Solo Leveling: Arise is a 2024 action RPG developed by Netmarble Neo and published by Netmarble Corp, based directly on the Solo Leveling manhwa. It launched on May 8, 2024 on PC and mobile and lets players experience Sung Jin-woo’s full journey from E-rank hunter to Shadow Monarch.
There is also a separate game called Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive — a different product on different platforms, which this article covers as well so you are not confused between the two.
The table below covers the key facts for both games before the full breakdown.
| Detail | Solo Leveling: Arise | Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Netmarble Neo | Netmarble |
| Release Date | May 8, 2024 | November 24, 2025 (PC/Xbox), 2026 (PS5) |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, PC | PC (Steam/Xbox), PS5, Xbox Series X/S |
| Genre | Gacha action RPG | Third-person action RPG |
| Price Model | Free to play | Paid |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Main Character | Sung Jin-woo (plus recruited hunters) | Sung Jin-woo |
| Story Source | Solo Leveling manhwa | Manhwa + original chapters |
What Is Solo Leveling: Arise?
Solo Leveling: Arise is a free-to-play gacha action RPG that retells Jin-woo’s story from the Double Dungeon incident to his rise as the world’s strongest hunter.
The game launched with over 12 million pre-registrations — one of the largest pre-launch numbers for a manhwa-based game in history. It was built in Unreal Engine 5, which gives it visual quality significantly above most mobile titles. Cut scenes and story sequences are animated in a style close to the anime adaptation, making it a natural companion for fans who want to experience the story interactively.
The main character is Jin-woo, but players can recruit and deploy a roster of supporting hunters from the manhwa — including Cha Hae-in, Go Gun-hee, Woo Jin-chul, Yoo Jinho, and others. Each hunter has their own rarity tier, attribute, and skill set. The gacha system is the primary method for obtaining new hunters and high-rarity weapons.
How Does the Gameplay Work?
Arise plays as a real-time action RPG with dungeon clearing, boss fights, and character progression at its core.
Jin-woo is always the primary combat character. Supporting hunters join as a team of three and can be swapped in during combat. Each character has active and passive skills that can be upgraded individually. The game mirrors the manhwa’s RPG mechanics directly — Jin-woo levels up, gains stat points, unlocks new abilities, and builds his shadow army through the same systems The System provides him in the original story.
The table below summarises the main game modes available in Arise.
| Mode | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Story Mode — Main | Follows Jin-woo’s journey chapter by chapter, mirrors the manhwa’s main plot |
| Story Mode — Side | Optional chapters focusing on individual hunters; played as that specific character |
| Reverse Mode | Available after Chapter 15; replays main story using only support hunters, not Jin-woo |
| Gates | Repeatable dungeons for farming upgrade materials; auto-clearable once you outpower them |
| Unstable Dungeons | High-difficulty boss reruns from side stories; primary source of artifact rewards |
| Hunter Archive | Lore chapters covering each character’s backstory; three free keys per day |
The Hunter Archive is worth highlighting specifically. It contains original story content written for the game — backstories, character motivations, and lore details not covered in the manhwa. For fans who want more depth on side characters, this mode alone justifies time spent in the game.
What Is the Gacha System?
Arise uses a gacha system to obtain hunters and weapons, and the honest assessment is that it is one of the game’s most criticised elements.
Hunters are rated on a rarity scale from SR at the lower end to SSR at the top. SSR hunters are the strongest and have the lowest pull rates. The Store uses Essence Stones as the premium currency, earned through gameplay or purchased directly. Weapons also have their own separate gacha pool with SSR-tier entries that significantly boost performance.
The game received consistent criticism after launch for its low SSR drop rates and the grind required to progress through later story chapters without pulling top-tier characters. Players who spend nothing can still progress, but the pacing of free progression is slow compared to the story’s escalating difficulty. This is worth knowing before starting.
What Is Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive?
Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive is a completely separate game from Arise — a paid, third-person action RPG designed for PC and console, not mobile.
It launched on PC via Steam and Xbox on November 24, 2025, with a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S release confirmed for 2026. It is not a sequel or update to the original Arise. It is a standalone product with a different combat system, different progression structure, and different target audience.
Overdrive plays more like Devil May Cry than a gacha RPG. Combat centres on melee combos, parries, evasions, and special attacks. Players can summon shadow soldiers mid-combat using the Arise ability, which makes direct use of the manhwa’s shadow army mechanics in a way that feels more natural in the action RPG format.
The game features eight distinct job advancement paths for Jin-woo, each changing how he plays. Iconic weapons from the manhwa appear as craftable gear — including Demon King’s Daggers and Kasaka’s Venom Fang. The story follows the manhwa while also introducing original chapters written specifically for the game.
A cooperative raid mode lets up to four players take on high-difficulty boss fights together, with each player choosing a different character and role.
What Is Solo Leveling: Karma?
Solo Leveling: Karma is a third upcoming game announced by Netmarble in July 2025, currently in development for PC and mobile.
Details are limited as of early 2026. Netmarble has confirmed the title and platforms but has not provided a release window or full gameplay reveal. It is a separate product from both Arise and Overdrive.
Is Solo Leveling: Arise Worth Playing?
Arise is worth playing if you are a Solo Leveling fan who wants to experience the story interactively — but go in knowing it is a gacha game with real free-to-play limitations.
The visuals, combat, and story presentation are all genuinely good. The manhwa adaptation is faithful and the original hunter backstory content in the Hunter Archive adds value that the manhwa does not provide. For casual play and story completion, the free content is sufficient.
For competitive endgame content and high-difficulty gates, the gacha system creates a clear advantage for paying players. That gap grows in later chapters. If you are patient and treat progression as a long-term process rather than a sprint, the game rewards that approach. If you expect to reach the endgame without spending, budget several months of regular play.
Arise Overdrive is the better option if you want a complete, self-contained experience with no gacha mechanics and stronger action combat. The paid model means you get what you pay for upfront.
Read the manhwa that inspired both games from the very beginning at readsololevelingmanga.us.
