Summary
- Manhwa and manga differ in origin, with manhwa originating from South Korea, yet both are popular among comic fans.
- Psychological manhwa, like Death's Game, use suspense and plot twists to explore complex human emotions and dilemmas.
- Series like Roxana and Bastard combine thrilling psychological elements with romance and mystery for a compelling read.
Though they are often visually similar, manhwa is quite different from manga in terms of origin; manhwa are South Korean in origin instead of Japanese. But while they are different in these ways, manga and manhwa are similar in that they are prevalent among readers and fans of comics in general.
10 Classic Manhwa Series That Defined The Medium
These classic manhwa series paved the way for the medium's current success and popularity.
With different kinds of manhwa come a slew of different genres, with one of those genres being the psychological genre. From complex mysteries to the exploration of the human mind, these psychological manhwa are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats while pondering the most existential questions they may find.
Updated November 10, 2024, by Hamza Haq: The psychological genre is a mainstay in manhwa culture for a plethora of reasons, though chiefly because building tension and creating drama are some of the best ways to pull in readers from all walks of life and get them hooked on a storyline. These stories are filled with twists and turns, often portrayed via a grim worldview, though not always. The core of the psychological genre is to keep the reader guessing at what's coming next, never giving out all the information on what's really going on, sometimes even up until the very end.
13 Into The Depths
MyAnimeList Rating: N/A
- Written by: Bbyong
- Illustrated by: Bbyong
- Genre(s): Drama, School Life, Slice of Life
Compared to other popular manhwa, the artwork for Into the Depths can most likely be described as simple or plain. However, this manhwa more than makes up for it with its story, which delves into some deep topics such as friendship and disability, all of which Youngwoo, one of the manhwa's main protagonists, experiences first-hand.
After being hospitalized in a motorcycling accident and losing sight in his left eye, Youngwoo decides to give up his delinquent lifestyle and start re-attending school. Here, he befriends Shihyeon, a deaf high school student whom Youngwoo meets after a misunderstanding the two have during one of their classes.
12 Escape Room
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.30/10
- Written by: SipPark
- Illustrated by: SipPark
- Genre(s): Horror, Psychological, Survival
Escape Room tells the story of Sean, an extremely smart sociopath who puts logic above all else and thinks that emotions are the crutch of the weak. After an eventful night, he is kidnapped and dropped inside an Escape Room with a group of strangers trapped alongside him. They'll need to work together in order to survive.
The series revolves around the protagonist and his allies trying to solve intricate puzzles inside the Escape Room in order to leave. Every moment is tense because nobody inside the room is ever really sure if their interpretation of the clues is correct or just guesswork. Escape Room is a short manhwa that readers can finish in one sitting.
11 Save Me
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.54/10
- Written by: 1230
- Illustrated by: 1230
- Genre(s): Drama, School Life
This psychological manhwa tells a revenge story born out of bullying that is prevalent throughout the manhwa. Hyeongoh and Namsoo's plan for taking their revenge becomes the main plot ploint of the series, as both try to right the injustice each of them faced in their lives.
The plot twist that Save Me sets up is also compelling enough to give the manhwa a satisfying ending, complete with the comeuppance that their tormentors have received as the result of the protagonists' revenge. Although the art style can be a turn-off for some people that are not used to 1230's unique manhwa style, the storyline should be gripping enough to keep them glued on while reading regardless.
10 An Uncomfortable Truth
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.66/10
- Written by: EErun
- Illustrated by: EErun
- Genre(s): Suspense, Psychological
An Uncomfortable Truth is a mystery murder drama that kicks off inside an interrogation room where a small boy, Yoseob, confesses to the murder of 8 people with a smile on his face, and it only gets weirder from there. The main tension point in the series is why Yoseob did what he did and whether he really did it.
The world-building sets a decent enough backdrop for the reader to get invested in the story, which is compelling in its own right. There are twists at every turn, but they're not there just to give the reader whiplash but also to serve as an accessory to the story. The ending, in particular, is one of the most satisfying in a manhwa and makes it a must-read for fans of the psychological genre who appreciate closure.
9 Pigpen
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.81/10
- Written by: Carnby Kim
- Illustrated by: Beosmik Cheon
- Genre(s): Drama, Horror, Mystery
While many popular manhwa are known for having a comedic or cheery tone, many others have a dreary setting or a dark, apprehensive tone. Pigpen is one such manhwa with a psychologically uneasy setting and tone, both of which stem from the unsettling situation in which the main protagonist finds himself.
The story revolves around an amnesiac young man waking up on an uninhabited island, save for a mysterious family running their bed and breakfast. As he stays in the family's bed and breakfast, the young man struggles to figure out who he is as he notices the family's behavior growing more unsettling by the day.
8 Death's Game
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.82/10
- Written by: Lee Won-Sik
- Illustrated by: Ggulchan
- Genre(s): Drama, Supernatural
Death's Game tells a gripping story that initially leads its readers to believe that it is a supernatural story with a hint of drama, while in reality it is a discourse on human psychology and how the ego of a person can dictate the course of their life over simple whims such as greed and selfishness. Surprisingly, Death's Game is also filled with action scenes that are not out of place for a manhwa that is leaning heavily to its psychological genre.
Although this series only has a few chapters, each of them leaves a lasting impression, leaving readers to contemplate their own life, as the manhwa tries to give a lesson on empathy and having a perspective that is centered on other people, rather than on one's self. Moreover, the protagonist's struggle to break free from his curse, and analyzing how he could cheat "death" (although it is not what he ultimately wanted in the end) becomes the main focal point of the manhwa's tightly-woven plot.
7 Ghost Teller
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.84/10
- Written by: QTT
- Illustrated by: QTT
- Genre(s): Horror, Mystery, Supernatural
Unlike Pigpen, Ghost Teller does not immediately throw its main protagonist into an apprehensive situation. Instead, the main protagonist endures a slew of rejection from both her family and her dates, wearing down her psyche to the point of seeking help to improve her life via supernatural means, with devastating results.
20 Best Horror Manhwa You Should Read, Ranked
Fans of manhwa shouldn't deprive themselves of these chilling and unnerving tales.
Ghost Teller follows the life of a young woman who is struggling to get married to appease her emotionally neglectful family. Ultimately, she seeks a supernatural being to improve her fortune, resulting in her marrying and having a son. Still, her fragile psyche begins to take its toll on her despite her new happiness.
6 Roxana
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.94/10
- Written by: Jiyeon Baek
- Illustrated by: Yoerumbit
- Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Even in a fantasy setting, there is no shortage of complex issues, such as betrayal and destiny, that can take place, as shown by the scheming and manipulations that take place in the manhwa Roxana. The main characters in this manhwa struggle to change their fate, seemingly written in stone, resulting in a riveting, crime-ridden story featuring the age-old conflict between fate and willpower.
20 Best Villainess Manhwa
Telling a story through the eyes of the antagonist, these villainess manga create fascinating characters and interesting worlds.
The completely unflappable Roxana Agreece, the titular protagonist, is surprised to find that her house is doomed to fall after reading a reverse-harem novel called The Abysmal Flower. Things eventually escalate when Roxana's father kidnaps Cassis Pedlian, heir to the Blue Pedelian household, forcing Roxana to take the necessary steps to ensure Cassis's survival.
5 SSS-Class Revival Hunter
MyAnimeList Rating: 8.03/10
- Written by: Neida, Noah Shin
- Illustrated by: Bill K.
- Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Compared to the other entries on this list, SSS-Class Revival Hunter has less of a horror tone, replacing it with an action-packed, high-stakes atmosphere. In conjunction with a cast of ambitious star hunters, this manhwa is an excellent blend of great action and compelling psychological themes.
In SSS-Class Revival Hunter, the main character, Confucius Kim, is intrigued by a mysterious monster-hunting tower that can make one's dreams come true should one choose to enter it. Seeing his chance to enter the tower after receiving an S+ Rank skill, Confucius's dreams are seemingly cut short when he is killed by the Flame Emperor, his idol and the strongest hunter alive.
4 Winter Woods
MyAnimeList Rating: 8.05/10
- Written by: Cosmos
- Illustrated by: Banji
- Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Keeping with the previous trend of serious topics in manhwa such as Into the Depths, one of the most sorrowful topics ever covered in any media is loss. In particular, it has been shown repeatedly that the loss of a character's loved ones, as depicted in Winter Woods, for example, can drive them to do questionable things, but also appreciate the life they have.
10 Best Dark Fantasy Manhwa You Should Read, Ranked
Dark fantasy is a genre that is well-explored in the manhwa medium, and these stories show the genre's diversity.
The story of Winter Woods begins with an alchemist who, after losing his wife and child, creates a being called Winter out of corpse parts. After the alchemist's death, however, Winter begins to live among humans, where he learns about the beauty of human life, especially through his bond with his writer friend Jane.