Tomb Raider King: The Solo Leveling "Copycat" That Was Here FIRST

Anime Premiere: July 2026 Studio: STUDIO EEK [Korean Animation] Rating: TBD So the Tomb Raider King anime trailer dropped two days ago [January 16, 2026], and the comments section is on FIRE. Everyone's calling it a Solo Leveling ripoff, a fraud, a copycat trying to ride SL's wave. But here's the thing: most people got the timeline completely backwards. Let me set the record straight with FACTS.

SOLO LEVELING: Web Novel [unpublished]: February 14, 2014 Web Novel [officially published on KakaoPage]: July 25, 2016 Manhwa: March 4, 2018 TOMB RAIDER KING: Web Novel [published on KakaoPage]: November 1, 2016 Manhwa: June 30, 2019 Let's do the math: Tomb Raider King's web novel dropped just 4 MONTHS after Solo Leveling's official publication in 2016. That gap is WAY too short for one to be copying the other. Both authors [Chugong for SL, Sanji Jiksong/SAN.G for TRK] were writing at the same time, riding the SAME massive wave of Korean dungeon/power fantasy web novels that exploded in 2016. The internet is calling the wrong series a fraud.

In South Korea and Japan, Tomb Raider King isn't some knockoff. It's part of what the community calls the "Manhwa Big Three":

All three are considered LEGENDS in the Korean action manhwa scene. TRK has been sitting at the top alongside Solo Leveling this whole time. It's just that in the West, Solo Leveling became the global phenomenon that broke through mainstream, while TRK stayed more niche. But make no mistake: in Korea and Japan, Tomb Raider King is EQUAL in popularity to Solo Leveling. The anime community outside Asia just didn't know about it yet.

The Setup: In the year 2025, mysterious tombs start appearing all over the world. Inside each tomb is a Relic. An ancient artifact that grants its owner godlike supernatural abilities. Think weapons from mythology, powers from historical legends, abilities tied to famous figures throughout history. The Protagonist: Seo Joo-Heon [Japanese dub name: Ryoga Goriki] is an S-rank tomb raider. He's skilled, talented, but not the strongest. During a high-stakes tomb expedition, he gets betrayed by his employer and left to die inside a tomb filled with deadly relics and monsters. As he's bleeding out, a mysterious Relic activates and sends him 15 years back into the past. Before any tombs ever appeared, before anyone knew about relics, before the entire supernatural phenomenon even started. The Twist: Now Joo-Heon has ALL his future knowledge: which tombs will appear where, which relics are the most powerful, who betrayed him, who will become major players in the future. Armed with this information, he's on a mission to collect EVERY powerful relic, get his revenge on those who betrayed him, and become the Tomb Raider King. The number one tomb raider in the world.

The Surface-Level Similarities:

The Real Differences: 1. Time Travel vs. Leveling System Solo Leveling is about grinding levels through a mysterious System that guides Jin-Woo's every move. Tomb Raider King is about future knowledge and strategic planning. Joo-Heon doesn't have a System telling him what to do. He has to outthink everyone using his memories of the future. It's less RPG mechanics, more chess moves. 2. Relics vs. Skills In Solo Leveling, Jin-Woo learns skills and summons shadows. In Tomb Raider King, Joo-Heon collects ancient artifacts based on real historical figures and mythologies. Each relic has its own personality, abilities, and quirks. You've got relics tied to Egyptian gods, Norse legends, famous historical figures like Shakespeare and Napoleon, mythological weapons. It's like Indiana Jones meets Pokemon. 3. Tone: Dark Edgelord vs. Sarcastic Antihero Solo Leveling is serious, intense, and brooding. Tomb Raider King has WAY more comedy. Joo-Heon is a sarcastic, greedy, ruthless antihero who's more interested in looting everything he can get his hands on than being some noble hero. The series has a lighter, more comedic tone while still delivering intense action. 4. Historical/Mythology Worldbuilding TRK goes DEEP into real-world history and mythology. The tombs are themed around actual historical events and legendary figures. If you're into history, mythology, or cultural folklore, this series is a buffet of references and Easter eggs.

This is the big one that's confusing everyone: both series are from REDICE Studio. REDICE Studio's founder, the legendary artist DUBU, illustrated Solo Leveling's manhwa before tragically passing away in 2022. The same studio also worked on Tomb Raider King [illustrated by 3B2S, adapted by Yuns] and Solo Leveling: Ragnarok [the sequel series]. They look identical because they're from the same creative team. It's not plagiarism. It's brand consistency. It's like saying every Marvel movie looks the same because they're all from Marvel Studios.

Studio: STUDIO EEK (Korean animation studio

The trailer that dropped on January 16, 2026 looks absolutely CLEAN. The animation is smooth, the color palette is dark and atmospheric [very Solo Leveling vibes], and the action sequences are kinetic and explosive. The character designs are sharp, and you can already see the personality in Joo-Heon's expressions. That smug, calculating look of someone who knows EXACTLY how the future will play out. The Korean studio STUDIO EEK is clearly putting in work to make this feel premium. The production values look top-tier, and the fact that they got K-pop group QWER to do the opening theme with Japanese lyrics shows they're taking this seriously.

Here's why everyone's suspicious:

TRK is launching RIGHT in the gap where there's no new Solo Leveling content. And with the identical art style, similar premise, and the fact that both are from REDICE, it LOOKS like a cash grab trying to capture SL fans while they're starving for content. But here's the thing: Tomb Raider King isn't some rushed adaptation thrown together to exploit Solo Leveling's success. This has been in the works since at least 2021 [when the pilot was made]. The series is a legitimate heavyweight in Korea and Japan. The timing might be strategic, but the series has earned its place.

If you've read the Tomb Raider King manhwa [available in English via Tapas and Yen Press and y'know where you read yours manhwas 😉], you already know it's NOT a cheap knockoff. Here's what readers are saying: Pros:

Cons:

ABSOLUTELY WATCH IT IF:

SKIP IT IF:

Everyone needs to RELAX with the "fraud" accusations. First of all, the timeline proves Tomb Raider King was developed alongside Solo Leveling, not after it. Second, Solo Leveling didn't invent the "weak to strong" trope. This formula has existed since Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and literally every shounen ever made. Third, in its home market [Korea/Japan], TRK is already MASSIVE and respected. Yes, the art style is identical because they're from the same studio. Yes, the timing is perfect to capture Solo Leveling fans because that's smart business. Yes, they share similar DNA because they're both riding the same 2016 Korean web novel wave. But "similar" doesn't mean "fraud." If Tomb Raider King can deliver smooth animation, good pacing, compelling action, and translate the manhwa's charm into anime form, it'll stand on its own merits. If it's mid, then yeah, the haters will have a field day. But judging from the trailer, the production team, and the fact that the source material is SOLID, I'm cautiously optimistic. TRK has the potential to be the next big thing in 2026. Not because it's copying Solo Leveling, but because it's a legitimately good series that deserves its own spotlight.

Animation Quality: 8.5/10 [trailer looks CLEAN] Story Potential: 8/10 [time travel and relics is a solid hook] Character Appeal: 7.5/10 [sarcastic antihero MC is fun but not as iconic as Jin-Woo] Originality: 6/10 [similar to SL but different enough to stand out] Hype Factor: 9/10 [filling the Solo Leveling void in 2026] Overall Provisional Rating: 7.8/10

Tomb Raider King isn't a fraud. It's not a copycat. It's a PEER of Solo Leveling that's been here the whole time. The anime is launching at the perfect moment to capture fans who are starving for more dungeon-crawling, OP MC action. Give it a chance. Watch episode 1 when it drops in July 2026. Judge it on its own merits, not on whether it's "too similar" to Solo Leveling. If the adaptation is executed well, this could be one of the biggest anime of Summer 2026. And if you're STILL skeptical? Just remember: everyone clowned on Solo Leveling for being "generic" when it first started, and look how that turned out.

Drop your takes below. Let's keep it civil but spicy. NEXT REVIEW POLL: Should we dive into Records of Ragnarok Season 3 rumors, or do a deep dive on Solo Leveling: Ragnarok [the sequel manhwa]? Vote in the comments! Follow for more anime hot takes, controversial opinions, and reviews that actually do the research.