The Best Isekai Manhwa With Sci-Fi Elements

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The term ‘isekai’ usually brings to mind fantasy worlds heavily influenced by old-school role-playing games, and this is the most common setting for Japanese light novels, manga, and anime. While Korean webtoons (manhwa) also enjoy this type of setting, they’re often more open to exploring different fantasy styles, like ‘murim,’ which is unique to Korean fiction. Sometimes, stories combine isekai with science fiction, creating a blend of innovation and tradition. Unlike Japanese anime and manga, which often feature robots (mecha), manhwa tend to integrate sci-fi elements through the powers of the characters or the world they inhabit.

Science-fiction manhwa often goes hand-in-hand with gaming, frequently showcasing advanced technology you’d expect to find in a futuristic online game. But this type of manhwa isn’t limited to that idea and isn’t afraid to try new things. If you’re interested in diving into sci-fi isekai manhwa, here are some great series to check out.

7. The Druid Of Seoul Station

Anime-Planet: 3.85/5

  • Published: 2021 to Present
  • Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai
  • Author: Seolwoo Jin
  • Illustrator: Hwalseonggom

This story isn’t a typical isekai—it’s more about someone returning home—but it shares similar ideas. When mysterious gates open on Earth, monsters appear, and people are sent to different worlds. Park Suho finds himself on a dangerous jungle planet, alone and surrounded by giant creatures. He manages to survive there for centuries, but is unexpectedly brought back to Earth after just ten years have passed.

This story begins like a classic fantasy about a hunter, but it quickly becomes more intricate. It delves into the worlds linked to Earth, where humans use a blend of magic and technology to control mysterious dungeons. Eventually, they learn to communicate with and travel to other planets, setting this manhwa apart from similar stories.

6. God’s Gambit

Anime-Planet: 3.5/5

  • Published: 2023 to 2024
  • Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
  • Author: Hwangdong
  • Illustrator: Bisamong

Instead of one person being magically taken to another world, an entire South Korean city is moved to a new dimension and turned into a giant board game. The main character, Yul Choi, unexpectedly receives a powerful item that lets him see all the challenges ahead. However, this item also takes rewards from other players, forcing him to become a target and work against them to ensure everyone can ultimately win.

This story, like many others in its genre, begins with typical fantasy elements – magic, demons, and special abilities. It isn’t until after the first forty chapters that science fiction comes into play, as the city begins combining magic with modern technology. This allows it to become strong enough to withstand incredibly powerful attacks.

5. The Knight King Who Returned With A God

Anime-Planet: 4/5

  • Published: 2023 to Present
  • Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
  • Author: Saram Sallyeo.
  • Illustrator: Jeoncheon Huma Geomsa

I’ve been reading this manhwa, and it’s really unique – it blends both the ‘isekai’ and ‘reverse isekai’ tropes. The main character is reborn as Leon Dragonia in a new world, where he rises to become the divinely blessed King of Lionheart. But when that world is invaded by monsters, he doesn’t just stay there. He comes back to Earth through these monster-spawning gates, and quickly becomes an incredibly powerful force, all thanks to his connection with a whole group of gods.

Even though the story takes place now, it includes some science fiction ideas. The gateways in the story lead to different realities, so the enemies aren’t limited to typical creatures like orcs and goblins. For a while, a robot serves as a key villain, but later becomes an ally to Leon, helping him by controlling what people see in the news and influencing the stock market.

4. The World After The Fall

Anime-Planet: 4.10/5

  • Published: 2022 to ?
  • Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
  • Author: sing N song
  • Illustrator: Undead Gamja

This story begins as a tale of someone climbing a tower, but quickly evolves into an epic quest to uncover the secrets of their world. Instead of staying put, the main character, Jaehwan, actively chooses to leave everything behind and confront the source of all problems: a powerful System. To do so, he’ll have to journey through countless dimensions and battle dangerous foes like adapters, nightmares, and even gods.

This story takes place across numerous worlds and realities, blending a wide range of elements. You’ll find magic, superpowers, zombie attacks, a unique subscriber system, and advanced technology like robots and virtual reality. Jaehwan will face challenges from androids and drones, and while these appear briefly now, expect them to play a bigger role as the story continues.

3. The Novel’s Extra

Anime-Planet: 3.74/5

  • Published: 2022 to ?
  • Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Reincarnation, School
  • Author: Gapsong Ji
  • Illustrator: Carrot Studio

It’s a common trope in fantasy comics (manhwa) for characters to get stuck inside novels. That’s exactly what happens to Kim Hajin – he finds himself living in the world of a web novel he wrote, after clicking on a mysterious email. Now inhabiting a minor character, he has to compete with other students who are training to be heroes. While he should know what’s going to happen as the author, someone is secretly editing his story, throwing in unexpected twists and turns.

This manhwa is a fantastic example of urban fantasy, skillfully blending magic into a modern setting. The story unfolds in CUBE, a futuristic island city that’s home to the prestigious CUBE Academy – a school dedicated to training heroes. The academy is a hub of innovation, showcasing advanced technology like holograms, simulations, and powerful, upgraded weapons.

2. Murim Login

Anime-Planet: 4.26/5

  • Published: 2020 to ?
  • Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Video Game
  • Author: Zero-BIG
  • Illustrator: Cheolbyeok Jang

I’ve noticed a common trope in manhwa – the full-dive VR capsule. It’s basically technology that lets you fully immerse yourself in a game, making it feel completely real. I recently came across a story where a guy named Jin Taekyung falls asleep in one of these capsules, only to wake up inside the game. It turns out he’s been transported to a Murim world, and he’s now the young heir to a powerful family. The catch? He can’t just log out whenever he wants. He has to complete specific goals to escape, and if he dies in the game, he dies for real.

The story is primarily set in a traditional martial arts world, so advanced technology plays a minor role, mostly limited to the game’s mechanics. We do see glimpses of a more futuristic world when the main character, Jin Taekyung, returns to reality. The manhwa blends this with a world of dungeons and hunters, creating an interesting mix of genres.

1. Trinity Wonder

Anime-Planet: 3.72/5

  • Chapters: 102
  • Published: 2016 to 2018
  • Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Murim
  • Author: Geuk-Jin JEON
  • Illustrator: Jin-Hwan PARK

Imagine a world where science, martial arts, and magic collide. That’s the premise of the manhwa Trinity Wonder. When a company’s experiments open a gateway to other dimensions, a skilled martial artist named Gang Woo-Jin and a powerful mage named Emily are unexpectedly brought to Earth. Stranded with no way back, they rely on the company’s owner, Sylvia, to repair the dimensional portal. But they soon discover that things aren’t as simple as they seem.

This manhwa skillfully weaves together three distinct elements – a futuristic Earth setting, a villainous Demonic Sect leader, and a colossal dragon as the ultimate boss – without making the story feel crowded. Everything connects smoothly, allowing you to stay invested in the exciting plot and impressive action.

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2025-12-06 03:40