Best Isekai Manhwa Where Heroes Are Summoned Instead of Reincarnated

In manhwa, the most common form of isekai is reincarnation or transmigration, taking over the body of someone living in a fantasy world and assuming their identity. These stories are usually smaller in scope, focusing on the immediate area and events that concern their new persona, so the author doesn’t need to spend time with the greater world building. They can instead develop the plot and characters with more intent.

Summoning stories are often the opposite. Because the characters are in a completely new world, the stories tend to be longer and require much more time spent on cultivating the world’s locations and settings. However, these manhwa also have grand plots where the characters go on epic adventures to save the world or defeat villains, which have always been fun and entertaining.

8

Terrarium Adventure

Magic Plant People Save The World

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Isekai, Video Games
• Author: Suha Suha
• Illustrator: DB

In a typical isekai, the protagonist is summoned to the fantasy world. While that’s technically true in this manhwa, Jae-hee does most of the summoning herself. After getting an achievement in an auto-farming game, Jae-Hee is transported into Terrarium Adventure, a new gacha game made by the same developers. In this world, Jae-hee is a druid capable of growing dryads, special beings who fight the fire that threatens to burn down Yggdrasil.

Terrarium Adventure is a video game isekai that focuses on comedy and adventure. Jae-Hee is overpowered like any other protagonist except her cheat skill is being pay-to-win. She’s able to afford any luxury she wants, including multiple chances to summon heroes. The beginning is a little slow, but the story ramps up after she gets her first dryad and the adventure actually starts.

7

Newbie Management

A Hero Needs A Hero

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2022 to 2023
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Author: Sangmin
• Illustrator: Kihyun

In isekai, there’s always a catch to being a hero. For Presidio Cage, it was never being able to return home even after defeating the Demon Lord. After hundreds of cycles, he decides to summon another hero to do the job and see if it stops the regressions. Unfortunately, Shin Yubi hates him on top of being incredibly difficult to work with, leading to tons of problems and tons of resets.

This isekai is unorthodox but fun. On the surface, it’s a gag comic with many recurring jokes and great comedic timing, but it actually has quite a bit of depth to it. The author presents this manhwa as a simple story about two heroes working together when it’s actually a pretty complex story with twists and turns. It’s a surprisingly good read despite its basic art style.

6

The Max Level Heroine

A Gamer Gets Isekai’d By God

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.62
• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Isekai
• Author: Jiwoo Kim
• Illustrator: Team.SC4B

Isekai involving video games usually starts with the protagonist being transported into the game world, but in this manhwa, Joo Se-young accepts a quest while playing her favorite game, which sends her to another world where she’s asked to complete a task assigned by God. Unfortunately, Se-young is not happy being kidnapped and isekai’d, so she demands a contract that ensures her three wishes and a ton of money for completing the mission.

There are very few isekai where the protagonist is capable of taking immediate control. Even in a traditional power fantasy, it can take some time for the main character to gain influence, but The Max Level Heroine Se-young is capable of dominating everyone from the moment she is summoned. With all her game abilities intact, she’s basically a god herself.

5

Chitra

Gacha Rolling For A Reverse Harem

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.89
• Published: 2018 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Isekai, Reincarnation, Reverse Harem
• Author: Taesun
• Illustrator: Reffe

In Chitra, the main character is actually reincarnated as Chitra Serekina, a fallen noblewoman who was abandoned by her family. In this story, she is not the hero being summoned. After her death, she was approached by the god of beauty, who gave her a second chance at life and game-like powers, and all she needed to do was complete tasks that would make the world more beautiful. The tasks usually involve correcting the economy, arresting criminals, and providing support for the public.

Despite being a reverse harem story, this manhwa actually includes a good amount of world-building and setting development. There’s politics, there’s business, and there’s even some social commentary. It’s not the most complex story, but for a concept that could have focused solely on romance, it has surprising depth.

4

Her Summon

A Loner Becomes Someone’s Familiar

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2018 to 2021
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai
• Author: Park Jin-Joon
• Illustrator: Park Jin-Joon

If there’s one thing Her Summon is known for, it’s the fantastic illustrations. It’s clear the author put a lot of time and effort into making this manhwa extremely beautiful. The story is about Jin-kyung, a social pariah who made one too many comments online. Out of nowhere, he is summoned to another world by a young girl named Maina, and the transfer gives him amazing powers. They soon begin an adventure that will change their lives.

When it comes to themes, this manhwa is similar to Jobless Reincarnation, where a man must learn life lessons in a new world. Jin-kyung is described as an otaku who has some bad behaviors, and this story is about his journey to become a well-adjusted member of society. Although the writing can be a bit slow at times, the character development is great, and if anything, it’s worth reading purely for the illustrations.

3

Escape From Another World

Framed And Trapped After Being Summoned

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2024 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Mystery
• Author: Kim Jun-Hyung
• Illustrator: Kim Jun-Hyung

In isekai, the main characters are often tasked with something huge, like defeating the Demon Lord or finding ancient relics, but in this one, they get sent to jail. Kim Seojoon leaves his home only to find himself in a different world with some strangers. Just as he’s meeting the princess who summoned them, she’s assassinated, and he’s blamed as the culprit. Seojoon is taken to the maximum-security prison Gehenna, and he soon becomes involved in multiple conspiracies that could get him killed.

Escape From Another World is a thrilling adventure story that is set in a vast world with an interesting history and political landscape. Although it has relatively few chapters, it’s incredibly immersive and entertaining with many unexpected twists. It has great potential, and as long as it doesn’t get too confusing, it will be a fantastic manhwa.

2

FFF-Class Trashero

The Summoned Hero Hates His Isekai

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.20
• Published: 2019 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai, Time Travel
• Author: Parnar
• Illustrator: Kkangmu

Unlike other manhwa, this story is set up as traditional isekai. Kang Hansoo is summoned to the world of Fantasia as a Hero and asked to slay the Demon King. After ten long years, he was able to achieve his goal, but in the process, he killed all his companions, which earned him a failing grade in God’s final examination. As a punishment, Hansoo was forced to restart his entire journey, causing him to lose all his powers.

FFF-Class Trashero is a satire of the isekai genre that stars a hero-turned-villain who is determined to destroy the world himself. This story is especially great for fans of dark heroes or villain protagonists because Hansoo truly doesn’t care anymore. He’s thrown away his morals and will stop at nothing to complete his goal. It’s an unconventional adventure story that may not be for everyone.

1

Pick Me Up

Summoned Into A Gacha Game

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.17
• Published: Dec 28, 2022 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Video Game
• Author: Hermod
• Illustrator: Wasakbasak

Gacha games are well known for their summoning mechanic that allows players to gamble for rare items, and in Pick Me Up, Han Seoljin becomes an item himself as he’s transported into the game. Assuming the identity of Han Yslat, he must fight and survive if he wants to return home, but it’s much harder now that he’s no longer a player. Han must guide his newbie master to victory if he wants any chance at learning the truth about his sudden isekai.

This manhwa is a fast-paced action story with great characters that go through tremendous growth. The author spends extra time building up each character, explaining their strengths, weaknesses, and goals, only to threaten their lives in every chapter. What makes Pick Me Up so thrilling is the idea that any of the important characters can die at any time.