Solo Levelinghas risen to the top in the anime medium, steadily gaining recognition for series based on light novels that don’t originate from Japan. However, now thatSolo Leveling Season 3release date is yet to be confirmed, one of the best light novels from China,The Lord of Mysteries, has everything to follow up Jinwoo’s hype train and become anime fans' next obsession. However, ahead of its release,The Lord of Mysterieshas a glaring problem that may avoid surpassingSolo Levelingto become a reality.
Lord of the Mysteriesfollows the story of Zhou Mingrui, who transmigrates into the body of Klein Moretti, who lives in an alternative Victorian world, becoming involved with mysterious organizations and discovering supernatural mystic powers. While the premise may not sound as exciting, Lord of the Mysteries' biggest charm is its dark and dangerous atmosphere, complex characters, and mind-blowing plot twists, becoming better as the story progresses. Yet, even thoughevery sign points toThe Lord of Mysterieshaving the potentialto become an even bigger hit thanSolo Leveling,there is currently a key obstacle preventing this from happening.
The Lord of Mysteries May Surpass Any Anime in 2025, With Conditions
Accessibility Stands in the Way of The Lord of Mysteries
The Lord of Mysteriesis ahighly regarded isekai web novel whose animated adaptation has been anticipated as one of the most promising series for Summer 2025, having captivated international readers by introducing one of the best-written protagonists and power systems in fiction. While this gives the potential for the Donghua adaptation to skyrocket and the series to earn more recognition across the world,the only thingholdingThe Lord of Mysteriesback from greatness is not related to its quality story or animation, which has already been teased as being top-notch, but its accessibility.
DespiteThe Lord of Mysteries' adaptation having great marketing to promote the series,it has yet to announce a simulcast license by a global streaming service such as Crunchyroll or Netflix. So far,Lord of Mysterieshas only been confirmed for release on the Tencent platform, which is known to exclusively target Chinese audiences, unlike others such as BiliBili, which also appeals to international viewers. This lack of accessibility may causeLord of Mysteriesto fall under the radar of Western fans.
The Lord of Mysteries Needs To Follow the Path of Donghuas like To Be Hero X
The Lord of Mysteries Reception Will Play a Major Role in the Future of the Franchise
Furthermore, unlike popular donghuas likeLink ClickorTo Be Hero X,it’s still unknown whetherLord of the Mysterieswill be available with English and Japanese dubbing.There wasa mistranslation of a commentaddressing the possibility of an English dub version byLord of Mysteries' author, Cuttlefish, with many fans misunderstanding there would be several dubs when the author was referring to subtitles.
However, there’s also the possibility of a dub arriving later forThe Lord of Mysteries,since recently the donghuaAll-Devouring Whale: Homecoming,which has become popular forits resemblance toPokémon, has confirmed a Japanese dub release for July, two months after its premiere. Because of this, even ifLord of Mysteriesisn’t available right away,the fan reception could guarantee the series to be internationally licensed later on, as often happens with some anime.
The Lord of Mysteries Is More Than a Replacement for Solo Leveling
The Lord of Mysteries Excels In Everything that Viewers Criticized About Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling’s popularity is undeniable, and while its intense fighting scenes, cool protagonist, and stunning animation contributed to its success, it was also criticized for flaws like its lack of a substantial role for supporting characters and world-building. As a result, givenLord of Mysteries’light novel has delivered in terms of a complex story and great character interactions, in addition to its superior animation seen in the trailers with dynamic fights and gorgeous scenery, the series has already piqued viewers' interest even before its release.
Despite being contrasting stories,Lord of Mysteriesshares some of the best aspects ofSolo Leveling,like itsprotagonist who slowly ascends to godly powers, morally questionable characters, as well as stunning visual fights, high-quality direction, and a story that goes better with time. Yet,Lord of Mysteriesgoes a step further with the unique aesthetic of the Victorian period, like architecture and clothing, a mystic atmosphere filled with horrors, and a dark tone and mysteries that will blow away viewers.
Nevertheless, althoughLord of Mysterieshas a slow start more focused on building its world, there’s no doubt that once it picks up its pace,it quickly evolves into an unforgettable experience like nothing that viewers have seen so far.The Lord of Mysteriesis already revolutionizing animation, and if it becomes available to stream by international viewers, it may have effectively sealed the deal for many fans already as the best-animated series of 2025 overSolo Leveling Season 2.
Lord of Mysteries
Cast
Lord of Mysteries, released in 2025, follows Zhou Mingrui who becomes Klein Moretti in a Victorian era filled with steam, dreadnoughts, and occult horrors. Navigating between warring Churches, he confronts a world teeming with both potential and peril.
