Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling is a Korean action-fantasy story that began as a web novel and later became a full-color webtoon and an anime.

Spoiler note: This introduction avoids major story revelations and ending details.

Where Should You Start?

Let me help you choose the format that fits how you like to enjoy stories. You can begin with any of these three versions without experiencing the others first.

Web novel

Best for: Prose fantasy readers

Chugong’s original written story.

Read my web novel review

Check the reading order and editions

Webtoon

Best for: Digital comic readers

The full-color comic adaptation.

Read my webtoon review

Anime

Best for: Action anime viewers

Animated battles, voice performances, and music.

Read my Seasons 1–2 anime review

Compare the webtoon and anime

Solo Leveling at a Glance

Korean title

나 혼자만 레벨업

Original creator

Chugong (추공)

Original format

Korean web novel, first published in 2016

Genre

Action fantasy

Webtoon

Adapted by h-goon, with artwork by DUBU (REDICE STUDIO)

Anime

Produced by A-1 Pictures

Main character

Sung Jinwoo (성진우)

On this page

What Is Solo Leveling About?

Imagine living in a world where dangerous gates lead to dungeons filled with monsters. Specially awakened people, known as hunters, enter these dungeons to fight the creatures inside.

Most hunters have abilities that remain relatively fixed. Sung Jinwoo, an E-rank hunter known for his weakness, is hardly the person anyone expects to become exceptional.

Then a dangerous encounter changes everything.

Jinwoo gains access to a mysterious system that allows him to level up. From there, his journey becomes more than a struggle to survive. Each new challenge brings greater power—and more questions about the system itself.

The story combines dungeon battles, game-like progression, and the satisfaction of watching an underdog gradually transform.

If you’re also considering a very different story about extraordinary ability, my The Boxer vs. Solo Leveling comparison weighs psychological intensity against action-fantasy progression to help you choose your next webtoon.

For action with a different balance of growth, companionship, and humor, my Eleceed vs. Solo Leveling webtoon comparison looks at Jinwoo’s progression alongside Jiwoo’s relationship with Kayden and the cat-centered comedy.

The Korean Story Behind the Adaptations

The adaptations came in this order:

1. Web novel · 2016The Korean original
2. Webtoon · 2018Adapted from the novel
3. Anime · 2024The A-1 Pictures adaptation

Web novels (웹소설) are serialized prose stories commonly read through digital platforms. Webtoons (웹툰) are comics developed for online reading, often using a vertical scrolling format.

The two industries overlap, but they aren’t interchangeable. A webtoon can be an original work or a novel adaptation, as Solo Leveling is.

That history helps explain why different editions credit several creators and publishers: you’re choosing a version of the story as well as a format.

Where to Read Solo Leveling in English

Tapas service update — checked October 23, 2026: Tapas has announced closure on March 31, 2027. New Ink acquisition stopped on October 1, 2026, and its FAQ says previously unlocked content will become inaccessible after closure. The Tapas links below identify existing licensed editions; for a new reading route, consider Tappytoon’s comic or the publisher’s novel and comic editions.

Official English-language options include:

Web Novel

• Tapas — Solo Leveling (Novel)
• Yen Press — Solo Leveling (Novel)

Webtoon

• Tapas — Solo Leveling (Comic)
• Tappytoon — Solo Leveling (Comic)

Collected Comic Editions

• Yen Press — Solo Leveling (Comic)

Chapter access, payment options, and regional availability can change, so check each platform for current details.

Considering the sequel after the original? My Solo Leveling: Ragnarok web novel review focuses on its new protagonist, inherited expectations, and the familiar pleasure of leveling up. The Ragnarok webtoon review follows that same interest in Suho through the JIN-illustrated material I’ve read, with impressions of its action panels and expressions. Both discuss the sequel’s next-generation premise, so save them for later if you want to avoid learning about the original story’s future.