14 Best Manhwa Gamers Need To Read

Gamers that enjoy a good story and action-packed fight scenes that have them on the edge of their seats, can find a connection with certain genres of manhwa. Some of the best ones out there are either inspired by video games or carry similar elements of survival, quest completion or treasure hunting.

Manhwa which carries a gameplay element, showcases a more dire situation for the protagonist when it comes to their livelihood. These main characters are either forcefully sucked into a game, regressed back in time or played around by so-called gods for their amusement. The game system is also heavily implied in such manhwa, and it’s the protagonist’s main deterrent from smooth sailing through the plot. Whether it be a classic RPG game, Otome or blended genre, these manhwas speak to gamers in terms of their interactive and relatable plot progression, and exciting battle scenes.

14 The Gamer

MAL Score: 6.50

Jihan Han might be the average high school student, but he’s somehow managed to acquire the ability to view the world around him like a video game. It’s not the most convenient development in his life, but for Jihan, leveling up whilst juggling homework and family life can be a bit stressful. It’s only when he finds a hidden world filled with other people like him, does he begin to think his situation may be advantageous.

The Gamer takes a completely different take on incorporating a game into a character’s life. The concept is rather unheard of, since Jihan is the only one that can see it. The author has made the story extremely relatable as it shows gamers that wishing for a life inside a game is not as easy as it may seem. Jihan’s life is tied to his growth and his only way to survive is by leveling up and gaining the most unheard of skills that end up working out in his favor.

13 Dice

MAL Score: 6.73

In a world where appearance, social status, popularity and grades are all that matters, Dongtae is at the bottom of the barrel. Bullied everyday and used as an errand boy, his life changes when a Dice falls into his hands. Dice seem to be cubes that certain players in the world are given to help elevate their already miserable lives. Since Dongtae has agreed to become a “Dicer”, he has to complete various quests to be rewarded with more Dice that will increase his social standing and popularity.

Dice is not for the light hearted and tackles many themes that one can relate to when growing up. All of the characters are dynamic and flawed, only looking for their own benefit since this is a ‘dog-eat-dog world’. The synchronicity of the game world and the real world proves to be an interesting concept as Dongtae is quite literally fighting for a better life against people who are also in the same boat as him.

12 Taming Master

MAL Score: 6.80

Jinsung is an average college student by day, and he’s a level 93 archer in the VR game world of Kaillan. As a pro level gamer, he suddenly decides to reset his character and everyone in the gaming world thinks he’s nuts, but little do they know that he’s managed to unlock a hidden character skill. At zero stats and level 1, Jinsung chooses the route of a Summoner and is given the ability of Taming Master – the only one in this game world.

In Taming Master, Jinsung is a very optimistic gamer and is always looking to have fun and learn from the world of Kaillan. He perfectly encapsulates the drive each gamer has when exploring and leveling up their characters. Readers will be able to clearly tell that the author has done their homework on the various terminology, lack of plot holes and stat raising limitations that a lot of games have.

11 The SSS Ranker Returns

MAL Score: 7.25

If plot armor was a manhwa, The SSS Ranker Returns would be high up in the list. We see the protagonist Rokan being humiliated and beaten by common enemies who were jealous of his hard earned achievement in a popular Korean VR game. He loses consciousness and is about to be deleted from the game when a twist in the space-time continuum sends him back in time to right before the game even launched. Now, with knowledge only he has about the game’s level-up techniques, secret dungeons and best weapons, Rokan is ready to do all he can to get revenge on those who came after him.

The manhwa focuses more on Rokan’s development of his character through the various quests and battles he takes part in. He takes on the character of an unapologetic anti-hero who is also strategically smart and cunning when he needs to be. It’s a refreshing outlook when approaching a game that caters to a mass, and it’s immensely satisfying to read from a gamer’s point-of-view.

10 The Gourmet Gamer

MAL Score: 7.34

Lee Rim’s life as a chef pretty much ended when he lost his ability to taste and smell. Sad, depressed and ready to end it all, he discovers “Real”, a new VR game that stimulates all five senses in a fantasy-type world. Lee Rim jumps at the chance and finds out that he has regained his senses in the game, and becomes a chef in it too.

A feel-good story about finding yourself and pride in the things you love, Gourmet Gamer may hold a special place in all of our hearts. It provides a new perspective when it comes to MMORPGs, as Lee Rim has no interest in raiding dungeons, collecting loot, and leveling up his character. All he cares about is how he can make a gourmet dish with monster ingredients and enjoy his hobbies.

9 Tomb Raider King

MAL Score: 7.37

Set in a world where mysterious tombs appear all over the world one day, these dungeons each contain a relic that grants its owner supernatural powers. Jooheon Suh is a tomb explorer/excavator/raider and right when he’s about to make the greatest discovery in his career, he’s betrayed by his employer and left for dead. Surprisingly, the power of the relic in the tomb has sent him 15 years back into the past before any tombs appeared on Earth. Jooheon uses this chance to raid tombs before anyone else can find them due to his prior knowledge.

Tomb Raider King isn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea since it incorporates a lot of ethnic and racial issues that we as a society struggle with today. In addition to that, Jooheon is not at all likable due to his selfish personality. He isn’t the typical kind-hearted, justice-driven hero, but instead has his own chaotic personality that he is unashamed of. One could argue that is what makes him seem like a real person and not just a character in a game/book.

8 Tyrant Of The Tower Defense Game

MAL Score: 7.37

In present day Korea, Mr Gamer Geek is known for his pro-level gamer status as the only one who has managed to defeat the difficult tower defense game “Protect The Empire”. After 10 years of torture at this game, Mr Gamer Geek is ready to take a break but is then immediately teleported inside the game after passing out. He wakes up to find himself as Prince Ash, a tyrant of the Empire who dies early on in the tutorial stage of the game. Now he’s on his redemption arc to survive the game and not have to sacrifice any of his comrades like he did previously.

A factor that gamers will notice and enjoy is that the characters in Tyrant Of The Tower Defence Game are well fleshed out and have unique skills that not many others share. It’s also quite humbling to see that none of the characters are OP and can only survive through perfect strategy and teamwork. Prince Ash uses his knowledge of the game world and strategizes exactly like a gamer would, making this a relatable and enjoyable manhwa to pick up.

7 How To Survive As A Maid In A Horror Game

MAL Score: 7.47

Passing out drunk whilst playing a horror game is not the most ideal situation for our protagonist, so when she wakes up as Hilda, a maid that is destined to die at the hands of her master, she tries to do everything she can to steer clear of it. Unfortunately for her, the game system is completely against her and every time she tries to change the plot or even vent out her frustrations, she gets reset back to the beginning.

In How To Survive As A Maid In A Horror Game, Hilda is the only one who knows that her boss, Adrian Pfaltzgraff, is a devil in disguise. The manhwa can be lighthearted and keep readers on their toes when Hilda is faced with life-threatening situations. Her decisiveness and problem-solving is portrayed in the most humane way possible and we as readers feel obliged to understand her worries and concerns. In addition to that, the plot and romance sub-plot progresses smoothly instead of forcibly, leaving a bittersweet taste.

6 Hardcore Leveling Warrior

MAL Score: 7.54

Ethan is the No.1 player in the world’s biggest game and is known by everyone as the Hardcore Leveling Warrior. Though he’s the best of the best, he’s not the most well-liked in the game because of his crude methods of leveling up. He’s the type of gamer to steal bounties from others, get credit for last minute kills and take every available quest to gain EXP. Players hate him and want nothing but his demise, so when he gets ambushed during a mission, a mysterious player kills him and forces his character back to level one.

Hardcore Leveling Warrior puts a spin on the VR game concept as the mechanics capitalize on making use of a human’s lucid dreams and tying the game into them. Players that earn money in the game can exchange it for real-world currency and make profits. Packed with action, strategy, and some laughs, this is a read that’s difficult to put down, especially when realizing how relatable Ethan is as a gamer and a character.

5 Murim Login

MAL Score: 7.74

Living in an era where hunters thrive on killing monsters that come from Gates, Jin Tae-Kyung is a low-ranking hunter with zero prospects or wealth. His life, however, takes an unexpected turn when he picks up a discarded VR machine and accidentally falls asleep in it. He wakes up in a Murim world full of Martial Arts and monsters. After much confusion, he finally accepts his fate and sees through the game, learning various fight stances and battle strategies.

Murim Login proves to be an extremely exciting manhwa since Jin Tae-Kyung works closely with the gaming system to help him level up and fight difficult opponents. Readers will find this manhwa to be quite relatable and interactive, as we see a clear interplay between Tae-Kyung’s Murim life and modern life. In addition to that, all the characters are likable, multilayered and well-thought-out, making the action scenes easier to follow and enjoy.

4 Pick Me Up, Infinite Gacha

MAL Score: 7.98

Born with the worst luck imaginable, Han Seojin has one rule when playing gacha games – sacrifice whatever is needed to win the final boss fight, especially 1-star characters. But after being transported into the notoriously difficult game “Pick Me Up”, Han Seojin becomes the very 1-star character he hates and has no choice but to rise up in rank and defeat the player controlling him. Unlike other manhwa in this genre, all the characters summoned in this game are real humans from other worlds, and none of the players are aware of this.

Pick Me Up, Infinite Gacha provides a more seriously gruesome take on being trapped inside a video game. The plot speaks to both gamers and readers, since we not only see how desperate Han Seojin is to break free from the players’ prompts, but also the players’ thought process throughout the game. As readers, we tend to empathize with both ends of the spectrum and see how scary it can be to fall into such a situation. If readers enjoy characters that start from nothing and grow to become OP, they will definitely enjoy this new read.

3 Ranker’s Return

MAL Score: N/A

“Arena” is the world’s largest VR MMORPG and the game’s top ranker Meleegod vanished after breaking every possible record in it. In the real world, Kang Hyeonu is a 20-something, happy-go-lucky guy who simply deleted his character to focus on his responsibilities in the real world. Fresh from his military service, he inherited his father’s company. But two years later, a business rival causes his father’s business to go bankrupt. Hyeonu takes the chance to step back into the world of gaming and earn a living through VR, creating the perfect opportunity for Meleegod to make a comeback.

Kang Hyeonu’s character in Ranker’s Return manages to successfully encapsulate the true grit and emotion behind a gamer. Whether it be the excitement of starting a game, the satisfaction of leveling up or the frustration when you have bad luck, Hyeonu experiences it all. The plot is pretty easy to digest and, because it isn’t overly complicated, all the characters are easy to like, since there is no forced romance subplot, which often tends to ruin genres like these.

2 Villains Are Destined To Die

MAL Score: 8.28

Forcibly trapped in an otome game and stuck on hard mode is as hectic as it sounds. Waking up as the villainess that is literally ‘destined to die’, Penelope Eckhart is stuck in a never-ending cycle of failures and hard-results. She’s practically on her last string as the game system restricts her from making any changes to her life in the story, and she goes to extreme measures just so that she can gain some sort of freedom and individuality.

In Villains Are Destined To Die, readers can see human emotions in their raw form with the amount of distress, anxiety, and fear Penelope feels on a day-to-day basis. The odds are not in her favor, and it’s ultimately a game of survival where even if you win, you still lose a lot to get there. This manhwa does not cut corners and is geared to make readers question a lot of things about life, relationships, compassion, and greed.

1 Solo Leveling

MAL Score: 8.67

Nicknamed as “the weakest hunter of all mankind”, Sung Jinwoo’s life is a constant struggle. Living in a world where awakened beings are called “Hunters”, they must battle monsters that have materialized in dungeons all over the world. One fateful day, after an exceptionally hard dungeon clearance wipes out his entire party and leaves Sung Jinwoo on the brink of death, a mysterious system chooses him as a player.

As the only one able to see the system screen, Jinwoo is given the opportunity to level up his abilities and take on enemies stronger than he has ever known. The concept of Solo Leveling is a typical ‘underdog to top dog’ story with amazing character development and battle strategy that will keep readers on their toes. The manhwa does not hold back when it comes to its gripping action sequences, bloody fights and emotional goodbyes.