DICE: The Cube that Changes Everything” – A Manhwa with Multiple “Players

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Summary

  • DICE: The Cube that Changes Everything is a popular manhwa with the concept of altering stats similar to RPGs, distinguished by its dark exploration of its associated subtropes.
  • Similar to Solo Leveling, DICE follows an individual gaining power through quests leading to high-stakes consequences.
  • DICE explores the repercussions of spreading the “videogamification of reality” concept to a wider population, changing the dynamics of the series’ reality.

In the initial stages of WEBTOON and its official English translations of manhwa, an exceptionally well-received, long-lasting action-dark fantasy series stood out. This series creatively merged the popular idea of blending video game mechanics with reality, years before titles such as “Solo Leveling” achieved their immense success. Although it did not originate this specific narrative device and isn’t even the pinnacle example in anime, manhwa, and manga, “DICE: The Cube That Changes Everything” was once a remarkable and unique examination of a story where a character acquires the power to modify their own “base stats,” much like the Level system commonly found in RPGs. What made it exceptional was its dark interpretation of this concept.

In modern lingo, “DICE” is a narrative that shares similarities with “Solo Leveling”, but instead of focusing on one character (Sung Jinwoo), there are several characters who have been labeled as “Players.” If you find that intriguingly chaotic, just wait until you dive into the story! There are numerous reasons why “DICE” is a must-read, particularly for fans of “Solo Leveling.

DICE Plot and Background Information

One of the Most-Read Manhwa Of All Time

The narrative of DICE centers around Dongtae, a teenager who’s always at the receiving end of bullying and finds himself at the bottom rung of the social ladder with no hope for improvement or companionship. He harbors deep feelings for Eunjoo, the most beautiful girl in his school. One unexpected day, the charismatic transfer student, Taebin, extends an offer to Dongtae that could potentially transform his life completely. However, he has to leave in a hurry, as he can’t stand the idea of Eunjoo falling for the new, attractive Taebin instead.

At the time, Dongtae was unaware, but Taebin was attempting to draw him into an unusual game. In this game, tasks received on one’s phone from a character called “X” would yield dice upon completion. These dice could then be rolled to earn points, which could be invested in enhancing personal attributes, resulting in dramatic changes overnight.

A chain of incidents prompts Dongtae to get into a brawl with Taebin following his acquisition of one peculiar blue die, which he inadvertently rolls, altering its hue and initiating his transformation into a “Dicer” – an individual who takes on tasks to acquire more dice, each having the potential to drastically change circumstances. The graphic novel “DICE,” penned and illustrated by Yun Hyunseok, was initially published on WEBTOON from May 2013 to July 2021, with the English version following suit from July 2014 to November 2021. This series has left a significant mark in WEBTOON’s history, boasting over 200 million views and 1.3 million followers on the platform, who have given it an impressive rating of 9.28/10.

Similarities Between DICE and Solo Leveling

Zero to Hero and Getting the Chance to “Start Over”

The main resemblance between DICE and Solo Leveling lies in their use of video game elements as central plot devices. In DICE, the peculiar app that “X” utilizes for communicating with Dicers presents them with a series of Quests to be accomplished, which reward them with Dice that they can then randomly draw to obtain versatile Skill Points. However, at a certain stage, these Dice differ in rarity and potential, with A-Rank Dice offering the user one of six predetermined superpowers.

The “X” communications bear resemblance to Jinwoo’s Daily Missions and the alerts he receives due to the System in the series Solo Leveling, which functions similarly to a Game, allowing him to upgrade his character. Completing certain missions can lead to rare, highly beneficial rewards such as Rune Stones housing advanced Skills and various items. Similarly, DICE also presents a complex, high-stakes finale that dwarfs its initial setup in scale.

How Is DICE Different to Solo Leveling?

“A New Challenger!”

In my opinion, what sets these two stories apart, as they delve into similar themes and subthemes, is the unique spin on the “gamification of reality” element. In the world of DICE, a seemingly innocent idea that was meant to be a secret between just two people, spirals out of control and infects an entire school, transforming ordinary students into Dicers under extraordinary circumstances. This escalation feels increasingly reminiscent of the malevolent and sadistic character from Solo Leveling, who seems to find this chaos entertaining. The widespread distribution of the Dice turns ordinary folks into superhumans, mirroring the transformation of Hunters in Solo Leveling, causing a massive disruption in the existing social order of the school and fundamentally altering a substantial portion of society.

In essence, one could liken the roles of these characters to ancient rulers in the pre-history of ‘Solo Leveling’, but with a twist on the concept of “gamifying reality”. The Dicers can be seen as Players similar to Sung Jinwoo, and there are numerous parallels between early versions of Dongtae and Jinwoo, as well as their transformed selves post-key event. If you’re a fan of ‘Solo Leveling’ seeking a fresh take on familiar themes, DICE is a manga worth exploring.

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2025-02-17 02:54