Highlights
- Manhwa stories often center around redemption and second chances, creating relatable emotional connections with readers.
- To stand out, manhwa must have unique elements such as distinctive art styles, goals for characters, or an intriguing world.
- Time travel offers endless possibilities for engaging storylines and, when executed well, can result in some of the best narratives in manhwa.
A common theme in manhwa is redemption or getting a second chance to fix past mistakes. This is especially true for the popular “returner” subgenre, which usually open with the protagonist lamenting over their regrets before being sent back to an earlier time in their lives.
However, with so many stories using the same premise, manhwa can become formulaic and predictable, so something must be unique for them to stand out. It can be the world itself, the goal of the characters, or even the art style. Time travel opens many possibilities and, if done well, makes for some of the best stories out there.
10 My In-Laws Are Obsessed With Me
MyAnimeList Score: 7.76
- Author: Yoonseol Han
- Illustrator: Seungu
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel
Time-travel manhwa usually start with the death of the main character. In My In-Laws are Obsessed with Me, Pereshati is poisoned by her fiance and step-family but wakes up to find she’s gone back in time. In order to survive, she asks for a marriage contract with Duke Lapileon.
While the beginnings of this story seem ordinary, it evolves into a much more nuanced drama with mystery elements. With less focus on romance, the characters have more depth and become more sophisticated as they are part of the story rather than accessories to it.
9 Doom Breaker
MyAnimeList Score: 7.79
- Author: Cheongdam
- Illustrator: Cheongdam
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Action, Time Travel
Action manhwa that include time travel have a hard time differentiating themselves because many of them follow the exact same plot. Doom Breaker gets away with it because of its grittier atmosphere, art, and storytelling. The harsh lines and dark colors add to the apocalyptic nature of the story, whereas similar manhwa use a much lighter palette.
The highlights of Doom Breaker are its battles. Each fight is fluid, stylized, and impactful. Each one helps the reader understand the characters and their motivations while displaying their growth in the story.
8 Mother’s Contract Marriage
MyAnimeList Score: 7.81
- Author: Siya
- Illustrator: Hae-Yun Choo
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Time Travel
In this manhwa, the main character is not the returner. It’s her daughter who wakes up to see her mother behaving completely differently than just the night before. In what seems like no time at all, Lyrica becomes a princess through her mother’s contract with the Emperor.
This is a feel-good manhwa that’s all about cute moments between Lyrica and the other characters. Her innocence and cheerfulness are the reason the story is enjoyable, and she perfectly matches the whimsical art style she is illustrated in.
7 My Life As A Loser
MyAnimeList Score: 7.84
- Author: Tae-Jun Park
- Illustrator: Seonwook Jeon
- Published: 2019 to 2020
- Genres/Theme: Action, Drama, School, Time Travel
Bullying is a popular topic in school manhwa, usually displaying the harshest forms of abuse ever seen. It’s normally the victim who goes back in time to stop the bullying from happening, but that’s not the case here. Having the bully go back in time to relive the victim’s trauma is a great twist to the My Life as a Loser narrative.
Despite being filled with comedic moments, this story does not stray from the overall lesson it’s trying to teach. It puts the consequences of bullying at the forefront without making the story too dark.
6 The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway
MyAnimeList Score: 7.85
- Author: Chacha Kim
- Illustrator: Cheong-gwa
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel
At first, the story of The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway would appear to be about Ines getting revenge on her cheating husband, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Ines Valeztena is a fantastic main character who portrays the trauma of living and dying in multiple lives.
This manhwa is a slow burn, and it takes a long time for the main characters to actually fall in love, but it’s not done in a superficial way. Each character is their own person with their own thoughts and doubts, but thankfully, basic communication is not the driving force behind this story.
5 Debut Or Die
MyAnimeList Score: 7.85
- Author: Deoksoo Baek
- Illustrator: Soheun
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Drama, Idols (Male), Psychological, Reincarnation, Time Travel
There are many stories about idols or becoming idols, but even so, this one is unique. The protagonist of Debut or Die wakes up in the body of Park Moondae three years into the past, and when he emulates the stories he’s read, his status window tells him he must debut as an idol or die.
This story is made by its fantastic characters and the introspection they go through. They feel like real people who are anxious about their flaws and worried about how they’re seen. It’s also a good look at the entertainment industry, even if it’s highly dramatized.
4 Marriage of Convenience
MyAnimeList Score: 7.89
- Author: Ken
- Illustrator: Ant Studio
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel
For Bianca, who had seen everything she loved disappear, going back in time was a blessing. Though she is a typical returner using her knowledge of the future to succeed, it’s okay because each action she takes means one step toward growing up. Before, she was just an immature young lady.
With Bianca realizing who she wants to be, she sees the people around her in a new light, especially her husband. Their relationship is what makes the story great, even with all the political drama in the background.
3 SSS-Class Suicide Hunter
MyAnimeList Score: 8.03
- Author: Sinnoa
- Illustrator: Bill K
- Published: 2020 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Time Travel
SSS-Class Suicide Hunter is a tower-climbing fantasy but not like any seen before. The main character, Kim Gong-ja, gains the ability to go back in time by happenstance. Unfortunately, he can only go back 24 hours and only when he has died. Like a normal, sane person, he ends his own life over 4,000 times to stop the man who killed him.
Just the premise of this story makes it unique, but the actual plot and characters are also very well written. Though action and battles are abundant, the protagonist balances it out with his overwhelming kindness toward entities in the tower.
2 A Stepmother’s Marchen
MyAnimeList Score: 8.10
- Author: Nyangi-wa Hyangsinnyo
- Illustrator: ORKA
- Published: 2019 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel
In this story, the main character, Shuli, is upset about being in the past. She’d worked for seven long years to manage her household and raise her ungrateful children, and having to go through that again was daunting.
A Stepmother’s Marchen is a heartwarming story of a stepmother trying to bond with her stepchildren, but beyond that, there is something darker. The drama of this story is emphasized through the wonderful art that portrays it, using deep shadows and high contrast to change the atmosphere when needed.
1 I Shall Master This Family
MyAnimeList Score: 8.21
- Author: Roah Kim
- Illustrator: Mon
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Time Travel
The Lombardis are like the Medici in real life; they are a family of wealth and power that could sway an entire kingdom. In this story, Firentia Lombardi returns to being a young girl and has her sights set on being master of the house and saving her family.
I Shall Master This Family is a different type of power fantasy. Instead of magic and powers, Firentia flexes her knowledge of economics and politics. It’s definitely not as explosive, but it’s still satisfying to see her strategies and machinations come to fruition.
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