Manhwa like manga has no short of global fans. And manhwa with leveling systems or system manhwas (like Solo Leveling) are way to addictive – even for new readers. Who doesn’t want a powerful protagonist with a cheat code that only he can use. Also, there is the feel good element when the protagonist leaves every one in shock. Let’s dive into the ultimate list of manhwa with leveling systems that you can binge read and never get bored. It took me a lot of time to gather quality manhwa in this genre so, I will appreciate if you share. Please read on!
1. The Greatest Estate Developer
Author: Mun Gyoung-Guk, Kim Hyunsoo
Year of release: 2021
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 130+ chapters
What Is It About?
A modern-day civil engineer dies and is reborn as Lloyd Frontera, the useless noble son in a fantasy novel destined for ruin. Instead of chasing dungeons, he uses his engineering knowledge and a very… motivating system to rebuild his territory from the ground up. It’s about infrastructure, economy, and trolling everyone with sheer competence.
Protagonist Breakdown
Lloyd is a greedy, pragmatic, and morally flexible genius. He’s not a hero; he’s a contractor. His growth is about maximizing profit and solving problems with concrete (literally), and his facial expressions are a legendary meme-worthy feature of the series.
Initial Story / Starting Point
After dying from overwork, our MC wakes up in the body of a doomed side character. Faced with a mountain of debt and a family headed for destruction, he sees only one viable path: get filthy rich by any means necessary, even if it means personally digging sewers and building bridges.
Leveling System Explained
It’s a quest-based system that rewards him for “developing the estate.” Completing construction projects, solving territorial issues, and even making people happy (often against their will) grants him stat points and skills. The twist? The system’s penalty for failure is often a brutal, comedic death threat, which perfectly matches Lloyd’s cowardly-but-brilliant personality.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
This is the most unique entry here. The leveling is tied to civil engineering, not combat. The binge factor is insane because every chapter is packed with hilarious problem-solving, unforgettable reaction faces, and the sheer satisfaction of watching a deadbeat territory transform into a modern marvel. You’ll laugh more than you expect.
2. Infinite Leveling: Murim
Author: Yu Jwa-Ha
Year of release: 2022
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 100+ chapters
What Is It About?
A low-tier martial artist in the Murim world is stuck in a time loop, repeating the same disastrous day of a sect massacre. He uses this endless cycle to grind his skills and knowledge to an unimaginable degree, seeking a way to finally break the loop and save everyone.
Protagonist Breakdown
Jiyoon is the epitome of “hard work over talent.” He starts weak but possesses immense patience and resilience. Spending countless loops in hell has made him deeply analytical, slightly unhinged, and fiercely protective of the people he’s failed to save thousands of times.
Initial Story / Starting Point
As a weak outer disciple, Jiyoon is helpless during an attack that wipes out his sect and kills his loved ones. At the moment of his death, a mysterious artifact activates, trapping him in a time loop that resets every time he dies or the day ends.
Leveling System Explained
The system is the loop itself. Every reset lets him retain his learned skills, muscle memory, and information. He can grind martial arts techniques for decades within the loops, learn enemy patterns perfectly, and gather intelligence. It’s the ultimate “practice makes perfect” system, where the leveling is measured in accumulated experience across lifetimes.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
The psychological depth is incredible. It’s not just about getting stronger; it’s about the mental toll of infinite repetition. The hype comes from seeing him execute a flawless plan built upon ten thousand failures. The binge-read is intense because every chapter feels like a payoff for his unseen centuries of effort.
3. The Max-Level Player’s 100th Regression
Author: Bamsae, Geulbi
Year of release: 2023
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 70+ chapters
What Is It About?
After 99 regressions, the protagonist finally reached the maximum level in a deadly system apocalypse. For his 100th and final regression, he decides to break the game entirely by using his future knowledge and god-like stats from the very start.
Protagonist Breakdown
Ryu Min is calm, bored, and utterly overpowered. Having seen everything and lost everyone countless times, he’s emotionally detached but not cruel. He plays this final run like a relaxed speedrunner, focused on uncovering the truths behind the system itself.
Initial Story / Starting Point
The story begins at the peak—showing his max-level power—before throwing him back to the very first day of the system’s arrival. This time, he retains all his stats, skills, and memories, making him a deity among fledgling players.
Leveling System Explained
He’s already at the level cap, so the “leveling” is more about re-acquiring and optimizing his legendary skills and equipment ahead of schedule. The system is a classic game interface with stats, dungeons, and titles, but the twist is watching a character who has already solved it manipulate it perfectly.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
The power fantasy is executed to perfection. There’s no struggle for survival, only the satisfaction of watching him casually dismantle early-game bosses and shock the entire player base. It’s pure, unadulterated binge-material for when you just want to see an unstoppable MC style on everyone.
4. Solo Necromancy (The Lone Necromancer)
Author: Gyeong-rok, Ggulchan
Year of release: 2022
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 90+ chapters
What Is It About?
In a world where hunters fight monsters emerging from gates, Sungmin is a low-ranked hunter with a useless “F-tier” skill. After a betrayal leaves him for dead, he awakens a second chance with the legendary class of a Necromancer.
Protagonist Breakdown
Sungmin is strategic and quietly determined. Unlike flashy protagonists, he relies on intelligence and his ever-growing army. He’s not inherently cold, but the path of the Necromancer forces him to make morally grey decisions for survival and power.
Initial Story / Starting Point
Left to die in a high-difficulty dungeon by his party, Sungmin’s despair triggers a hidden quest, granting him a second awakening. He returns from the brink of death with a new class and a burning desire for vengeance and survival.
Leveling System Explained
As a Necromancer, his power scales with the number and quality of his undead. He levels up by defeating monsters and absorbing their souls, which are used to raise or empower his minions. The system is class-focused, requiring him to gather resources (corpses) and manage an army, making every battle a tactical chess game.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
It fills the void for a well-done necromancer story in manhwa. The art is dark and gorgeous, and the power progression is immensely satisfying. Watching his skeleton army evolve from a few weaklings to a terrifying legion is a binge-worthy journey. The revenge element is just the icing on the cake.
5. Nano Machine
Author: Hanjung Wolya, Geumgang Bulgoe
Year of release: 2020
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 160+ chapters
What Is It About?
Cheon Yeo-Woon, an illegitimate and bullied descendant of the Demonic Cult, has his life saved by a descendant from the future who injects him with nanomachines. This futuristic tech grants him a system-like interface to master Murim martial arts at a ridiculous speed.
Protagonist Breakdown
Yeo-Woon starts humble and mistreated but grows into a cold, calculating, and supremely confident force. The nanomachines don’t change his core desire for acceptance and strength, but they give him the means to crush anyone in his way.
Initial Story / Starting Point
On the verge of being killed by his cruel half-brothers, Yeo-Woon is saved by the mysterious intervention of his future descendant. The nano injection not only heals him but also integrates a holographic AI guide that will train him to supremacy.
Leveling System Explained
The nanomachines act as an internal AI system. They analyze all martial arts, create optimal training regimens, predict enemy movements, and even allow for body enhancement. It’s a sci-fi system in a historical Murim setting. He “levels up” by completing the AI’s training missions and absorbing martial manuals, mastering techniques in days that take others decades.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
The fusion of high-tech and ancient martial arts is brilliantly done. The hype is constant as he pulls off impossible techniques and shocks the entire Murim world. The political intrigue of the Demonic Cult mixed with his relentless rise makes it impossible to stop reading. A top-tier Murim system story.
6. Second Life Ranker
Author: Nong Nong, Sailun
Year of release: 2019
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 170+ chapters
What Is It About?
After his twin brother mysteriously dies while climbing the mysterious “Tower,” a former special forces soldier, Cha Jeong-woo, uses the diary his brother left behind to enter the Tower himself. His goal: uncover the truth behind his brother’s death and get revenge, by climbing to the very top.
Protagonist Breakdown
Jeong-woo is a tactical, ruthless, and resourceful MC. His military background and his brother’s detailed notes give him a unique advantage. He’s driven by grief and vengeance but isn’t reckless; he plans every move with precision.
Initial Story / Starting Point
The story kicks off with Jeong-woo receiving his brother’s diary and learning about the Tower—a deadly, system-driven climbing game. He immediately uses this cheat-sheet-like knowledge to enter the Tower and begin his ascent, targeting those responsible.
Leveling System Explained
The Tower has a complex game-like system with floors, classes, skills, and the “Akashic Records” that allow skill fusion and creation. Jeong-woo’s cheat is the diary, which gives him hidden information, shortcuts, and warnings. His leveling is optimized because he knows exactly which quests to take and which rewards to pursue.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
This is a darker, grittier tower-climbing story. The brother’s diary mechanic is a fantastic twist on the “future knowledge” trope. The world-building is deep, the skill system is creative, and the revenge plot is compelling. It’s a binge-read because you constantly want to see what secret he uncovers next and how he breaks the Tower’s intended challenges.
7. Return to Player
Author: Uson, Sae-byuk
Year of release: 2022
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 110+ chapters
What Is It About?
After the world ends in a system apocalypse, the last remaining player, Sehan, is given a chance to go back in time. He returns with all his memories and one unique ability: he can see the “grade” and information of everything and everyone—skills, items, and even human potential.
Protagonist Breakdown
Sehan is calm, collected, and operates like a master strategist. He’s seen the worst of humanity and has no time for naivety. His goal isn’t just to survive; it’s to build a coalition of the most talented individuals (identified by his eye) to change the doomed future.
Initial Story / Starting Point
The apocalypse begins, and humanity is wiped out after years of struggle. As the sole survivor, Sehan makes a deal with a mysterious entity and wakes up three years before the system integration, armed with the ultimate scouting ability.
Leveling System Explained
The “All-Knowing Eye” is the core system. It lets him appraise the value and future potential of any target. This allows him to recruit hidden talents, acquire the best skills early, and avoid pitfalls. His personal leveling is optimized because he only invests in the most powerful paths, but the real leveling is him “leveling up” his entire future team from the start.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
The recruiter/strategist angle is super fresh. It’s not just about him getting strong; it’s about him building an unstoppable guild from scratch with the best “players.” The binge-read thrill comes from seeing him identify a diamond-in-the-rough character and knowing exactly how they’ll become legendary. The overarching mystery of the system is also a huge hook.
8. The 31st Piece Overturns the Board
Author: Kkomabi, Gang Yi
Year of release: 2023
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 50+ chapters
What Is It About?
The world is a game for celestial beings, and humanity is losing. Our MC, Juhyeon, is given a final chance as the “31st Piece”—a wildcard entity with the ability to alter the rules of the game itself and change a fixed future of destruction.
Protagonist Breakdown
Juhyeon is an intellectual and adaptive MC. He’s not the physically strongest but is a genius at using his unique power to manipulate scenarios and turn the tables. He’s playing a meta-game against gods and fate itself.
Initial Story / Starting Point
Juhyeon is a normal student until a god-like being informs him that his world is a lost cause in a cosmic game. Offered the role of the unpredictable “31st Piece,” he accepts to become the variable that can rewrite the script of the apocalypse.
Leveling System Explained
His power is “Scenario Alteration.” He can change predefined events, quest conditions, and even skill effects within a limited scope. As he grows, the scale and permanence of his alterations increase. It’s less about traditional stats and more about “leveling up” his ability to cheat fate and impose his own rules on the system.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
The concept is brilliantly meta. It’s a system manhwa about breaking the system. The hype comes from seemingly hopeless situations where he suddenly changes one key rule and completely overturns the board. It’s a cerebral, thrilling binge that keeps you guessing how he’ll cheat next.
9. SSS-Class Revival Hunter
Author: Ssikagure, Biwan
Year of release: 2021
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 130+ chapters
What Is It About?
In a dungeon-ridden world, low-E-rank hunter Kim Gongja has a seemingly useless ability: to copy the skill of someone who kills him. After being murdered by the world’s only SSS-rank hunter, he copies the ultimate skill—[Regression]—and begins a cycle of death and retry to reach the top.
Protagonist Breakdown
Gongja is an underdog with a twisted sense of justice and a lot of pent-up frustration. His power forces him to die repeatedly, which is as traumatic as it sounds, but it also fuels his determination. He’s clever, emotionally complex, and grows through his countless “lives.”
Initial Story / Starting Point
Despised for his weak power, Gongja is callously killed by the legendary hunter Flame Emperor. Upon death, he successfully copies the [Regression] skill and wakes up 24 hours in the past, now armed with the knowledge and the most broken ability imaginable.
Leveling System Explained
The core is his skill [Copy], enhanced by [Regression]. He must die to copy a skill, and then use regression to retain it and try again. He levels up by gathering an arsenal of the most powerful abilities from various hunters and monsters through strategic suicides and redos. It’s a brutal, high-risk-high-reward system.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
This manhwa is a masterpiece of emotional storytelling mixed with hype. It’s not just about power; it’s about the psychological weight of his journey. The arcs are legendary, the characters are deeply developed, and the payoffs are earth-shattering. It’s the best kind of binge—one that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer.
10. I’m the Max-Level Newbie
Author: Hwasin, Chwijeom
Year of release: 2023
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 80+ chapters
What Is It About?
A veteran player of the virtual reality game “The New World” gets trapped inside it as his character when the game shuts down. The catch? He’s already at the maximum level in a world where everyone else is just starting out as newbies.
Protagonist Breakdown
Vulcan is arrogant, showy, and loves to flex. Having been the best in the game for years, he’s bored and now treats the real-ified game as his personal playground. He’s not evil, but he’s definitely a troll who enjoys the chaos he causes.
Initial Story / Starting Point
During the final logout event for the dying game, Vulcan’s consciousness is merged with his max-level avatar as the game world becomes reality. He awakens in the starter zone surrounded by confused new players and realizes he’s stuck.
Leveling System Explained
He’s already at the cap, so there’s no traditional leveling. The “system” is the game’s mechanics now applied to reality. His progression is about rediscovering the world that has changed from a game into a real, functioning universe, and using his encyclopedic knowledge of items, dungeons, and lore to maintain his god-like status.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
The pure, unapologetic power fantasy is the draw here. It’s hilarious and hype to watch a max-level character deal with beginner quests and terrify both monsters and other players. The art is flashy and dynamic, perfect for binge-reading when you want zero stress and maximum “look how cool I am” energy.
11. FFF-Class Trashero
Author: Farnar, Soobong
Year of release: 2020
Status: Ongoing
Chapters released: 160+ chapters
What Is It About?
Han Kang Da completed a fantasy hero’s journey but got an F in evaluation for being too violent and unheroic. Forced to regress and retry, he decides the fastest way to get a passing grade and go home is to eliminate the “troublesome” elements—including the demon king AND his own annoying party members.
Protagonist Breakdown
Kang Da is a cynical, pragmatic, and hilarious sociopath. He views the fantasy world as a tedious exam and everyone in it as NPCs. His “growth” is about finding more efficient (and morally bankrupt) ways to clear the curriculum.
Initial Story / Starting Point
After ten long years of heroic struggle, Kang Da defeats the Demon King only to be judged by the “System” as a failure. He’s sent back to the start, and he vows to clear this “game” in the most time-efficient way possible, throwing chivalry and friendship out the window.
Leveling System Explained
The system is a literal “Hero Curriculum” that evaluates his actions. His leveling is tied to completing (or brutally shortcutting) main and side quests. The twist is he actively exploits and breaks the system’s rules, often finding loopholes that grant him power in exchange for a worse evaluation score—which he doesn’t care about anymore.
Why It Deserves a Spot on This List
It’s the ultimate parody and deconstruction of the isekai/hero genre. Kang Da is a breath of fresh, chaotic air. The comedy is dark and sharp, and the binge-read value is off the charts because you’re constantly wondering, “What insane thing will he do next?” It’s clever, subversive, and endlessly entertaining.
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My Thoughts on Leveling System Manhwas
Leveling system manhwas got a real boost in popularity when Solo Leveling got a worlwide recognition as one of the most favored anime in recent years. Also, the feel good state of similar system manhwas is another factor that fans like to read, and discover more about them.
The system genere is gaining more popularity with each passing month. There are tens of anime, manga, manhwa, donghua, and even Chinese cringe dramas based on system genere. I believe this genre deserves more attention.
I did a lot of research, and jotted down the above list of leveling system manhwas. What do you think about them? Have you read them yet? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to share. Till next time!
