The apocalyptic manhwa genre has always provided more action and adventure than any other genre. It’s just like they say, “Humanity shines the brightest when facing certain adversity.” The popular end-of-world concept has continuously captivated curious readers over the years. Ranging from natural to man-made disasters, the number of probable reasons for the world’s ending has always ignited humans’ imagination.
Popular titles, like Solo Leveling, aren’t usually considered post-apocalyptic but highlight some elements of the genre. Solo Leveling is the best manhwa for new fans of the popular genre. Having said that, here are a few other notable apocalyptic manhwa worth a look.
Leviathan
The popular Korean post-apocalypse manhwa, written by Lee Gyuntak, is one of the best in the genre today. It has everything a good manhwa needs: solid characters, an exciting story, and a unique art style. The story takes place a century ago after a giant comet wiped out human civilization. It completely levels the cities and continents where humans previously lived, sinking them into the sea and leaving the last few survivors roaming the oceans searching for a new home. The story centers around siblings Bota and Rita after their father sacrifices his life to save them from a sea monster.
Tomb Raider King
Like Solo Leveling, Tomb Raider King isn’t regarded by many as an apocalyptic manhwa. However, the manhwa offers a lot of apocalyptic scenarios towards the end, which earns it its place on the list. The manhwa follows Seo Joo-Heon, who excels at tomb raiding. He and his team raided dungeons and brought glory to their employer, Kwon Tae-Joon. Due to his remarkable work and skills, he and his team are tricked by CEO Kwon, who ensures their death. After being given a second chance by a powerful relic, he returns to the past to gather all the relics. Armed with all the knowledge and skills from his past life, he aims to get revenge and stand atop the world.
Return to Player
In this exciting apocalyptic story, the gods personally put humanity to the sword. The gods turn every human being in the world into players in their despicable game. They are forced to kill or be killed by epic monsters or creatures. They are armed with various supernatural abilities to help them not persevere, even if it’s just for a little while.
Sehan Kim, a video game addict, played the game and ultimately became its last survivor. In a game that had been nothing but amusement to the gods, Sehan stood as the last human alive. However, he is given a chance to do a second walkthrough, returning ten years before the game starts. With all his memories intact, he vows to save as many people as possible and alter the game’s results. While the manhwa has been criticized for its art, it offers a refreshing story for fans of the genre.
Omniscient Readers Viewpoint
The story has reigned atop its genre for several years. Its unique story and mesmerizing characters have been responsible for its success. The story follows Kim Dokja, an average office worker whose main hobby is reading web novels. His favorite is titled “The Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse,” which he has been reading since its release. At the end of the novel, as its sole reader, Kim Dokja receives a present from the author, the manuscript.
Upon receiving it, the world changes into the novel’s story, and he uses his knowledge to survive in this apocalyptic world. The story presents an exciting conundrum that isn’t found in many manhwa today.
Surviving the Apocalypse
Song’s Apocalyptic Manhwa offers an intuitive story with thought-provoking characters. Despite the manhwa being relatively new, the story has captivated millions of fans worldwide. The story follows the life of a boy with no name who was held captive in a dungeon for several years. Meanwhile, he was trained and taught by his father, who had jailed and isolated him all this time. However, his father had told him he was doing everything to prepare him for the incoming apocalypse. Now, he must hone his skills and techniques to survive his new reality. The manhwa was a breath of fresh air for fans of the genre looking for something different from the usual tower and system stories.
