Best Drama Manga of 2025

What makes a 'proper adult'? Inspired by the words of his late father, Yutaro Urashima sought to become an upstanding member of society by developing and strictly adhering to his own "Articles of Adulthood." Little did he know, however, that those same articles would go on to dramatically change the world... A new series from the author of Hidarikiki no Eren! Witness the dramatic battle for survival in a surveillance society where reputation is everything!

An apothecary lives a quiet life selling potions and medicine in a country village, until one day he’s approached with a devil’s bargain. A pawnbroker offers him the perfect ingredient for crafting legendary medicine—but the “ingredient” turns out to be a mortally wounded elf! Legend has it the flesh and bones of elves can be ground up into a true panacea, and this elven maiden is on the brink of death after being ruthlessly tortured by slavers. Filled with rage, the apothecary vows to nurse her back to health and happiness, no matter what it takes. *Source: Seven Seas Entertainment, License Announcement*

From their humble beginnings as Class 1-D, Horikita and her classmates are ready to begin their third year as Class 3-A! But there's no time for celebrating–the battle is far from over. With only one year left until graduation, even the smallest failure can pull them off track. Not only will they have to fight harder than ever, they'll have to do it without their most influential student: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Amid the chaos of losing Ayanokouji to Class C, Horikita's class finds themselves faced with one cruel truth: if they can't defeat Ayanokouji, they don't stand a chance to graduate from Class A. Do they have what it takes to remain on top, or are they doomed to fail?

You know him as the legendary Ranker, Urek Mazino—but once, he was just another Regular, climbing the Tower alongside both teammates and enemies. What awaits him after charging into the Tower, chasing after Phantaminum? Whatever it is he desires... will he find it there?

Teru is a boy who, haunted by a childhood trauma, sees himself as a loner and avoids human connection. His only joy comes from video games... until a fateful encounter at his usual arcade starts to shake up his quiet world. A heartfelt, 88-page, full-length boy-meets-girl story of two awkward souls drawn to each other night after night.

With money, looks, and a successful career, Seongguk has it all. That is, until he dies and is reborn as a baby! To make things worse, his new parents are dead broke. However, alongside his new loving family, Seongguk soon learns that perhaps some things are better than money... not! He's going to have loving parents and money in this life, and there's no better time to start than now. Armed with an adorable face and the skills of a business tycoon, can Seongguk take his new family to the top?

Kim Sanghyeon has the talent and the drive to become a K-pop star—but one thing keeps holding him back: a false school bullying accusation. After countless rejections, his dream feels more distant than ever. But when the head director of a major entertainment company hands him a mysterious bath bomb that transforms him into his past-life self, he's suddenly staring at an unbelievably beautiful... woman? Sanghyeon's second shot at fame is about to begin—in the most unexpected way!

As a child, Shin Woo-Jin was kidnapped and locked away in a warehouse, forced to live as a slave. But against all odds, he was rescued and finally stepped into the outside world. Though free, Woo-jin wasn’t like other children. He had an extraordinary gift—the ability to read people. By observing the smallest facial expressions and unconscious gestures, he could see through their thoughts, emotions, and intentions with near-perfect accuracy. Like a profiler, like a modern-day Sherlock, Woo-Jin learned to navigate the world, one observation at a time. But for someone who sees too much, living an ordinary life is the hardest thing of all. All he ever wanted was a peaceful, simple life. But the world had other plans. *“As I thought… living a normal life is far too difficult.”*

Hatori is an average teen boy with no passions in life. One day he meets Furuta, a girl with a keen eye for the extraordinary that's hiding in the streets where they live... Small wonders can change the world in this (extra)ordinary coming of age series!

Living a self-destructive lifestyle, young Aoi finds her room visited by various symbols of spring—cherry blossoms and butterflies—all silently watching over her days. A new tale of love and life from the unique mind.

Ryouma runs a public bathhouse with his grandfather in a seaside town. One day, during his usual routine of running the bathhouse after school, a boy named Reo appears, claiming to be his father's illegitimate son. A bittersweet yet heart-warming drama unfolds between half brothers in a public bathhouse!

Koume was top of her local karate class until Tiara showed up and beat her soundly. Koume vows to beat her rival the next time, but months and years go by without a single win...

Twenty-nine-year-old spinster Laura Pendleton is known to be a talented matchmaker in London society. When she's asked to find a wife for the eligible bachelor lan Dalton, she believes it will be an easy task―until she meets the gorgeous yet blunt and aloof Mr. Dalton in person. Although Miss Pendleton introduces him to several beautiful young ladies, the cynical Mr. Dalton appears to have eyes only for his matchmaker. But Miss Pendleton has no interest in marriage, especially not to such a wealthy nobleman, due to her shameful past. Instead, Miss Pendleton makes arrangements to become a governess and thereby escape her abusive uncle on her own. But Mr. Dalton is nothing if not persistent. When Miss Pendleton faces unexpected troubles, he offers her the governess position for his young nephews in order to get closer to her. Mr. Dalton's love, bordering obsession, for Miss Pendleton means that he won't give up until he can convince her to become his―despite all that is at stake.

After one fateful match, former professional boxer Ryo Harima awakens from a two-year vegetative state to find out his career is over, his father has died, and he's been betrayed by his gym… Broken and fueled by rage, he vows to make it to the top of the boxing world, but this time as a promoter. Prepare yourself for a story about manipulation and money from the dark corner of the boxing world!!!

At five, she started humming melodies. At ten, she found her treasure. At 14, her world lost its spark. At 17, she starts to hear the music again. Mone Tsukimori, a slightly cheeky high schooler, has someone she can never forget. What is Mone’s past that only Anji-sempai knows...?

Echineacea Roaz is graceful, beautiful, and impeccably dressed, even on the dueling grounds. Yet beneath the lace gloves and silk hats is a deadly swordsman with a dark secret. As the Demon of the Cursed Sword, she once slaughtered all she loved, including Captain Eurien, the one man who believed in her. Granted one chance to rewrite fate, she turns back time and joins the knighthood to protect those she once failed. Can this elegant swordsman bloom anew, or will she cut everything down again?

Minjun wished for the world to end-- until it did. When a zombie appears at his door, the bullied teen chooses to fight for survival. Teaming up with Yena, his sassy yet charming classmate, he flees the collapsing city. Hunted by the infected and haunted by enemies old and new, they discover that in a world without rules, trust may be their only chance at survival.

Number is not your average serial killer. Equipped with the ability to identify future murderers, Number takes the law into his own hands. He believes in ridding the world of destined killers. Simple, right? One day, he runs into Ji-Hyeon, whose number changes constantly as she develops a special power of her own. Will the two work together to eliminate would-be murderers? Or will Ji-Hyeon's very existence threaten Number's moral compass?

Everyone dreams of knocking out their insufferable boss, but what if that boss is a war hero, a duke, and constantly breathing down your neck? For Chloe, enduring Curtis's relentless inspections was a daily struggle... Until a royal marriage decree offers her an unexpected way out.

Ji-u Shin has been transported into her own dating game. Her life inside the game is now being broadcast live across the cosmos. If she wants the broadcast to end, she must win the game. The catch? The game is set to the hardest difficulty, and she’s been cast as the notorious villainess, Theresa. If she fails to win, she will lose her life. Can she avoid all of Theresa’s bad endings and bring this broadcast to an end once and for all?

Mieko Fujiwara is a burnt-out office worker nearing the end of her twenties. After observing a group of carefree teens and longing for the life she used to have, Mieko drunkenly puts on her old school uniform and heads to the park, hoping to recapture even just the tiniest bit of who she used to be. Once there, she has a chance encounter with an impossibly handsome young man that will change her life forever.

Bianca is just another noble lady with a simple dream: to marry into a dukedom and enjoy a life of luxury. But everything changes when she stumbles upon a book—one that casts her as the villainess, doomed to stand in the way of her real-life fiancé’s love story with a commoner girl. As Bianca realizes the book accurately depicts her own fate, she refuses to accept her tragic ending. Can she rewrite her story, or is she simply destined to become a villainess?

For Olivia Madeleine, illegitimate daughter of a duke, her only hope of a better life away from her cold-hearted family is her betrothal to arrogant crown prince Leoford Franz. When the revelation of his tryst with another debutante comes as an unsurprising wake-up call, she has no choice but to barter for her freedom with Edwin Lowell Vikander, the ruthless, war-hardened Grand Duke of the north. As her dangerous dance with Edwin begins, Olivia seeks to leave her former fiancé with the coldest gift that vengeance can impart… A heart made bitter with regret.

Picture this: It’s your final year of high school, and you can’t wait to get out there and live your best life. You blush at the popular kid, and eye the new transfer student with bruises on his face. You’re looking forward to the future… Until you wake up in the future, with no memory of the last six years. Suddenly finding herself as a 25-year-old aspiring actress, Miyeon Seo begins to unravel the painful threads of her forgotten past.

Hiroya Oku’s first completely new series in four years! The protagonists are... six middle-aged men?! The story is set in a share house inhabited by six men approaching their 60s. In this "utopia" filled with men who have seemingly given up on their current lives, an unimaginable development is about to unfold.

After being killed by the obsessive male lead Killian, Ines finds herself back in the real world as Sum. Determined to live differently this time, Sum resolves to finally claim a happy ending. But to her shock, she meets Haewon Lee, a school celebrity who looks exactly like Killian. As Sum grows confused by Haewon’s kindness-- so unlike the arrogant and violent Killian she once knew-- Haewon hides his true intentions, carefully shaping himself into someone Sum would love. What awaits them in the future?

It all started with a retirement. A legend in the underworld of killers and assassins, Sihyeok Cha, otherwise known as “The Red Shirt,” leaves a life of violence behind for his loving wife Miju and their unborn child. Little did he expect, however, that bonds made in blood cannot be so easily erased. When tragedy strikes, Sihyeok is dragged back into the deadly struggle between mob factions… and the fight is far from over.

Woo-Ri Nam has always been the golden boy—wealthy, carefree, and untouchably lucky. But on the leap day of 2028, his 7th real birthday, everything changes. A seemingly harmless reunion with an old classmate, Su-Bin Shin, ends in a brutal murder. And then, inexplicably, Woo-Ri wakes up back in high school, right beside Su-Bin who has no idea that he just killed his deskmate. Trapped in a deadly time loop where almost every timeline ends with his death at Su-Bin’s hands, Woo-Ri becomes desperate to escape his fate. After multiple resets, Woo-Ri finally comes to the conclusion that the only path to survival may be ensuring Su-Bin’s happiness. With just one life left, Woo-Ri sets out to give Su-Bin the happiest life possible.

Lorena chose death to take revenge on the husband who ruined her life. Thrown back in time, she is determined to rewrite her destiny, protect her family, and destroy her husband. There’s only one way to win: a scandalous divorce. *“I need a wild dog… because I’m going to hunt down a hound.”* A dangerous alliance. A deadly deal. Will she be able to take everything back this time?

Seo Hoyoon, the genius producer of a popular idol survival show, is infamous for his sharp tongue and coldheartedness. Cursed by a trainee for it, he wakes up as a member of a flop idol group called "The Dawn." To avoid being stuck in this parallel world forever, Hoyoon must make his group top-tier... but with the competitive industry and challenging tasks, it won't be easy. With his wits, know-how, and a little help from those around him, will this producer-turned-idol make it big?

Seol is a rising Go prodigy who built her career by memorizing every game she could find, but her play is empty. When she meets Sang-Hun, a self-taught player who defies all logic, her world begins to crack. To surpass the greatest player of her era and her own past, she must abandon everything she knows and step into the unknown. In a game with endless possibilities, can she create a move that’s truly her own?

Mochida, a junior high boy, had a crush on Aoyama, the most beautiful girl in his class. However, while he was secretly masturbating in the library thinking of her, he was caught by Hira, the library committee member on duty. Caught red-handed, Hira suddenly demanded a kiss from Mochida. Before he could react, Mochida lips were touching hers and it caused him to ejaculate. She invited him to join the secret “Kissing Club.” A story about the debauchery of their youth, as they become obsessed with the forbidden fruit.

Mikan, a young girl transported to a world of swords and magic, grows up to become a great mage who saves that world from crisis—only to be sent back to her hometown, Niigata. Having lost her magic and companions from the other world, Mikan becomes a shut-in. Her older brother Itsuki, who has waited ten long years for her return, does everything he can to show her the joys of this world and gently coax her outside—but will he succeed…?!

In a run-down shopping street, brothers Fuji and Kiri run a small barbershop as they wait for their father’s return. In their effort to make ends meet, every day brings something new to their door.

Geonyeong is a brilliant girl. Despite being underprivileged, her exceptional intellect allows her to enroll in the prestigious Pyeonghyeon High School. There, she meets new competitors and friends. She struggles to compete with all the other privileged students who have expensive lessons. Amidst these challenges, she is determined to succeed and become a judge. This is Geonyeong's journey to prove that despite the disadvantages life has dealt her, she is worthy of respect.

Discover The Apothecary Diaries from Xiaolan's perspective in novelist Natsu Hyuuga's official spin-off story! Though born into poverty, Xiaolan was content with her simple life caring for her siblings. But out of desperation, her family was forced to make a terrible decision... Sent to the imperial palace as a servant, Xiaolan now spends her days washing laundry and tending to the consorts' needs. She doesn't mind her new lot in life—after all, there's food!—and soon makes friends with another servant, a strange girl named Maomao. Can the two help each other as they find their way in the scheming, status-seeking society of the rear palace? *Source: Square Enix Manga*

*“What will people call him?”* Someone asked. But no one could answer. A transcendent being appeared in the world. Creating a new history in the film industry.

A state-of-the-art operating room with pristine surgical equipment? No can do; just a rusty bone saw in front of a jeering crowd for you! Sound like a waking nightmare? Well, that’s the best that the finest 19th century British medicine has to offer Taepyeong Kim, a young student from Joseon who retains the memory of his past life as a surgeon in modern-day Korea. For Taepyeong, London’s supposedly cutting-edge medical education is nothing but one barbaric display of malpractice after another, and he vows to drag the profession kicking and screaming into the modern age.

In the summer of her sixth grade year, Mirei Nakamura hurt her best friend, who had confessed her feelings, with heartless words. For years, she had been haunted by the thought of wanting to start over, but when she reunited with Sopura, who had transferred to her school, she couldn't find a way to begin again. Sopura had become a famous model known as “Angel Sopura,” but what about Mirei?

In the operating room, Dr. Jin-Hyeok Lee is flawless—unyielding, brilliant, and untouchable. But outside, he’s a ghost to his family and loved ones. He misses everything, even his mother’s final moments. By the time he understands what he’s lost, it’s too late… until it isn’t. He wakes up 27 years in the past. Now armed with a lifetime of memories, Jin-Hyeok vows to live differently. But peace won’t come easy. Old rivals, new battles, and countless lives await. Scrubs on. Lights up. Scalpel ready. And this time, Primum non nocere.

Welcome to the Containment Zone, where every space is warped by anomalies and bound by deadly rules. From unholy hospitals to sinister arcades, the four-man team of Department 2 ventures in daily to study the spaces and bring back supplies. Things are always guaranteed to get bizarre, but the job has to be done... no matter how many deaths it causes.

The fate of an entire nation rests on the shoulders of one girl. World War III has finally broken out. After fierce fighting, Japan has been carved up and placed under foreign rule. Miharu, a prodigy with unrivaled sniper skills, meets Shou, a former marksman who can no longer bring himself to pull the trigger on a human target. Together, they are drawn into fights that will decide the fate of their homeland. A sniper buddy action epic set in a war‑torn Japan!

To Yoonha, a model student at an elite high school, romance has always felt like a frivolous distraction. But when four surprising choices for love appear, her pencil begins to waver. Will she choose the right answer and ace the ultimate test? *Source: WEBTOON*

In a world where werewolves live among humans in secret, Ji-u Han, a detective agency owner and a powerful werewolf, crosses paths with Yuseung Cheon, a famous actor, when he “accidentally” hits her with his car. And when they run into each other again “by chance,” one thing becomes clear to Ji-u: She must have him —whatever that may entail. Ji-u wants Yuseung’s rare ability to make werewolves stronger through touch. Yuseung, on the other hand, wants information on key figures in the werewolf world to eliminate them. Will they each get what they’re after? Or more importantly—will they fall in love?

Maria, Empress of Rastonia, is betrayed by her husband Emperor Henry after his mistress gives birth to a son. King Helland the Great, ruler of a neighboring kingdom, takes her as collateral so that Henry can have one more year to repay a considerable debt. King Helland is actually Gunther Preisley, a former slave for Maria’s family. He has loved her a decade and is determined to woo her. Meanwhile, back in Rastonia, two different women vie to replace her as Empress. Will Maria survive the year so that she can avenge herself, and will Gunther win her heart?

The war between Idéal, the country of demon race, and Étoile Kingdom, the country of the human races, had been going on for a long time until a peace overture was offered by the demon lord. Following this, the demonic princess, Lieselotte, was married to the Hero, Schmerz and she'll live in the human world as a hostage of sorts. However, this is just Lieselotte's first step toward her ambition, and her future will be full of hardship that she must overcome...

"Hey, Seraphina. When you grow up, don't kill me, okay?" The wizard Arvel meets his end at the hands of his fiancée, Seraphina, who would later become the emperor's mistress and a notorious villainess. However, when he comes to, he finds himself face-to-face with a young Seraphina! Astonishingly, he has returned to the body of his 13-year-old self. Seeing the young and still innocent Seraphina, Arvel decides he will help her become a proper lady and save his own life in the process. To start, he must find a way to prevent the death of his brother, Shou, who was once engaged to Seraphina. However, the situation is far from simple, as he must contend with Seraphina's neglectful family, other men vying for the beautiful Seraphina's attention, and a web of conflicting plots. Given a second chance, can Arvel alter Seraphina's fate and save her from becoming a villainess…!?

Yanai, a successful manga editor, is in Shinjuku to research the lives of youth who hang out around Kabukicho, when a girl suddenly grabs him by the shirt. Misumi lives in a manga cafe, cleans a love hotel for what little cash she has, and spends all her time devouring manga—but now she’s started writing it, and wants Yanai to take a look. He’s dismissive at first, until he finally reads it and discovers she has real, if unpolished, talent. He offers to be her editor, but gets more than he bargained for when this almost feral girl suddenly takes up residence in his apartment! Her desperation and fixation are at total odds with the professional world he knows, jolting him out of his normal routine and opening his eyes to what manga is really about.

His name is Touji, 20 years old. Following a certain incident that made him infamous, his only way get by is by working insconspicuous part-time jobs without involving himself with others. One day, while working at a supermarket, he gets dragged into a conflict between an employee and a rude Customer and ends up getting acquainted with a beautiful high school girl named Sakuya. Though she is blessed with an astounding memory, which some even call her ''super eye'', she struggles to adjust to her school life. In this illustrated human drama, those two who have difficulty adapting to this cruel society begin their share-house lifestyle and grow together.

Where does one find the top shamans and the most reliable fortune tellers in the country? Welcome to the stock exchange, where one prediction could make or break billions. This is their all-star match, world series, medal of arts, and olympics all rolled into one. Follow the story of Jiseung Cheon, as he breaks into the world of occult and finance, one shamanic ritual at a time.

After six years, gaming nerd Lee Jinho finally finishes Reset Life, a brutal mobile game where you have to clear 99 different lives. Just as the thrill of victory fades and emptiness takes hold, a sudden message reveals the game has merged with reality. The true 100th round begins, marking the start of his real reset life. Now, armed with his knowledge from the game, Jinho sets out to reclaim all the skills he once mastered, living as a model, actor, chef, and more in his ultimate new life!

His lover, his parents, his future—everything was taken from him. A violent suspense story of revenge begins! Daichi Enomoto was an ordinary college student with a girlfriend and friends. Until the day he was framed for murder… Called to a hotel by a part-time job colleague, what he saw there was the shocking sight of the very person who had summoned him…

Byeolha wakes up as Rose, the female lead of a novel who is doomed to be betrayed by her unfaithful husband, Eric. The nightmare deepens when she discovers that her best friend, who stole her husband in their past life, has also transmigrated and is now targeting her husband again. However, Rose refuses to be the victim this time. She’ll gladly let her friend have her worthless husband while she plans her escape to a peaceful life. But fate has other plans when she keeps crossing paths with Arteum, the powerful Grand Duke…

A notorious property with a hidden past is now in the hands of Dan, a sharp and talented real estate agent. The place? A manor that once belonged to the affluent Midnight family—whose bloodline vanished over a century ago.

In a world where blue snow freezes everything it touches, humanity has long forgotten what warmth feels like. Seonu, a teenage boy with a prosthetic leg, carries the lifeless body of Iseo through the snow-covered wasteland, determined to bring her home one final time. The snow will soon erase his footsteps but not the promise that keeps him moving.

Niina Hanabusa, 16. Admired by her friends as someone who's “won in life on looks alone”, she quietly carries a complex about her deep indecisiveness, unable to make choices for herself. One day, a DSLR camera falls into her hands. With guidance from Mimiri, a former idol and alumna of her school, Niina begins to awaken to the quiet joy of pressing the shutter.

What does it take for an animal to live and survive? What would it choose to die for? A T. rex, washed ashore and stranded on an island for over 20 years, waits for the day he can take his final breath. But just when that moment seems near, hope arrives. A collection of stories about the great creatures that have roamed the Earth before us. 1-19. **Gaji Aneun Gil** (가지 않은 길, The Road Not Taken) 20-28. **Pokgun** (폭군, The Tyrant) 29-40. **Manghyang** (폭군, Nostalgia)

Kang Geon, 17, transfers to a prestigious high school for only the top 0.1% of South Korean students. Raised as a secret agent in North Korea since the age of five, he is a genius and a human weapon. He is tasked with infiltrating South Korea's upper class and building connections. However, making friends proves to be a much bigger mission. This spy action drama follows Kang Geon, who lives as a fake family with his hacker father, who is under international surveillance, and his legendary assassin mother, and finds true happiness!

In South Korea, where the juvenile law has been abolished and rehabilitation centers for juvenile offenders have been established, Min-su, who has been wrongfully accused of murder and sent to a rehabilitation center, realizes that it is a hell from which he can never escape through normal means. Min-su's older brother, Yu-seong, infiltrates the rehabilitation center as a guard to save his brother in crisis... A desperate struggle for survival and escape unfolds as the two brothers fight against false justice!

Branded a heartless and cruel sovereign, Emperor Herace of the Tevente Empire has lost three empresses to betrayal and murder. Into his life steps Eleanor Snow, the fearless daughter of House Snow, offering herself as his new empress to protect her family from ruin. In a world of assassins, treachery, and political unrest, their alliance is forged out of necessity but eventually tempered by trust. Together, they will fight to defend the empire… and each other.