When it comes to Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (or VR MMORPG) manga, and anime, one of the most popular and well-known is Sword Art Online (SAO). This manga follows Kirito's story and many other players who must reach the top of the tower and defeat the final boss to escape from the deadly game.

Not only does Sword Art Online fall into the VR MMORPG realm, but it also contains action, comedy, romance, and science fiction and fantasy elements. It even features dungeons, overly powered heroes, and high-stakes elements. In manhwa, which are similar yet different to manga, there are several amazing VR MMORPG comics that are a must-read for Sword Art Online fans.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on December 26, 2023: Sword Art Online continues to be incredibly popular, and while its placement in the genre is contested, many credit its success for the current isekai boom in anime, manga, and light novels. Conversely, manhwa (the Korean equivalent of manga) is also becoming incredibly popular, especially among manga fans. Thus, those seeking out the medium are looking for something somewhat familiar, and VR MMORPG manhwa are some of the closest things to what's popular in the manga scene.

10 The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor

The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor is an adventure, fantasy, and action manhwa from the creators Grimza, Tae-Hyung Kim, Hui-Seong Nam, and Do-gyeong Lee. Hyun Lee does as much as he possibly can to help his family, but it’s never enough.

Hyun Lee decides to play a game called Royal Road, in hopes of making money. Inside this game, he becomes a sculptor. With the help of the NPCs, Hyun Lee focuses on his craft and levels up his skills in order to save his family from poverty. This familiar yet epic premise makes it a great segue into manhwa.

9 Overgeared

From the creators Team Argo and Saenal Park, Overgeared is an epic action and adventure MMORPG manhwa. Shin Youngwoo, or Grid as he’s known, is pretty unlucky and a very low-level player in a popular game called Satisfy—that is, until Shin finds an object known as Pagma’s Successor.

As a skilled blacksmith, Shin can craft legendary weapons. He uses his abilities to gain fame and to grow richer. However, his existence and that of Pagma’s Successor cause a rift in the game and many who want Shin gone. Overgeared is a great example of a VRMMORPG manhwa that has similar vibes to the successful Sword Art Online.

8 The Gourmet Gamer

The Gourmet Gamer, from the creators In Key-Young and Studio Weiib, is a fantasy and comedy manhwa filled with food. Yi Rim’s life revolved around food. As a chef, it was everything—so, when he lost his ability to smell and taste, his life as a chef was over.

When Yi Rim discovers a game called Real, he recovers some of his taste and smell. What’s more, in this game, he can cook. Soon, Yi Rim begins a whole new life as Rice, an in-game chef and monster hunter. This VR manhwa follows a similar vibe to the recent wave of food and cooking isekai, making it a particularly delectable read.

7 Ranker’s Return (2021)

Ranker’s Return (2021) is a fantasy and action VR manhwa from the creators Bi-ram Yeong, Sanchaek Lee, and Junho Park. When the incredible VR game Arena was released, MeleeGod was the strongest ranked player up until he deleted his account and left the game.

Several years later, after his military conscription, MeleeGod rejoins the world of Arena once more. Hoping he'll be able to save his bankrupt family after they're stabbed in the back by people they trusted, MeleeGod aims to become the god he once was.

6 I’m Destined For Greatness

From the creators Geulsseuneungigye and Youn-Kyo Seo, I’m Destined For Greatness is a fantasy, comedy, and action manhwa. Taehyun Kim has an ordinary and relatively boring life in the real world. However, in-game, he thrives on challenges. The result is essentially a sort of twist on the overpowered isekai protagonist trope.

This leads Taehyun Kim to choose the hardest role of blacksmith, although he’d prefer to be unemployed. However, his natural skills and abilities kept him from becoming that. So, the game manhwa see Taehyun Kim begin his journey of becoming the best player in the game, although he becomes something quite unexpected—the God of Luck.

5 Taming Master

Taming Master, from ARC, Bing Bing Go, and Taesuk Park, is a comedy, action, and adventure manhwa. On the outside, Jinsung is just the average college student. However, in the game Kaillan, he’s an experienced and high-level archer.

Since Junsung's gotten so far in the game, everyone believes he’s acting foolish when he decides to reset his character. They don’t know that Jinsung has unlocked a hidden class where he can tame tough and ferocious monsters. However, he’s on a deadline and has two months to become the one and only taming master. This creates the perfect amount of tension in the MMORPG manhwa.

4 Mystic Musketeer

Mystic Musketeer is a fantasy, action, and adventure manhwa from the creators Geulpi, Subaek Lee, and Shaimel. Ha Yiha is a paraplegic ex-sniper who discovers the VR world of Middle Earth. In this game, he gets to experience the freedom that he once lost and make money for an expensive surgery.

When Ha Yiha’s accidentally logged out, his character becomes a musketeer—the weakest role in the game. Due to his past, he soon proves musketeer-haters wrong. However, there are more dangers lurking in the game's shadows than Ha Yiha realizes, and it’s going to take all of his skills to survive.

3 Worn & Torn Newbie

From Redice Studio, Bonui, and Stepped on a lego, Worn And Torn Newbie is a second chance action and adventure VR manhwa. Lee Eo-Jin had spent the past fifteen years playing a game known as Deus X Machina. More accurately, Eo-Jin wasted his life, money, and destroyed friendships just to play this game.

However, one morning, Lee Eo-Jin wakes up fifteen years into the past when the game just came out. With his knowledge of the game, he plans on playing again—but this time, taking everything for himself.

2 The Strongest Florist

The Strongest Florist, by the creators Kumtata and Hyeon-hu Ju, is a goofy yet funny action and adventure manhwa. Jaeho may have a fierce-looking expression and a hulking body, but deep inside, all he wants to do is become a florist. Since Jaeho's father disapproves, he's forced into becoming a skilled mixed martial artist.

To escape his father’s ideals, Jaeho loses himself in a game called New World. There, he can pursue his passion and follow his dreams without worry. This VR manhwa thus follows the route of recent "chill," relaxing manga and anime. It also breaks trends in that its protagonist is incredibly buff yet tries to avoid fighting.

1 Gourmet Gaming

Gourmet Gaming is a comedy and fantasy VR manhwa from the creators Kogae and Min-Gyu Park. Kang Minhyuk lives with a condition that leads him to eat all the time—which has now become life-threatening. Due to Kang Minhyuk's large size, his doctors suggest playing a VR game called Athenae

There, Minhyuk can eat as much as he wants with none of the side effects. As a bonus, the food actually tastes real. Inside the game, Minhyuk discovers a world of gourmet food, fantasy, and adventure waiting for him. It's an utterly ridiculous premise that makes most other VR game manwha pale in comparison.