I guess if you’re searching for romance manhwa with yandere male leads, you already know what a yandere is. In my book, a yandere is more than just an “obsessive” male lead, because that would cover about 70 percent of them – at least in the romance genre with female × male pairings. In this list, you’ll find straight-up psychos who need therapy ASAP. Red flags, red flags everywhere.
This list has a Yandere-Level so you can better choose what you are in the mood for:
- Yandere-Level 1000: 100 % Yandere – a straight-up killer, toxic psycho, and someone who manipulates the FL.
- Yandere-Level 500: Obsesses over the FL and kills for her, but doesn’t directly put her in harmful situations.
- Yandere-Level 100: Shows yandere tendencies but isn’t a true yandere – just overly obsessed.
The king of all Yandere male leads: Trapped
Summary: At church, Chae-a Han and Yunsu Park appear to be flawless angels, but the truth is far from holy. Chae-a is an ex-convict with a sharp tongue, while Yunsu hides an even darker secret: he’s a vampire. Their paths collide when Yunsu blackmails Chae-a over a murder she didn’t commit, leaving her desperate for a way out. But just when it seems she’s cornered, Chae-a manages to turn the tables and gain control over Yunsu’s life. What follows is a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, where each move pulls them deeper into a twisted bond neither of them can escape.
Yandere-Level: 1000; He is extremely crazy, but they are a match made in heaven because the female lead is equally rough.
Check it out if you:
- like the enemies-to-lovers trope
- don’t mind a very slow burn romance
- love reading a story with good tension between the protagonists
A lying and manipulative ML: Betrayal of Dignity
Summary: To prevent her family’s downfall, Chloe Verdier needs to secure a husband for her sister, Alice. She encounters the attractive yet arrogant Duke Thisse, who offers a solution. However, when Alice elopes with a suitor, Chloe is forced to take a significant risk by approaching the Duke for help. If you are searching for a wholesome romance manhwa please don’t pick this up and run as far as you can. If you are willing to give this story a chance you are in for a treat. The pacing and storytelling are great and the art is absolutely gorgeous. It’s available on Manta.
Yandere-Level 900; Duke Thisse is the biggest red flag ever. He’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants – even if it means manipulating the FL and making her suffer. But don’t worry, he gets his fair share of suffering too (though in my opinion, it could have lasted longer).
Check it out if you:
- love a story with a lot of angst where the FL is suffering a lot
- want to read a historical Romance Manhwa with a really strong and unique FL. She has a limp and is sophisticated and headstrong
- don’t mind when their first really intimate and love-dovey scenes are based on lies basically
The Diamond in the rough: 340 Days
Summary: Lin is a Shut, fated to devote her entire love to just one person, while Dosung is a Destroy, forced to conceal his violent impulses. In their world, genetic and psychological traits define who you are. When Dosung cruelly rejects Lin, a series of gruesome murders puts both their lives in danger. In a community riddled with secrets, Lin must somehow find a way to reach Dosung’s heart.
Yandere-Level 900; The ML is a first-class Yandere. He is crazy, obsessive and manipulative. His toxicness seems to get worse along the way.
Check it out if you:
- like when the FL loves the ML unconditionally
- don’t prioritize art. If you do, you probably won’t like this story
- don’t mind some pretty toxic episodes with heavy topics. But you are searching for yandere MLS so who am I kidding.
Co-dependency in Dreaming Freedom
Summary: In high school, Jeongmin lives as a loner, constantly bullied by Juhyeon, the Queen Bee. The two were once friends in elementary school, but their friendship ended when Juhyeon demanded Jeongmin only befriend her. Holding onto this “betrayal,” Juhyeon now uses it to rally classmates against Jeongmin, deepening her isolation. Jeongmin’s only escape is the world of lucid dreams. But during one of these dreams, a mysterious man appears – offering to help her take revenge on Juhyeon.
Yandere-Level 800; This guy is the perfect yandere because he is actually nice to the female lead and tries not be too possessive. But the killing instinct is there.
Check it out if you:
- are prepared for a very rough start with lots of bullying
- love a unique story – they meet each other in FL’s dreams
- like it if both have mental issues that are written pretty well
Yandere Male Lead that goes crazy: I Hold The Tyrant’s Heart
Summary: Reborn into a noble family with elven heritage, Eucenielle struggles to reconcile her past life with the new world. Matters become more complicated when Tes, the once tearful crown prince, falls deeply in love with her. As they grow older, Eucenielle is unsettled by Tes’ drastic change in demeanor and appearance – a shift unnoticed by others. Despite suspecting that he may be using questionable means to win her over, she can’t help but feel drawn to him.
Yandere-Level 700; he is fierce toward everyone except the ML and even went so far as to change his appearance just for her.
Check it out if you:
- like when the main couple are childhood friends
- love when the ML cries a lot around the FL
- like it when the FL has a supportive family for a change
The Villain’s Savior with a male yandere that is very intense
Summary: Marked for a life of tragedy and fated to die as a villain, Aseph Randell’s end seems inevitable – until Elzay Tiathe steps into his life with the words, “I can save you.” Haunted by vivid visions of Aseph, Elzay takes on the challenge of changing his grim destiny. But can she truly unravel the complex fate that binds him, or are they destined to fall together?
Yandere-Level: 700, this guy is crazy – at one point he tried to stab himself – but he gets a lot of character development, so he gets only a 700.
Check it out if you:
- don’t mind when the FL cries all the time – and I mean all the time
- like reading an Otome Iskekai with an actual villain as the ML
- love it when the ML has a very sad backstory
I Failed to Oust the Villain
Summary: Lady Valeta is reborn as the daughter of a count in a novel she once read, knowing her fate ends in tragedy at the hands of her “house pet”, Reinhart. When his magic awakens, Reinhart slaughters those around her, leaving Valeta at his mercy. Yet despite the shift in power, his twisted attachment keeps her alive – though never free.
Yandere-Level 1000: If a yandere ML is your top priority, you’ll love I Failed to Oust the Villain. The male lead is absolutely crazy for the FL – but he does get some character development. And it’s not just him: even a few side characters show yandere tendencies.
Check it out if you:
- like it when the Yandere actually has character development and the relationship becomes less toxic over time.
- love it when a Manwha has spicy side stories.
- don’t mind when the female lead gets dragged around CONSTANTLY.
The Elegant Sea of Savagery
Summary: Irina Nordiak, the daughter of a once-noble family drowning in debt, dreams of nothing more than marrying her longtime love, Ludwig Fontern. But with her financial situation holding her back, that dream feels impossible. Out of options, she turns to her former classmate Ileanor Schuberg, now a wealthy lord. To the outside world he’s cold and ruthless, but with Irina he shows a different side – hopelessly devoted to her, even while resenting her feelings for Ludwig. Ileanor agrees to pay off her family’s debt in exchange for her servitude, but deep down he has no intention of ever letting her go.
Yandere-Level: He starts at a 600 and gets less and less Yandere – although he keeps his possessiveness. In the beginning, he is manipulative and a full blown stalker, but never violent. But this one is definitely not a light read.
Check it out if you:
- don’t mind when the FL has another lover first – and for quite many chapters. He is also very pitiful and they did him dirty in the story
- don’t mind when the dynamic of the main couple isn’t the best. The chemistry could be better
- like it when the female lead stays positive and headstrong through all obstacles
How to Survive as a Maid in a Horror Game
Summary: “Pflatzgraff Manor’s Killer,” the latest horror creation by A-coms, boasts impressive graphics but has gained notoriety among its gaming community for its high difficulty level. Players step into the shoes of Adrian, a charming individual who embodies the devil reborn. The game’s central mission is to execute numerous killings, a task compelled by the infamous Lilith’s Curse. Following an exhaustive gaming marathon, you unexpectedly find yourself in the role of Hilda, a maid serving Adrian, transitioning from player to character in the game’s universe.
Yandere-Level: 600; This guy literally is the devil, although he looks harmless. But in his defense: He is cursed and has to kill all those people in order to safe his own life and he gets sweeter and sweeter.
Check it out if you:
- don’t mind murder and blood – obviously
- love that the narrative is actually pretty funny despite the theme
- like to escape the Otome-Isekai loop – but don’t want to stray too far.
Not quite yandere but many psycho love interests: Villains Are Destined to Die
Summary: After playing an otome game the female lead got warped into the game itself and has to live as the villainess Penelope Eckhart. The problem is: the game is on hard mode. So she is afraid to die from every little mistake she makes. Her only indication of how she is doing is the affection bar on top of the male love interests.
Yandere-Level: 100 or even less, our male lead is possessive but not brutal, which can’t be said of the other male love interests, that’s why Villains Are Destined to Die is on this list.
Check it out:
- love to read a Manhwa with really gorgeous art
- like it when you don’t really know who the male lead is in the beginning
- love some unexpected plot twists in a story
And if you had enough of Yandere Male Leads, I’d recommend you look for recommendations on this list: Best Green Flag MLs in Manhwa.
