Solo Leveling may not have a Season 3 release date yet, but fans of Sung Jinwoo are far from starved for content. Between the explosive success of the Solo Leveling anime, ongoing Solo Leveling: Ragnarok chapters, and multiple game releases—most recently Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive for PC and Xbox—there has been no shortage of Jinwoo on the horizon. But among all the new projects, one upcoming title stands above the rest: Solo Leveling: Karma, an ambitious game aiming to fix the manhwa’s most infamous flaw—the rushed ending.

Set for release in 2026, Solo Leveling: Karma tells the canonical story of Jinwoo’s unseen 27-year war against the Monarchs—a period completely skipped in both the light novel and the manhwa. This era is widely considered the biggest missed opportunity in the original story, and it has consistently been cited as the main reason the ending felt abrupt and underdeveloped. Now, for the first time, fans will finally witness what Jinwoo endured during nearly three decades of solitary battle.

And based on what Netmarble has already revealed, Solo Leveling: Karma may not just expand the lore—it may reshape how fans view the entire ending.

Solo Leveling: Karma Is Retroactively Fixing the Manhwa's Rushed Ending

The original Solo Leveling ending has long been criticized for its pacing. While some readers disliked the time reset or how Jinwoo’s actions were erased from public memory, the overwhelming majority agree that the true problem was how the ending skipped the most important part of his journey: the 27-year war he fought alone in a timeless dimension.

This period was supposed to represent Jinwoo’s greatest test—physically, emotionally, and morally. But the manhwa summarizes it in a few short panels.

The result? The ending felt abrupt, anticlimactic, and emotionally unearned.

Solo Leveling: Karma cannot rewrite canon nor undo the published ending. But what it can do—and is already doing—is fill in the massive narrative gap left by this skipped era. By fleshing out the Monarchs, showcasing Jinwoo’s evolution into an immortal being, and illustrating the emotional toll of his sacrifice, Karma is finally giving the ending the depth and weight it always deserved.

This does not change the canon—it completes it.

The 27-Year Monarchs’ War Is Finally Being Shown — And It Changes Everything

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Solo Leveling: Karma is how deeply it is diving into the mythos of the Monarchs and the Rulers. In both the light novel and manhwa, these godlike beings receive surprisingly little development despite being central to the conflict.

The newly released opening scene trailer offers the clearest indication yet that Karma is going all-in on that missing lore.

In the trailer, we see:

• Jinwoo in his child form, confirming the story takes place after he rewinds reality using the Cup of Reincarnation.
• A somber Jinwoo reflecting on major deaths, including Min Byunggyu, Go Gunhee, and his father, Sung Ilhwan.
• Brief but compelling glimpses of the Monarchs’ realms, something never explored in the original story.
• Shadow Soldiers like Beru, Igris, and Bellion getting more screen time, hinting at deeper characterization.

This focus on Jinwoo’s trauma is crucial. The war wasn’t just a battle against godlike beings—it was a lonely, isolating descent into the burdens of power. Watching him grapple with grief and responsibility in real time allows players to understand how he became the near-emotionless godlike figure seen at the end of the manhwa.

These small details alone are already enough to make Karma feel like the missing chapter fans have always wanted.

A-1 Pictures Is Involved — Meaning Karma's Additions May Become Anime Canon

Another exciting detail is that Solo Leveling: Karma is being created in collaboration with A-1 Pictures, the animation studio behind the anime. This is a massive implication: anything Karma introduces could potentially be adapted directly into the anime.

That means:

• Expanded Monarch backstories
• More Shadow Soldiers characterization
• New emotional scenes for Jinwoo
• Visualized battles from the 27-year war

…could eventually be cemented as anime canon, effectively legitimizing Karma’s additions into mainstream Solo Leveling continuity.

This is huge for fans who have long felt that the ending was incomplete or lacking emotional resolution.

Why Solo Leveling’s Original Ending Wasn’t as Bad as the Fandom Claims

While the ending’s pacing was undeniably rushed, the core story decisions weren’t objectively bad. In fact, many of them align perfectly with Jinwoo’s character arc.

1. Jinwoo’s Use of the Cup of Reincarnation Was Thematically Consistent

Sung Jinwoo has always carried his burdens alone. Resetting the timeline—erasing his sacrifices and starting from zero—was not an abandonment of responsibility. It was the ultimate expression of it. He chose a future where humanity would be safe, even if it meant losing recognition and connection.

2. The Ending Honors Jinwoo’s Selflessness

The lack of recognition is painful for fans, but narratively, it highlights Jinwoo’s quiet heroism. He never sought fame; he sought safety for his family and the world.

3. The Manhwa’s Pacing Problems Were Due to Real Circumstances

DUBU, the main artist of the manhwa, was battling a severe chronic illness during the production of the final chapters. He passed away shortly after the manhwa concluded. Many fans believe this real-world hardship contributed to the compressed pacing.

Karma is, in a sense, completing the work that DUBU was never able to finish—and that gives the project a deeply emotional significance.

Solo Leveling: Karma Could Change How Fans Perceive the Entire Story

The ending of Solo Leveling will always be divisive, but Karma has a rare opportunity: it can redeem the ending not by rewriting it, but by expanding it. By showing Jinwoo’s actual struggles, his loneliness, and the scale of the war he fought, the emotional impact of the ending becomes far stronger.

Fans may come to see the original ending not as rushed or hollow, but as the final page of a story that now feels complete. And for many readers, that is all they ever wanted.

Final Thoughts — A Second Chance for a Legendary Story

Solo Leveling: Karma is shaping up to be one of the most important expansions the franchise has ever received. By finally revealing the 27-year Monarchs’ War, deepening the lore, and giving fans long-awaited emotional context, it is poised to fix the manhwa’s most infamous flaw.

More importantly, it honors both Sung Jinwoo’s character arc and the legacy of DUBU, whose artwork brought the story to life.

Solo Leveling: Karma releases in 2026 for PC and mobile devices, and if the trailers are any indication, it may change the Solo Leveling fandom’s perspective forever.