Is The Advanced Player of the Tutorial Tower Worth Reading? Review & Where to Read
Quick Answer
Yes, if you like overpowered-hero power fantasies and want a fast, satisfying scroll. It does the OP-loner thing well and reads quick. But it's formulaic and the stakes are thin, so skip it if you've burned out on gate-and-tower webtoons.
Quick Verdict
“Nails the overpowered-hero payoff and not much else — easy, breezy tower-climbing fun for when you just want to watch a guy stomp everything.”
Best for: Readers who love overpowered-hero power fantasies and want a fast, satisfying scroll.
Not for: Readers who want real tension, surprises, and depth rather than pure wish-fulfillment.
- Type
- Webtoon
- Genres
- Fantasy, Action
- Status
- Ongoing
- This review
- Minor Spoilers
- Author
- Hwang Ju-yeong (based on the novel by Bangguseok Gimssi)
- Artist
- Omagam
- Publisher
- WEBTOON
- Platform
- WEBTOON
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Format | Webtoon, 223 chapters |
| Run | 2020–2024 · ongoing |
| Community score | AniList 6.8 · MangaUpdates 6.7 |
| Content | Violence |
| Where to read | WEBTOON — official |
Overview
The Advanced Player of the Tutorial Tower is an action webtoon adapted from a Korean web novel (the original title roughly means "the old-timer of the tutorial tower"). The hook is simple and fun: in a world full of monster gates, most people clear the beginner "tutorial tower" in a short time. Our guy, Hyunwoo Seo, got stuck in it for about ten years. Instead of breaking him, all that time turned him into a monster. By the time he finally walks out, he's absurdly overpowered compared to everyone in the real world. The appeal is watching someone who over-trained in the starting zone casually wreck challenges that terrify everyone else.
What it does well
The overpowered-hero payoff is the entire point, and it delivers. Hyunwoo is calm, competent, and way stronger than he has any right to be, and the series leans into how satisfying that gap is. Every time a room full of experienced hunters panics and he just handles it, you get the exact hit this genre promises.
The art helps a lot. It's clean, full color, and built for the vertical scroll — fights have a good sense of impact and are easy to follow as you swipe. Nothing is muddy or hard to read, which matters in a series that's mostly action.
It also moves fast. Episodes are short, fights resolve quickly, and the story doesn't drown you in long talky arcs or endless setup. That makes it a great binge or a low-effort weekly read. There's a light comedic streak too — the "grizzled veteran of the beginner zone" gimmick keeps the tone from getting too self-serious, and a few moments are genuinely funny.
Where it falls short
The big issue is that it's formulaic. If you've read Solo Leveling, Return to Player, or SSS-Class Revival Hunter, you already know the beats: gates, hunter rankings, an OP loner, and weaker side characters who exist mostly to gawk at him. This one does the formula well, but it doesn't add much new to it.
Tension is the other problem. Because the hero is so far ahead of everyone, fights rarely feel like he could actually lose, so the stakes stay low. And the cast is thin — it's carried by the power fantasy, not by deep characters or relationships. If you need real risk or people to care about, this won't scratch that itch.
Verdict
The Advanced Player of the Tutorial Tower is a fun, easy power fantasy that does the overpowered-hero thing well without trying to reinvent the wheel. If you like the genre and just want more of it — quick fights, a strong lead, clean art — it's an easy recommendation. If you're tired of tower-and-gate webtoons, or you want real stakes and a cast you'll remember, this isn't the one to convert you.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- The overpowered-hero payoff is the whole point and it lands — watching a guy who over-trained in the beginner zone casually crush stuff that scares everyone else is satisfying.
- Clean full-color art and clear, fast-moving action that reads well in the vertical-scroll format.
- It's quick — episodes are short, fights resolve, and it never bogs down, so it's easy to binge.
- A light comedic streak keeps the tone from getting too self-serious.
Weaknesses
- It's formulaic — if you've read other gate-and-tower power fantasies, you already know most of the beats.
- Stakes are thin: the hero is so strong that fights rarely feel like he could actually lose.
- The side characters are mostly there to react to how strong he is, so don't expect a deep cast.
Similar Titles
The gold standard for the overpowered-hunter power fantasy, with more atmosphere.
Same modern gates-and-rankings world with an OP lead who's ahead of everyone.
Another OP Korean action webtoon, with a sharper comedic streak.
Where to Read Officially
| Platform | Format | Pricing | Region notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEBTOON | Digital chapters | Free + Paid | Region availability varies | Open |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it like Solo Leveling?
Same family — modern world, monster gates, an overpowered loner hero. It's lighter and more of a straight power fantasy, with less of the horror atmosphere.
Is it finished?
No, it's ongoing on WEBTOON with new episodes still releasing. You can read it in English officially there.
Do I need to read the novel first?
No. The webtoon stands on its own — the novel is just the original source it's adapted from.
