20 Best Manhwa on Webtoon (2024)

When it comes to reading manhwa, some of the best of all time can be found on the popular comic website Webtoon. With new titles releasing every other week and countless titles across every genre, there's no shortage of excellent reads for fans of every trope and every genre. While some of the most underrated manhwa of all time can be found on Webtoon, some of the most popular can be found there as well.

Regardless of whether someone's looking for heart-racing romances or action-packed thrillers, the best manhwa offer a wide variety of experiences that are sure to please fans of every genre. From exceptional art to social commentary and themes that make the reader question the human condition itself, each of the best manhwa has something unique to offer that has earned them a spot among the best graphic stories ever told.

20 Viral Hit (2020)

Written by Taejun Pak and Illustrated by Kim Junghyun

The best part about Viral Hit for readers who enjoy it is that while it's adored on Webtoon, it's not even the most well-regarded work by its writer, Taejun Pak. Also known as How to Fight, Viral Hit follows Hobin Yu, the last person any reader might expect to create a thriving NewTube channel about fighting due to his small stature and meek personality as a bullied student. Still, Viral Hit defies all expectations and creates a compelling, exciting experience readers crave until its completion.

Viral Hit defies typical shonen conventions and is an engaging read due to Hobin's use of shonen tropes, including being unusually resilient and having a high pain threshold, which enable him to outlast his opponents. Additionally, Hobin's adaptability is a compelling factor in his development as a fighter, gradually empowering him to take on fighters and athletes of increasingly higher skill levels. It also helps that Viral Hit has an anime recently aired over the Spring 2024 season for fans craving more manhwa adaptations.

19 Noblesse (2014)

Written by Jeho Son and illustrated by Kwangsu Lee

Noblesse takes off Cadis Etrama di Raizel, better known simply as Rai, wakes up from an 820-year-long slumber. The Noblesse is the title bestowed on the strongest of the Nobles and Rai is the only known person to bear the title. Unfortunately, the meaning of the title came to be muddled with Rai's disappearance, setting the stage for the story to take off with his return.

Having slumbered for so long, Rai is unfamiliar with the world he wakes up to, and mistaking a school uniform for the commonly worn attire of the age, Rai finds himself attending a high school run by Frankenstein, a devout follower of his who had been looking for him for ages. With over 500 episodes and a sequel series, Noblesse's story can feel drawn out at times but it still manages to be quite an enjoyable read full of exciting supernatural elements, great world-building, and equal amounts of action and comedy.

18 The God of High School (2014)

Written and illustrated by Yongje Park

The God of High School is a cult-classic action series and a must-read for anyone new to the medium. The story revolves around Mori Jin, a seemingly regular high schooler who happens to be an expert at Taekwondo. Jin's skills draw the attention of the organizers of a mysterious tournament called "The God of High School" which pits high schoolers from all around the country against each other in an epic fighting tournament where the winner is promised one wish fulfilled by the organizers. Here, Jin encounters various kinds of fighters with varying styles and personalities, which makes every battle more unique than the last.

Of course, The God of High School eventually evolves into much more than a simple fighting tournament, but the story remains just as exciting and packed with action regardless. With well over 500 chapters, this series is the perfect binge-read with a vibrant art style that has held up for the last decade since its release.

17 Shotgun Boy (2021)

Written by Kim Carnby and Illustrated by Hongpil

Standing as a prequel to Sweet Home, Shotgun Boy tackles similarly sensitive topics, including bullying and the looming possibility of its protagonist, Han Gyuhwan, being pushed to commit a massacre. However, for those familiar with Kim Carnby's other work, the deeply troubled protagonist is suddenly set up to be his world's savior as horrific monsters attack his classmates. Armed with a shotgun, Gyuhwan must fight back against these threats in a darkly entertaining thriller manhwa.

Delivered over a concise sixty-eight chapters, Shotgun Boy becomes far more than a creature feature by the end of its run. The series also follows characters who encounter violent threats from human assailants, along with other characters with seemingly transcendental powers. But the greatest thing about Shotgun Boy is that, if enjoyed in tandem with Sweet Home, it's like a chain of nightmares for readers seeking the best horror manhwa on Webtoon.

16 Marry My Husband (2022)

Written by sungsojak and adapted by LICO

Marry My Husband is a classic revenge story with a beautiful romance to boot. The story revolves around Kang Ji-won, a cancer patient who discovers her husband cheating on her with her best friend when she has only six months left to live. To make matters worse, Ji-won finds out her husband and her best friend have been waiting for her to die to claim her life insurance. Ji-won's life is cut even shorter when she confronts the two and her husband ends up killing her in a rage.

However, when Ji-won opens her eyes she finds herself ten years in the past and vows to take revenge by having her best friend marry her lousy husband and suffer as she did with her abusive in-laws. Now with a new outlook on life, Ji-won discovers she has always been surrounded by people who care about her and even finds love along the way. Safe to say, Ji-won's revenge is incredibly satisfying and the heart-thumping romance between her and Ji-hyuk makes this manhwa all the more compelling.

15 The Greatest Estate Developer (2021)

Based on the original web novel by BK Moon, adapted by Lee Hyunmin and illustrated by Kim Hyunsoo

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The Greatest Estate Developer is among Webtoon's most entertaining isekai manhwa, which combines the well-loved trope of game mechanics with a healthy dose of comedy. The story revolves around Kim Suho, a regular civil engineer who finds himself transported into the medieval world of a novel as a useless side character named Lloyd Fronterra, who is known for being a drunken lout who brings ruin to his estate and his family. Lloyd is all but destined for a pathetic death; however, Suho makes up his mind to avoid this fate no matter what.

Thus, Suho begins to use his existing knowledge and skills to bring innovation to the world of the novel with only two goals in mind — to get rich, and to live an easy life. Of course, these goals end up being nearly impossible to achieve, but this is precisely where the fun of the story truly begins. The Greatest Estate Developer is charming and incredibly engaging with a surprisingly likable protagonist and a most absurd sense of humor that all together make this manhwa impossible to put down.

14 Purple Hyacinth (2019)

Written by Ephemerys and illustrated by Sophism

Unlike its flowery name, Purple Hyacinth is a dark, mysterious tale full of murder, conspiracy, tragedy, and even romance. The story centers around Officer Lauren Sinclair, who has the unique ability to detect lies and has devoted every moment of her being to uncovering the truth behind an old tragedy that took away one of her dear friends. However, Lauren somehow ends up joining hands with the city's most dangerous assassin, Kieran White, who goes by the alias that makes up the name of the series.

Thus, Kieran and Lauren set out to unmask the criminal organization terrorizing the city of Ardhalis known as the Phantom Scythe. Despite beginning their partnership ready to kill each other at the slightest sign of betrayal, the two eventually forge a bond that threatens to grow into much more. Altogether, Lauren and Kieran's enticing enemies-to-lovers dynamic coupled with the enthralling mystery of the Phantom Scythe make Purple Hyacinth an absolute page-turner.

13 The Remarried Empress (2020)

Written by Alphatart and illustrated by SUMPUL

The Remarried Empress is a fantasy drama series beloved by many for its romantic art style and swoon-worthy love interest. The manhwa follows Empress Navier and her budding relationship with Prince Heinrey which takes off when her husband, the Emperor acquires a new mistress. Despite being simplistic, The Remaried Empress's plot is far from predictable despite the very first chapter dropping the ball about the eventual divorce between the Empress and the Emperor and her subsequent marriage to the Prince. The story and art remain consistent in quality throughout, with each new character introduced adding depth to the plot.

The Empress herself is kind and capable, very much the typical strong female lead, but with an air of composure befitting her status. Her developing relationship with the mysterious Prince Heinrey amidst the underlying politics of high society and the ensuing melodrama brought about by the power-hungry mistress makes this manhwa an absolute page-turner.

12 See You In My 19th Life (2020)

Written and illustrated by Lee Hey

See You in My 19th Life follows a girl who can remember all of her past lives. When she reincarnates for the nineteenth time, now known as Ban Jieum, she vows to find a boy named Mun Seoha she befriended as a child in her eighteenth life. As her relationship with Seoha develops, she unravels several mysteries including why her eighteenth life was cut short, why she can't seem to remember her first life, and what caused her to retain her memories in the first place.

While the concept of past lives is nothing new in manhwa, See You in My 19th Life certainly has a fresh take on reincarnation. The art is simple yet adorable and while the Netflix adaptation does mostly do the story justice, there are definitely some major differences that set the two apart that make the manhwa worth a read.

11 Bastard (2015)

Written by Carnby Kim and illustrated by Youngchan Hwan

Bastard is a thriller series that follows Jin Seon, a young boy whose father is a murderer. Following the death of his mother, Jin is forced into being an accomplice to these murders for fear of his father getting rid of him as well. That is until his father sets his sights on Yoon Kyun, a girl from school that Jin manages to befriend. Jin is forced to take a stand against his father and thus begins his journey to get stronger in order to break away from his father's influence.

While Bastard's art is simplistic, the muted sepia tones do a wonderful job of conveying the ominous atmosphere and mostly bleak tone. The author also does a great job of portraying the cold terrifying nature of the father with some panels being certifiably bone-chilling.

10 Hero Killer (2021)

Written by Kkulbeol and Illustrated by Beolkkul

Turning the world of heroes and villains on its head, the lead duo of Hero Killer is exactly as it sounds: two villains, the main character formerly hailing from the Nameless syndicate, and the deuteragonist leading that same group. Ihwa is a villain who wishes to avenge her sister, Yeon's death at the hands of the Hero Clan, who are more corrupt than their name suggests. Engen, the Smiling Man, saves Ihwa, the Hero Killer, while he uses her to strike against the Hero Clan and to investigate the circ*mstances of her sister's death.

Hero Killer is a prime example of the best revenge manhwa on Webtoon, with fantastically designed characters and a dark, compelling world with new chapters coming weekly. It's a violent spectacle of an action series, where its characters harness Gifts that grant them their powers in the series to fight and survive. While Engen's abilities and featured Gift are compelling, Ihwa boasts Gift absorption as her ability, being an edgier spin on Rogue, depending on the perspectives of the reader, creating exciting, unlimited potential for every chapter.

9 My In-Laws Are Obsessed With Me (2021)

Based on the Original Web Novel by Han Yoon seol, Adapted by Seungu

One fantastic hook of My In-Laws Are Obsessed With Me is that it has one of the best first chapters in manhwa history, playing up the sinister twist that leads to Pereshati Jahardt, an aristocrat heiress, betrayed by a family she loves and cruelly murdered. In typical manhwa trope fashion, she is resurrected and returned to the time before these events, where she decides who she must trust. This brings Pereshati to Therdeo Lapileon, a "bloodthirsty war fiend," giving early impressions of an enemies-to-lovers webtoon premise as she tries to marry into his family.

However, the Lapileon family has a bizarre curse, with each member using this to varying ends, including Therdeo seeing Pereshati's reaction once she's exposed. Learning about this introduces a new conflict on top of Pereshati's revenge quest against those who murdered her the first time. The result is one of Webtoon's most compelling, best manhwa experiences, with an attractive and compelling male and female lead duo.

8 Lookism (2022)

Written and illustrated by Taejun Pak

In terms of premise, Lookism is as unique as it gets. After being bullied relentlessly, seventeen-year-old Daniel transfers to another school hoping to turn over a new leaf and maybe even make some friends. In a mysterious turn of events, he wakes up one night with a tall, fit body and a face handsome enough to make heads turn. However, to his horror, he discovers he still has his old body and has somehow been split into two bodies that he can switch between. While one is awake, the other sleeps.

The series as a whole is a critique of beauty standards and the attractiveness bias that pervades society while also managing to be lighthearted and entertaining. All in all, Lookism is definitely worth checking out, especially for those looking for more after watching the Netflix adaptation.

7 Sweet Home (2017)

Written by Kim Carnby and Illustrated by Hwang Young-chan

Being the most recognizable horror manhwa available on Webtoon and yet another stellar work from Kim Carnby, Sweet Home's legacy is truly impressive when weighed against other series in general. It depicts a similarly troubled protagonist like that of Shotgun Boy, with Sweet Home's hero beginning his journey at the lowest point of his life before hell erupts on earth all around him. The chaos of Sweet Home builds quickly, getting readers hooked instantly thanks to its fascinating, nightmarish premise, a fittingly bleak color grading scheme, and some truly horrific monster design.

Cha Hyun-soo is the star introduced at the start of Sweet Home, whose strained family bond is abruptly cut short after a tragic car accident, after which he is withdrawn, despondent, and suicidal. The terror of a monsterization crisis erupting around his apartment complex, along with Hyun-soo's resistance to monsterization giving him unique abilities, prompts the boy to become the story's survivor-turned-hero. Sweet Home is not only one of the best horror manhwa, but one of the best webcomics on Webtoon, and has a popular live-action Netflix adaptation.

6 Wind Breaker (2013)

Written and illustrated by Yongseok Jo

Wind Breaker centers around Jay, an extremely talented biker and the student president of Sunny High. Coming from a family of doctors Jay spends all his time focusing on studying with biking providing a brief respite outside of academics. However, Jay's life takes a turn when he is forced to join the Hummingbird Crew, the school's biking team.

Full of exciting races and well-developed characters, this series is the perfect blend of action, humor, and slice-of-life with grungy, trendy art that only gets better. Moreover, the author displays extensive knowledge about biking techniques and a contagious passion for biking which all add to the appeal. Windbreaker is perfect for Webtoon fans wanting a little more sports action out of their manhwa.

5 Tower of God (2010)

Written and illustrated by SIU

One of Webtoon's most popular manhwa series of all time, Tower of God by SIU follows Bam, a young boy who enters a tower that's said to fulfill the wishes of anyone who reaches the top. However, Bam's motivations are different from the rest as he enters the tower solely to find a girl named Rebecca, a dear companion who once kept him company in the dark cavern under the tower, told him stories about the beautiful world outside, and taught him everything he knows. In order to make his way up the tower, Bam is forced to complete a dangerous challenge at every level. Luckily, he finds several companions along the way who help him along his journey.

While the plot sounds generic, much like any fantasy series out there, Tower of God offers much more in terms of world-building, the universal themes it explores, and how well it fleshes out each of its side characters alongside the protagonist. While Tower of Gods' style leaves much to be desired at first, it improves exponentially as the story progresses and should not be a reason to shy away from the series.

4 The Horizon (2021)

Written and illustrated by JH

Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape ravaged by war and ideology, The Horizon follows a young boy and girl struggling to survive in a kill-or-be-killed world that forces them to lose the innocence of childhood. The two children are motivated to move forward in hopes of finding a safe haven. Along the way, the boy is confronted with the choice of whether to abandon his humanity for the sake of survival and must decide how far he is willing to go in order to protect his dear companion.

The series stands out among other Webtoon manhwa due to its surprisingly dark, serious tone and the lack of color throughout the series which represents how the relationship between the girl and the boy is the only spot of color in their otherwise dark, dull lives. Although there is very little dialogue or narration the rugged art style is highly evocative and haunting. In all, The Horizon is a deep, heartbreaking story about finding hope even in the darkest of moments.

3 The Boxer (2020)

Written and illustrated by JH

From the same author as The Horizon, The Boxer is far from a simple sports Webtoon. The series starts with the renowned Coach K recruiting the prodigy Yu with the goal of coaching him to be boxing's next big threat. Although Yu starts off as the protagonist, he is hardly the central focus. Instead, the story explores each of its side characters in great depth, helping set up the contrast between Yu and everyone else.

The story eventually explores Yu's traumatic past and his struggle to find meaning in fighting, violence, perseverance, ambition, and life itself. In that sense, boxing isn't the central focus of the series either, but rather the backdrop against which the author explores deeper issues. While the plot can get a little slow and the fight scenes can get a tad repetitive, The Boxer does tell an excellent story and explores several serious themes with charming character designs and well-handled character arcs that make it worth sticking through.

2 Eleceed (2019)

Written by Jeho Son and illustrated by ZHENA

Eleceed takes off when Jiwoo, a boy with cat-like reflexes and speed meets Kayden, a dangerous assassin stuck in the body of a fat orange tabby cat. What ensues is a charming action-comedy with plenty of cat-related gags and shenanigans. Moreover, Kayden and Jiwoo's contrasting personalities make for an interesting dynamic with both characters being extremely likable. While Jiwoo is chatty, kind, and selfless, Kayden is every bit the prideful loner, not unlike a cat much to his irony.

Overall, Eleceed makes for a fun casual read that will leave Webtoon readers chuckling after every episode. Not only is the art undeniably stunning with no shortage of attractive characters, but the series also handles its characters and their development really well. All things considered, the series is highly entertaining and full of silly antics, with humor that hits the mark every time, stellar action, and lots of cats.

1 Omniscient Reader (2020)

Written by singNsong and illustrated by Sleepy-C

Omniscient Reader follows Kim Dokja as his favorite novel suddenly becomes a reality after releasing its final chapter, The world is plunged into chaos with monsters and mythical creatures of varying kinds making an appearance. Rather than being plunged into the world of his favorite novel in typical isekai fashion, Omniscient Reader reinvents the isekai trope with Dokja watching as his favorite novel takes shape around him. However, Dokja has an advantage. As the only reader who read along faithfully till the end of the novel, only he knows the ending as well as what to expect and how to survive in this post-apocalyptic world.

Although the premise of the series isn't anything new, watching Dokja rise to the top is addicting even more so because of the video game-like format. Moreover, the series has beautiful art and stunning fight sequences with a plot that only gets more intriguing as it progresses. All of this adds up to make Omniscient Reader Webtoon's best manhwa.