The Solo Leveling anime might just be the most satisfying transformation story you’ll watch all year.
You don’t need to be a long-time anime fan to love it. You just need to understand this: everyone roots for the underdog. And Solo Leveling gives us the ultimate one.
Sung Jinwoo isn’t some chosen hero. He starts out at rock bottom, literally nicknamed “The World’s Weakest Hunter.” He’s broke. He gets wrecked in every dungeon. People pity him. Or worse, ignore him.
Then something happens.
He wakes up in a mysterious dungeon. Everyone else runs. He stays. And what he finds there? It changes everything.
A “System” binds itself to him, like something out of an RPG, and gives him the one thing no one else in this world has: the ability to level up.
Not just gain a bit of experience. I mean actually grind, train, and evolve. Just like a video game character.
And from that point on, Solo Leveling anime becomes a wild, relentless, dopamine-fueled journey of one man going from nobody to nightmare. Every skill he unlocks feels earned. Every boss he beats leaves you cheering. Every glow-up moment? Pure perfection!
You don’t need to memorize lore or track a dozen characters. You just follow Jinwoo as he fights his way from the bottom, shadows swirling around him, one epic battle at a time.
It’s anime, but it’s also a power fantasy, the kind of thing that hits home if you’ve ever felt underestimated or overlooked. Which, let’s be real, is all of us at some point.
So if you’re wondering…
Is the Solo Leveling Anime Worth Watching If You’re New to Anime?
Yes. Because it speaks the universal language of leveling up.
Even if you’ve never heard of a Korean anime series or never read the Solo Leveling manhwa (the digital comic it’s based on), this show makes it easy to jump in. No massive backstory. No twenty-year timeline. Just one guy with something to prove.
Season 1 of the Solo Leveling anime has 12 episodes, and honestly, the pacing is so good that you’ll probably watch them all in one weekend. Even better: Season 2 is already streaming on Netflix. So if you like what you see? You don’t have to wait for more.
Still on the fence? Let’s break down the vibe.
What Does Solo Leveling Anime Feel Like?
The World & Stakes
Do you enjoy stories where the modern world suddenly faces an invasion of monsters and doom? Like Attack on Titan or Jujutsu Kaisen? The show hits that gritty, high-stakes energy hard.
The Power Progression
Love a good training arc? Watching My Hero Academia’s Deku grow stronger episode by episode? Solo Leveling anime takes that formula and injects it with RPG mechanics. Stat boosts, loot drops, and pure effort.
The Game-Like System
There’s a reason gamers love this show. Everything about Jinwoo’s progress mirrors what we chase in video games: hidden quests, new skills, boss battles, and that sweet, sweet EXP grind.
The One-Man Army Vibe
If you’re into lone-wolf characters who eventually become unstoppable (looking at you, One-Punch Man), you’ll absolutely love watching Jinwoo go full shadow warlord. It’s not just cool. It’s earned.
Favorite Episodes (Season 1)
Episode 4 – I’ve Gotta Get Stronger
This is the turning point where everything clicks. Jinwoo realizes his new power isn’t a fluke, it’s a real system, and he can exploit it. Watching him fight enemies solo, track his stats like a gamer, and get that glimmer of confidence? It gave me actual chills. It’s the start of his glow-up mindset, and you feel that shift deep.
Episode 12 – Arise
I’m not even going to lie, I screamed when this episode aired. If you’ve seen the trailers with the shadows rising around him? This is it. Jinwoo finally taps into the power that sets him apart from every other hunter. It’s dark, intense, and feels like the final form we’ve been waiting for. Peak anime moment.
The list of all episodes in Solo Leveling is here.
Who Else Is in Solo Leveling Anime?
While Jinwoo carries most of the story, a few standout characters help shape his journey.
Yoo Jinho is his ride-or-die bestie, rich, funny, and fiercely loyal despite being a lower-rank hunter. Cha Hae-In is a mysterious, powerful sword-user with a unique sense for energy (and yes, there’s definitely some chemistry). Then you’ve got badass S-Rank hunters like Baek Yoonho, who turns into a literal beast, and Choi Jong-In, a fire mage with serious tactical skills. Go GunHee, the Hunter Association chairman, is another standout; he spots Jinwoo’s potential long before the rest of the world catches on.
They’re not just side characters. They help highlight just how far Jinwoo has climbed.
Wait, Isn’t This Based on a Comic?
Yup. Solo Leveling started as a Korean web novel, then exploded in popularity as a webtoon, Korea’s digital-first comic format, usually read by scrolling on phones. It’s called a manhwa, and it’s visually rich, bingeable, and perfect for modern storytelling.
Solo Leveling vs Marvel/DC. What’s Different?
Solo Leveling / Manhwa
- Full-color, vertical digital format
- One writer/artist team = consistent story
- Focuses on a single protagonist
- More personal, emotional, and binge-ready
Marvel/DC Comics
- Multi-decade print universes
- Dozens of characters and crossovers
- Many reboots, alternate timelines
- Legacy-driven storytelling
So while Marvel and DC offer broad superhero worlds, Solo Leveling delivers a tightly written, fast-paced story about one man’s transformation, with no interruptions.
Manhwa vs Anime?
The Solo Leveling anime follows the manhwa faithfully in terms of story beats, but it expands the emotional tone and atmosphere.
The anime adds dramatic pauses, ambient tension, and a killer soundtrack that elevates the fights and emotional moments. You feel Jinwoo’s fear, fatigue, and eventual confidence in ways the manhwa only hints at.
Still, the manhwa has its own flavor. The pacing is faster, the artwork is crisp, and it’s already complete, meaning you can jump in and read the whole thing if you want to get ahead of Season 2.
So what’s the best experience? Honestly, both. Watch the anime for the vibe. Read the manhwa for the momentum.
So, Should You Watch the Solo Leveling Anime?
Absolutely. If you love a great underdog. If you’ve ever been the “weak one” in the room. If you want to feel the rush of power earned through grit and growth.
Solo Leveling anime is built for you.
It’s fast. It’s fun. It’s emotional when it needs to be. And it’s got that one thing we all crave: The ultimate glow-up.
Recommended Watchlist After Solo Leveling
On Crunchyroll:
- Jujutsu Kaisen – For more cursed energy and gritty battles
- Overlord – Another OP protagonist from a game-like world
- Jobless Reincarnation – A slower burn, but great emotional depth and worldbuilding
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime – Don’t let the title fool you; it’s a wild power trip
On Netflix:
- Demon Slayer – Stunning visuals and one of the best soundtracks in modern anime
- One-Punch Man – Satirical, but full of hype fights and power fantasy fun
- Bastard!! – Mature, heavy metal fantasy with big battles and even bigger hair
- Lookism – Another Korean manhwa adaptation with a totally different (but super interesting) glow-up twist
Have fun!
