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Looking for your next anime fix after Solo Leveling?
Whether you’re into dungeon raids, RPG systems, or watching an underdog rise to god-tier levels, this list is for you.
Here are 20 anime similar to Solo Leveling, handpicked from fan discussions on Reddit, anime forums, and top-ranked articles. From brutal betrayals to epic boss fights, every show listed here has that Solo Leveling energy.
🔥 1. Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest (2019)
Hajime is betrayed during a class raid and left to die in a dungeon. Instead of giving up, he turns into a cold-blooded survivor with dark powers.
Similarities:
- Starts from zero, rises to OP
- Dungeon setting and near-death awakening
- Anti-hero progression
🛡️ 2. The Rising of the Shield Hero (2019)
Naofumi is summoned to another world as the weakest hero and immediately backstabbed. Alone and hated, he slowly earns power and respect.
Similarities:
- RPG system (skills, levels)
- Underdog arc
- Monster waves and epic fights
⚔️ 3. DanMachi – Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (2015)
Bell Cranel explores a massive dungeon with the goddess Hestia, gaining strength and skills through constant grinding.
Similarities:
- Dungeon crawler setting
- Clear level progression
- Monster battles and solo quests
🟣 4. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (2018)
Satoru dies and reincarnates as a slime with insane absorption abilities. He builds a monster nation and becomes insanely powerful.
Similarities:
- Game mechanics (skill absorption)
- Underestimated form → ultimate being
- Personal army (like Jinwoo’s shadow legion)
💀 5. Overlord (2015)
Momonga is stuck in a game as his Lich avatar, Ainz Ooal Gown. Instead of escaping, he decides to conquer the world with sheer power.
Similarities:
- RPG setting with skills/stats
- Overpowered MC
- Hides true power like Jinwoo
🧙 6. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (2021)
A NEET reincarnates in a magic world as a child prodigy. Through constant training and real danger, he becomes a formidable mage.
Similarities:
- Underdog rebirth story
- Deep emotional and power growth
- Spectacular magic battles
🎮 7. Sword Art Online (2012)
Players are trapped in a VRMMORPG where death is real. Kirito climbs through dungeons to survive and escape.
Similarities:
- RPG world with skills and bosses
- Serious tone and high stakes
- Gradual power progression
🗡️ 8. Goblin Slayer (2018)
A gritty, brutal world where a lone adventurer dedicates his life to exterminating goblins after a traumatic childhood.
Similarities:
- Dark fantasy tone
- Dungeon raids and monster hunting
- Realistic combat and tension
🗼 9. Tower of God (2020)
Bam enters a mysterious Tower filled with deadly tests to chase the girl he loves. Every floor brings new enemies and powers.
Similarities:
- Dungeon-like “floor” system
- Zero to hero journey
- Based on a manhwa like Solo Leveling
🕷️ 10. So I’m a Spider, So What? (2021)
A high school girl reincarnates as a spider monster inside a dungeon. She levels up by devouring others and evolving.
Similarities:
- RPG interface with stats and titles
- Solo survival in a dungeon
- From weak monster to OP queen
🌫️ 11. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash (2016)
Teens wake up in a mysterious fantasy world. Weak and confused, they must fight monsters and survive with teamwork.
Similarities:
- Harsh realistic progression
- Emotional growth through battle
- Dungeon raids and deep bonding
🍽️ 12. Berserk of Gluttony (2023)
Fate Graphite’s seemingly useless ability allows him to absorb others’ power through kills, evolving into an unstoppable hunter.
Similarities:
- Starts weak, becomes dominant
- Dark/gore action
- Power fantasy with a deadly twist
🐤 13. Shangri-La Frontier (2023)
A gamer known for playing terrible games finally tries a top-tier VRMMO. With insane skills, he takes on secret bosses and dungeons.
Similarities:
- Game-based world with skills and quests
- Fast-paced monster battles
- MMO vibe similar to Solo Leveling
☠️ 14. The Unwanted Undead Adventurer (2024)
Rentt dies in a dungeon and comes back as a skeleton. He continues adventuring to regain his humanity.
Similarities:
- Post-death transformation → stronger self
- Evolves with every dungeon clear
- Manhwa-style power curve
📚 15. Log Horizon (2013)
Players trapped in an MMORPG must build societies and fight monsters. Shiroe uses strategy to lead and grow in power.
Similarities:
- RPG systems, magic, and classes
- Power through cooperation and tactics
- Intelligent approach to fantasy rules
🧞 16. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (2012)
Inspired by Arabian Nights, Aladdin and Alibaba raid magical dungeons guarded by Djinns for treasure and power.
Similarities:
- Dungeon boss fights
- Gradual strength growth
- Magical power-ups (Djinn = level-up)
🔥 17. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)
Tanjiro trains to fight demons and save his sister. His journey takes him from a humble boy to a powerful warrior.
Similarities:
- Monster hunting
- Intense training arcs
- Beautiful animation and dark tone
👹 18. Jujutsu Kaisen (2020)
Yuji becomes the vessel for a demon king and fights cursed spirits in dark “dungeons” while mastering his cursed energy.
Similarities:
- Power granted by a hidden entity
- Dungeon-like battles vs cursed monsters
- Dark energy powers + epic fights
🗡️ 19. Bleach (2004)
Ichigo gains Soul Reaper powers and climbs through power levels (Shikai, Bankai) to defeat stronger enemies.
Similarities:
- Structured power-ups
- Intense duels vs deadly foes
- Shounen power curve like Solo Leveling
🛡️ 20. Skeleton Knight in Another World (2022)
A gamer wakes up in his avatar’s body—a skeleton knight. Though OP, he hides his form and helps others in a fantasy world.
Similarities:
- Game interface + RPG elements
- Hidden identity + OP protagonist
- Satisfying action and dungeon raids
📖 Still Craving More? Read the Solo Leveling Manhwa – It’s Even Better!
If none of the anime on this list fully scratch that Solo Leveling itch… you’re not alone. Many fans agree: nothing truly compares to the original manhwa.
While the anime adaptation has blown us all away with stunning animation and killer soundtracks, the Solo Leveling manhwa (Korean webtoon) is where it all began — and it’s arguably still the best version of the story.
Why You Should Read the Manhwa
- 🖤 Full story now complete – The manhwa finished with 179 chapters, covering Jinwoo’s entire journey from E-rank hunter to the Shadow Monarch.
- 🔥 Faster pacing and no filler – Every chapter is action-packed, beautifully illustrated, and loaded with new skills, dungeons, and world-building.
- ⚔️ Combat like you’ve never seen before – The fight panels are explosive, detailed, and often surpass even top-tier anime battle scenes.
- 😈 Darker, edgier tone – While the anime softens certain elements, the manhwa dives deeper into betrayal, death, and the loneliness of becoming too powerful.
Where to Read It
The Solo Leveling manhwa is officially available in English on platforms like:
- Tappytoon
- Tapas
- Webnovel (original light novel if you want even more depth)
Many fans start with the manhwa, fall in love, then go back to read the original light novel — which goes even further beyond the manhwa ending.
✨ Fun fact: A sequel titled “Solo Leveling: Ragnarok” has already started, featuring Jinwoo’s son as the new protagonist.
If you’re already caught up on the anime and the manhwa, it’s the perfect way to stay immersed in the Solo Leveling universe.
Who Is the Manhwa For?
- Fans who want to binge-read without waiting weekly for new anime episodes
- Readers who love stunning artwork, brutal fights, and rich lore
- Anyone who’s ever thought: “I want to see what happens next… right now.”
If Solo Leveling made your jaw drop, the manhwa will make your heart race. Every dungeon, boss, and level-up moment is more intense and personal when you see it unfold panel by panel.
💬 Pro tip for newcomers:
Start reading from chapter 1, even if you’ve watched the anime. The early chapters include extra details and background that the anime skips or compresses.
While anime fans wait for Season 2 (and likely Season 3), the Solo Leveling manhwa is your portal to continue the thrill. It’s not just “more of the same”—it’s the full story, raw and unfiltered, exactly how millions of fans experienced Jinwoo’s rise to godhood for the first time.
Don’t wait. Start reading it today and feel the true power of Solo Leveling.
✅ Final Thoughts
If Solo Leveling got you hooked on level-up arcs, dungeon raids, and OP protagonists, these 20 anime are your next binge. Whether you want something dark, funny, or epic, there’s a perfect match here.
🔍 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What anime are most like Solo Leveling?
A: Arifureta, Shield Hero, Overlord, Mushoku Tensei, and Berserk of Gluttony are often considered closest in tone and progression.
Q: Is there an anime adaptation of Solo Leveling?
A: Yes! The Solo Leveling anime began airing in 2024 and quickly became a fan favorite.
Q: Are there more anime based on manhwa like Solo Leveling?
A: Yes, Tower of God, Noblesse, and The God of High School are manhwa-based anime with similar vibes.
