Shonen manhwa has become extremely popular worldwide due to its thrilling storylines, interesting characters, and epic battles. Much more exciting series await fans in the year 2025 as it will revamp the genre with newer and upgraded storylines. In this blog post, we are going deep inside the top 15 shonen manhwa that must be on your list this year, along with the authors and release years so you can select what to read next.
1. Return of the Mount Hua Sect
- Author: Byeong Joo, Ha Il Kwon
- Release Year: 2020
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Martial Arts, Fantasy
“Return of the Mount Hua Sect” is one of the most powerful shonen manhwa which has created a niche in the martial arts genre. The series revolves around the life of a super-skilled martial artist who, due to circumstances, reincarnates in a weak sect leader’s body. The protagonist of the story now faces more powerful enemies that will force the once proud Mount Hua Sect back to glory. This manhwa, combining the strong characters with intricate fight scenes and an intense plot, has no wonder being one of the most famous shonen in 2025.
2. Reforming Of The Deadbeat Noble
- Author: HONGK, Kim Byung
- Release Year: 2022
- Genre: Fantasy, Action, Drama
The protagonist of “Reformation of the Deadbeat Noble” is a young noble who has lived through an extreme lazy life. Upon realizing that the fortune of his family is drying up, he sets out for self-reformation so that he might regain his lost position in the society. Stuffed with thrilling combat and complex political intrigue, this manhwa is ideal for fans who can enjoy a balance of shonen action and development of characters.
3. Myst, Might, Mayhem
- Author: Park Joon
- Release Year: 2024
- Genre: Action, Fantasy, Adventure
The brand-new entry “Myst, Might, Mayhem” has been capturing readers’ attention since its debut. With strong world-building, it transports readers into a realm full of mysticism and danger. A great journey of self-discovery within a land of great powers and greater mysteries will surely provide the protagonist with a thrilling experience. This series will surely delight both fantasy and shonen fans.
4. Devil Returns To School Days
- Author: Kwon Seok-Ho, Kim Young-Sun
- Release Year: 2021
- Genre: Action, Supernatural, Comedy
This is a thrilling supernatural shonen manhwa with an intriguing concept: a devil reincarnates back to school as a regular student. His life has now come back to what he hated as a demon lord – school days. With all this going around his mind, “Devil Returns To School Days” combines elements of action and comedy with a little supernatural. Thus, a great fan-favorite.
5. Solo Leveling
- Author: Chugong
- Release Year: 2016 (Web Novel), 2018 (Manhwa)
- Genre: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural
There could be no such list of shonen manhwa without including “Solo Leveling.” Sung Jin-Woo is an E-Rank hunter who barely lives in the dark dungeons. In a near-death experience, he is given a chance to level up in ways never seen before by anyone. Due to its smooth progression and fast-paced action, this manhwa is the most popular for 2025 among shonen manhwa.
6. Standard Of Reincarnation
- Author: Jang Young
- Release Year: 2021
- Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
“Standard of Reincarnation” is a reincarnation manhwa that explores the typical characteristic of reincarnation in an action and fantasy world. The protagonist is reborn in a new world, and his knowledge of his previous life puts him in a very different position than others. It is highly acclaimed in the shonen and reincarnation markets, with great action-filled quests and intense battles.
7. Eleceed
- Author: Son Jae-Ho
- Release Year: 2018
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Supernatural
“Eleceed” is about a young boy who has some incredible reflexes and the ownership of an insane cat. His life becomes mixed up with these dangerous secret organizations, and in the midst of everything, he comes across people with supernatural powers. Combining comedy and action makes “Eleeced” a perfect choice for all shonen manhwa enthusiasts in 2025.
8. The Breaker (Series)
- Author: Jeon Geuk-Jin, Park Jin-Hwan
- Release Year: 2007
- Genre: Action, Martial Arts, Drama
“The Breaker” is a staple in the martial arts manhwa genre, featuring an underdog protagonist who begins his journey as a weak student and rises to become a martial arts legend. With incredible fight choreography and a gripping storyline, “The Breaker” is a must-read for anyone into shonen manhwa that focuses on personal growth and combat skills.
9. Tower Of God
- Author: SIU
- Release Year: 2010 (Webtoon), 2020 (Manhwa)
- Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Action
“Tower of God” is one of the most popular webtoons. It follows the story of a boy named Bam, who is trying to climb the mysterious Tower of God in order to find his friend, who was separated from him a long time ago. With great world-building and surprising plot twists, powerful characters, this manhwa still fascinates fans of shonen manhwa.
10. Weak Hero
- Author: Seok Woo
- Release Year: 2020
- Genre: Action, Drama, School Life
In the weak hero, the protagonist may seem week, but he is an excellent strategist who will defeat his opponents through his brain; this show is an action drama set in a school, focusing and preaching the power of brain over brawn, which makes it one of the top titles in the shonen genre.
11. The God Of High School
- Author: Yongje Park
- Release Year: 2011
- Genre: Action, Martial Arts, Fantasy
This includes “The God of High School.” This is probably one of the best shonen manhwa titles to keep an eye out for in 2025. Its plot revolves around Jin Mori, a high school student who will be entering an exclusive tournament so that he might finally get to battle the strongest martial artists. Superficial fighting, supernatural prowess, and harsh competition make the series a classic among shonen readers.
12. The Beginning After The End
- Author: TurtleMe
- Release Year: 2018
- Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Action
The Beginning After The End” is about King Grey who, after death, reincarnates into another world. Having powerful skills and knowledge of his past life, he must fight through the conflicts of the political and magical nature of the new world. It’s an exciting combination of fantasy, action, and drama that made it one of the most-anticipated shonen manhwa series.
13. The Primal Hunter
- Author: Hyeon-Sook
- Release Year: 2022
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
“The Primal Hunter” is an action-filled blend of adventure and fantasy. It’s about a man who is suddenly thrown into a world full of deadly beasts. Survival instincts and combat skills are the only things that will keep the protagonist alive, making this a thrilling shonen manhwa to dive into in 2025.
14. Hardcore Leveling Warrior
- Author: Kim Sehoon
- Release Year: 2018
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
This manhwa is a virtual reality game, which traces the story of an ex-top player who has lost everything. He is set on becoming a top player once more, having overcome the various obstacles within the game world as well as the real world.It’s very exciting to read for those that love shonen manhwa and especially enjoy the thought of a great virtual reality.
15. UnOrdinary
- Author: Uru-chan
- Release Year: 2016
- Genre: Superhero, Action, Drama
“UnOrdinary” is set in a world where every person possesses superpowers except the main protagonist, John. He hides his real abilities while attending high school. The series brings an interesting take on the superhero genre with strong action sequences and character development.
Summary:
2025 appears to be quite a great year for fans of shonen manhwa with series such as Return of the Mount Hua Sect and Solo Leveling staying on top while some new titles including Myst, Might, Mayhem, and Reformation of the Deadbeat Noble bring some novel stories.. From intense martial arts battles to supernatural adventures, there’s a series for every taste in the shonen genre.
If you are a fan of stories with epic battles, deep character arcs, and unexpected twists, then these top shonen manhwa are a must-read for 2025. Whether you are a long-time fan or a newcomer to the genre, these series will keep you hooked for hours!
