Solo Leveling: KARMA gameplay

"Choose, and Move Forward"

Solo Leveling: KARMA is an isometric roguelite action RPG where each run changes with the buffs and weapons you pick. Netmarble chose the format so that all Solo Leveling fans can pick it up regardless of skill; its slogan, "Choose, and Move Forward," describes that loop.

Verified 2026-10-03 · 8 sources · Image © Solo Leveling Animation Partners © Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble Neo Inc. — official Solo Leveling: KARMA site · source ↗

활Bows
© Netmarble · official site ↗
단검Daggers
© Netmarble · official site ↗
건틀릿Gauntlets
© Netmarble · official site ↗
대검Broadsword
© Netmarble · official site ↗

Runs and stages

A run is structured as a numbered sequence of stages — Korean gameplay footage showed a counter reading "Stage N / 18," with sub-objective counters and some stages carrying a countdown timer. Weapons are selected before a run begins, and buffs are chosen as the run progresses.

Two buff categories

Producer Jin Sung-gun described exactly two sources of in-run buffs: buffs tied to the specific weapon Sung Jinwoo is using, and Monarch's Authority buffs drawn from one of five named Monarchs (Frost, Steel, Beginning, White Flames, Fangs). Around 200 buff types existed in the TGS 2026 demo build alone — see Blessings and Authority.

Weapons

Five weapon types are confirmed for launch: daggers, greatswords, handguns, bows and gauntlets. Each offers a distinct play pattern, and Sung Jinwoo can switch between them. Korean footage showed named in-fiction weapons within each type — e.g. "Moon Shadow" daggers and an "Orc" broadsword. See Weapons.

Playable Shadows

For the first time in the franchise, some Shadows are directly playable rather than summon-only — Netmarble calls this the highlight of KARMA. Summoning a Shadow at the right moment during a boss fight counters and cancels the boss's powerful attack, and can chain into a combined strike alongside Sung Jinwoo. See Shadows.

The Recording System

Players can save strong Blessing builds assembled during a run for later use in endgame Challenge Dungeons, which support asynchronous competition such as clear-time rankings. Full rules for how many builds can be saved, or what restrictions apply, are unpublished.

Challenge Dungeon structureNot announced yet

Recording System limitsNot announced yet

Game modes

Story ModeConfirmed to exist

Survival ModeNot announced yet

Live service

Netmarble describes KARMA as a live-service title with periodic additions of action elements, builds and content after launch. It is single-player-focused at launch, with multiplayer elements considered afterward.