Summary
Isekai manhwa is a popular genre of Korean comics in which the main character (MC) usually transmigrates to a new world. The MC is usually from present-day Earth and ends up in a more fantastic world with elements of magic and monsters. This genre has been increasing in popularity, and though most manhwa usually have theMC transmigrating into a novel or webtoon, there are some where the MC wakes up in a game world.
Waking up in a game world is significantly more life-threatening since the game’s main plot is tied into the system. In this genre, the game system is often the hidden antagonist of the plot since no matter how much the MC tries to pull away from it, the system will make sure it stays on course and carries out the major plot points that are important to the flow of the story.
Updated March 23rd, 2025, by Aditi Jeyanathan:It’s always a fight for survival whenever a character gets transported to a world of a game. Despite knowing all future incidents and pathways, there are always instances where the game system acts in the best interest of the plot and forcefully changes its trajectory. This could either be extremely beneficial to the main character or potentially lead to their death. This makes falling into a game much more daunting than perhaps being isekai’d into a novel or webtoon. Some of these manhwa are the best in the genre and readers will enjoy the tenacity these characters bring to the table.
1Ending Maker
Two Rival Players Working Together To Save The World
For “Outboxer009” and “YellowStorm,” getting stuck in their favorite game has its pros and cons. As the top two players in Legend of Heroes 2, both of them have been battling it out since the beginning, with “Outboxer009” always coming in first place. Now, suddenly awakening in the game with memories of their predetermined characters, both Yuder and Cordelia have to work together to make sure Pleiades is not destroyed in the endgame.
Ending Makerstays true to the plot of the MC trapped in a game, as Legend of Heroes 2 is now Yuder and Cordelia’s reality, and there have been multiple instances where they barely even recall their previous lives. This development is rather interesting as the two of them seem to have naturally assimilated into the new culture of the game and though the two of them recall the plot, their mainfocus is to level up as much as they can.
2Solo Glitch Player
A Fallen Lord That Uses Game Bugs To His Advantage
Taepung Shin was a hardcore gamer and fan of Paradiso, anMMORPG fantasy game with magic and monsters. He played it religiously until his death and then wakes up in the body of Jared. Overweight, with zero skills, and on the brink of death, Jared makes a major life change and realizes the massive advantage he has in the world of his favorite game. Aside from the numerous hidden abilities he can make his own, Jared decides to also make use of the various bugs within the game to help him level up.
As theSolo Glitch Playerwho has reincarnated, Jared wants to be the king of the land and slowly grow his popularity in the world of Paradiso. Jared doesn’t necessarily see his predicament as something to get out of, but as something he wholeheartedly enjoys, which is why this story has great pacing, steady character development, and hilarious moments.
3Tyrant Of The Tower Defence Game
The Trash Commander And The Extreme Difficulty Game
Protect The Empire is a famous RPG that specializes in tower defense and dungeon offense, and in the past ten years since its release, players have been unable to clear it. When Mr. Gamer Geek completes the game on Hard Mode, he is immediately sucked into it by a mysterious figure and takes on the role of Prince Ash. Prince Ash is a tyrant in the game who dies an untimely death during the tutorial stage, so his first act in the game is to get through it by using his knowledge from his previous life.
A factor that many readers can look forward to inTyrant Of The Tower Defence Gameis that all the characters have unique skills that are extremely advantageous, but they are in no way overpowered. This is because the majority of the time they are either nerfed or encounter unexpected situations that add that comedic factor. Aside from originally being a game, the characters are quirky and have their own personalities that make it easy for a reader to get attached.
4How To Survive As A Maid In A Horror Game
A Lowly Maid Trying To Save A Future Serial Killer
After a night of drinking, the protagonist decides to try out anew horror game known for its difficulty. She passes out and wakes up as Hilda with a message above her head stating that she has entered the very game she failed at. Hilda is now a maid under the employment of Adrian Pfaltzgraff, who is revered for his angelic smile and innocent eyes. But little do they know that Adrian is far from the kind master they see on a day-to-day basis. He’s the culprit behind all the serial murders that have been occurring lately and Hilda is the only one who knows that.
The interesting tactic inHow To Survive As A Maid In A Horror Gameis that Hilda can see when Adrian’s intent for murder rises. Due to her being from another world, she uses the game system to her advantage to build a sort of rapport with him and survive without being killed. The author takes it a step further by giving readers morally gray characters in hilarious situations against the horror background.
5How To Clear A Dating Sim As A Side Character
The Rebel Saintess That Wants The Perfect Ending
When Yewon wakes up as Saintess Eveness Harin, she realizes that she is the side character of the top-ranked dating game. The only way to successfully clear it is to reach a happy ending withone of the five love interests. However, each route has its problems. The crown prince hates her, the merchant seems a bit insane, the master of the mage’s tower will kill her and another one barely speaks two words. The Captain of the Imperial Guard, who seems to be the safest option, is sadly a devout follower of the very same temple she’s trying to get away from.
Using her experience of over 500 hours of playtime, Eveness is quite the ruthless MC as she knows there is no way out of the game except through a good ending. She treats all the people around her as characters in a game and barely has any sort of feelings for them. Compared to other manhwa, inHow To Clear A Dating Sim As A Side Characterthere is a certain layer of depth and additional side stories that add to the main plot. It may seem to be quite a drag if readers do not enjoy a multi-layered storyline that touches on more than just the typical romance genre.
6Trapped As An NPC In A Cursed Game
The Game Developer Stuck In Her Own Trashy Game
In the peaceful village of Dover, Shari Azriel is an Apothecary who suddenly remembers that she’s been trapped in an MMORPG called “Save The Earth” for over two years. When she tries to get out, the system causes an error and rejects her request. Shari does everything she can to forcefully eject herself from the game, even going as far as killing herself, but it just sends her back to the starting point. Her only option is to see through to the ending and help the male lead defeat the villain.
Unfortunately, the male lead is also known as “The Lord of Nightmares” and one of the most dangerous characters in the game. Cassel Ludwig is the Crown Prince of the Empire and is cursed by nightmares that become reality when he falls asleep. For Shari, things are a little different inTrapped As An NPC In A Cursed Game, since the game system does not mess with her in any way or make her life difficult. In fact, she recruits the help of admins in real life whenever she needs help, and they guide hertoward the best possible ending.
7How To Protect The Young Master Of The Monster Mansion
The Caretaker That Wants A Good Ending For Her Bias
In a future where VR games are all the rage, the protagonist is obsessed with “The Young Master Of The Monster Mansion - Raising Angelic Boys.” After the 43rd death of the young master, Daian Redford, whom she chose to take care of, Lynn is sent back to the beginning of the game with a new job and identity by a mysterious voice. It’s only when she’s unable to log out of the game does she truly realizes the unfortunate situation she’s in.
The plot ofHow To Protect The Young Master Of The Monster Mansionis quite remarkable as it doubles as agame about raising a childand a dating simulation. The MC has a certain controlled chaos due to her love and adoration for the characters, and because the game system rarely gets in her way, readers see her character growing in various planned and unplanned situations. The plot primarily surrounds itself around the theme of horror and gore, since she lives in a cursed mansion, but the touch of romance keeps readers coming back for more.
8How To Break Up In A Romance Simulation
A Serial Heartbreaker, A Harem, And A Glitching Game
Yeonga Lee has a reputation for her harsh methods of either breaking men’s hearts or reprimanding her coworkers at their jobs. She’s ruthless and her only potential for love is through her favorite otome game. After her third run-through, Yeonga receives a gadget from the developers for a new beta version but ends up waking in the body of Aisha, the main protagonist. But here’s the catch-all her previous saved game data has been incorporated into this new version, which means the three love interests she successfully seduced are currently dating her.
Yeonga can’t even leave the simulationunless she finds her true love, and her bias - Ren Brecht, is the only one she truly cares about. Unfortunately, when it comes to affection, Ren is just as ruthless as Yeonga.How To Break Up In A Romance Simulationtakes a classic trope and twists it just as the title says. Aisha’s goal is to leave the game and the only way to do that is to break up with the three men she’s dating and fall in love with the final male lead.
9Boutique At 97th Sheldon Street
A Time-Travel Action-Packed Duo Stuck In A Game
Yu Eun decides to take a couple of days from burning out at work and chooses a new game to play. But when she tries to log in, an error message pops up, and she’s instead sucked into the game known as “Lettere.” With no means of accessing her inventory, money, or logging out, she realizes she’s tragically stuck inside this strange world. Her only option right now is to find something to do, and she manages tofind a job as a tailoratBoutique at 97th Sheldon Street.
Now living as Tracy, she ends up catching the attention of a mysterious noble by the name of Ashton Richmond. Ashton agrees to help Tacy survive in this world, but he seems to be hiding a lot from her, like the fact that he seems to already know the reason she’s trapped in this world. This manhwa may come off as a romance story, but readers should be aware that it’s far from that. The plot is multi-layered and so are the characters with their various developments and growth.
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Status
Ongoing
Life is already tough for Penelope Eckhart and when she activates her favorite otome game on Hard Mode, she is immediately sucked intothe role of the villainess with no way out. Unlike most isekai manhwa centered around the romance arc between the original male lead and female lead, Penelope is the type of main character who makes her moves more akin to a death game. She’s always on her toes, makes witty & cunning decisions, and prioritizes her survival.
InVillains Are Destined To Die, she has to deal with her family, her brothers, and various inanimate objects that can kill her, as any slight misdirection could result in her death. What makes this such a great story is how transparent the author is with flawed characters and how each dynamic is so complex that it makes readers hate them and love them at the same time.
