Characters that have unrealistic physical strength are quite common in fiction. While fighting does require a certain type of intelligence, these characters don’t usually possess the intelligence that most of us are aware of.
Ironically, genius people aren’t exactly liked by the general population in real life. However, artists soon discovered that having a genius main character brings a certain finesse to the story (it doesn’t hurt if said character is good-looking).
Table of Contents
There seems to be a boom in the popularity of webtoon/manhwa content recently which makes me very happy. However, if you are unaware of what a manhwa is; it’s basically comic books written in Korean style.
Here is a list of 21 Manhwa Where The Main Character is a Genius.
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Table of Content
Korean Webtoons with a genius MC
21. My Deepest Secret
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4/20 |
4/10 |
4/10 |
3/10 |
15/50 |
As I mentioned in the introduction, it never hurts to have a main character that’s also good-looking. Our main character is no different, I mean who doesn’t want a charming raven haired hottie with blue eyes? Not to mention he’s an MMA(Mix Martial Arts) fighter.
The Manhwa mainly follows the love story between Emma and Ellios. Emma is a barista who falls for an unusually attractive Ellios. As the series progresses, their romance blossoms at a steady pace.
However, appearance can be deceiving. Sooner or later, it becomes obvious that they’re both keeping secrets from each other. Yo-han, a nosy private detective won’t rest until he uncovers their secret.
20. Capture the Golem and Escape Poverty
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4/20 |
4/10 |
4/10 |
4/10 |
16/50 |
Taejun’s life takes an unfortunate turn when he loses most of his money because of a misunderstanding while paying rent. Following which his anger knows no bounds which is understandable.
He blames it all on Namsan, who unfortunately becomes a sinkhole that excretes Golems (I swear I’m not making this up).
In a strange turn of events, Taejun must find a way to deal with these not-so-friendly creatures, creatures that may have been let loose because of him. Will he be able to make the ultimate decision of choosing others over himself?
19. Delta From In the Bleak Midwinter
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5/20 |
4/10 |
4/10 |
4/10 |
17/50 |
Anya wants what everyone wants; a love like no other, a partner that loves her unconditionally. In other words, she has expectations that are unrealistic.
Unsurprisingly, these high expectations are not met by any man that she meets which of course, leads to frustration. On top of this, she must deal with the fact that her sister is dead.
Just like any normal person, life sucks, she decides to go into cryogenic sleep and basically not deal with her issues. However, when she wakes up, the world she finds herself in is nothing like the one she remembers.
18. We On: Be the Shield
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4/20 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
4/10 |
20/50 |
When a very disgusting and repulsive species of parasites invade earth, a group of young nerds are the only people standing between the human race and its extinction.
Every villain that they meet is progressively nastier and stronger than the previous one. Under these circumstances, their teamwork and optimism will prove to be their greatest strength.
Our main character’s name is RM, which can be short for “Real Me” or “Run Ronda”. If his name confuses you, then knowing that he’s a K-Pop star might clear things up, he’s the lead singer of a band you may have heard of; BTS.
I get that real BTS/K-Pop may have mixed feelings about this and the plot may seem fairly ridiculous, it’s actually pretty good if you get into it.
19. Athena Complex
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6/20 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
24/50 |
If you’re a Greek Mythology nerd, then you will thoroughly enjoy this Manhwa. If you’re unaware of Greek Mythology then don’t worry, it’s still enjoyable.
Athena is of course inspired by the Greek Goddess Athena, who’s the goddess of wisdom (among other things). So naturally, Athena the character is quite smart as you can imagine.
Other Greek Gods such as Poseidon (God of the seas), Ares (God of War), Nike (Goddess of victory) also appear, they have their own quirks and personalities which is very enjoyable, especially if you’re familiar with them.
18. The Antagonist’s Pet
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6/20 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
7/10 |
25/50 |
Imagine being the character that basically knows how the story ends. Such is the life of the adorable Sasha Tartt, who’s not the main character but a very important one indeed.
In a world where the noble class is morally depraved, Sasha Tartt is the only bridge to the light for these sophisticated animals.
But don’t let her description fool you. Sasha is anything but naive and dumb, she’s well aware of her powers. She’s even more well aware of how to use them to her advantage.
17. Lady Envoy
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6/20 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
7/10 |
25/50 |
Envoy’s life flashes before her when she’s imprisoned because of a witch hunt. She’s sentenced to be executed, an anticipated end to her long-suffering in said imprisonment.
However, her life is saved by Grand Duke Schneider, who becomes her Guardian. She learns a lot from him, but will it be enough to recover from the trauma that she has suffered?
16. Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7/20 |
6/10 |
6/10 |
7/10 |
26/50 |
Our MC is, as the title suggests, a Genius doctor. However, from a young age, she has been imprisoned by her Grandfather. When she eventually frees herself, she’s unfortunately transported into another world.
In this, she’s no longer the talented doctor but rather a spoiled daughter of a duke. She finds herself in a family that finds joy in making fun of her uselessness, which includes her husband-to-be.
As you can imagine, the family receives quite the shock when they realize that she’s no longer the person they know and ridicule.
15. Genius Doctor Lee Moo-jin
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7/20 |
7/10 |
6/10 |
7/10 |
27/50 |
While the title may lead you to think that this one is similar to Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss then you’ll be sorely mistaken. While Black Belly Miss revolves around family drama, this one revolves around the medical aspect.
Moo-Jin comes across a scalpel that is possessed by the ghost of a genius surgeon named Aculle. Moo-Jin who has never successfully applied a bandage finds himself aspiring to become a doctor.
Despite him being not as academically inclined as other aspiring doctors, Moo-jin passes through the hurdles of the tough medical journey with the help of Aculle.
14. My Daughter is a Music Genius
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8/20 |
7/10 |
6/10 |
7/10 |
28/50 |
Artists seldom have good relations with their families. Our MC is the cliche-obsessed artist that has a tragic background.
After the death of his wife, he basically forgets he has a daughter that needs him and decides to completely immerse himself in music. When his daughter tragically dies in an accident, he regrets his behavior.
However, by some miracle, he travels back in time and finds that his daughter shares his talent in music. Will he make the same mistakes or will he decide to change the course of his life?
13. Kubera
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12/20 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
34/50 |
Our story takes place in a fantasy world of immortal beings. Their powers are atomic and hence mortals are often caught in the crossfire.
The Townsmen are fed up with this. One day, they meet the strange yet exotic Asha who turns out to be their savior. As the story unfolds, new characters are introduced each with their own agendas and quirks.
We eventually find out that the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of a sixteen-year-old girl named Kubera who’s named after a goddess.
12. White Blood
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14/20 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
6/10 |
36/50 |
White Blood follows the story of Hayan, a seemingly chill girl who’s fed up with vampires ruining her chance at having a normal life. On top of this, her latest mission will prove to be the most difficult of them all.
However, Hayan does possess a thirst for vengeance. Which seems to be in her reach after she meets a new and intriguing police officer. The only problem is; he’s kind of a weirdo.
11. SSS-Class Hunter
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14/20 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
37/50 |
The main theme of this Manhwa is quite honestly very prevalent in this particular genre, but personally, I found it to be very entertaining.
The story mainly follows a loser Hunter who’s at the very bottom of the hierarchy of the Hunter classes. And as you can imagine, that ceases to be true when he miraculously becomes an S-Class overpowered hunter.
While the MC is initially quite frustrating, I think he eventually comes into his own as the story progresses.
10. Second Life Ranker
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15/20 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
38/50 |
Yeon-Woo is, by all definitions, a genius who’s made his family proud. He’s diligent, hard-working, and never breaks the rules. However, his younger sibling is his opposite in every single way.
His sibling could be described as an eccentric prodigy for whom everything in life was easy to do. Yeon-Woo, however, has had to work diligently for everything. This sibling rivalry could be described as the main theme of the Manhwa.
As the story moves along at a surprisingly healthy pace, we find out that Yeon-Woo has an artistic side to him that’s just waiting to be explored.
9. The Villainess Lives Again
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15/20 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
39/50 |
Artezia Rosan has always worked behind the scenes as a strategist for her sibling. Even though she worked from the shadows, she was still happy to play the part in her sibling’s success.
However, when her sibling is found to be disloyal to the domain, the punishment received is extended to Artezia as she was a key player. Fortunately, she’s rescued by Grand Duke Cedric Ebron.
Artezia must learn to navigate her personal feelings for her sibling and her loyalty towards the Grand Duke. Will Arteiza learn to let go of her feelings? And what will she do when she’s finally compelled to choose between love and loyalty?
8. The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16/20 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
40/50 |
Hyun Lee is a materialistic MC who only cares about money and power. Whether it’s in real life or virtual reality.
We learn that the reason for his materialistic world views is his tragic past. His family suffered from enormous debt growing up and he was left with basically nothing.
In order to pay off his debts, he has worked in unthinkable conditions while receiving no support from his family.
Hyun Lee’s character is nuanced, which often compels the reader to alternate the reader’s opinion of him from empathy to apathy. Your view on morality itself will be questioned, which definitely makes this Manhwa worth a read.
7. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
7/10 |
41/50 |
Another MC with a tragic past, Kim Dokja is perceived to be a delinquent by almost everyone in his life due to the way he behaves.
However, he often finds solace in literature, reading is when he’s at peace. As the story progresses, Kim goes through many hardships while his books remain his constant companions.
6. Weak Hero
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
42/50 |
Gray is an agreeable student who’s unbothered by the drama that often accompanies his school life. Which definitely makes him a genius in my opinion.
When he meets the colorful Stephen Ahn, Gray’s viewpoint is irreversibly shifted as he emerges from his introverted self and discovers new experiences and tragedies of life itself.
5. Your Throne
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
44/50 |
Medea (who’s named after a character from Greek Mythology) can be called efficient, loyal but brutally effective. Her good looks don’t hurt her position either.
However, her many talents are also accompanied by an unpredictable temper that can often result in her being perceived as “unfriendly”. This has made it difficult for her to find a husband.
Will she ever find someone who can handle her hot and cold nature?
4. The Beginning After the End
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
44/50 |
Imagine retaining all of your knowledge and experiences from your previous life, because of this, Arthur Leywin finds himself capable of being a very strong swordsman and definitely wise beyond his years.
However, his poor social skills resulted in him being kind of a loner in his previous life. This is something he intends to fix now that he has a chance to do so.
As he explores new relationships, he must also confront his past enemies.
3. King’s Maker
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
45/50 |
Our story is set in a world of Kingdoms. One of the most important players in the kingdom is the one and only Soo-hyuk.
Soo-hyuk can be described as a highly intelligent individual who’s calm under pressure and never breaks a sweat. He possesses the rare talent of lying so well that he’s never found guilty or otherwise.
Hence, his multiple talents make him an important player in the kingdom as the story progresses.
2. Solo Leveling
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
45/50 |
Sung Jin-woo, who’s a mediocre Hunter, is on the verge of rock-bottom. He has no prospects, no money, and definitely no friends to share his burden.
On top of this, he must find a way to save his sick mother’s life. As fate would have it, a vital location is found by him which might be the answer to all of his problems. But it could be dangerous, and he’s not that great of a Hunter.
1. Tower of god
| Genius MC | Character Writing | Plot | Artwork | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19/20 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
9/10 |
48/50 |
When you reach the top of the tower, you’ll get whatever desire that plagues your mind. But reaching there is definitely not easy.
Each step is deadly as the tower challenges you with potentially fatal tests. Baam is one of the contenders who must deal with the lethal enemies and nuanced shifts in loyalties to not just win glory, but also reunite with his first friend.
So which manhwa will you read next?
Well, there you have it my friends, a list of my favorite Manhwa with a Genius Main Character. However, some of them may not be the only main character in the story, and some may not start off as geniuses.
There is a boom in the readership of Webtoons/Manhwa which gives me the pleasure of writing articles concerning very specific genres such as this and hopefully the growth continues its current trajectory.
solo leveling is number 1 not 2
We appreciate your passion for Solo Leveling! Rankings can vary based on different opinions and factors.