7 key differences between Solo Leveling Arise and Arise Overdrive

Solo Leveling fans currently have the choice between two games based on the franchise, Solo Leveling Arise and Solo Leveling Arise Overdrive. While the former is a free-to-play mobile gacha, the latter is a premium PC action-adventure launched in late 2025. While both games immerse players in Sung Jinwoo's rise from the weakest hunter to Shadow Monarch through gates, there are significant differences between them.

This guide provides five key differences between Solo Leveling Arise and Arise Overdrive.

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7 differences between Solo Leveling Arise and Arise Overdrive

Gacha vs paid business model

Solo Leveling Arise operates as a free-to-play title with gacha summons for hunters, weapons, and artifacts, thus tying progression to RNG pulls.

In retrospect, Overdrive offers everything within it in exchange for a one-time $40 purchase. All you must do is progress through the game to obtain everything available.

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Combat system

Arise features mobile-optimized combat with auto modes and team comp focus that is best suited for quick gameplay sessions. With its gacha core, it requires you to become powerful in combat by mainly leveling up your characters and RNG-based weapons and artifacts.

Combat in SLAO (Image via Netmarble)

On the other hand, Arise Overdrive demands precision with parries, deflects, heavy attacks, special dash attacks, and more to deliver an intricate combat experience. Moreover, it also includes elemental stacking for status effects like Freeze or Scorch.

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Multiplayer support

Solo Leveling Arise limits social features to guilds, async events, and rankings, with no actual co-op mode where you can fight alongside your friends. However, Overdrive lets you partake in real-time raids on bosses like Egress or Scorching Lava Stone Guardian with up to four other players.

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Platforms

Arise is available on mobile (iOS/Android) as well as on PC and includes cross-save, so you can delve into it anytime on the device of your choosing. This makes it quite lucrative for casual gamers.

As for Overdrive, it is currently exclusive to PC and can be purchased via Steam. It requires you to have a proper setup to handle its performance demands.

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Story pacing

Arise features a detailed, scene-by-scene adaptation of the Solo Leveling manhwa with ongoing chapters, dozens of side events, and seasonal updates for a prolonged narrative experience. Overall, it provides the most depth if you are looking to familiarize yourself with the narrative.

In contrast, Overdrive condenses the core story into a streamlined single-player campaign. It prioritizes fast-paced action over story retellings.

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Graphics

Solo Leveling Arise combines cel-shading with vibrant webtoon-style panels to deliver a smooth gaming performance even on lower-end devices. However, it lacks visual fidelity and may not appeal to gamers who are used to the graphical performances of modern-day RPGs.

Graphics in SLAO (Image via Netmarble)

Overdrive, on the other hand, features enhanced 3D models, dynamic lighting, and flashy combat effects on PC. You can further improve the performance by turning on settings like anti-aliasing and unlimited FPS for even improved boss and environment renderings.

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Endgame loop

Arise's endgame revolves around seasonal events, guild wars, and artifact farming with daily energy resets for sustained grinding, which is typical for most popular gacha games.

On the other hand, Overdrive focuses on repeatable co-op raids, high-tier weapon crafting, and skill tree optimization, similar to Destiny.

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Also check out our other articles:

• Beginner's tips and tricks for SLAO
• All Hunters in SLAO and how to recruit them
• All pets in SLAO and how to unlock them
• All classes in SLAO