15 Apocalyptic Manhwa To Fill The Void Of Solo Leveling (2024)

Warning: MASSIVE spoilers for Solo Leveling ahead!

Sung Jinwoo and his treacherous journey in the apocalyptic world of Solo Leveling has left readers in a void, now that the manhwa has ended (even if the anime adaptation has only just started). From a revolutionary incident to ridding the world of monsters, Solo Leveling is a shining example of how to effectively use tropes common to the fantasy/adventure genre within manhwa.

Thankfully, plenty of others within the medium possess the qualities that make it a fan favorite: weak to strong protagonist, hunters, leveling system, dungeons or gates, guilds, gods or higher beings, and to up the stakes, the impending doom of civilization.

15 Savior of Divine Blood (2024)

Based on the Original Novel by Eto Shunji and Illustrated by silou

Savior of Divine Blood takes place in a world very similar to Solo Leveling where gates full of infernal creatures begin to spawn while a menacing timer in the sky threatens humanity. Like the hunters in Solo Leveling, Savior of Divine Blood sees the rise of Players who are meant to fight these infernal creatures and the protagonist of the story is one of these very Players named Subaru.

Except, Subaru isn't like the other Players at all. In this world, Players' strength and rank is determined by the color of the door they pass through when chosen, but never before has anyone seen a rainbow-colored door like Subaru's.

14 The Player Who Can't Level Up (2022)

Based on the Original Novel by GaVinGe, Adapted by Parrot Kim, and Illustrated by Tae_A

The Player Who Can't Level Up's story is set in a world where a mysterious tower has appeared and brought with it gates full of monsters. Only those with superhuman powers, dubbed players, can fight these monsters, with the strongest among them being the Players with unique abilities.

Kim Kigyu, the protagonist of this story finds out he has been chosen as a Player and that he has a mysterious unique ability as well. However, much like the title implies, Kigyu finds he cannot level up and is left with no choice but to act as a guide to the lower levels of the tower. That is until he one day discovers what his unique ability can do, which changes everything and allows his adventures to truly take off. From the concept of gates full of magic monsters to the game-like mechanics, The Player Who Can't Level Up is quite reminiscent of Solo Leveling.

13 Kill The Dragon (2022)

Based on the Original Novel by Baeksu Noble, Adapted by J-Sun, and Illustrated by Miss Jisu

Kill the Dragon is set in a world where humanity has been plunged into a war against dragons who have invaded the planet. The Psykers are the only ones who can fight the dragons and, after countless sacrifices and endless bloodshed, the war seemed to be coming to an end until one Psyker prophesied the dragons would return in exactly fifteen years.

Thus, an organization called the Ark is established, tasked with training Psykers in anticipation of the dragons' return. Kill the Dragon's story takes place three years before the dragons are expected to return and takes off when Han Lee, an orphan with psychic abilities, is sent to Ark to receive training as a Psyker. Besides its post-apocalyptic setting, Kill the Dragon also features exceptional art and is also produced by Redice studio just like Solo Leveling.

12 A Returner's Magic Should Be Special (2018)

Based on the Original Novel by Usonan and Adapted by Wookjakga

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As the name implies, A Returner's Magic Should Be Special is centered around a mage named Desir Herrman who gets the chance to return to the past and get stronger. The story takes place in a world ravaged by a decade-long war. The Mysterious Shadow Worlds have destroyed humanity and Desir is one of the last remaining mages with great talent despite being a commoner without proper training.

Just when the battle seems over, Desir and his comrades are killed unexpectedly and Desir finds himself 13 years in the past armed with the knowledge of what is to come. Thus, he uses this second chance to get even stronger and enrolls in Hebrion Academy to study magic, hoping to save himself and his friends this time around. While the premise is a bit different from Solo Leveling, Desir's journey to grow stronger is one that fans of Sung Jinwoo's character arc will surely enjoy.

11 The World After The Fall (2022)

Written by singNsong and Illustrated by Undead Gamja

From the same author as Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, The World After the Fall also features a plot that grows just as complex and vibrant world-building that fans of Solo Leveling will be able to appreciate. The manhwa is set in a post-apocalyptic setting where, instead of gates like SoloLeveling, Towers have begun to appear on Earth. The magic beasts within are poised to annihilate humanity and only a select few dubbed Tower Walkers can fight them.

To make things interesting, the Tower Walkers each possess a stone that allows them to go back in time to when the Towers appeared and start over with the knowledge they currently have. Only one among them, the story's' protagonist, Jaehwan, refuses to regress and continues to climb the tower, fighting for the current timeline. Evidently, Jaehwan is very much a loner just like Sung Jinwoo, which is all the more reason to give the series a go.

10 Level Up with the Gods (2022)

Based on the novels by Black Ajin & illustrated by Ohyeon

With ancient evils threatening to destroy the world, Kim Yuwon, with the help of his comrades, decides to climb the tower once more with the hopes of becoming stronger to overpower his enemies. Yuwon’s knowledge helps him level up, along with his understanding of how the tower operates, including its floor managers. His lone-wolf personality is similar to Jinwoo, yet he allows himself to cautiously guide Zeus’ son.

Lovers of mythology will delight in the God of Olympus characters and their treacherous games spread throughout the tower, as well as the world of Murim, as the tower possesses different dimensions within its structure. Like Sung Jinwoo, Kim Yuwon must oppose a greater force after leveling up in order to secure a future for both himself and the tower.

9 Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint (2020)

Based on the novels by Sing-Shong, written by UMI, & illustrated by Sleepy-C

Kim Dokja escapes from his mundane life as an office worker by reading the web novel 'Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse' by TLS123. When the unimaginable happens, Dokja’s world becomes the setting of the novel, and he is the only one who knows what will happen next. In order to save the world, he will use his knowledge and wits to change the course of the story.

Besides being produced by Redice Studio, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is also similar to Solo Leveling in regard to its world building. Dokja is now part of a system that caters to higher beings, such as Constellations, Demons, and Outer-Gods. He also possesses the power to glimpse at the thoughts of others, which steadily levels up as he completes plot points and bonds with the main characters.

8 The Esper’s Game (2022)

Based on the novels by Niccolo, written by Two-zero, & illustrated by Plan A

Seomun Yeop, one of the world’s seven heroes, was lost after saving the world. Now that the fate of the world is secured, the Espers no longer have a need for their powers; cue the Virtual Reality game Battle Field. This VR recreates dungeons of defeated monsters for a heated competition between Esper teams. Yeop finally takes an interest in the games, until he uncovers the evil force of the subterranean burrowers at play behind the scenes.

The Esper’s Game is a unique action manhwa with fantasy elements that alternate between the physical and virtual worlds. In a setting similar to SoloLeveling, clubs are the norm rather than guilds, and dungeons remain the same; however, the superpowers differ, and items are more commonplace.

7 Return of the Disaster Class Hero (2022)

Based on the novels by San. G, written by HEATS, & illustrated by BGman

The Zodiacs chose 12 Saints to combat what humanity called “calamities”, or monsters that found their way to Earth. Geon Lee was an anomaly, another chosen, and the most powerful Saint of them all. Betrayed by the Saints, Geon falls in the demon tower to a zone where calamities are known to endlessly spawn. However, 20 years later, he finds himself finally free and on the hunt for revenge.

The setting is similar to Solo Leveling, in which a greater understanding of the world and its politics come into play, as well as the continual threat of monsters attempting to take over the planet. The protagonist is also similar in that he becomes overpowered through continual training and has a set goal that he’s working toward, the same as Jinwoo in his hopes of defeating the double dungeon.

6 My S-Class Hunters (2022)

Based on the novels by Geunseo, written by Seri, & illustrated by Biwan

When a monster outbreak occurs and gates appear, Yoojin Han finds himself at the bottom of the food chain, an F-rank, while his younger brother Yoohyun Han is awakened as an S-rank. Used to taking care of his brother, Yoojin tries various means to increase his rank; but ultimately, his attempts end in Yoohyun’s demise.

Given another opportunity, Yoojin decides to change his future by keeping a low profile. However, his new skill makes this an impossible feat, since he can see the max level-up grade potential of a hunter. Like Jinwoo, Yoojin holds fast to his values, prioritizing his family, while also operating within an intricate political system consisting of multiple guilds. The setting also features gates and an outside influence over the system, which Yoojin tries his best to cooperate with as he surrounds himself with overpowered hunters.

5 The Hero Returns (2022)

Based on the novels by B. Ain, written by Antstudio, & illustrated by Antstudio and Yungun

Sungin Kim has a hero complex that does not abate even when he regresses to before the emergence of dungeons as high school student Soohyun Kim. With his memories intact, Soohyun challenges the tower of trials in the hopes of becoming an overpowered hero once more to prevent the destruction of Earth. To this end, he acquires items and grows closer to influential figures as he prevents disasters before they have a chance to strike.

While Jinwoo in Solo Leveling has a prescribed power, Soohyun acquires skills through trading points, which he earns through tower trials, along with leveling up his base stats. The worlds are also similar in that they have awakeners, which are like hunters, as well as guilds. Both feature the lone-wolf archetype protagonist who is eventually surrounded by people who share a synergetic relationship throughout their journey.

4 SSS – Class Revival Hunter

Based on the novels by No-Ah Shin, written by Neida, & illustrated by Bill K

One day, a Tower appeared and granted people skills, effectively turning them into hunters. At rock bottom, protagonist Gong-Ja Kim is envious of the celebrated hunter known as the Flame Emperor. Through his greed, the Tower grants him an S-rank skill. However, in order to use this skill, he must die. Not only that, but each death sends him 24-hours back in time. Now at the beginning of the Tower’s reign, Gong-Ja prepares to alter his fate and that of those around him.

Guilds form, trials are set, and Gong-Ja strategizes the best ways in which to conquer the Tower based on his previous experience. While similar to Solo Leveling in that the main character gains skills by overcoming death, it includes a system to acquire unique skills as well as a vast setting, where each level of the tower holds a different dimension, offering readers unique storylines as the plot progresses.

3 Second Life Ranker

Based on the novels by Sadoyeon & written and illustrated by Nongnong

Yeonwoo, known as Cain in the Tower of the Sun God, targets those who betrayed his brother. With the knowledge that his brother left behind, Yeonwoo contacts members his brother was associated with, forming bonds, gaining power, and acquiring items. The ecosystem of the tower is made up of multiple species, from humanoid demon folk to the Gods, specifically those within Greek mythology. As Yeonwoo climbs the tower, his dark attribute grows.

Like Jinwoo, Yeonwoo acquires the epitaph “one who leads death,” which allows him to command the dead. He also prefers solitude and secrecy against his enemies, only allowing a select few into his inner circle. Unlike Solo Leveling, the manhwa is revenge-based rather than about securing the fate of the world.

2 The Lone Necromancer

Based on the novels by JJJ, written by Kim Kyoung-Yeol, & illustrated by Kim Dong-Jun

Seongwu’s life as a college student is turned upside-down when a holographic screen asks him to “select a role.” He receives the power of a necromancer, now able to control the dead. The world is on the verge of collapse while game-type simulations commence. To survive, Seongwu must learn to use his powers and navigate a world overrun with monsters.

In a state of emergency, factions are created, items are acquired, and barriers are made. Seongwu’s power is similar to Jinwoo, in which his bloodkin and base stats level up with experience. , Seongwu also has a reckoning with Death just as Jinwoo does, both expanding their authority over the domain of death.

1 All-Master Necromancer

Based on the novels by Cheongsong, written by blue-jaengyee, & illustrated by JiBaekHo

Cha Jinhyuk was a formidable force within the Ninestar guild, but unfortunately they betrayed him, resulting in his death. However, he won’t go down without a fight. Using his last resort of soul-transference, Jinhyuk wakes up in a new body a decade later. While originally powerful, Jinhyuk now possesses an even greater skill, enabling him to become a master of all occupations within the tower.

Cha Jinhyuk embarks on a quest for vengeance, mastering his new skill as he uses his knowledge to climb the tower once again. Not only that, but one distinguishing characteristic that links the two manhwa is that Jinhyuk is a necromancer who also says “arise” to summon souls, yet a key difference is that he can also consume those souls to raise his stats.