Solo Leveling Review: ARISE OVERDRIVE – For Those in the Know

Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is one of those projects where trust is given upfront. The phenomenal manhwa and equally popular anime about a weak hunter who gradually transforms into one of the strongest have received a logical sequel in the form of a major RPG. I’ll tell you how successful this game adaptation of the popular universe turned out to be in my review.

• Developer: Netmarble Neo
• Publisher: Netmarble
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S
• Release date: November 24, 2025

The opening thrusts you into the heart of the conflict—Sung Jin-woo, wearing the Shadow Monarch’s armor, engages in a spectacular showdown with the Demon King, Baran. Everything appears very large-scale, but this seems to foreshadow the events. The game quickly returns to the beginning of the hero’s journey, and everything follows the anime (or manhwa) plot for the first chapter, but then the narrative deviates from the original source material. It’s worth noting that the introduction is heavily abbreviated, in fragments. If you’re not familiar with Solo Leveling, it may be difficult to grasp the plot.

Once the prologue concludes, Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE launches players into a series of dungeons , where almost all of the gameplay takes place. There are essentially two types of zones available: instances and the Hunter Headquarters, where players return to level up their gear, recruit other characters, and engage in co-op activities. There are no outdoor locations to explore. However, all the dungeons featured in the anime haven’t been forgotten. Snowy elven forests, the underground with Kasaka, and Igris Castle are featured .

Most of the dungeons here are fairly linear, with no branching or diverging paths. In this regard, the project reminded me of Phantasy Star Online. It’s designed for a fast-paced gameplay cycle—defeat enemies, collect loot, and return to headquarters. Short raids and regular rewards are even convenient in some ways, and don’t tax the player’s time. However, this approach comes at the expense of variety—a sense of déjà vu sets in quickly. In the later stages of the game, you’ll have to replay everything.

However, like the aforementioned Sonic Team title , Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE shines in its combat mechanics. The battles are dynamic, the animations are well-crafted, and the skill system is easy to master and logical.

Some active skills are unlocked through hero progression, while others come with equipment or a set of the chosen style. For example, Seong Jin-woo has several combat styles available: physical, magical, and classic assassin. And despite the latter being considered a more difficult style in the game, it’s easy to master. The game encourages experimentation.

Additional recruitable hunters add variety to combat scenarios. Initially, only three characters are available, but the roster gradually expands to twenty heroes. They can be hired through a recruitment system that unlocks as the campaign progresses. Each hunter is quite expensive, so assembling the right team for the player is a long-term prospect. However, there’s plenty of room for improvement: players can assemble different lineups, train alternative hunters, and change their playstyle.

During battle, players can call upon the shadows, summoning creatures such as Tank, Igris, Kaisel, and others to aid them in battle. The game also features helpful pets that can speed up the collection of rare items.

The combat in Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is incredibly engaging and spectacular, but there are some nuances that could be improved. When enemies are crowded, it’s quite difficult to pinpoint the right target for an attack, and the camera often wanders off-camera, putting enemies out of sight and causing annoying hits.

Visually, the project is very well-crafted. The character models are high-quality, the attack effects are beautifully rendered, and the cutscenes are well-done. The game’s soundtrack is captivating, and the characters are well-voiced.

The endgame isn’t disappointing either. After completing the main campaign, quite a few additional objectives become available. There are hundreds of achievements, where you can strengthen your shadow army, farm rare resources, and upgrade your gear. Additional content has been promised in the future , and players will be well-prepared for it. The story itself, incidentally, can be breezed through without delving too deeply into character development.

The need for a constant online connection seemed highly controversial, even paradoxical given the title’s name, “Solo Leveling.” Co-op is built into the core of the project, even when you’re playing solo. If your connection fails during the game, you’ll lose progress, and the connection isn’t very stable yet. The developers, however, plan to introduce an offline mode in the future; they’re currently working on it.

Whether you’ll enjoy Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE depends on your expectations. If you’re a fan of the title and primarily expect dynamic action with a cool combat system and dungeons, you certainly won’t be disappointed. However, the project doesn’t quite reach the level of a classic anime RPG, as it’s rather linear, the locations are often repetitive, and the story is understated. The game’s foundation lies in its combat system and solid progression, and for some, especially given the setting, that’s likely more than enough.

It’s clear they’re planning to develop and improve the game. The developer is responding to criticism. The upcoming offline mode, for example, is a direct result of community discontent. Otherwise, the game is very solidly built, even if it’s primarily aimed at those familiar with the Solo Leveling universe.