The Greatest Manhwa Of All Time, Ranked (2024)

Manhwa are comics that originate from South Korea, and while their themes and art are quite similar to that of manga, there are a few significant differences. Like Western texts, manhwa are read from left to right, and most of them are in color instead of the traditional manga standard of black-and-white.

Manga fans who are curious about this Korean medium have a lot of options to slog through — most of which may not even be to their tastes. But while there's such a vast library of titles available, the very best manhwa series stand out among the crowd. With gorgeous art styles, thrilling drama, and heart-stopping romance, these iconic titles offer readers the best stories of the medium.

Updated on September 13, 2024 by Mayra Garcia:

25 Sweet Home Is A Truly Claustrophobic Experience

After his family dies in a car accident on their way to a vacation, recluse teenager Cha Hyun-soo finds himself alone in the world. In order to save money, he moves into a cheaper apartment complex, ready to ignore everyone around him. When considering suicide, he's ironically forced to fight for his survival when the world goes through a monster apocalypse, with everyone transforming into human-eating creatures. Although he's severely anti-social, now he must join forces with the survivors around him to beat the monsters.

Sweet Home has been such a successful series that it already has a Netflix live-action adaptation. This comic earned the love of manhwa lovers all over the world thanks to its complex characters and the unique way in which it approaches the zombie apocalypse trope. The series takes place inside the apartment complex, with the survivors having to hide inside a very small space while dealing with monsters that used to be their neighbors. This takes an extra emotional toll and definitely raises the stakes higher for them.

Sweet Home

After an unexpected family tragedy, a reclusive high school student is forced to leave his home -- only to face something much scarier: a reality where monsters are trying to wipe out humanity. Now he must fight alongside a handful of reluctant heroes to try and save the world before it’s too late.

Author

Kim Carnby

Artist

Hwang Young-chan

Release Date

October 12, 2017

Issues

12

Genre

Horror

Where to Read

Webtoons

Chapters

140

Volumes

12

Adaptation

Sweet Home

Publisher

Naver

24 Spirit Fingers Is A Story About Self-Love

Amy Song is a deeply insecure girl with truly below-zero self-esteem. She lives to envy others' beauty and confidence and cares for their opinions of her deeply. Because of this, when a beautiful stranger in the park asks her to pose for a drawing for a couple of minutes, she finds herself in her biggest nightmare. Funnily enough, this experience pushes Amy to come out of her shell, join a cool kids' art club, and soon learn to love herself even more than she could ever imagine with the help of her new friends.

Contrary to most manhwa, which often delves into sci-fi, fantasy, and reincarnation tropes, Spirit Fingers is a slice-of-life series. This webtoon tells Amy's story from her own perspective, playing with the art style to convey her emotions in the most adorable and hilarious ways. This makes it a truly dynamic story that is also incredibly relatable for any reader who has ever felt inadequate in their own skin. Spirit Fingers truly wears its heart on its sleeve, so it will stay with its audience for the first moment.

23 Her Tale Of Shim Cheong Is Almost Like A Legend Recovered From The Passing Of Time

Her Tale of Shim Chong follows Shim, a beggar from a small Joseon village, as she falls in love with a woman from a way higher status, Madame Jang. Although the two women have very little in common, their solitude brings them together into a beautiful love story.

Her Tale of Shim Chong stands out from other girls' love manhwa because it tries to create a mythos out of the character's romance. Since this historical manhwa is based on an old Korean folktale, it is set in a mostly medieval time and few characters have a name, as if they were part of a legend lost in time. It also helps that it isn't as dramatic as it could be since it tells a star-crossed lovers story. Instead, it's just wholesome.

Her Tale of Shim Chong

Based on aKorean folktale, two very different women find themselves making the same wish - to leave this world behind. One is Shim Chong, a young beggar living off the kindness of others to support herself and her blind father. The other is the bride-to-be of old Chancellor Jang, sold off to him for the sake of her family. When Shim Chong rescues this new bride from the river, their relationship triggers both love and hidden intentions. But will these two women be able to find their way forth in a world that favors men?

Author

Seri

Artist

Biwan

Release Date

September 12, 2017

Genre

Manhwa , Historical , Romance

Where to Read

https://www.tappytoon.com/en/book/hershimch

Volumes

7

Publisher

Pocket Comics

22 The Greatest Estate Developer Plays With Stark Contrasts

Suho Kim is a civil engineering student in Korea who ends up inside a fantasy book world when he falls asleep while reading. Now known as Lloyd Frontera, he uses his engineering knowledge to change the world of Frontera Country alongside Javier Asrahan, a group of hamster-like creatures, and the magic this world offers.

The Greatest Estate Developer takes a common trope in manhwa -- reincarnation in a different world -- and gives it a little twist. While most series with this trope disregard the main character's life before their transformation, Suho's knowledge from the real world becomes a very important tool for him as Lloyd. The contrast between technology and magic is wide, but this series manages to bring them together in every chapter.

21 No Home Is A Very Unique Tale

No Home follows the complicated relationship between Haejoon Goh, a kid running away from his problematic mother, and Eunyung Baek, a homeless violent child. When luck forces them to live together under the roof of a haunted house, the two teenagers will have to learn how to deal with each other while also dealing with the supernatural phenomena around them.

No Home stands out in the world of manhwa because it has a very unique premise. On one hand, it develops the dynamic between two very stubborn characters who fight against the idea of getting along -- this subverts the dynamic duo tope from the very first moment. On the other, it's a horror ghost story with truly scary panels that come out of nowhere, so readers won't know what to expect.

20 Nagyunn Assumes His Twin Brother's Identity To Avenge His Murder In The Ember Knight

The Ember Knight centers around Nagyunn, who assumes his twin brother Najin's identity after his murder, vowing to avenge him at any cost. The only problem is that Najin was a brilliant and skilled knight, whereas Nagyunn lacks his natural talent despite being his twin. Without seeing another option, Nagyunn trains to hone his skill as Najin's stand-in, trying not to give away his identity in the process.

Since Nagyunn lacks the physical strength and talent of his brother, he has to rely on his wits instead, leading to many engaging scenarios. One of the best manhwa, The Ember Knight is a story of secrecy and revenge that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The Ember Knight

When Nagyunn's twin brother, Najin, is murdered before his very eyes, he vows to avenge his brother's death by assuming Najin's identity.

Author

Hwandaeng

Artist

Hwandaeng

Release Date

March 19, 2021

Genre

Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Where to Read

Naver Webtoon

Chapters

139

Publisher

Webtoon Entertainment, Tappytoon

19 Annarasumanara Is A Psychological Mystery That Uses Magic To Tell Its Story

Il Kwon-ha's Annarasumanara is a magical realist manhwa set around a derelict carnival. The mysterious magician character plays an important role, but the overarching narrative is driven by the series' young protagonist, Yoon Ah-ee.

Yoon has no time to waste wondering about magic because her life is already difficult — she has to work and study while simultaneously raising her little sibling. Then Yoon meets the magician, setting her on a journey through a world that few people get to see, much less enjoy. Another important character in Annarasumanara is Na Il-Deung, whose logical perspectives on life are both sobering and occasionally trite, adding balance to the otherworldly series.

The Sound of Magic: Annarasumanara

Yoon Ah-ee goes to a carnival and meets a magician who changes her life in The Sound of Magic: Annarasumanara.

Release Date

July 1, 2014

Author

Ilkwon Ha

Artist

Ilkwon Ha

Genre

Manhwa

18 The Breaker: New Waves Has Been Around For Years, But Still Captivates Readers

The Breaker was one of the best manhwa for its time, with two sequels having come out already. The second installment in the franchise, titled The Breaker: New Waves, ran from 2010 to 2015. This sequel follows the story of Shiwoon after he refuses to lead the Sunwoo Clan.

Shiwoon has Sera Kang help bring balance to his misaligned ki-center, following which he promises to punish the secretive group called Soldiers Under Command (or SUC) for hampering the Martial Arts Alliance and tormenting ordinary people. Fans of the story should also check out the third installment, The Beaker: Eternal Force.

The Breaker: New Waves

After Yi "Shioon" Shi-Woon's master, Goomoonryong, breaks his ki-center, leaving him unable to use his martial arts, he decides to leave the world of Murim and continue on with his normal life: going to school and coming home to his mother every day. However, Murim has other ideas.

Release Date

October 8, 2010

Author

Geuk-Jin Jeon, Jin-Hwan Park

Artist

Geuk-Jin Jeon, Jin-Hwan Park

Genre

Action , Comedy , Drama , Romance , Supernatural

Where to Read

Daum Webtoon

Chapters

203

Volumes

20

17 People Start Receiving Invitations For A Wish-Granting Island Tournament In The God Of High School

As the name suggests, the titular God Of High School tournament invites high school students to duel it out, competing to find the single best and strongest among them. The winner of this tournament gets one wish granted, regardless of the cost. Jin Mo-Ri, a taekwondo specialist who enters to find and challenge tough opponents, meets two others who fight for noble goals and grow closer in the process.

Throughout The God Of High School, the inspirational message of fighting for oneself and doing whatever you want is pushed through Jin Mo-Ri, his friends, and even his enemies all fighting tirelessly for their own wishes. The God Of High School ran for eleven years and five-hundred-and-sixty-nine chapters, wrapping up in October 2022, and is one of the best manhwa that's also gotten an anime adaptation.

16 After School Lessons For Unripe Apples Follows The Budding Friendship Between An Unlikely Young Duo

Despite its overly long and confusing title, After School Lessons for Unripe Apples is a delightfully quaint slice-of-life manhwa. It stars Mi-ae Hwang, a mild-mannered middle-schooler with a penchant for K-pop and romance manga. Unfortunately, she suffers a lot of bullying at school, mostly due to her height.

When Cheol Kim transfers to Mi-ae's class, however, her entire life starts taking a wild turn. Cheol has racked up a reputation for being a rulebreaker and juvenile delinquent, although his actual personality couldn't be further from the truth. After School Lessons for Unripe Apples is all about the budding friendship that inevitably develops between Mi-ae and Cheol.

After School Lessons For Unripe Apples

Mi-ae is just a normal middle school girl trying to survive school. She likes reading comics, the pop group "The Fire Boys," and karaoke.

Release Date

December 23, 2020

Author

Soonkki

Artist

Soonkki

Genre

Romance , Comedy , Drama

Where to Read

Naver Webtoon, MANHUASCAN, Manga Fire, MyAnimeList

Chapters

124

15 Seasons Of Blossom Is An Emotional Story Following Four Different Characters' Lives

One of the best manhwa out there, Seasons of Blossom was illustrated by NEMONE and written by Hongduck. It is considered a tetralogy because its four parts are based on each season of the year. As expected from the title, the story has everything to do with adolescence and youth.

The manhwa stars a group of young friends, each starring in their own arc throughout the story. Bo-mi, Ha-min, Ga-eul, and Dong-chae represent spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively — and each of their character arcs is just as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. Seasons of Blossom already has a live-action adaptation, with an animated adaptation coming in 2024.

Seasons Of Blossom

Oh, to be young and in love. Oh, to be wild and carefree. The springtime of life is intense, tumultuous, and at times, oh so confusing. Spring, summer, fall and winter—love blossoms in all seasons.

Release Date

June 23, 2020

Author

Hongduck

Artist

NEMONE

Genre

Romance , Comedy , Drama

Where to Read

Naver Webtoon

Chapters

130

Volumes

12

14 The Legend Of The Northern Blade Follows A Warrior's Journey To Avenge His Fallen Family

The Legend of the Northern Blade sounds like something out of a medieval anime or Chinese wuxia fiction. Hailed as one of the best and most exciting manhwa series to date, The Legend of the Northern Blade blends hefty doses of drama into the martial arts mix. Members of the so-called Northern Heavenly Sect are tasked with protecting humanity from a mysterious entity known only as the Silent Night.

The Legend of the Northern Blade begins with Mowoon, a heroic warrior who teaches himself to fight after fleeing his mountainous home. Mowoon is eventually given a choice — to do nothing or to hunt down those responsible for his father's death.

The Legend Of The Northern Blade

In the ongoing battle to protect the world, the fearless fighters of the Northern Heavenly Sect waged war against the evil forces of Silent Night for many years.

Release Date

December 30, 2019

Author

Woogack

Artist

Hae-min

Genre

Action , Drama , Adventure , Fantasy

Where to Read

KakaoPage, MyAnimeList, Manga Fire, ManhuaScan

Chapters

176

13 Tower Of God Features A Perilous Journey In A Mysterious World

In the first few chapters of Tower of God, Young Bam loses Rachel when she goes climbing the Tower. He then decides to climb it himself and get to the bottom of everything. Upon reaching the location, however, he soon realizes how unprepared he is to deal with all the ferocious monsters and ancient secrets.

Bam has to face countless adversaries on his journey, especially the Administrators who govern each floor of the titular tower. Young Bam will have all his dreams fulfilled if he completes his mission, but getting to the top won't be easy. Despite fading from the limelight in recent years, Tower of God remains one of the best manhwa ever written and also has an anime adaptation.

Tower Of God

Fame. Glory. Power. Anything in your wildest dreams is possible when you reach the top of the Tower of God. Those lucky enough to be chosen by the tower ascend each floor in hopes of fulfilling their dreams, but to succeed, they must complete dangerous and deadly tests along the way.

Release Date

June 30, 2010

Author

S.I.U.

Genre

Manhwa , Fantasy , Action-Adventure

Where to Read

https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/tower-of-god/list?title_no=95&page=1

Chapters

500+

Volumes

3

Adaptation

Tower of God

Publisher

Young Com

12 Eleceed Stars An Odd Pair Of Heroes Who Can't Seem To Get Along

Though Eleceed is a lesser-known title compared to other popular manhwa series, it's undoubtedly one of the best. This charming series follows Jiwoo, a man with cat-like reflexes who uses his super abilities to fight crime and make the world a better place. By his side is Kayden, a secret agent who was somehow transformed into a cat.

Together, this odd pair joins forces to fight against evil. However, this proves to be harder than they think, since Jiwoo and Kayden don't get along whatsoever. The series follows their misadventures as they use their powers to save the day and try to get along in the process.

Eleceed

Jiwoo is a kind-hearted young man who harnesses the lightning quick reflexes of a cat to secretly make the world a better place—one saved little child or foster pet at a time.

Release Date

October 1, 2018

Author

Jae-Ho Son

Artist

HYE-JIN KIM

Genre

Action , Comedy , Adventure , Fantasy

Chapters

280

Publisher

Naver Webtoon, Webtoon Entertainment

11 The Breaker Follows A Young Man's Journey To Grow Stronger

The Breaker is a properly shonen series with tons of martial arts. This iconic manhwa follows Shioon, a loser who gets bullied at the Nine Dragons High School every day. One day, he watches a man named Chun Woo defend himself against a group of scary-looking men.

Shioon promptly decides to blackmail Chun Woo into teaching him the art of self-defense. Unfortunately for the protagonist, he has no idea what he's getting himself into, not to mention Chun Woo's complicated history and the macabre underworld thriving below them. The Breaker may be much older than most popular manhwa series, but it remains one of the best out there.

The Breaker: Omnibus, Vol. 1

WRITER

Jeon Geuk-jin

Artist

Kamaro

Letterer

Studio Makma

Cover Artist

Kamaro

Publisher

Ablaze Publishing

Price

19.99

Release Date

August 3, 2021

10 Omniscient Reader Is A Subversive Isekai Story Where The World Of A Popular Web Novel Comes To Life

Omniscient Reader is a playful subversion of the Isekai manga genre. Kim Dokja feels like an NPC, observing his own life from a distance while it passes him by. Like many of the best manhwa protagonists, he spends most of his free time reading web novels. Kim has been addicted to a manhwa titled Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse for over ten years, having found its protagonist Yoo Joonghyuk to be irresistible.

When Kim's beloved web novel comes to a conclusion, however, the writer sends him a message that inexplicably brings the story to life. Kim now knows everything that is going to happen, but that doesn't mean he's going to surpass all the obstacles in his path.

Omniscient Reader

Kim Dokja does not consider himself the protagonist of his own life. Befitting the name his parents gave him, he is a solitary person whose sole hobby is reading web novels.

Release Date

May 26, 2020

Author

sing N song

Artist

Sleepy-C

Genre

Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Chapters

194

Publisher

LINE Webtoon, Yen Press

9 The Boxer Has A Premise That's Similar To The Classic Hajime No Ippo

Animanga fans have probably heard of Hajime no Ippo, one of the most iconic sports anime ever made. The Boxer employs a similar backdrop, starting with a bullied teenager named Yu. Yu has the rare gift of being able to avoid incoming attacks with ease, which he later incorporates into his fighting strategy.

That said, Yu would have remained lost and lonely without K, a champion boxing trainer who insists on training the disinterested hero. One of the best manhwa about second chances and survival, The Boxer establishes its narrative foundation with its protagonist's unshakeable resolve.

The Boxer

Having suffered ruthless bullying for the better part of his life, 17-year-old Yu has become emotionally numb and dissociated from reality, no longer able to act like a normal human being.

Release Date

December 4, 2019

Franchise

The Boxer

Author

Jung Ji-Hoon

Artist

Jung Ji-Hoon

Genre

Action , Drama , Sports

Chapters

123

Publisher

LINE Webtoon, Yen Press, Naver Webtoon

8 Park Hyung Suk Becomes His True Self In An Unconventional Way In Lookism

For seventeen years, Lookism's Park Hyung Suk is bullied and ostracized by his peers, until he has enough and decides to transfer for a fresh start. Right before transferring, though, he wakes up and finds that he's an idealized, perfect version of himself — and Hyung Suk switches between the two every time he falls asleep.

Lookism is one of the best manhwa that keeps fans entertained as protagonist Park Hyung Suk figures out both how to be a popular kid and the mystery behind his new body-switching, double-life powers. Lookism has been running for ten years and is still ongoing with almost five-hundred chapters currently published.

7 Bastard Follows A Young Boy As He Struggles With His Father's Dark Secret

Bastard's protagonist, Seon Jin, is terrified of his dad. Although the latter appears to be a beloved altruist and model citizen, only his son is aware of the darkness residing in his father's heart. However, everything changes when Jin's father develops an interest in Yoon Kyun, a new transfer student.

Jin soon realizes that he needs to protect Yoon from his dad's serial killer ways, forcing him into some rather tough choices. He has to decide whether he's willing to let Yoon die or rebel against his monstrous father. A thrilling addition to the psychological genre, Bastard is one of the best manhwa for fans who love a darker story.

Bastard

There is nowhere that Seon Jin can find solace. At school, he is ruthlessly bullied due to his unsettlingly quiet nature and weak appearance.

Release Date

July 4, 2014

Author

Kim, Carnby

Artist

Hwang, Young-chan

Genre

Drama , Horror , Mystery , Romance

Chapters

94

Volumes

5

Publisher

Dream Sodam, LINE Webtoon

6 Who Made Me A Princess Stars A Protagonist Who Reincarnates Into An Ill-Fated Storybook Princess

In the iconic manhwa Who Made Me a Princess?, a young woman from Japan wakes up to find herself reborn as Athanasia de Alger Obelia, a character from a Japanese fairytale. Since she knows how Athanasia’s story ends, she tries her best to avoid her tragic fate by changing the narrative of the story.

When the heroine reincarnates into her new life as Athanasia, she's only five years old. As a result, she decides to win her tyrannical father over by using love and affection, a somewhat successful tactic. Who Made Me a Princess? has everything a reader could want, from family melodrama to political intrigue, making it the perfect manhwa series for fans of all kinds.

Who Made Me A Princess

Athanasia,executed for treason in her past life,wakes up reborn as a child princess in the very kingdom she threatened.Now,she must navigate a treacherous court,filled with hidden agendas and deadly secrets,all while maintaining the innocent facade of a princess.

Release Date

December 20, 2017

Author

Plutus

Artist

Spoon

Genre

Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

Chapters

125

Volumes

9

Publisher

Tappytoon, Seven Seas Entertainment