marked as a “Unique Ability Player, ”meaning he possesses the potential to become an S-Rank Hunter. Yet, inexplicably, five years into his journey, he remains unable to level up, creating an engaging narrative twist.
As Kigyu faces adversity, he eventually discovers his unique ability, which allows him to connect with an entity known as an Ego. This mirrors the narrative development seen in Solo Leveling, providing both challenges and allies in his quest for power.
1 The Gamer
An Influential Predecessor
- Author: Song Sangyong (story), Sang-A (art)
- Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Published: September 2013 – July 2024
- Platform: WEBTOON
The Gamer offers a profound look into the concept of video game mechanics woven into real-world scenarios. The protagonist Han Jihan gains the ability to experience his life through a gaming interface, manifesting a heads-up display that enhances his interactions and growth. This unique perspective inspired many subsequent titles, including Solo Leveling.
This series, despite its earlier release, showcases the same allure of leveling up through experiences, introducing fantastical elements alongside everyday transformations. Although the translation quality may vary, The Gamer remains a hallmark entry in the genre that laid the groundwork for many titles that followed.
The Solo Leveling webcomic can be found on Tapas, while the anime is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
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