Summary
- Top manhwa offer diverse genres and cultures, from historical settings to new perspectives like Korean manhwa.
- Standout historical entries span various eras, settings, and themes, providing engaging storytelling rich in history.
- Newer manhwas delve into diverse genres like isekai, reincarnation, politics, and romance, offering unique and compelling narratives.
In the past, it took a lot of searching to find manga volumes, and even then, they weren’t always translated into other languages. Now, all the top strips can be found everywhere, from stores to online apps and websites, and it’s easier to find newer, rising media. For example, if Japanese comics feel old-hat, readers may prefer Korean comics, known as manhwa.
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These manhwa series are filled with immensely powerful characters, which makes them more thrilling to read.
They can offer a new perspective on classic genres, especially historical ones. They can delve deep into Korean culture or simply tell a good story set back in the day with plenty of drama and interesting characters. With enough browsing, readers can find some truly great historical manhwa.
Updated February 23, 2025, by David Heath: There's still no shortage of good manhwa coming out, nor great historical manhwa at that. The only limits appear to be whichever era or setting a reader would prefer, as there are plenty of tales that cover ancient China, the Joseon era in Korea, 18th-19th century Europe (and Europe-ish places), and the early 20th century. People can even find the medieval era and Ancient Egypt among others if they dig far enough. This is why this list has been updated with more standout historical entries, from medieval isekais to time-traveling romances, war gods wandering Lone Wolf & Cub style, to royal marital issues. Whatever one's fancy in historical manhwa, they'll find it here.
26 Baroness Goes On Strike
MyAnimeList Score: 7.29
- Written by Go Eunchae.
- Illustrated by Song Ye-Seul.
- Available on Tapas.
- Release years: 2018–2019.
Baroness Goes On Strike sticks to a European-themed fantasy land while following a trend that spun off from the isekai boom: reincarnation. In her first life, Countess Cassia Ruberno was ordered by the Emperor of Simone to marry Baron Zester of Greze, a mercenary knighted for his war efforts. After a decade of trying to run Zester's land alone, she died from an incurable disease.
But her death takes her back 10 years to the day she met Zester. Given a new chance at life, she rebels against the Emperor’s orders and declares she’d rather live a stress-free life alone than marry the Baron. Yet despite starting this new path, Zester still tries to woo her, which intrigues her. Like a manhwa-themed version of Peggy Sue Got Married, maybe things will get better for both of them on this new path.
25 The Elixir Of The Sun
MyAnimeList Score: 7.47
- Written by Konn & One, based on a web novel by Solddam.
- Illustrated by Song Yi.
- Available on Lezhin Comics.
- Release years: 2021-2023.
The Elixir of the Sun goes to a fantasy world based on ancient Korea rather than the Middle Ages. It follows Bayan, a member of the Siyo clan. Their members usually have the power to heal sickness, but Bayan didn’t inherit this ability. To get her out of the way, the Siyo sent her to the court of Dhan, the Great Sun Emperor.
But this isn't a cushy position; it's a death sentence. Dhan suffers from violent outbursts that cause him to slaughter his own concubines, and Bayan is next on the chopping block. However, there’s something about her that soothes Dhan’s mood. Through their encounters, some more adult than others, they discover Bayan may be more of a healer than they know.
24 Return of the War God
MyAnimeList Score: 7.47
- Written by Myosu.
- Illustrated by Rough.
- Available on Tapas.
- Release years: 2022-Present.
Before he was sealed away, Yuxian Duan was feared across the land as a ferocious war god. But after 1,000 years of solitude, he breaks free from his prison to find everyone has long since forgotten about him. He starts wandering the land, seeking a fresh purpose when he bumps into a young girl called Xiaomei. Despite being sick, she offers the war god a dumpling out of the goodness of her heart.
Touched by her generosity, he revives her back and decides to become her guardian. However, he doesn't have his fearsome reputation anymore, so there's nothing stopping any bandit, martial artist, or other threat from thinking they could take him. So, to protect Xiaomei, he'll have to re-establish himself in the world in Return of the War God.
23 The Divine Surgeon
MyAnimeList Score: 7.53
- Written by Dongshin Park.
- Illustrated by Byungick Choi.
- Available on Tapas.
- Release years: 2022-Present.
Joining the medium's wide range of isekai, reincarnation, and isekai-reincarnation stories is The Divine Surgeon. However, it's unique in that, instead of some 17th-19th Century European theme, or Joseon-era Korea, it takes its lead back to Ancient China. Dr Jinsoo did his best to live a noble life, only to get conned, fired, and killed by his professor. But a mysterious being takes his good deeds to heart and rewards him with a second chance at life.
However, his second chance is being reborn as the legendary physician Hua Tuo, who lived through the end of the Eastern Han dynasty just as it split into the infamous Three Kingdoms of Wei, Wu, and Shu. Aside from having to survive these turbulent times, Jinsoo/Tuo has to figure out how to treat people without modern conveniences, making medicines, anesthetics, and more from scratch.
22 My Royal Awakening
MyAnimeList Score: 7.62
- Written by Dopamine, based on a web novel by Gu-Sa.
- Illustrated by Tae-Hyung Kim.
- Available on Lezhin Comics.
- Release years: 2020-2022.
My Royal Awakening is an isekai with a difference. This time, an average guy struggling to get by in modern Korea gets a shot at the high life when he’s reborn as a noble during the Joseon Dynasty. Unfortunately, he was reborn as Grand Prince Jin-seong, the younger foster brother of King Yeongsan, Korea’s most notorious tyrant.
During his 11-year reign, he suppressed free speech and education, purged scholars, and abducted women from across the nation to serve as his court entertainers. The new Jin-seong could let history take its course, and he would succeed Yeongsan after a coup. But perhaps if he took a more active role, he could change things for the better.
21 Barbarian Quest
MyAnimeList Score: 7.85
- Written by Baeksu Gwijok.
- Illustrated by Morando.
- Available on Tapas.
- Release years: 2022-2024.
There are plenty of isekai stories about people going to medieval worlds. But Barbarian Quest is more old-school, as its adventurer finds a new realm on his journeys. It follows Urich, a member of the Stone Ax tribe who's destined to become a great warrior, or so the local shaman says. He didn't put much faith in her words until his bold attempt to go near the Sky Mountains with his friends saw him get kidnapped.
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After breaking free and fighting off his attackers, he discovers a whole new world that's more advanced than his own. With bustling cities, horse-drawn carts, and money to buy items instead of bartering, he finds himself a Dark Ages barbarian in a Middle Ages society. He's got a lot to learn about this new world and civilization, and the best way he knows how to do that is to prove his strength.
20 The Crown Princess Scandal
MyAnimeList Score: 7.86
- Based on the web novel by Jeonghyeon.
- Illustrated by Kitrow.
- Available on Webtoon.
- Release years: 2021-2023.
From princesses having to fight for themselves and consorts turning a death sentence into a romance comes a tale of a girl who didn't want to be a noble in the first place. Well, kind of. The English title may be The Crown Princess Scandal, based on the imperial palace's crown princess selection. But the role is more akin to a concubine, which might be why its lead, Hwa-yeong, is angry at her little sister for signing her up for it.
She does her best to get disqualified and sent home early, but as luck would have it, she meets Crown Prince Shin-yeong himself. Seeing through her scheme, he intends to make sure she passes the process just to annoy her. Now, Hwa-yeong has to try harder to avoid winning and getting stuck with Shin-yeong for 6 months in the palace. But as she gets to know him and the court well, the role may start sounding more appealing.
19 Ennead
MyAnimeList Score: 7.87
- Written & Illustrated by Mojito.
- Available on Tappytoon.
- Release years: 2018-Present.
The term 'Ennead' refers to the 9 Egyptian gods worshiped at Heliopolis, including the likes of Osiris, Isis, and Set. Inspired by the pantheon, Mojito's Ennead sees Set, the god of storms and disorder, take control of all Egypt and subject it to his tyrannical rule. The only one able to challenge his rule is Horus, son of the deposed Osiris. Though he is of divine birth, he hasn't been officially deemed a god yet, stacking the odds against him.
Yet, despite the two hating each other, their feelings change over time. The line between obsession and desire becomes more blurred as the two confront each other, producing a keen psychological drama involving love and trauma. It can be a harsh read sometimes, so it isn't for the faint of heart. But anyone in need of a heavy, historical BL romance with strong art will find it all in Ennead.
18 The Unwelcome Guests Of House Fildette
Anime Planet Score: 3.93/5 Stars
- Written & Illustrated by Arrnuni.
- Available on Tapas.
- Release years: 2022-Present
The problem with some historical strips is that they focus on the same few settings, like Middle Ages European-style worlds, 19th-century noble courts, etc. At least The Unwelcome Guests of House Fildette changes things slightly by being about nobles in the early 20th century instead. Even then, it focuses less on political intrigue and more on domestic drama.
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Hayden Fildette’s life with his parents, the Count and Countess of Fildette, used to be idyllic and stable. But it gets turned upside down when someone from his father’s past comes back and introduces everyone to Hayden’s long-lost half-brother. His prospects as the family heir are now in jeopardy, but Hayden is more worried about what it'll do to his family. Will they manage to stick together, or will they fall apart? Fildette's future now isn't as certain as he thought it'd be.
17 The Remarried Empress
MyAnimeList Score: 8.02
- Written by Alphatart.
- Illustrated by Sumpul.
- Available via Yen Press and online via LINE Webtoon.
- Release years: 2019-Present.
Together, Emperor Sovieshu and Empress Navier of the Eastern Nation managed to keep their country as stable as their bonds. Though their union wasn't formed out of love, they managed to maintain a friendship that kept them devoted to each other. In turn, Navier got to maintain her place as a beloved noble living a luxurious life. Then things hit a snag when Sovieshu found something more in a former slave girl called Rashta and demanded that he and Navier get a divorce.
Usually, this would turn Navier's world upside down. Instead, she agrees to it, so long as he approves of her remarriage to Heinrey, a mysterious man who happened to be a noble himself. As The Remarried Empress, Navier gets to retain her life in the lap of luxury, but the rest of the Eastern Nation risks being torn apart by their royal court's lies, conspiracies, and love affairs.