The best Isekai Manhwa with sci-fi elements

Isekai is primarily associated with fantasy realms that are obviously inspired by medieval hero games. This is the standard formula for isekai manga, isekai light novels, isekai anime, and to a lesser extent isekai manhwa. While Korean webtoons are certainly fond of this type of setting, they seem more willing to abandon traditional RPG worlds, often preferring to lean on murim domains (which is a different flavor of fantasy). A less common style of story is interspersed isekai and science fictiontakes the best of both worlds and takes viewers on a journey defined by innovation and tradition. Unlike anime and manga, which usually go the mecha route, manhwa tends to incorporate science fiction elements through the protagonist's abilities or the world itself.

More than fantasy science fiction in manhwa is intrinsically tied to gaming, with many of the series featuring incredible technology that could only exist in a futuristic MMO. However, even this niche subgenre is not tied to this concept and is more than willing to experiment and take risks. So if you're looking to get started with some isekai sci-fi manhwa, here are some good series to give your go-ahead.

7

Druid Station in Seoul

Anime-Planet: 3.85/5

• Published: 2021 to present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai
• Author: Seolwoo Jin
• Illustrator: Hwalseonggom
• Where to read: Webtoon

Although it is more of a throwback manhwa than an isekai, it follows many of the same themes and patterns. One day, gates suddenly open on Earth, summoning monsters and transporting certain people to other worlds. Park Suho is transported to a jungle planet inhabited by huge animals and devoid of human civilization. He survives there for hundreds of years, but when he is suddenly teleported back home, only ten years have passed.

It starts out as a typical hunting fantasy, but it actually gets more complicated as he explores the planets associated with Earth. Using magic and science, humans can contain and monitor the dungeons that appear, eventually being able to communicate with and visit other planets. This development helps distinguish this manhwa from others like it.

6

God's Gambit

Anime-Planet: 3.5/5

• Published: 2023 to 2024
• Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
• Author: Hwangdong
• Illustrator: Bisamong
• Where to read: Webtoon (prologue + first 6 chapters)

Instead of a single person being dragged away, an entire city in South Korea is transported to another dimension to become part of a board game. The main character, Yul Choi, accidentally receives an incredibly powerful item that allows him to gain information about all the scenarios that arise. Unfortunately, he also steals rewards from other players, leaving him with no choice but to become the public enemy that will lead them to success.

Like many isekai, this manhwa is mostly filled with fantasy archetypes and concepts such as magical items, demons, and skills. The sci-fi attributes only appear after the first forty chapters, when the city begins to integrate modern technology with magical resources, making it fortified enough to survive nuclear-level threats.

5

The Knight King who returned with God

Anime-Planet: 4/5

• Published: 2023 to present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
• Author: Hi Sally.
• Illustrator: Hum Geomsa's Jeoncheon

What makes this manhwa stand out is that it is both an isekai and a reverse isekai. The protagonist is reborn as Leon Dragonia in another world and eventually becomes the Lionheart King who is blessed by the gods. When this world is overrun by monsters, they eventually return to Earth through the gates that usually release the monsters. Leon soon becomes a world superpower thanks to his connection to the pantheon of deities.

Although this story is set in modern times, there are still some sci-fi elements. Since the gates connect different dimensions, the enemies are not always monsters like orcs and goblins. The robot is one of the main antagonists of the short story and later becomes a minor character who supports Leon through manipulating the media and the stock market.

4

The world after the fall

Anime-Planet: 4.10/5

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

Although it starts as a tower-climbing manhwa, it turns into a great adventure to find the truth about the world. Unlike other isekai stories, the main character, Jaehwan, decides to leave his own world to fight the root of it all, the System. However, in order to do so, he must travel through several different dimensions and deal with adapters, nightmares, and gods.

As this story traverses many different worlds and dimensions, it has a little bit of everything. There's magic and special abilities, a zombie outbreak, a subscription system, and finally robots and virtual reality simulations. Androids and drones are just some of the obstacles that Jaehwan has to overcome, and while they only appear for brief moments, they're sure to reappear in future chapters.

Anime-Planet: 3.74/5

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

Being trapped in novels is common in isekai manhwa. In this story, Kim Hajin is trapped in the world of his own web novel after receiving a strange email. Now, in the body of a background character, he must compete with cadets trying to become heroes. As an author, it should be simple, but an unknown editor makes changes to his story, leading to new events and developments.

This manhwa is a great example of Urban Fantasy as it depicts the integration of magic into modern society very well. The story takes place in an island city called CUBE, a high-tech metropolis that supports a hero-producing academy of the same name. The Academy is where most of the technological achievements are seen, creating holograms, simulations and enhanced weapons.

2

Log in Murim

Anime-Planet: 4.26/5

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

A popular piece of fictional technology present in many manhwas is the full-immersion VR capsule that allows people to experience the game as if it were real life. After using a game capsule as a bed, Jin Taekyung gets trapped in a virtual world and wakes up in the Murim world as a young man from a prestigious family. The only way to log out is to complete certain objectives, and if he dies, so does his real body.

Much of this story actually takes place in the Murim setting, so there isn't much in terms of science and technology aside from the game system. However, there are parts where Jin Taekyung returns to the real world and more of the sci-fi elements are seen. This manhwa actually takes place in a setting with dungeons and hunters, which is an interesting contrast to the Murim game world.

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

What would happen if science, martial arts and magic were combined together? Trinity Wonder is a manhwa that answers this question. Due to one company's experiments, a connection with different dimensions is created, and the martial artist Gang Woo-Jin and the mage Emily are brought to Earth. With no other way home, the two must trust the company's owner, Sylvia, to repair the machine that bridges the worlds. However, there are more problems than meets the eye.

This manhwa does a great job of balancing three separate themes without detracting from the story, and each has a role to play. The setting is a futuristic Earth, the main antagonist is the leader of a demonic sect, and the final boss is a massive dragon. Everything is seamlessly connected, helping to keep the focus on the fun story and fantastic action scenes.