Summary
Many manhwa are incomplete, and they remain that way even as new titles begin publishing each season. This is especially true in the broad genre of isekai, where many stories remain unfinished. The nature of the genre emphasizes creative freedom, which often leads toexpansive stories with incredible world-building. However, because they require so much detail, it also takes many years for them to be completed.
Action and adventure manhwa are the most guilty of this, as they often include lengthy plots with far-off conclusions. In romance, it’s much easier to tell a self-contained story because the ending is almost predetermined; the main characters must have their happy ending before it can finish. That’s why the topcompleted isekai manhwaare actually romantic fantasies.
10The Crow’s Prince
A Look Into Interspecies Relationships
Isekai protagonists usually remain human when they get reincarnated, but sometimes, they turn into something bizarre. After being mauled by a tiger,the main character is reborn as a crowin an otome game that she played in the past. She coincidentally meets Prince Camute in the woods, and recognizing him from the game, she aids his survival and escape from danger. They form a partnership that becomes much more intimate once the protagonist gains a human body.
The premise of this manhwa is definitely unique, especially considering that the male lead is normally the one cursed to be an animal. Rainelle is a great protagonist who’s expressive and charismatic even as a crow. Her perspective is full of funny asides and borderline unhinged behavior. The story itself is well-written and doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the art is beautifully drawn and uses a bright color scheme that matches the overall atmosphere.
9Villainess In Love
A Mature And Relatable Love Story
Avoiding the original story is one strategy that protagonists take whenthey’re isekaid into a book. It’s usually because they’ve reincarnated into someone who’ll eventually die a terrible death. Unfortunately, after being reincarnated as Yunifer Magnolia, the main character accidentally has a one-night stand with the male lead, who promptly falls in love with her. Despite wanting to avoid interacting with the original cast, that becomes impossible once she starts developing feelings, too.
Villainess In Loveis a great story that’s popular because of its more realistic approach to relationships and characters. Despite how it presents itself, this manhwa is actually a bit of a slow burn, and the romance between Yunifer and Ishid takes some time to develop. Many isekai romances tend to be overly optimistic, but this one is pretty grounded and relatable.
8Father, I Don’t Want This Marriage
A Simple And Sweet Romance Story
Father, I Don’t Want This Marriageis a classic villainess story. In it, the protagonist reincarnates as Juvelian Floyen, the ill-tempered daughter of the duke who clings to her former lover. In the original novel, she was falsely accused of poisoning the princess, and she chooses to end her own life rather than be subjected to torture. Now, Juvelian has an opportunity to prevent that ending by correcting her mistakes and living the life she wants.
In terms of style, this manhwa embodies elements of classic Shojo manga with its pastel colors and embellished facial features. Although this story follows many villainess plot points, it differs in the way it empowers Juvelian and allows her to develop. Rather than economic or political power, she goes through great emotional growth that allows her to self-actualize as a person and be happy and independent of other people. It’s only then that she can fall in love and find the courage to face her trauma.
7The First Night With The Duke
A Romantic Comedy Full Of Awkward Moments
After being reincarnated as nobility, most characters want to relax and enjoy their newfound wealth. Of course, something always goes wrong. In this manhwa, the newly reincarnated Ripley Liverpool accidentally spends her first night in bed with Duke Inglid. She can no longer watch the story from the sidelines, as she’s too busy trying to get rid of the duke and dodging the villainess’s traps.
The First Night With the Dukeisn’t anything innovative or new, but it isa well-polished and self-contained romance storythat has a pretty satisfying ending. It’s really carried by the humor and funny moments, too. That said, this kind of comedy isn’t for everyone, and in that case, it can come off as kind of boring. However, it is definitely worth giving a try.
6Beware The Villainess!
She’s The Strongest Female Lead
When it comes to strong female leads,Beware The Villainess!features one of the best. The protagonist of this story is reincarnated as Melissa Foddebrat,the antagonist of the novelwho has issues with all the other characters. However, it doesn’t take long for her to realize why the original Melissa became a villain. As a modern woman, the protagonist begins demanding respect from everyone, including her father and the prince, even if it means making waves in society.
The manhwa is a very contemporary take on villainess stories. Instead of trying to fix her reputation and apologize for the original character’s actions, Melissa decides to embrace her image by doing whatever she wants. As a result, the story features more action and adventure as she gets wrapped up in different problems.
5Happily Ever Afterwards
The Fairy Tale Ending Everyone Wants
Isekai romance stories are often similar to fairy tales, andHappily Ever Afterwardsis a perfect example. The protagonist is reborn as Princess Peony, a background character in her favorite novel “The Song of Askar.” In the novel, her favorite character, Richt, is banished to the North without a happy ending, so she’s determined to marry Richt herself to give him the love he deserves. This is much easier said than done, however, because he has no idea who Peony is.
Most unrequited love stories are full of angst, but this one is actually quite sweet. On the surface, both main characters are stereotypical romance characters, but the author does a great job turning them into actual people with complex thoughts and feelings. The story is a bit of a slow burn, but that also makes their happy ending much more gratifying.
4Miss Not-So Sidekick
A Funny Story About The Ultimate Fangirl
Although this manhwa istechnically counted as a villainess story, the main character is anything but. One day, Kim Hyejung wakes up in the world of her favorite book as Latte Ectrie, a side character with no relevance to the plot. She spends ten years living as Latte, writing boys' love novels and waiting for the original story to begin. Unfortunately, her success as an author has already made great changes in the world, and now she’s friends with her favorite characters.
Miss Not-So Sidekickis a romantic comedy with an emphasis on humor. The story pokes fun at common Shojo isekai themes and ideas, creating a satire out of the silly naming convention as well as the meta commentary. That being said, the art style and writing won’t be for everyone, and many have expressed their dislike of the humor. However, it’s still a fun manhwa if it’s not taken too seriously.
3Kill The Villainess
A Satisfying Story With An Incredible Villainess
As far as complete isekai go,Kill The Villainessstands out by having one of the best and most satisfying endings. One day, a normal Korean woman wakes up as Eris Miserian, the daughter of a duke and the villain in a romance novel. Unlike other isekai protagonists, she hates being in the fantasy world, especially because many people treat her like garbage, so in an effort to return home, she tries dying multiple times. Each attempt fails, and she soon learns the answer is the story itself.
This manhwa stands out for many reasons, but the biggest one is the protagonist.Eris truly hates being isekaid, and she makes it apparent at every moment as she schemes her way to her goals. She’s not afraid to sacrifice everything if it means returning home, even if it’s her father, the kingdom, or her own life. This offers an incredibly refreshing perspective on isekai and how it works.
2Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion
An Isekai Mystery With The Ultimate Twist
As one of the few manhwa with an anime adaptation,Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansionis a popular isekai that mixes romance and mystery elements. Park Eunha is suddenly killed and wakes up as Raeliana, a side character in a mystery novel who dies right at the beginning. To avoid dying another time, she breaks up with her fiance and seeks the help of Duke Noah Volstaire Wynknight to disrupt the original story. She needs to survive in order to find out the truth.
On the surface, this manhwa may not seem any different from others in this genre, especially ones that include a contract marriage. However, it’s popular for good reasons. The story isn’t solely about the romance between Raeliana and the duke, and the overarching plot is actually quite complex. It’s definitely one of the more intriguing stories in this genre.
1Who Made Me A Princess
A Princess’s Family Matters
Despite being one of the most iconic manhwa to exist, many don’t realize thatWho Made Me A Princessis actually an isekai. The protagonist is reincarnated in a novel as the forgotten princess Athanasia but as a baby before the original story’s events. Knowing of her inevitable end, she decides to collect valuables and run away when the time is right, but this plan changes when she meets her father, the emperor. Instead,she tries to actually be his daughter.
This manhwa is largely popular because of the amazing characters. Each one is carefully built over time, and the author does a great job at showing each of their personalities and quirks without providing unnecessary exposition. Athanasia, especially, is a great example of a strong female lead who still has flaws and makes mistakes. Some find this adaptation lacking compared to the novel, but it remains a fan favorite to this day.
