Solo Leveling’s Upcoming 2026 Anime Release Is Severely Underhyped

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I’m so excited! It’s looking like 2026 will bring us more Solo Leveling! We started hearing whispers about a possible movie, and then Atsushi Kaneko, one of the producers, dropped a hint that something new is definitely coming this year. It’s all very promising!

Fans are eagerly awaiting new content from Solo Leveling, and while much of the discussion centers around future seasons, the 2026 release of Solo Leveling: Karma is particularly exciting. This game will reveal the previously untold story of Sung Jinwoo’s 27-year battle against the Monarchs, and it will also include the first animated content released since Season 2 ended in early 2025.

Solo Leveling: Karma Will Have the Franchise’s Only Confirmed Anime Content Coming in 2026

Although we might hear about Season 3 of Solo Leveling or a potential movie later this year, right now the only confirmed new Solo Leveling anime content planned for 2026 is Solo Leveling: Karma. This game is being made with A-1 Pictures, the same studio that animated the popular Solo Leveling anime series.

A-1 Pictures is creating animated cutscenes for the game, including a stunning opening intro. The November preview of the game’s opening sequence, animated by A-1 Pictures, looks incredible, proving they’re putting a lot of effort into this mobile game.

The opening for Solo Leveling: Karma is visually stunning, matching the quality of the first two seasons of the anime. What’s unique is that because this version covers the very end of the original story, the opening shows scenes that won’t appear in the anime until seasons 3 and 4. This includes important events like the deaths of Gungee Go and Sung Ilhwan, and a glimpse of a younger Sung Jinwoo as he appears later in the series.

Solo Leveling: Karma is Finally Fixing One of the Manhwa’s Only Real Flaws

Many people criticize Solo Leveling recently, but a lot of that criticism isn’t really deserved. It’s a common side effect of becoming incredibly popular worldwide. It’s understandable to wish the supporting characters were more fleshed out, or that Jinwoo didn’t become so powerful so fast, but saying the series is bad based on those points alone is just a matter of personal opinion.

However, when looking at the differences between the manhwa and the original light novel, clear weaknesses in the adaptation become apparent. For example, the story rushes through important plot points, leaving out key details and impactful moments in Jinwoo’s development.

The biggest disappointment in the original story was how quickly it covered the 27-year war Jinwoo fought against the Monarchs after his reincarnation. That part of his life felt rushed and could have been a whole separate story. Now, Solo Leveling: Karma is giving that epic battle the detailed retelling it deserves, finally showing us the full story of Jinwoo’s final fight against the Monarchs.

Anime Visuals Aside, Solo Leveling: Karma Looks Like a Lot of Fun For Fans of Jinwoo

Fans of Solo Leveling have a lot to look forward to! Solo Leveling: Karma will feature the first official anime footage from the series, expected in 2026. While Solo Leveling: Arise creatively used panels from the original webtoon, Solo Leveling: Karma promises a stronger connection to the upcoming anime, as it’s being produced by the well-known studio A-1 Pictures.

Solo Leveling: Karma has a lot of potential, even before considering how it will actually play. The game will be a rogue-like action RPG with a top-down perspective, similar to games like Hades and Diablo. This style suits the world of Solo Leveling better than the more straightforward action of Solo Leveling: Arise. Battles in Solo Leveling are known for being strategic and focused on developing your character, not just fast-paced fighting.

Much of what made Solo Leveling captivating was watching the main character, Jinwoo, carefully choose how to improve his abilities and then use those skills to outthink his enemies during battles. His fight with Karglagen, the High Orc leader, was particularly thrilling because Jinwoo couldn’t just rely on brute strength. He had to carefully plan and gradually weaken his opponent, much like a player in a strategy-based role-playing game.

Fans have been waiting over a year for new animated content from the Solo Leveling universe, and Solo Leveling: Karma delivers just that. It retells the story of Jinwoo’s 27-year battle against the Monarchs, staying true to the original story, and features some of the best depictions of the Shadow Monarch seen in any game based on the series. It’s surprising this release isn’t generating even more buzz.

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2026-01-12 05:40