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Solo LevelingandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endare two of the biggest anime of modern times. While both shows are different, many anime fans can’t help but compare these two titles, especially afterSolo Levelingwon Crunchyroll’s 2025 Anime of the Year award over Frieren. It was a major upset for Frieren fans, butSolo Levelingfans are convinced that their beloved series has the advantage, especially when it comes to the long run.
WhileSolo Levelingfocuses onSung Jin-Woo’s climb from zero to godhood,Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endcenters around an elven mage and her slow-burning story of loss, legacy, healing, and time. Both are popular and successful, but if anime fans are to be asked which one will age better,Solo Levelingmight be the easiest answer, especially if the entirety of Sung Jin-Woo’s story is completely animated.
The Major Difference Between Solo Leveling and Frieren
Two Fantasy Worlds, Two Very Different Journeys
Solo LevelingandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endare household names in the fantasy genre. While both shows incorporate classic and modern fantasy elements, their main characters and their stories are far different from each other.
Solo Levelingtells the story ofSung Jin-Woo, a feeble hunterwho gains the ability to level up like a video game character in a world infested with magical beasts and higher beings at war, whileFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endtells the story of an elven mage named Frieren and her journey after they defeated the Demon King.
While Solo Leveling’s main theme is about power progression, strength, and survival, Frieren leans more on emotional growth with a slow and thoughtful pacing.
Solo Leveling Has a Simpler and More Familiar Plot
Solo Leveling Is Easier to Understand Than Frieren
Sung Jin-Woo’s story inSolo Levelinghas a more familiar formula that’s easier to follow and understand thanFrieren. It lacks deep or complex layers that are difficult to interpret and decode since it’s all aboutJin-Woo gaining more power, facing more danger, and ultimately becoming the strongest character in video game fashion.
It’s almost as if Solo Leveling creator Chugong intentionally designed the series to be fun and straightforward, so much so that it doesn’t ask its audience to think too hard about what’s going to happen to Jin-Woo and the rest of the characters next. In short, the story is simple and predictable.
On the contrary,Frierenhas deeper and more complicated layers, which fans might find difficult to get into. The story is not just about fighting powerful enemies and winning crucial battles but about the characters' dialogues, conversations, memories, and flashbacks from one episode to another. There are no flashy battles in which the fate of the world is at stake, unlike inSolo Leveling.
Solo Leveling Is Easier to Recommend to New Fans
Frieren Is More Complicated to Explain
Since Solo Leveling’s plot is easier to understand, it is also easier to recommend to anime fans, especially those who are just getting into the hobby. With a memorable andiconic main character like Jin-Woo, who’s oozing with charisma, especially after his drastic transformation from zero to hero, in addition to his redemption story, Solo Leveling has all the qualities and ingredients needed to become an instant favorite.
On top of that,Solo Levelingis more explosive, as there’s so much going on in Jin-Woo’s journey from day one. From thegiant statues in the Cartenon Templeto the existence of the shadow army, new fans will have no downtime when it comes to cool and intense anime moments. Besides, most fans love watching a weak anime hero become an overpowered character in the long run.
Solo Leveling Is More Rewatchable
Fans Might Find Solo Leveling More Fun to Rewatch
BecauseFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis more emotional and personal, watching it for the second time around might not hit harder than the first time. Fans may not have the time and patience to restart Frieren’s journey from the very beginning, since the anime truly takes its time to develop the story. While the anime is just as beautiful, it might not be just as fun and exciting anymore.
“Weakness is not something to brag about."—Sung Jin-Woo
On the flip side,Solo Leveling is full of Jin-Woo’s crucial battlesand power-up scenes that anime fans would love to revisit over and over again. From Jin-Woo’s first encounter with the giant statues and gaining his first shadow servant to fighting Beru on Jeju Island, Solo Leveling is packed with exciting moments that are easy to binge-watch.
And speaking of binge-watching, now is the perfect time to rewatchSolo Levelingfrom episodes 1 to 25, since season 3 is not yet confirmed. However, it’s also recommended to watch all episodes of Frieren as early as now, as season 2 might drop sooner than expected.
