6 Big Reasons Why Solo Leveling Is The Most Overhyped Anime

by

This article contains spoilers for the Solo Leveling series.

In 2025, Crunchyroll’s annual awards crowned Solo Leveling as Anime of the Year. This decision sparked joy in some anime enthusiasts, while others expressed their disapproval. It’s fair to say that Solo Leveling has been a highly debated series, with many acknowledging its inherent flaws, even among its supporters.

While Solo Leveling is generally enjoyable, it does have certain flaws that can be found in its character development, plotline, and even the constructed universe. Some of these imperfections diminish its claim to being named ‘Anime of the Year,’ particularly given the fierce competition it faced.

Little to No World Building

The Solo Leveling World is Underdeveloped

One challenge that “Solo Leveling” often encounters is a lack of depth in world-building. While not all series require extensive world-building, this particular one seems to offer very little exploration or development of its universe. Even the primary setting, where numerous events unfold, remains largely unexplored.

Creators frequently breeze past even the most intricate dungeons, a pity since it presents an opportunity for unexplored, imaginative, and boundary-pushing locales.

Falls Into Many Isekai Tropes

Solo Leveling Isn’t an Isekai, Yet Falls for Many of Its Tropes

Although “Solo Leveling” doesn’t strictly fit the definition of an Isekai anime because it’s a genre where a protagonist is transferred to another world, it shares many characteristics with typical Isekai stories.

While incorporating familiar tropes can be enjoyable for some, an overuse might discourage fans in the long run, particularly given that the initial excitement around Isekai genres has somewhat waned. Notably, Jinwoo’s character appears to adhere to typical Isekai archetypes.

Entirely Focused on Battles

The Story Doesn’t Offer Much Else

The main reason why Solo Leveling has become so popular is due to its intense battle scenes. However, this also suggests that the series primarily relies on exciting moments for its appeal and might not offer a deep or thought-provoking storyline for fans to delve into beyond the action sequences.

In nearly every installment, there’s a constant fight that takes up most of the narrative, leaving little room for aspects like fleshing out secondary characters or deepening Jinwoo’s character development. This might potentially limit Solo Leveling‘s longevity, as viewers tend to lose interest in series dominated by action quickly.

Terrible Side Cast

Most Side Characters are Irrelevant

In the series “Solo Leveling,” it can be said that the supporting characters are not particularly captivating compared to the main character, Sung Jinwoo. While other characters do appear in the story, they don’t seem to receive as much development or attention as Jinwoo does.

It seems that in the world of Solo Leveling, it’s predominantly Jinwoo who garners much attention and discussion. Rarely do I come across conversations about the side characters or even many of the villains, as they often play minor roles or are eclipsed by Jinwoo’s significant presence. A well-rounded narrative typically features multiple characters having their moment in the spotlight.

Overpowered Main Character Who Faces Little Challenges

Solo Leveling Fails at Pulling Off the Overpowered Main Character Trope

Characters in many anime shows are often incredibly powerful, and achieving that level of power is quite a challenge. In the series Solo Leveling, the character Sung Jinwoo significantly increases his power after traversing the Double Dungeon and advancing in levels.

As the narrative unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that there are few significant obstacles for the main character to overcome. In many conflicts, the stakes seem minimal due to the audience’s confidence in Jinwoo’s victory. Shows such as Dragon Ball, Jujutsu Kaisen, and even Frieren have better approaches to this issue. In a more engaging story, viewers should feel the weight of challenges facing the protagonist.

Below Average Main Character

Sung Jinwoo Has Little Character Development

One clear issue with the series “Solo Leveling” is arguably its portrayal of its primary character, Sung Jinwoo. Despite being highly favored by fans, as evidenced by his Best Main Character Award win at Crunchyroll’s 2025 Awards, there’s a feeling among some that his character lacks depth.

In the course of the series, Jinwoo doesn’t seem to undergo significant changes or growth in his character, and at times even seems to revert back to being more reserved. This is disappointing, as there was ample opportunity for him to evolve and become a much more intriguing character.

Currently, Solo Leveling boasts two seasons, with the first containing 12 episodes and the second offering 13, totaling 25 episodes currently available for viewing. These episodes can be streamed on Crunchyroll. In the meantime before updates about the third season arrive, fans might find enjoyment in exploring the Manhwa version of the series. For those eagerly anticipating Season 3, delving into the Manhwa could serve as an engaging interim option.

Read More

2025-08-21 23:35