Top 25 Manga/ Manhwa Like Skeleton Soldier Couldn’t Protect the Dungeon [2023 Best Recommendations]

Just finished reading Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon and looking for something similar to read then you have reached the right place.

First a brief intro:

The Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon (also known as “The Skeleton Soldier Couldn’t Protect the Dungeon”) is a web novel series written by Sosori which has been adapted into a manhwa by Ant Studio.

This is not the story of Heroes who raid dungeons but the one who protects it. Meet the Skeleton Soldier, a weak, but a fiercely loyal fighter who serves to protect its master, Lady Succubus and her dungeon. But his dream of a peaceful life with her is shattered when they’re both brutally killed by a group of warriors one day.

But the heavens give him another chance. When the Skeleton Soldier opens its eyes again, he finds himself travelling back 20 years in time to the moment when he first met his master, Rubia. Despite having no special combat skills and a history of failure and defeat, he steels his determination to protect her from all the horrible things that are yet to happen and rewrite the ending to his own story.

We also have prepared a list of manhwa with over 500+ chapters, 400+ chapters, 300+ chapters and 200+ chapters.

Now let’s dig into the recommendation list:

25 Most recommended Webtoons similar to Skeleton Soldier Couldn’t Protect the Dungeon

1. Overlord

• Author and Artist: Maruyama Kugane, Miyama Fugin
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

In the final hours of the popular virtual reality game Yggdrasil, Momonga, a powerful wizard and master of the dark guild Ainz Ooal Gown, decides to stay logged in right until the servers go down but to his surprise he finds himself transported into a fantasy world in his skeleton game avatar along with all of his NPCs servants who also have come to life.

Confronted with this abnormal situation, Momonga commands his loyal servants to help him investigate and take control of this new world, with the hopes of figuring out what has caused this development and if there are any other players like him here. Momonga begins exploring the world by taking on various roles such as an adventurer, an overlord and sometimes becoming a villain himself.

The series explores the psychological effects of having almost unlimited power and being beyond the constraints of traditional morality. As Ainz navigates this new world, he grapples with the responsibilities and challenges that come with his immense power.

Now in this manga, we do have a skeleton being and a succubus but the roles are reversed. The skeleton Ainz Oall Gown is now the ruler of the dungeon and the succubus his lover. Moreover, both are fantasy stories involving magical powers and beasts.

Bonus: the series has also inspired four television anime all animated by the acclaimed Studio Madhouse so be sure to check that out too.

2. The Beginning After the End

• Author and Artist: Fuyuki23, Turtleme
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

The Beginning After the End in short known as TBATE is right now the most popular webtoon since The Solo Levelling ended. Its story begins with the mighty King Grey waking up as a newborn baby named Arthur Leywin. He realizes that someone probably assassinated him and he has reincarnated into a new family, who resides on a continent called Dicathen.

After being given a chance at a new life, Arthur decides to live his life differently than before—he was going to be loved and supported by friends and family. As the story progresses, the readers join Arthur on his journey in the new world, as he faces challenges, and gains power.

3. SSS-Class Suicide Hunter

• Author and Artist: Shin Noah, Neida and Bill K
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

The story takes place in a mysterious tower where our main character Gong-ja lives a mundane existence, envying all the top star hunters. Suddenly, he is granted a unique skill that lets him copy others’ abilities at the cost of his life.

Before he understands it well, he is killed by the No. 1 Hunter, The Flame Emperor. When he wakes up he finds himself in his room 24 hours back in time. Gong-ja uses his new ability to travel back in time by continuously killing himself when Flame Emperor was a rookie to take his revenge.

The protagonist in both stories have the ability to return back in time when they die and also copy abilities of others.

4. Re: Monster

• Author and Artist: Kanekiru Kogitsune, Kobayakawa Haruyoshi
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Re: Monster follows Tomokui Kanata who suffers an early death and is reincarnated as a goblin, a small, weak monster. However, Kanata has unique abilities that allow him to acquire the strengths and powers of whatever he consumes. As he journeys through the monster world, he meets a variety of other monsters and forms relationships with them, all while trying to understand his new identity and the world he now lives in. The series follows Kanata as he strives to become the strongest monster and achieve his ultimate goal of ruling over all other monsters.

5. Re: Zero

• Author and Artist: Nagatsuki Tappei, Fuugetsu Makoto
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Re: Zero is a massive isekai franchise created by Tappei Nagatsuki which started as a web novel in 2012 and then was adapted into a light novel series so far has inspired two television anime series by Studio White Fox, two OVA episodes, multiple manga adaptations, five video games, dozens of collaborations and multiple side-story, spin-off, and what-if novels written by Tappei himself.

The story follows Subaru Natsuki who is suddenly transported to another world on his way home from the convenience store. A mysterious silver-haired girl with a fairy cat saves him from a group of thieves and to return the favour Subaru decides to help them. However, both are attacked and killed by an assassin. Subaru then awakens in the same place he was summoned and notices he has gained the ability “Returns by Death” which allows him to return back in time whenever he dies. Using his newfound ability Subaru swears to protect Emilia from all the dangers coming her way and help with her ambition to be successfully appointed as the next queen while carrying along all the memories, pain, and sufferings inflicted on him every time he dies.

Now, what makes Re: Zero so popular is its main character Subaru himself who unlike other Isekai protagonists has no overpowering magical powers but despite that has the strongest will among all of them. He remains highly relatable throughout the course of the story as experiences a range of emotions and struggles with the same kinds of issues that many people face, such as self-doubt, loneliness, and the desire to belong.

He starts off as a fairly ordinary and unremarkable person, but as he experiences the challenges and hardships of this new world, he grows and changes. He becomes more confident and capable and learns to rely on and trust his friends. He forms meaningful relationships with the other characters in the story, and these relationships play a significant role in his character development and his motivation to keep trying and find a way to change his fate.

In both stories, the main character has the ability to return back to a certain point in past and is ready to go to any lengths to protect the one they love.

6. The Lord’s Coins Aren’t Decreasing?!/ The Lord of Coins

• Author and Artist: Mokhyen, Hong Dae Eui, Teurubereu
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

There are lots of things that make “The Lord’s Coins Aren’t Decreasing?!” my favourite regression manhwa. First, the Main character Aaron is not a Hero and is not even try to become one. In fact, he is more of an Anti-Hero and at times a straight-up villain if it benefits his cause. Moreover, it has a whole unique premise with how he obtains more power and doesn’t become overpowered in one go but slowly gains his power and the trust of his kingdom. On top of that it has a pretty strong artstyle which stays consistent overall.

Aaron Steelegard was destined for fame as the successor of the Steelegard family, who ruled over the Land of NavaPro. However, he had no talent in politics, economy, or knightship, and as a result, he loses the favour of his family, knights, and the people of his kingdom. As a last resort, he trades all of his fortune for a mystical artifact that allows him to trade items between different dimensions.

Just when he thought he could make everything right, he is assassinated by his childhood friend Kuntz. But he is brought back to his younger self thanks to an item he deemed as useless. Now armed with his past knowledge, Aaron begins to amass coins while gaining powerful abilities and climbing up the ranks of the interdimensional trading markets to exact his revenge.

7. Skeleton Knight in Another World

• Author and Artist: Hakari Enki, Sawano Akira
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Our protagonist fell asleep while playing an online game and finds himself transported to a fantasy world in his in-game avatar of a skeleton. Luckily he is transported along with his strongest weapon and armour. While he wishes to live a life of no attention, he immediately jumps in to save two women from a group of bandits. The women introduce themselves as Lauren du Luvierte, a noblewoman, and Rita Farren, her maid. The series follows Arc as he sets out on a journey to uncover the mysteries of this new world all while also trying to understand his own identity and place as a Skelton in this new world.

Both are skeleton characters and have similar settings.

8.. Trash of the Count’s Family

Author and Artist: Usonan, Wookjakga

Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Birth of a Hero is an ordinary novel where the kind protagonist, Choi Han, loses everyone he loves and falls deep into desperation. In order to get revenge, he leaves his home and heads to a nearby city where he beats up a low-life, drunken noble who was getting on his nerves, a barely relevant moment for this soon-to-be hero’s journey.

Unfortunately for Kim Roksu, he wakes up as Cale Henituse, the same drunkard noble who is destined to be beaten by Choi Han. However, Roksu has no intentions of letting the story keep its course and intends to live a peaceful life instead. Using his knowledge of the novel from his previous life and the wealth from his current one, he plans to protect himself with the help of ancient spells in case he encounters the main lead.

Cale’s wish to be free of worries for the rest of his days sounds easy on paper, but his actions might take him and the story in a completely different direction.

9. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

• Author and Artist: Fuse, Kawakami Taiki
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

 That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is currently the most popular and highest-selling isekai series in Japan which so far has inspired two television anime series, one original anime film, one spinoff anime along with multiple manga spinoffs. mobile games and more.

The series follows Mikami Satoru who is killed and reincarnates as a weak slime monster in a fantasy world. However, as a slime, he has the ability to absorb other creatures and take their abilities and characteristics. His life takes a turn when he meets the Catastrophe-level monster “Storm Dragon Veldora” who is trapped in the labyrinth and forms an agreement to absorb him.

He uses his new powers to stop the war between the goblins and the wolves and eventually becomes a leader of a group of monsters. Together, with other monsters like the Lizards, Orcs and Demons they work to build a place which they can call home and both monsters and humans can coexist peacefully.

This manga is perfect for those who are looking for a story with an overpowered protagonist, heavy politics and kingdom-building.

10. The Unwanted Undead Adventurer

• Author and Artist: Okano Yuu, Nakasone Haiji
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Rentt Faina, a twenty-five-year-old adventurer, has been hacking away at monsters for a decade. However, without much talent for the job, Rentt finds himself stuck hunting Slimes and Goblins for meagre amounts of coin every day. Little does he know, all this is about to change when he comes across a seemingly undiscovered path in the Labyrinth of the Moon’s Reflection.

What awaits him at the end of the path, however, is neither treasure nor riches, but a legendary dragon that wastes no time swallowing him whole! Waking up a short time later, Rentt finds himself not quite dead, but not very alive either— He is nothing more than a pile of bones! Armed with nothing but his trusty sword, tool belt, and ghoulish new looks, Rentt sets off on his quest as a newly reborn Skeleton to achieve Existential Evolution, hoping to one day return to civilization with a more human form.

Bonus: the series is inspiring an anime adaption which will air very soon.

11. Damn Reincarnation

• Author and Artist: Kiki, Mogma, Park Jeong yeol 
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

The warrior Hamel went on an adventure with his fellow companion comrades to defeat the Demon Kings, but dies while fighting the fourth of five Demon Kings. Years later is finds himself reincarnated as the descendant of his fellow warrior, Vermouth. Hamel — now as Eugene Lionheart is reborn with the blood of the Great Vermouth and with a body that had higher specs right from the start, he showed explosive growth that far surpassed what he had achieved in his previous life.

Along with the unknown reasons for his reincarnation came the uneasy reality of having to coexist with demons. He was faced with a world that made him question everything he had believed in. Gifted with this extraordinary body since birth, as Eugene, he begins walking down the unfinished path from his previous life and finally kill the Demon King.

12. Return of the Legendary Spear Knight

• Author and Artist: Jo Husang, joe teacher, Studio Inus
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Return of the Legendary Spear Knight follows Joshua Sanders, the legendary spearman who ended the brutal civil war and shattered the stereotype that one must wield a sword to become a master knight. He never desired the throne and only wised to serve his best friend and Lord Ceaser Von Britton.

However, he was betrayed by the comrades he trusted the most. Together with the General and Magic Master, the Emperor schemes to the kill empire’s unrivalled spear. When he is on the brink of death when his trusty weapon, Lukia, known as the ‘Death God of Battlefield’ starts shining and sends him back to the stables of his childhood. With his mighty spear in hand, Joshua starts his ultimate revenge.

13. Return of the 8th Class Magician 

• Author and Artist: Ryu Song, Tess
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

This story follows Ian Page, an archmage and the first man to break through the 6th class, then through the 7th and become the most powerful mage, an 8th-class mage. After a lifetime of war and killing Emperor Ragnar, a close friend and ruler of the Greenriver Empire, the continent was finally unified thanks to his efforts.

Now, old, his wish is to live the rest of his life in peace and try to find salvation for all the blood he spilt. However, his old friend, paranoid by Ian, couldn’t tolerate someone so powerful, so he betrays Ian and poisons him.

In his last breath, he casts a time magic that allows him to travel back to when he was a young boy. With all the knowledge he previously had, an joins an elite order of mages to hone his abilities once again. This time, he’ll get revenge on the emperor who betrayed him and reclaim glory as an 8th-class mage.

14. Archmage Transcending Through Regression

• Author and Artist: Hanbit Nuri, Hong Chang Joo, Mul Jang Gu
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Mikhail Walpurgis, the world’s only 9th-circle Archmage and his party are the only things standing between mankind’s survival and the Demon King’s Army. Siegfried, the hero and the leader of the party is the only one who has the blessing to take down the Demon King. However, he fell in the battle due to his mistakes.

Now on the brink of his death, Mikhail Walpurgis decides to use a forbidden advanced magic and unlocks the 10th-Circle but the spell tore his body apart. When he wakes up he finds himself returned back 20 years in past. Now returned, Mikhail steels his resolve to become the Hero himself to not repeat the mistakes Siegfried did.

15. 66,666 Years: Advent of the Dark Mage

• Author and Artist: Pasu, Taru
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Diablo Volpir, a powerful dark mage, was defeated and sealed away in a battle against the 12 gods. He finally wakes up from his sleep 66,666 years later, however, in the body of a newborn baby, Jamie Welton! 9 years later, with a fraction of the power he once held and with the loving family and peaceful environment he is now surrounded by, Jamie plans to exact revenge against the 12 gods that had sealed him away.

16. A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special

Author and Artist: Usonan, Wookjakga

Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Desir Arman, a magical prodigy and his party are the six remaining survivors of mankind. For the past ten years, they have been fighting inside the mysterious Shadow Labyrinth- the peak of the Shadow world. The six of them attempt to clear the final level of the Labyrinth but ultimately fail, and the world comes to an end.

Just as Desir is about to be killed, he’s sent back 13 years into the past back to the time when he enrolled at the nation’s finest magic academy, Havrion. He is reunited with his precious friends and steels his resolve as he sees an opportunity to train his friends.

17. Player Who Returned 10,000 Years Later

• Author and Artist: Butterfly Valley, Maeng JuKyung, Team 4PLAYER
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Our story begins with Oh Kangwoo who for the past 10,000 years has been fighting battles in the Nine Hells. He‘s devoured tens and hundreds of thousands of demons, even the nine kings of Baals using the power of gluttony granting him the title of the Apex Demon King. But now he is tired of it, the scenery, the slaughter and no one to make with love except the ugly-looking Lilith have made him sick of life. Using all his strength he turns back the flow of time and returns to Earth after 10,000 years and the first thing he does is save a girl from a horde of goblins and instantly asks her to marry him.

18. The Return of the Disaster-Class Hero

• Author and Artist: Sanji Jiksong, Lee, Beomgeun
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Both mangas have main characters that are incredibly strong, perhaps even the strongest people in the world at their time period. Both suffer a betrayal meant to kill them, and in both cases, the character comes back for revenge. As the stories go on we get information on how the world works and learn more about the magic system.

Out of nowhere unknown monsters called ‘Calamities’ appeared on Earth causing destruction and massacre.  To challenge these calamities, the zodiac gods chose 12 humans known as saints and blessed them with their power. However, another one awoke, the unchosen thirteenth saint, Lee Geon. Despite not being chosen as a saint by any god, he emerged as the most powerful of them all, making him a Hero.

However, while fighting the Crimson Eyes, Lee Geon is betrayed by his own allies and is left to die inside the Tower of Demons. But he continues to fight and after 20 years he emerges out of the tower stronger than ever and is ready to teach his fellow “saints” a lesson they’ll never forget.

19. Second Life Ranker

• Author and Artist: Sadoyeon, NongNong
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Second Life Ranker is a Korean webcomic that has been compared as very similar to Tower of God, and the main protagonist is very similar to Solo Leveling.

One day, Jeong-woo Cha is informed that after being missing for 5 years, his twin brother’s body had been found, and his personal effects delivered to him. Among his brother’s possessions is a broken pocket watch that displays in Jeon-woo’s mind a record of his brother’s time in The Tower, a different world with fantastic powers and opportunities, and a world where his brother was betrayed and killed by those closest to him.

Adopting the moniker of ‘Cain’, Jeong-woo Cha enters the Tower with a mask on, vowing that everybody who betrayed his brother would die by his hand.

20. The Max Level Hero has Returned

Author and Artist: Devil’s Tail, Yudo

Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Davey O’Rowane is known as the weak prince of an insignificant country. After being struck by an enemy’s arrow, his body falls into coma but his soul travels to a place where the greatest of the great heroes gather—the honourable Hall of Heroes.

For a thousand years, Davey undergoes excruciating training under the watchful eyes of multiple heroes each having their special powers and different way of training him. They finally bid him farewell and returns as the Max-Level Hero.

Now back to present at his kingdom, he begins his revenge journey against the enemies hiding in the king’s court. The prince they tried to dismiss is now their biggest threat.

21. The Swordmaster’s Youngest Son

• Author and Artist: Emperor Penguin, AZI, Lee Je-Won
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Jin Runcandel is the youngest son of the greatest Swordmaster Runcandel who was destined to become the best of all from a young age after choosing the legendary sword Barisada. and bathe in success and glory. But as fate turns out he had no talent for swordsmanship. Despite his continuous efforts he couldn’t wield it properly and was ridiculed by his siblings.

Ultimately at age 23 he was expelled from his clan and left to wander with no destination. Soon he meets his master and discovers his talent for magic, an act forbidden in his clan. During one of his magic ceremonies, he meets the god Solderet, the master of all shadows and discovers that a curse has been put on since young age making him incapable of using his sword talent.

The god Solderet proposes a contract which he accepts making him the first Magic Swordsman of his clan but he soon dies within the next moment in an attack by unknown enemies. But the gods give him a second chance as he awakens as a baby standing right in front of the magical swords.

22. I used to be a Boss

• Author and Artist: Lucks
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

Baphomet is the Evil Demon Lord who resides on the highest floor of the Tower of Abyss as its ruler. But he is bored from being trapped in the room and desires to see the world of hunters he kills every day and explore the outside world. Every time a new hunter appears, he first beats them to pulp and then asks them about various possessions they are carrying such as how a mobile phone works, how selfies are taken, music, books and diaries.

Finally one day a Hero with unmatched strength appears before him. The two have an intense battle but the Hero outmatches him and almost kills him. At his final breath, he renounces his death wish to become a human and the tower gives him the quest “Kill the Hero and you will reborn as a Human”. He collects his last strength and manages to deal a deathly blow to the Hero killing him.

Reborn as a human after becoming envious of the hunters who are always trying to kill him, Baphomet is now free to seek new forms of entertainment in the outside world.

23. Doom Breaker/ Reincarnation of the Suicidal Battle God

• Author and Artist: Blue-Deep
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

The final human, the greatest warrior on Earth, is defeated in his last stand against the Demon Lord, yet is given a second chance by the gods to go back ten years before the world’s end.

“I’ll pummel them all; the Demon Lord who took everything from me, and the gods who observed it all as entertainment!”

Zephyr is the last human fighting evil in a world abandoned by the gods. When he is killed in battle by Tartarus, the god of destruction, all hope for humanity seems lost. But Zephyr’s fate is not sealed — the gods who find his battles entertaining have gifted him a second chance at life, as he is sent ten years into the past, back to when he was a slave instead of the most powerful human alive. This is Zephyr’s journey against the world’s end and save the woman he loves.

24. The Archmage Returns After 4000 years

• Author and Artist: Nakhsan, Barnicle, KD-Dragon
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

This manhwa follows the story of a guy named Lucas Trowman. Lucas was the greatest Archmage of all time. He was the strongest. However, he was betrayed by a demigod and was left to spend his life all alone without any power. 

After 4000 years, he was reincarnated in the body of a student named Frei Blake. Frei was considered the weakest at the academy he studied. Why was he reincarnated again? Is this the work of the same Demigod? What do you guys think? 

25. The Legend of the Northern Blade

• Author and Artist: Ugak, Haemin 
• Status: Ongoing

Synopsis:

When the world was plunged into darkness by the ‘Silent Night’, Martial Artists from all over the place gathered to form the ‘Northern Heavenly Sect’. With overwhelming strength from the Northern Heavenly Sect, the Silent Night was pushed away and the people began to enjoy peace once more. However, as time passed the martial artists from the mainland began to conspire against the ‘Northern Heavenly Sect’, and eventually caused the death of the Fourth Generation Sect Leader, Jin Kwan-Ho, destroying the sect with it.

As everyone left the sect, Jin Kwan-Ho’s only son, Jin Mu-Won was left behind. Mu-Won has never learned anything about martial arts, but he eventually finds the Martial Techniques secretly left behind by his father and begins to acquire the martial arts of the Northern Heavenly Sect. Then one day, a mysterious girl appears before Mu-Won who holds the key to a big change.

Concluding Thoughts!

It seems like we’ve reached the end of the list. With a perfect main protagonist and well-written side characters and a standard plot, Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon has been an entertaining read for most of us.

You may also like:

• Manga/ Manhwa like Damn Reincarnation
• Manga/ Manhwa like Max level Hero has returned
• Manga/ Manhwa like Reformation of the Deadbeat Noble
• Manga/ Manhwa like Player Who Returned 10,000 Years Later
• Manga/ Manhwa like Return of the 8th Class Magician

So, what are your thoughts on Skeleton Soldier couldn’t Protect the Dungeon? Do you think any other manhwa should be on the list as well? If so, let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.