So you have devoured every chapter of Solo Leveling, watched Sung Jin-Woo’s magnificent ascent from weakest hunter to shadow monarch, and now you find yourself wandering the literary wilderness, searching for that same intoxicating thrill. Fear not, dear reader, for I have gathered here a collection of tales so wonderfully gripping that they shall sweep you away to worlds where ordinary souls transform into legends through grit, cunning, and the irresistible magic of leveling up.
These novels and manhwa share that delicious essence you loved—the weak becoming impossibly strong, the systems that measure growth, the dungeons that beckon, and the monsters that must be conquered. Come, let us discover them together.
Cradle Series by Will Wight
In a world where sacred arts flow like rivers of power, young Lindon is born Unsouled—the one pathetic creature in his entire clan unable to wield magic. But when the heavens themselves descend to show him a terrible future, he must abandon everything familiar to walk his own path toward strength unimaginable.
Will Wight has crafted something quite extraordinary here: a twelve-book journey completed in 2023 that readers call “pure addiction.” The magic system blooms from simple beginnings into dazzling complexity, and the action scenes crackle with invention—flying swords, mystical punches, and powers that seem to multiply like rabbits. But beneath all the cultivation and combat lies a beautiful found family, supporting each other through trials that would break lesser souls.
The audiobooks, narrated by Travis Baldree, are considered among the finest ever produced in the genre.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
What happens when aliens decide Earth makes rather excellent entertainment? They collapse our buildings into the ground, leaving survivors no choice but to descend into a murderous dungeon-crawling competition broadcast across the universe for extraterrestrial amusement. Carl, wearing nothing but his bathrobe, and his ex-girlfriend’s cat Donut (who gains the delightful ability to speak) must fight through floors of increasing deadliness.
Matt Dinniman has created something beautifully absurd—a story that blends the darkest science fiction with humor reminiscent of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Donut, a talking cat who genuinely believes herself the queen goddess of existence, steals every scene she enters. The audiobook narration by Jeff Hays has been called nothing short of hilarious.
This is currently the most successful LitRPG series available, and for wonderfully good reason.
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint by singNsong
For ten long years, twenty-eight-year-old Kim Dokja has been the only reader of a web novel called “Ways of Survival.” When that novel’s apocalyptic scenarios suddenly become reality in Seoul, Dokja finds himself possessing the one advantage that matters: he knows every secret, every twist, every character’s fate from the thousands of chapters he has devotedly consumed.
This Korean web novel spanning over 550 chapters is described by readers as a masterpiece that succeeds on every conceivable level. The story is simultaneously plot-driven, character-driven, and theme-driven in ways that intertwine magnificently. At its heart beats a love letter to the power of stories themselves—both their capacity to heal and their capacity to destroy.
A webtoon adaptation is ongoing, and films are in development with major Korean stars attached.
The Primal Hunter by Zogarth
When the multiverse integration arrives, Jake finds himself thrust into a tutorial filled with dangers that would terrify any sensible person. Unlike his trembling coworkers, however, Jake thrives. There is something primal awakening within him, something that yearns for the hunt.
Zogarth has delivered what readers call “pitch-perfect LitRPG”—books that are addictive and fast-paced yet thoughtful in tone. Beneath what appears to be lightweight progression fantasy lies remarkable depth of world-building and surprisingly complex philosophical themes. If you enjoyed Defiance of the Fall, reviewers insist you shall love this series even more.
The series continues strong with later books rating even higher than the first.
He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon
Jason Asano, an Australian young man with rather strong opinions about everything, is killed during a botched magical summoning and recreated in a fantasy world brimming with monsters, cultists, and a progression system combining cultivation with traditional LitRPG elements. He gains suspiciously evil-looking powers and a familiar that can only be described as a cannibalistic shoggoth.
What distinguishes this series is its defiant fusion of intensity and irreverence. Worlds are built and burned at reckless pace, but Jason’s sardonic commentary anchors everything. The audiobook was selected as one of Audible’s best of 2021, and the series has achieved over 13 million views on Royal Road.
Jason himself is simultaneously the series’ greatest strength and most divisive element—equal parts funny and infuriating.
Defiance of the Fall by TheFirstDefier
Zac was alone in the wilderness when the System arrived, merging Earth with a terrifying multiverse. Armed with nothing but a hatchet and desperate determination, he must grow stronger to find his family before this new reality consumes everything he loves.
This series masterfully merges LitRPG elements with eastern cultivation, creating something that feels fresh yet familiar. Reviewers praise the author’s gift for ending chapters with cliffhangers that whisper “just one more.” The cast of memorable characters—from the bumbling Billy to the enigmatic Ogras—provide welcome company on Zac’s brutal journey upward.
With over 20 million views on Royal Road and twelve books available, there is plenty of adventure waiting.
Mother of Learning by Domagoj Kurmaić
Zorian is a driven, irritable young mage attending his third year at Cyoria’s magical academy when something impossible happens: he is murdered on the eve of the summer festival, then awakens at the beginning of the month to live it all again. And again. And again.
This time-loop progression fantasy, completed after nearly a decade of serialization, stands at the very pinnacle of Royal Road’s hierarchy. The loops never grow boring; the hidden reveals genuinely surprise; the ending is considered perfect. Readers praise how Kurmaić keeps stakes, pacing, and character development refreshingly engaging despite the repetitive nature of the premise.
At 784,000 words, it is a complete journey waiting to transport you entirely.
The Beginning After The End by TurtleMe
King Grey possessed unrivaled strength, wealth, and prestige—yet beneath his glamorous exterior lurked only emptiness. Reborn as Arthur Leywin in a world of magic and monsters, he finally has the chance to live the life he never knew he wanted.
This series began on Royal Road before migrating to Tapas, where both the novel and its webtoon adaptation have captured millions of readers worldwide. TurtleMe blends Western and Eastern literary traditions into something uniquely compelling. The novel is notably darker than the manhwa adaptation, exploring how Arthur learns not merely stronger magic but how to let people matter to him.
An anime adaptation aired in 2025, with a second season coming in 2026.
Shadow Slave by Guiltythree
In a world brought to extinction’s edge by the Nightmare Spell, young Sunny—an orphan from the slums with nothing to lose—is infected and thrust into a brutal otherworldly realm where he must survive horrors that would break gods.
Eighty-three million readers have followed this web novel, and they speak of it with near-religious devotion. The protagonist’s dark humor, wholesomely pessimistic nature, and growth through genuine struggle make every chapter a joy. Guiltythree brings such life to his cast that even the villains become captivating. Fans of Lovecraftian horror shall find themselves particularly enthralled by the harrowing descriptions of monstrous realms.
A manhwa adaptation is forthcoming.
Tower of God by S.I.U.
Twenty-Fifth Bam has spent his entire life trapped beneath a mysterious Tower, with only his beloved Rachel for company. When she vanishes into the Tower’s depths, Bam follows—entering a structure containing floors vast as continents, each with unique cultures, languages, and deadly tests.
This legendary Korean webtoon boasts a 9.9 rating and 4.5 billion views worldwide. The world-building unfolds with remarkable smoothness as Bam meets companions whose individual backstories enrich every floor of the journey. The art has evolved beautifully over fourteen years of serialization, with SIU’s shading and colors transporting readers directly into this extraordinary vertical world.
Two seasons of anime adaptation have now aired, with more surely to come.
Overgeared by Park Saenal
In the virtual reality game Satisfy, construction worker Shin Youngwoo labors as a low-level nobody until he discovers a legendary book that transforms him into the first legendary class player—a legendary blacksmith named Grid. From pathetic beginnings, he shall become something the game world has never witnessed.
This Korean web novel delivers satisfying progression through a VRMMORPG setting where crafting and combat intertwine magnificently. Grid’s transformation from whiny underdog to respected legend provides exactly the weak-to-strong journey that Solo Leveling fans crave, wrapped in a distinctly different flavor.
Trash of the Count’s Family
Imagine waking inside the novel you just read, inhabiting the body of a minor villain destined for a terrible fate. This is exactly what happens to Kim Rok Soo, who becomes Cale Henituse—the “trash” of a noble family.
Readers praise how mysteries and surprises keep interest burning throughout this Korean web novel. Where Solo Leveling satisfies through combat progression, Trash of the Count’s Family offers strategic scheming and relationship building that scratch similar itches in surprisingly satisfying ways.
Seoul Station Necromancer
When Kang Woojin returns to Earth after twenty years trapped in a hellish dimension, he discovers the world has changed—dungeons now appear, monsters threaten humanity, and hunters rise to fight them. His necromantic powers make him uniquely suited to this new reality.
Readers specifically recommend this when seeking stories similar to Solo Leveling, noting the overlapping themes of dungeon-hunting, overwhelming power, and a protagonist forged through unimaginable suffering.
The World After The Fall
When faced with the option to regress and start over, most choose to do so. Not Jaehwan. He refuses to turn back time and instead continues climbing the tower alone, becoming something unprecedented in the process.
This manhwa puts a unique twist on the dungeon-tower concept, featuring a protagonist whose stubborn determination to move forward resonates deeply with those who loved Sung Jin-Woo’s relentless rise.
All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka
When alien Gitai invade Earth, raw recruit Keiji Kiriya dies on his first battlefield—only to awaken that same morning, doomed to fight and die again and again until he can break the loop or lose his mind entirely.
This Japanese light novel, adapted into the film Edge of Tomorrow, offers a tighter, complete experience for readers wanting something similar to Solo Leveling’s intensity without committing to ongoing serialization. The military science fiction setting provides different flavor while delivering that same satisfying progression through repeated challenge.
There you have it, dear reader—fifteen doorways into worlds where ordinary souls transcend their limitations through determination, clever systems, and battles that shake the very foundations of reality. Each offers its own particular magic, its own reasons to keep turning pages deep into the night.
May your next adventure prove as thrilling as Sung Jin-Woo’s shadow army rising from the darkness. Happy reading!
