These 2 TV Shows Are Just as Great As Solo Leveling (If Not Better)

Solo Leveling exploded in popularity almost immediately after its release in January 2024. Adapted from Chugong's massively successful web novel and manhwa, the anime became an instant phenomenon thanks to its slick animation, brutal action, and addictive power-progression storyline. Audiences were immediately drawn to Sung Jin-woo's transformation from the weakest hunter in the world into something almost unstoppable, while the anime's dark fantasy atmosphere, dungeon-crawling structure, and increasingly apocalyptic stakes gave Solo Leveling an incredible momentum.

That video-game-like progression and underdog story is wildly engaging, and while anime fans are waiting for Solo Leveling Season 3, they might need something else to scratch that itch. Thankfully, there are two TV shows that feature the same story of an ordinary person thrown into an impossible situation, survival-driven intensity, and overwhelming threats: Alice in Borderland and Sweet Home. They may be different stories to Solo Leveling, but they are perfect for fans of the anime. In some areas, the two TV shows even surpass some fan-favorite elements of the beloved anime.

2 Netflix's Sweet Home Has the Same Escalating Powers As Solo Leveling

Plenty of Solo Leveling's Elements Are On Display in Sweet Home

Netflix's Sweet Home is based on the manhwa of the same name and begins when Cha Hyun-su, a lonely and downtrodden teenager, moves into a rundown apartment complex shortly before the world descends into chaos. Humans across Korea begin transforming into grotesque monsters based on their deepest desires, trapping the residents inside the building as society collapses around them. While Hyun-su initially seems completely ill-equipped to survive, he slowly discovers that he may be changing into something powerful himself.

Sweet Home is undoubtedly just as compelling as Solo Leveling, and the pair have very similar emotional structures. Like Sung Jin-woo, Hyun-su starts as an isolated, vulnerable protagonist before evolving into someone increasingly feared by humans and monsters alike. Sweet Home balances survival horror with Hyun-su's power escalation, meaning every new transformation feels both terrifying and exciting at the same time. Watching him struggle to control who he's becoming gives Sweet Home a darker psychological edge than many fantasy/action stories.

Sweet Home's similarities to Solo Leveling include:

- An isolated protagonist

- Heavy focus on survival against monsters

- Constant escalation in enemy strength and danger levels

- Dark fantasy/action focus

- Brutal action sequences

In some ways, Sweet Home arguably surpasses Solo Leveling when it comes to atmosphere and emotional intensity. The series is relentlessly bleak, filled with desperate survivors, disturbing creature designs, and a constant sense that nobody is safe. At the same time, its monster mythology is fascinating: each creature reflects human desires and flaws, giving the show's horror a deep thematic weight. For Solo Leveling fans who love escalating powers, terrifying enemies, and protagonists walking the line between hero and monster, Sweet Home is a perfect next watch.

1 Solo Leveling's Overwhelming Odds Are Equally as Present in Alice in Borderland

Another Ordinary Main Character is Thrown Into a New World

Based on Haro Aso's manga of the same name, Alice in Borderland follows Arisu, an aimless young man who suddenly finds himself trapped in an abandoned version of Tokyo with his friends. In this alternate reality, players are forced to compete in a series of deadly games in order to survive, with each challenge testing intelligence, teamwork, betrayal, or physical endurance. As the games become increasingly brutal, Arisu begins uncovering the terrifying truths behind the mysterious world he's trapped in.

Although Alice in Borderland is less focused on literal power progression than Solo Leveling, it captures the exact same addictive survival-game energy. Every episode feels unpredictable because the characters are constantly forced into impossible situations where death can come instantly. Much like Jin-woo entering increasingly dangerous dungeons, Arisu and the other players are pushed into challenges that require them to adapt, strategize, and evolve simply to survive. Alice in Borderland thrives on tension, escalation, and the fear of what comes next.

Alice in Borderland's similarities to Solo Leveling include:

- Ordinary protagonist thrown into a deadly world

- Survival-based storytelling where every challenge feels life-or-death

- Constant progression as characters become smarter and more capable

- Strong mystery element surrounding the true nature of the world

- Fast pacing with escalating threats in every episode

What makes Alice in Borderland truly exceptional, however, is its ability to combine spectacle with emotional depth. Beneath the action and elaborate games is a story about loneliness, purpose, trauma, and life's meaning. The visuals are just as stunning as Solo Leveling, the action is flawless, and the stakes are consistently raised in unexpected ways. For Solo Leveling fans who enjoyed watching characters survive overwhelming odds while uncovering a larger mystery, Alice in Borderland kicks things up a notch yet still delivers that same obsession-inducing momentum. In many ways, Alice in Borderland feels even more emotionally devastating than Solo Leveling, so any fan who enjoyed the heartbreaking and difficult scenes in the anime will feel Alice in Borderland deeply.