Best Manhwa I’ve Read in 2025 (And Why They Completely Ruined Me)

If you love manhwa manga as much as I do, you know how addictive scrolling through a good manhwa web series can be. In 2025, I read a lot romance, psychological, dark, disturbing, wholesome, and completely unhinged stories. Some healed me. Some stressed me out. Some made me stare at the wall after finishing a chapter.

This list is a personal manhwa recommendation post not just popular titles, but stories that stayed with me. These are mostly Korean manhwa, many available on Manhwa WEBTOON, a manhwa app, or a manhwa site English readers use.

Let’s talk about the best manhwa I’ve read in 2025 and why they hit so hard.

Selfish Romance

I didn’t expect to like Selfish Romance as much as I did. What really pulled me in was how both leads already had past relationships and actually acted like ADULTS. That alone felt refreshing. In most manhwa romance, it’s always someone’s first love, or one lead is experienced while the other isn’t.

Here, both characters carry emotional baggage, past mistakes, and realistic reactions. Their conversations feel grounded, sometimes uncomfortable, but honest. It made the romance feel mature instead of idealized, and that’s exactly why it worked for me.

Phantom Whispers

Phantom Whispers genuinely messed with my head. Noa being an unreliable narrator made me question everything her memories, her fear, and even the people around her. I couldn’t trust anyone, and honestly, that’s what made it so good.

The art style deserves its own praise. It adds a creepy, unsettling layer to the story, making every scene feel slightly off. This is the kind of Korean manhwa that thrives on atmosphere rather than loud horror, and it does it perfectly.

Flowers Are Bait (+18)

First of all — this is +18, and it earns that label.

I love the amnesia trope, I know it’s cliché sometimes, but when it’s done right, IT’S DONE RIGHT. The male lead is twisted, and that’s honestly the fun part. There’s something deeply unsettling about his obsession and control.

I read the novel version, so I’m extremely excited to see how the manhwa adapts the part where he gets his memories back. If you enjoy dark manhwa romance with psychological tension, this one will grab you and not let go.

Our Guild’s Idol

This one surprised me in the best way. I found both leads very relatable, especially Ajin. The characters actually have depth, and I’m very curious about Dream Walker , there’s clearly more going on there.

What I LOVEEE about this story is how it’s told. You get different perspectives, which helps you understand each character instead of judging them quickly. It’s rare to see that kind of storytelling in a manhwa web format, and it made the whole experience richer.

Recommended : “The Password Was Her Name” A Short Story

Miyeon

I was initially drawn to Miyeon because of the time travel into the future. I thought I knew where the story was going, I was wrong. The plot twist genuinely surprised me, and I didn’t expect that at all.

It kept me on edge and wanting more. I’m especially curious about Miyeon’s relationship with the male lead and how it ended up the way it did. This is one of those manhwa manga stories that slowly tightens its grip on you.

I’ll Give You the Most Rotten One

This one is ROT. Absolute mess. Cheating trope, yes. But the plot twist was CRAZY. I don’t want to spoil anything because you really need to experience it yourself.

The best way I can describe it? It felt like eavesdropping on neighbors while they were fighting. You know it’s messy, but the drama is way too juicy to ignore. I couldn’t stop reading even when I wanted to.

To Drown in You

This is NOT a romance, and it’s important to say that.

When you think it can’t get worse, it somehow does. The art style is gorgeous, which makes everything even more disturbing. Watching how abuse shapes the main character and affects his relationships was uncomfortable but deeply interesting.

This Korean manhwa doesn’t romanticize pain. It shows consequences, damage, and emotional scars in a way that feels real and heavy.

The Devil Raises a Lady

This one is unique because the devil actually behaves like a devil mischievous, scheming, manipulative instead of instantly simping for the female lead.

The chemistry and sexual tension between the leads is insane. The side characters aren’t just fillers either; they have their own arcs and motivations. It feels like a fully developed world rather than just a romance setup.

Foam of the Sea

A story where the female lead gets sent into the future after being murdered by her lover already sounds intense, and it is.

What stood out to me most was how 3D the characters felt. I couldn’t bring myself to hate anyone, not even the so-called villain. It was very easy to empathize with everyone, which is rare.

Also, stories centered around commoners instead of royalty or elites? We need more of that in manhwa web storytelling.

Radian Rewind

Another modern time travel story, but this time into the past. I really liked how friendship-focused it was rather than purely romantic.

The art style gave me a bit of nostalgia, and the emotional beats felt soft but meaningful. It’s not overly dramatic, which made it comforting to read.

44th Period Class

I love high school survival stories, and 44th Period Class delivered.

The concept is amazing, the world-building is creepy, and some scenes genuinely got under my skin. I was both creeped out and disgusted especially the scene where a girl turns into a ball. That image stayed in my head longer than I wanted.

This is psychological horror done right in manhwa manga form.

Beastly Things

Wolf FL × Hunter ML. Enemies… but also not really.

I loved seeing both POVs and how the author presents their conflict without making either side fully evil. I’m honestly just waiting for the angst to start, because you know it’s coming.

For Your Murder

He is CRAZY. Like batshit insane. And that’s exactly why he’s fascinating.

I really enjoy reading characters like him because they’re unpredictable and deeply unsettling. This Korean manhwa doesn’t try to justify him , it just lets him exist, and that’s what makes it intriguing.

Potion Witch

The plot is refreshing, the art style is charming, and overall it’s just a really cute story.

I love the dynamic between the leads, and the side characters are genuinely enjoyable instead of annoying. It’s a nice breather after darker reads, especially if you’re browsing on a manhwa app late at night.

오!단군

This one has funny moments, a nice art style, and really good character development. The romance is slow and well-developed it never feels forced or random.

The emotional scenes made me cry, the pacing is solid, and everything feels balanced. I genuinely CANNOT WAIT for season 2.

Leviathan

From the same creators as 오!단군, so I already knew it would be good — and it was.

Set in an apocalyptic world covered in water, humanity struggles to survive while monsters roam beneath the surface. The harpoonists who hunt them are fascinating, and the world-building is incredible.

The creators really show how disturbing a flooded world can be, making this one of the strongest manhwa web series I’ve read.

At the end of the Blog :

This is it. These are the best manhwa I read in 2025 , stories that stayed with me long after closing the app. Whether you’re into manhwa romance, psychological thrillers, survival stories, or emotionally heavy narratives, this list has something worth trying.

If you’re searching for your next manhwa recommendation, I hope at least one of these pulls you in the way they did for me.