Manhwa’s rise in popularity is due to multiple factors. One of which is its masterful utilization of popular tropes, including transmigration. Transmigration manhwa is basically bringing the main characters into a new body in a new world, which is most often fantastical in nature. In that sense, it shares a lot of similarities with isekai, which has since become a popular genre in anime.
Given the trope’s popularity, it comes as no surprise that plenty of titles want to a taste of that sweet, sweet spotlight. With so many transmigration manhwa flooding the market, it’s overwhelming to discern which ones are worth reading, especially for newcomers. That said, here are ten series worth checking out.
The Greatest Estate Developer
If you’ve clicked on this article because of the thumbnail, I can’t really blame you. That face is one epic piece of art. That being said, it’s only proper to make it the first on the list. That dude is Lloyd Frontrera from The Greatest Estate Developer, and he delivers plenty more of those incredulous expressions of his. It’s an action comedy manhwa, and it does a very good job with its comedy. In fact, I’m willing to bet that you’d be laughing out loud a lot once you pick this up.
As previously stated, the story follows Lloyd Frontrera, who is originally known as Kim Suho. He was an impoverished civil engineering student struggling to survive in the harsh modern world. But when he fell asleep reading a fantasy novel one night, he suddenly found himself in that book’s world. However, he was turned into the lazy Lloyd who was bound to suffer a terrible fate. As such, he must use his engineering knowledge to overcome the upcoming tragedy and realize his dream of a rich, lazy life.
The Greatest Estate Developer is available on WEBTOON.
Pick Me Up
If The Greatest Estate Developer is mostly about the laughs, Pick Me Up is about grit and action. Don’t be misled by its eyebrow-raising title, because it isn’t about acting cutesy. It’s about a hardcore gacha gamer being transported and stuck in the gacha game he is very invested in.
That’s the hook of the story. The gacha game isn’t the typical game. It’s a hardcore strategy survival game, wherein the player is more of an observer. They can meddle with the progression by buying equipment, improving structures, summoning heroes, and making big decisions, but the main fighting and decisions fall on the heroes’ shoulders. While it’s very money-driven — like all gacha games — the heroes can actually improve from one star to a higher star.
Han Seojin is transported as a one-star hero, and he must use his knowledge as a former player himself to ensure his survival and lead the player controlling him to make good decisions. Curious how he can do that? Read it on Tapas.
The Novel’s Extra is yet another story wherein the main character is transmigrated into a novel. This time, however, it isn’t just any novel. It’s the novel of his own creation.
Kim Hajin created a world wherein humans acquired supernatural abilities after the planet was hit by dungeons and towers. However, the main setting of his story was the facility that trained heroes, Cube. When he transmigrated, he took the role of a very minor side character. While he did have knowledge of the narrative’s main plot points, whoever sent him acted as a co-author revising certain parts of the story to make it more “interesting”.
Check out how much Hajin struggles in the world he himself crafted in The Novel’s Extra.
Lout of Count’s Family
Kim Roksu of Lout of Count’s Family shares a similar origin as Lloyd. He was suddenly transported in a fantasy novel he was reading. But since his former life wasn’t something noteworthy, he had no qualms about living in his new world. However, there was a problem. His new body, Cale Henituse, was known for being the count family’s lout. He had a bad reputation and, as such, a fairly bad future.
Lout of Count’s Family is a fairly relatable transmigration manhwa. Cale naturally won’t let himself suffer a bad future, though he doesn’t really aim for grandeur either. All he wants is a peaceful, uneventful life. However, he is not naive. He knows that achieving that requires a fair amount of effort first.
Find out how’s he’s fairing through Tapas.
The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine
Ailette Rodeline might seem like a cute, ordinary kid but she is actually a transmigrator. And yes, she’s the one in the picture above. She originally met an untimely end, which apparently granted her qualification to a transmigrated life. These lucky ones then get further assessed as to what narrative they would be sent to. Unluckily for her, her story was an action fantasy with S-Class difficulty, and she wasn’t even the main character!
Even though Ailette’s future sound grim, that’s actually far from the truth. She receives an insurance package, basically making her overpowered. In addition, she is in constant communication with the TM Gods, who are very enthusiastically looking out for her. As such, The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine is actually a nice, feel-good transmigration manhwa. Check it out on Tapas.
The Unrivaled Villain
Yet another unfortunate soul to be transmigrated in a novel is Lee Siwoon. But unlike in Lloyd and Cale’s cases, Siwoon was transported into a world of his creation. To make matters worse, he possessed a minor antagonist named Heli Yun. Not only that, he was bound to suffer a petty, unremarkable death. As such, he must not only utilize his knowledge of the novel but also his modern-world wisdom to at least avoid death.
What separates The Unrivaled Villain from the previous titles is that Heli Yun does not acquire overpowered abilities for being the main character. He must literally struggle and put his body at stake to at least have a chance at survival. And since it’s a world of martial arts, talent is important, so Heli Yun has to put in the extra effort.
Watch his struggles via Tapas.
The Strongest Evolutionary Necromancer
Kim Jinhwan no longer knows how to adapt to normal society after being discharged from the army. In order to cope with loneliness, he spends his time playing a fantasy game called Peccata. After completing the game for the twelfth time, he receives a mysterious call knowing all his personal information and gaming history. In a panic, he turns off the computer, only to find himself in the world of Peccata. To make matters worse, he now lives the life of Adrias Cromwell, a third-rate villain who is bound to die.
Unsurprisingly, Jinhwan is off to a bad start. But with his extensive knowledge of the world of Peccata, Jinhwan won’t be defeated easily. It’s certainly interesting to see him put the extra effort to acquire power and become a powerful necromancer. Read The Strongest Evolutionary Necromancer on Tapas.
The Reborn Ranker Chronicles
When it comes to surviving in a fantastical world after being dealt with a bad hand, The Reborn Ranker Chronicles‘ Kang Taeha won’t be outdone. He is one of the only five SSS-rank hunters, though he isn’t necessarily the most beloved one.
He constantly associates with corporate crime, making him a notorious hunter. In fact, he even meets his end at the hands of his own guildmates. Of course, the end of his first life is just the start of his second. This time around he takes the body of Liu Xinyun from ancient China. Now, he must master martial arts and secure a life of peace.
What clearly sets The Reborn Ranker Chronicles from other transmigration manhwa is its setting. Taeha is already from a version of Earth where dungeons and monsters exist. Interestingly, Liu Xinyun’s body can’t handle his skills, so, he must start from scratch. Find out how he fares through Tapas.
Doctor, Live Again
Jin Cheonhee has dedicated his life to medicine. He has no family of his own, close friends, or even a legacy. He has even lost his life during a medical mission, wherein he used his body to save his patient. Just as he perishes, he finds himself in the body of a young boy surrounded by critically injured bodies. Spurred by his identity as a doctor, he immediately provides treatment to the wounded, managing to save three. Only later does he learn he has been transmigrated into the martial arts novel he used to read.
Doctor, Live Again is a transmigration manhwa without many gimmicks. Other than the knowledge Doctor Jin has from his previous life, he does not get any more privileges. He must survive in his new world by utilizing his medicinal expertise while also acquiring some martial arts abilities. Join Doctor Jin as he treats the people of Doctor, Live Again on Tapas.
Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke’s Mansion
Those looking for a break from all those action-packed transmigration manhwa can give Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke’s Mansion a go. It is a perfect mixture of drama and romance, wherein the main character desperately attempts to overturn her imminent death. Another testament to its quality is the fact that it has already received an animated adaptation.
The story follows Park Eunha who suffers an early death after a mysterious encounter. The next thing that she knows is that she already become Raeliana McMillan, a baron’s daughter bound to be killed by her fiancé. Knowing her fated future, Raeliana uses her knowledge of the novel to conspire with Duke Noah Volstaire Wynknight and prevent her second early death.
Learn whether Raeliana can succeed through Tapas.
