Summary
- Solo Leveling’s success is opening doors for more manhwa anime adaptations in Winter 2024.
- Studio Redice’s high standards could lead to anime adaptations of more masterful manhwa.
- Fans of Solo Leveling are likely to enjoy other wonderful series by Studio Redice.
The best manhwa produced by Solo Leveling’s studio, Redice, are series that not only feature the same sharp and dynamic art style, but elaborate on similar structures, themes, and atmospheres. Fans of Solo Leveling are bound to enjoy the other wonderful series that find their color with Studio Redice.
Solo Leveling’s anime is the biggest series of Winter 2024 so far, suggesting that the doors to manhwa anime adaptations will burst even wider than they did in 2020 when Tower of God and God of High School were released. Furthermore, with A-1 Pictures doing their utmost to live up to the high standards of art set by Studio Redice, it would be no surprise if anime adaptations of similarly masterful Redice manhwa are on the horizon.
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15 Duke Pendragon: Master of the White Dragon’s Art Compensates For Its Story
By Frozen and Cobalt
Duke Pendragon: Master of the White Dragon follows Raven Balt, a former noble who was forced to hunt monsters in the Devil’s Army after he and his family were branded traitors and fell into ruin. Against all odds. Raven manages to stay alive for ten whole years. However, just when he is about to regain his freedom, Raven gets assigned one last mission to protect Duke Allen Pendragon, whose family has the ability to tame dragons.
Unfortunately, things go south and both Raven and Allen end up dead. Raven then wakes up seven years in the past in Allen’s body and begins searching for answers to his mysterious death, which includes searching for a legendary White Dragon. While the manhwa’s story is certainly a step down from the original novel, Duke Pendragon certainly has its enjoyable aspects with fairly consistent art.
14 Dear Nemesis is an Enemies-to-Lovers Gem
By Minato and Velma
While Redice Studio is no stranger to regression stories, Dear Nemesis breaks the trend with a romance story as opposed to the typical action power fantasies the studio usually takes on. Dear Nemesis centers around Calmia Phlox who, after fighting tooth and nail to become the Countess finds herself transported back in time into the body if her ten-year-old self.
However, things begin to go differently when Calmia prevents the death of her twin brother, the rightful heir to the title. Strangely, Calmia also finds herself more and more involved with her archenemy Rudbeckia, setting the stage for a textbook enemies-to-lovers story.
13 Ranker’s Return is a Remake of an Old Classic
By B-ram and Zuno
Ranker’s Return centers around a virtual reality MMORPG game called Arena and Kang Hyeonu, better known by his gamer ID Meleegod who for the longest time was the greatest player in the history of the game. Hyeonu had set every single record in the game and was the world’s top-ranking player until he deleted the game and his account to complete his military service and move on with his life.
However, when his father’s company goes bankrupt, Hyeonu decides to revisit the game in the hopes of making some money through it as a professional gamer or a streamer this time around. While Ranker’s Return has been adapted into a manhwa before, the remake by Redice Studio really brings the story to life anew with much better visuals than the original.
12 Myst Might Mayhem has the Most Stunning Art
By Hangjung Wolya and Kim Tae-Hyung
Myst Might Mayhem, follows Jeong, a teenage boy who, after his grandfather is brutally murdered, becomes a notorious murderer himself renowned as the Slaughtering Scythe Demon. However, just when Jeong is about to face a death sentence, he comes across his doppelgänger, Mok Gyeongwoon, the young master of a sword manor. Jeong murders Gyeongwoon and goes on a killing spree only to be met with death at the hands of his grandfather’s killer.
Myst Might Mayhem
is set 800 years before the popular series
Nano
Machine
and follows Jeong’s journey as he becomes the Heavenly Demon Cheon Ma, who established the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult at the center of
Nano Machine
‘s story.
Fortunately, Jeong gets a second chance and is transported back in time to the moment after he killed Mok Gyeongwoon and decides to properly take his place, learn martial arts, and then seek revenge for his grandfather’s death. The series features stunning, vibrant art and is a must-read for any fans of Nano Machine.
11 Pick Me Up Combines Isekai with Gacha
By Hermond and Wasak Basak
While people may have mixed opinions on gacha, Pick Me Upincorporates gacha elements into its story in a rather refreshing way. The series follows Han Seojin, who one day gets transported into a gacha game called Pick Me Up as Han Isratte, a weak one-star hero destined to be fodder. Seojin was a regular player like any other until he was one day summoned into the game.
The last thing he remembers is an eery feeling that the Level 999 boss was smiling at him which may be his only ticket out of the game. Thus, armed with the knowledge of the game, Seojin must now climb the levels of the tower as he looks for answers to his transmigration.
10 The SSS-Ranker Returns Rewinds Time
By Gald and Rooty House
The SSS-Ranker Returns is an action fantasy manhwa series that uses common elements of the fantasy genre to make its story shine. The manhwa follows Rokan, who is oppressed and humiliated by a guild in the VR game he had dedicated much of his time and energy to. With revenge on his mind, Rokan is given the perfect opportunity when he is sent into the past before everything begins.
With renewed hope and more time, Rokan finds new purpose in getting back at the players that ganged up on him and even went as far as to wait for his character to respawn to kill him again. Not only is redemption on the horizon, but there is a lot of commentary in this series on the meaning of revenge and the power that the virtual world has on physical reality.
9 The World After the Fall Plays with Timeline Theory
By sing N song and Undead Gamja
The World After the Fall is a popular fantasy manhwa series written by the same author who wrote Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. Although The World After the Fall overlaps with the latter series in terms of setting and genre, the themes have a pleasant divergence, as the main character Jaehwan takes center stage in showing off his persistence.
When towers filled with man-eating monsters were erected across the world, the profession of the Tower Walker was born. They were adventurers who had the power to combat monsters. However, on the brink of death, they also have the power of regression with the caveat of regressing to another newly created timeline. Jaehwan seems to understand the implications of such a power, as he refuses to abandon the main timeline, leading a story of high stakes and perseverance.
8 Tomb Raider King Takes Advantage of Its Relic Mechanics
By Sanji Jiksong and 3B2S
Tomb Raider King is an urban fantasy manhwa that takes a lot of inspiration from similar stories like Solo Leveling and the dungeon concept. However, Tomb Raider King does not forget to put its unique twist on the trope, utilizing the idea of powerful items called relics that lurk at the bottom of all the dungeons that are called tombs.
The tombs overlap with the real world, causing frightening but world-renewing problems, such as the main character, Seo Joo-Heon’s situation. As an experienced tomb raider, Joo-Heon is brought back into the past after a harrowing accident in a tomb. His curse turned into a blessing as he is given the opportunity to optimize his growth from before tombs appeared in the world, leading to a story of an overpowered protagonist who isn’t afraid to take risks.
7 The Return of the Disaster-Class Hero Paints Redemption with Revenge
By Sanji Jiksong and Lee Beomgeun
The concept of The Return of the Disaster-Class Hero combines many great aspects of other Redice manhwa, such as Solo Leveling and even The SSS-Ranker Returns. The story follows protagonist Lee Geon in his quest for revenge after he is abandoned by his fellow awakened warriors in a ruined fantasy world.
As the calamities descended, the 12 Zodiac Gods bestowed powers onto 12 human heroes and called them saints. However, Lee Geon squeezed his way into this crew as the 13th awakened but fell far from gaining acceptance. When all thought he was left for dead, Lee Geon clawed his way out from the depths of the abyss, training for 20 years to exact an exhilarating revenge on the saints who never put him in their eyes.
6 I’m the Max Level Newbie Shows the Power of Gamers
By Maslow and Swingbat
I’m the Max Level Newbie takes common fantasy and isekai tropes to the extreme, so much so that they have become a unique feature of the manhwa series. Following main character and content creator Kang Jinhyeok, the story creates a setting of overlapping fantasy and reality much like in the anime Sword Art Online.
However, the script is flipped with the game imposing itself on the world, forcing players to clear the “Tower of Trials.” Jinhyeok uses the skills and advantages that he’d accumulated over 11 years of playing the game to prove the power of a dedicated gamer. With a large dose of escapism, I’m the Max Level Newbie creates a relatable story nonetheless, with a riveting journey towards saving the world.
5 The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years Is a Story of Persistence
By Nakhasan and Kim Dok-yong
The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years is a magical fantasy manhwa that showcases the power of history and the antiquated. The story’s magical universe has long deteriorated in strength and the main character and legendary mage, Lucas Trowman, is reborn 4000 years after his death, caused by a mysterious god-like being who lurks within the shadows.
With redemption on his mind, Lucas hones his magic to a degree that would have made his past self gasp, as he strives to exact his revenge, but also rediscovers the changed world along the way. He meets people that treat him in ways he would have never had the chance to experience before, and the series includes plenty of satisfying moments of magical showboating to keep fans pleasantly engaged.
4 Overgeared Proves the Power of the Blacksmith
By Park Saenal and Team Argo
It is no secret that Redice loves to adapt manhwa that have to do with VR games and urban fantasies, but Overgeared takes yet a new direction in these avenues. The story follows the main character, Shin Youngwoo, on his journey as a low-level player in the game, “Satisfy.” Through a stroke of luck, he encounters an item that gives him legendary blacksmithing skills.
With the potential to change the world and the state of “Satisfy,” Shin Youngwoo fully indulges in his new abilities. However, he quickly finds out that things are not as simple as they seem, and enters into the true frenzied landscape of “Satisfy,” as he creates the most overpowered gear in existence, which brings him plenty of trouble to boot.
3 Heavenly Demon Reborn! Has an Open Mind About Morality
By Ilhwang and Gomguck
Heavenly Demon Reborn! is a manhwa that stands out from the many other Redice series, as it focuses more on the ancient elements of fantasy. Incorporating martial arts and the world of Murim, Heavenly Demon Reborn! follows the reincarnation of Hyuk Woon Sung, who is forced to walk the fine line between human morality and revenge.
As a member of the orthodox sect, the Spear Master Sect, Woon Sung is falsely accused of practicing demonic arts and is hunted down and executed. However, his regret is strong enough to grant him a second chance, but this time, fully within the ranks of the demonic cult he was originally accused of colluding with. Combining the spear skills of his past life with his new demonic practices, Woon Sung discovers the genuine nature of the demonic cult and works to expose the hypocrisy of the orthodox faction.
2 Nano Machine Boasts Hyperbolic Technology
By Hanjung Wolya and Geumgang Bulgoe
Nano Machine is a fantasy martial arts manhwa that perfectly blends antiquated settings with technological novelties. The series follows Cheon Yeo Woo, a persecuted member of the demonic cult. However, when in dire straits, Yeo Woo is rescued by a strangely dressed man who claims to be his descendant from the future.
With the arrival of a time traveler, Yeo Woo is granted his ultimate protagonist’s advantage in the form of a Nano Machine that serves as anything from a martial arts coach to a personal assistant. The device even has the ability to change the physical make-up of the body. With the Nano Machine injected in his body, Yeo Woo embarks on an exciting journey towards the peak of martial arts strength through the secret power of technology.
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1 Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Mixes Game World and Novel Narrative
By sing N song and Sleepy-C
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint is one of the most popular manhwa series of all time, with much of its fame coming even before Redice’s adaptation of its web novel. The manhwa follows the main character Kim Dokja through a ruined world, literally. Riding the subway in Korea, Kim Dokja finishes the last chapter of his favorite web novel, Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse, and the world immediately spirals into a transformation resembling the exact plot of the novel.
With his knowledge, Kim Dokja begins as an insignificant character and works his way to standing toe to toe with the novel’s “real” protagonist, Yoo Joonghyuk. Gathering reliable friends along the way, Kim Dokja explores a world so familiar, yet shrouded in mystery. Furthermore, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint takes even bigger steps towards creating complex storylines with complications of reality and fantasy at the forefront, and the mysterious constellations lurking in the background, which is exactly what makes Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint the best manhwa produced by Studio Redice other than Solo Leveling.