There are many villainess manhwas out there, and I have to admit that I love this premise, even though it is VERY overused by now. Most of the time, someone reincarnates into the body of the villainess and completely changes her ways, turning into a saint, or at least a “good girl.” Even in stories where the heroine simply goes back in time, she often leaves her villainous side behind. I enjoy a good redemption arc, but it is also nice to have a change of pace. With these villainess manhwa recommendations, you can read about an actual villainess, or at least a scheming and manipulative female lead. This list is ordered by “villainessness” of the FL.
I fell into a Reverse Harem Game!
- Release year: 2020 – Platform: Tapas
Summary: The start of I Fell into a Reverse Harem Game! is pretty iconic. The FL wakes up in a strange bed with two lovers beside her. She turns out to be the imperial princess, the villainess of the story, of course, and she can basically do whatever she wants. The interesting twist is that she is inside a game but not the player. The real player is Arielle, the main character, who is trying to take her down. And that is where the manipulation game truly begins.
Is the FL truly a villainess?
After the reincarnation, the FL is not as cruel as the original princess, but she still barks orders like “kneel” or “leave” and manipulates the people around her to reach her goals. She can be quite ruthless in the beginning, yet she fully embraces her role as the master of all those love interests – and some want to be dominated.
You should read if you:
- don’t mind reading a harem in the truest sense. She is intimate with multiple love interests, so there is no single, clear ML. There are also R19 chapters along the way
- want an interesting twist on the usual otome game setup. She doesn’t get to choose the options herself but can see what the player is selecting
- aren’t in the mood for a wholesome manhwa, because I Fell into a Reverse Harem Game! is full of angst.
The Villainess’s Maker
- Release year: 2021 – Platform: Tapytoon
Summary: Do you like tension? Then this Manhwa is for you. This story is also not your typical Romance Isekai. Although our female protagonist tries to change the story, the world she lives in doesn’t let her until she acts like a villainess. In order to accomplish that she makes a deal with the mysterious warlord Killian. Although it definitely starts off stronger than it finishes, it’s still an enjoyable read.
What makes her a true villainess?
The twist in The Villainess Maker is that the FL is forced to play the villainess. She can’t just act freely and has to stick to the script. With Killian’s help, the story gradually starts to shift, but she remains bound by those restrictions for quite a while.
You should read this if you:
- prefer a female lead who struggles at first but grows stronger over time
- love a main couple with a butler-master dynamic
- don’t mind when the male lead is pretty pushy (but also very protective)
Beware the Villainess
- Release year: 2020 – Platform: Tapas
Summary: Melissa is a fun and ruthless FL. Her attitude is summed up perfectly in the official summary: “Antiquated society, be damned! All idiots, prepare to step aside or perish!” She doesn’t care about sticking to the original story and even actively tries to change it, handing out beatings left and right. It is entertaining to watch, but the romance feels squeezed into the final chapters and isn’t satisfying.
What makes her a cunning villainess?
Melissa doesn’t care what any of the male leads think and actively tries to sabotage them. Her main goal is to protect Yuri from her love interests, and she pursues that mission with ruthless determination and plenty of violence.
You should read if you:
- like seeing friends and morals being valued more than Romance (there is Romance, although it starts later)
- need some new Manhwa Memes
- love it when the female lead is badass (physically and mentally)
The Villainess turns the hourglass
- Release year: 2020 – Platform: Tappytoon
Summary: This story is about Aria and her revenge on her “gentle” stepsister Mielle. In her past Aria was a spoiled daugther that enjoyed spending money. Because of her villainous behaviour she gets executed and Mielle reveals that she was behind building the bad repuation for her that led to her execution (a bit far fetched if you ask me, but okay). Just after her beheading she gets transported back in time along with a curios hourglass. With this she can turn back time bit by bit, which is an interesting gimmick not many romance manhwa have. The villainess turns the hourglass is a classic villainess revenge story, and was one of the first like that to come out.
Why is this on the Villainous Manhwa list?
Aria cares about nothing but her revenge. She constantly measures people by how useful they are to her, (poor Sarah)and is always looking for ways to manipulate situations to her advantage. The only person who can truly fluster her is the crown prince. She gets easily irritated, loses her composure more than once, and definitely makes mistakes along the way, but overall she remains a genuinely cunning villainess.
You should read if you:
- live for the revenge plot (Mielle is pretty cunning)
- love it when the female lead has a special trick/skill up her sleeve (the Hourglass)
- like to see the antagonist(s) suffer – not torture but humiliation
The Villainess lives again
- Release year: 2020 – Platform: Tappytoon
Summary: Artezia Rosan was raised to live for her brother. With schemes and ruthless planning, she helped him claim the throne, only to be thrown away once he no longer needed her. She ends up in prison, taking the blame for every dirty move he made – which her family planned to do since the beginning. When Grand Duke Cedric rescues her, she uses forbidden magic to bring down the cruel emperor, expecting to die in the process. Instead, she wakes up years in the past.
Why is this on this list?
Calling this fluffy, gentle blonde a “villainess” might seem far-fetched, but hear me out. She is not only a genius and a ruthless schemer, she is also absolutely badass. To go back in time, she bites her severed tongue and draws a magic circle with her own blood, fully prepared to sacrifice herself. Instead, she ends up returning to the past and uses that second chance to keep scheming, this time for a good cause. She is still merciless toward her enemies, which is exactly why she deserves a spot on this list.
You should read if you:
- like a very calm and collected female lead
- love to read about a shy but capable male lead
- don’t mind when romance isn’t the main focus. Read this for the scheming, not the relationship
Your Eternal lies
- Release year: 2021 – Platform: Manta
Summary: This might be the most interesting premise I have read in a while. Rosen Walker has a reputation as the most infamous prison escapee in history, and after breaking out twice, she is being sent to a maximum security prison on an isolated island. The entire story kicks off on the transport ship, where her path crosses with Ian Connor, a celebrated war hero and, unfortunately for her, the man in charge of guarding her.
Why is she a true villainess?
She isn’t a villainess in the usual otome isekai sense, but a true villainess, which is why I included her on this list. She is rumored to have killed her husband, and it is fascinating to watch her lie and manipulate her way through the story.
You should read if you:
- want to feel all the feels, because in this story there isn’t really a clear right or wrong
- want to escape the usual royalty manhwa loop
- love a story with NO second male lead, honestly, such a breath of fresh air
Your Throne
- Release year: 2021 – Platform: Webtoon
Summary: Your Throne is basically a story about two women who were both screwed over by the crown prince. It starts with one of them trying to take revenge on the other, but once they realize they have the same enemy, the story really takes off.
What makes her a true villainess?
In the first chapter, Medea kills multiple people without batting an eye and thinks of nothing but her revenge. Even after swapping bodies with her archnemesis, she doesn’t suddenly start behaving nicely. She still focuses solely on her goal.
You should read if you:
- really love a revenge story, because Medea lives for nothing but that
- don’t mind that the story gets dragged out. There are many background stories for different characters, which is interesting, but Your Throne has become a real commitment with 240+ episodes
- aren’t in it for the romance. There is some romance, but the chemistry isn’t really there. Read Your Throne for revenge, politics, and scheming, not for love
The Hand That Once Fed
- Release year: 2024 – Platform: Tapas
Summary: If you are looking for the classical villainess in Otome Isekai Novel, this one isn’t for you. But if you want to torture yourself The Hand That Once Fed is perfect. Evelyn Winter seems to be a coldhearted villainess at first glance. She even chased out her former lover and servant now Colonel Gilath Black. After years he comes back to take revenge.
What makes her a villainess?
Evelyn is crazy and ruthless. She insults people, throws hot tea in their faces, grabs throats, and more. It is later revealed that she has her reasons, but still. She isn’t a villainess trapped in a novel, just a genuinely villainous character within the story. She still deserves the top spot.
You should read if you:
- don’t mind when the main characters are extremely toxic with each other, with constant physical and verbal abuse. BUT it is still a romance story with grey characters who actually do terrible things, which is pretty rare
- Like reading a lovers to enemies to lovers (? – not yet sure about the outcome) – story
- Don’t mind a very tragic story with a lot of triggers. Tapas says graphic and domestic violence but the FL is so traumatized so I think season 2 will be even worse.
Honorable Mention: Roxana
- Release year: 2021 – Platform: Tapas
Summary: I know having Roxana in any recommendations list is probably cruel, but although Roxana has been on hiatus for so long it seems to still not be discontinued.
The story follows Roxana Agriche, who isn’t the main villainess of a 19+ reverse harem novel but part of a truly psychotic family of assassins, the Agriches. Because she has reincarnated, she knows exactly how the plot unfolds. After the death of Cassis Pedelian, the heroine Sylvia will go on a rampage, and Roxana herself is destined to be killed. That’s why she tries to protect Cassis when her family kidnaps him, all while pretending to torture him so her father doesn’t grow suspicious.
Why is this on the Villainous Manhwa list?
Trying to survive in her rotten family has made Roxana quite violent herself. She doesn’t flinch at the sight of blood and carries out her father’s orders without hesitation. She is often irritated by her siblings and punishes them when necessary. True to Agriche tradition, she has developed a special skill, poisonous butterflies that devour anything in seconds on her command. Even though she finds some comfort in her interactions with Cassis, her main goal remains simple: survival. A true villainess.
You should read if you:
- like reading about romance that unfolds in truly horrible circumstances
- enjoy a romance manhwa with absolutely stunning, almost godlike art
- don’t mind moderate gore and don’t mind never getting closure because this story could never be finished. Be aware of that before you start reading
Thanks for the list. I’ve read all of them. I might add a “The one within the villainess” great read.
Do you have any others?