How to Live as a Villain

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A ruthless antihero protagonist makes for an addictively entertaining dark fantasy manhwa.

Story: 8/10
The "villain in an RPG" premise immediately sets it apart from standard fantasy manhwa. The survival game structure lends itself to intriguing schemes and betrayals. The lore and magic system are well-conceived. Pacing and stakes remain solid.

Art: 8/10
The art is polished with vibrant colors. Action flows smoothly and effects look impactful. Character designs are distinct and convey personalities well. Backgrounds are detailed.

Characters: 9/10
The cunning, pragmatic protagonist willing to betray anyone is a standout. His ruthless maneuvering to gain power makes him compellingly unpredictable. The cast covering both innocent and twisted players is strong.
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Enjoyment: 9/10
I found the protagonist's ruthless antics and the tense atmosphere of betrayal highly entertaining. This manhwa sucks you into its darkly engrossing world.

In summary, How to Live as a Villain brings an addictive edge to fantasy manhwa through a cunning antihero protagonist and survival game premise. I'd highly recommend it to fans of intense mind games and scheming characters.

We need more series with villain protagonists, but this ain't it chief. MC is supposed to be a villainous mastermind but the only reason he can get away with it is because every other character is a complete dumbass. The writing is just power fantasy wish fulfillment bullshit that gets old real quick. The dialogue is unfunny when it tries to be funny and cringe when it tries to be cool. The setting is unoriginal and practically hands everything to the MC. The antagonists are unremarkable and unmemorable. The fights are drawn out and boring with MC winning every time due to bullshit. The art ... and character designs is also boring and just mediocre. Don't waste so much time on this like I did please.

I love this series for the characters 9/10... story 9/10, art 8/10...the art really conveys the cynical nature of the mc. The mc is a great fraud...i believe he is more like if light yagami spawned in isekai and let his intrusive thoughts win and started killing as he liked... the story potrays sunghoon going on this adventure of deceit and evil while gaining compelling enemies and like minded companions. I'd say read it...dont go for the ratings.

While the first few chapters are a bit disorienting, it gets great later. All of his actions have consequences and I'd say that that mc is always true ... to his nature as a fraud even in fights, his life or any love(nothing yet) but his "acquaintances" are a bit trustworthy for him. Anyways great reeeeeead!

Brief: This is a unique manhwa which holds true to its name. This is no story of optimism or turn to a hero, mc is selfish, super goal focused, and rational. He would do whatever it takes from betrayal to good deeds.
The story progresses at a right pace and when you think mc is turning softie, he shows his true self in a very realistic way. This has everything from fights, wars, deception, and correct power scaling.


This manhwa truly lives up to its name, offering a unique and refreshing experience. It’s not your typical story of optimism or a hero’s journey. The main character ... (MC) is anything but a traditional protagonist. He is selfish, extremely goal-oriented, and highly rational. His actions are driven by his objectives, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve them, whether it involves betrayal or good deeds. This makes him a complex character, standing out from the usual heroic figures we often see in similar stories.

The pacing of the story is well-done. Just when you think the MC is softening up, the narrative pulls you back into his true nature in a very realistic way. His decisions and actions remain consistent with his character, ensuring the story feels grounded despite its fantastical elements.

In terms of art, the style perfectly complements the tone of the manhwa. The fight scenes are dynamic and visually engaging, while the character designs effectively convey the intense emotions and depth of the plot. The power scaling is also handled well, maintaining a believable progression that fits the overall world-building.

The characters, including the MC, are well-rounded. They have their own strengths and flaws, reacting to the situations they face in ways that feel authentic and natural. The MC, in particular, doesn’t fit into the stereotype of being unrealistically powerful or overly righteous. His strategic mind and willingness to do anything for his goals create a sense of tension that keeps the reader hooked.

Overall, I think many people will enjoy this series for its darker, more complex take on the typical manhwa narrative. While it might not appeal to those who prefer more optimistic or traditional hero stories, its realism, coupled with its themes of deception, war, and conflict, will resonate with those who enjoy morally complex characters and intricate storytelling.

5.8/10


From the initial six chapters that I’ve read, I’m very curious and confused on why people aren’t bashing the plot more; it feels like I had missed a chapter in between since nothing is ever explained such as: why did the mc do this, how did he determine that, why is he like this, etc. I’m fine with a classic villain story sporadically, but a story with most of the introduction and reasoning skipped is where I draw the line.

It seems the manwha is going for a setting of learning along with the main character in an unknown death game, accidentally or purposely. I’ve ... read many of these tropes with little to no information at the beginning, but they ultimately develop the setting while garnering interest and mystery. However, this does not do that. Instead, things are quickly brushed over and nothing of the world is explained except for a brief introduction of entities called “gods” mentioned one time.

To note on the main character, I find him as one of the more ridiculous things in this story. None of his motives are ever explained besides for the classic “this is the best option,”… but why? Was it decided on a whim? As a previous reader has stated, the main character is supposed to act as an antihero, but antiheroes are supposed to have ideals/worldviews that they believe in being the morally right/noble option, usually contrasting from the typical heroic hero’s. Which, you might’ve guessed by now, the mc doesn’t really have said morality since he is a psychopath to put it simply. Nor does he have any correct noble worldview/idea he believes in but rather he does whatever will benefit him, which does not classify him as an antihero. Along with being a psychopath, he is portrayed as “smart” but every scenario of his “smartness” is extremely forced.

I can see how this manwha may appeal to some, but from a logical point of view, I just can’t seem to enjoy it due to the sheer quantity of plot holes. I’m sure it gets better, but I would rather read another manwha at that point or a manga that does this exact concept but better.

PS: I can not stress this enough that I think I might’ve missed a chapter since nothing is explained. I mean, for God’s sake, they glossed over the tutorial arc! The f*cking tutorial!

Reading Rankings (Portnoy inspired & A Huang Teizan Original)
10 – God’s penmanship
9 – Must-read. Drop everything else.
8 – Instant bookmark
7 – Entertaining
6 – Good to pass time
5 – Why are you reading this?
4 – Bad.
3 – Typical garbage.
2 – My head hurts.
1 – Retirement is a thought.
0 – “Did they even give you a story?!”