After the chaos and tension of the previous episode, you would expect Jinwoo to take a break. But no, our “weakest hunter” immediately finds himself immersed in a new, bizarre reality that seems to have come straight out of a video game.

Awakening and Surprise

Jinwoo wakes up in the hospital, confused but surprisingly unharmed. Considering the fatal injuries he suffered in the dungeon, it's almost unbelievable to see him in full health. But the real surprise comes when he starts to see floating windows before his eyes, just like in an RPG. Messages that assign him daily missions and warn him of possible penalties. It's as if his life has become... a game.

Daily Missions: Training or Death

Initially skeptical, Jinwoo ignores the missions. But he soon discovers that the “system” is no joke: he is transported to a Penalty zone, a hostile wasteland populated by deadly monsters. Surviving becomes his only option, and he quickly learns that completing daily missions isn't optional. So, he begins a training regimen that sees him squatting, pushing up, and running, all under the watchful eye of this mysterious system.

A Personal Dungeon

The turning point comes when Jinwoo receives a key to a “instant dungeon” located in a subway station. Here, he faces goblins and other creatures, putting his new abilities to the test. It is a pivotal moment: for the first time, Jinwoo takes the initiative, choosing to face danger to become stronger, rather than being dragged along by events.

This episode marks a turning point for Jinwoo. From an E-rank hunter, considered the weakest, he begins to see a chance for growth and change. The fusion of typical video game elements and reality creates an interesting dynamic, raising questions about what it really means to “level up” in real life.

In short, “It's Like a Game” shows us that, even when life seems like a cruel game, it's up to us to decide how to play our cards. And Jinwoo? He seems finally ready to take the joystick of his destiny in his hands.

Review - Soil Leveling Episode 3: “It's Like a Game”

A protagonist who starts playing… for real

With the third episode, Soil Leveling changes tone. If the first two were dominated by desperation, fear and death trap sensations, here there is an almost surreal but tremendously intriguing twist: Jinwoo is no longer just an unlucky hunter, but a man who wakes up… in a video game. Literally.

And no, it's not a classic isekai. It's something more subtle and psychological.

✅ Pros – What works well

📌 The concept of “system”
The introduction of the on-screen interface, with daily missions, punishments and rewards, is a gimmick that takes the series into original territory compared to other shonen/fantasy. It's a risky choice, but it manages to work thanks to the seriousness with which it is treated: It's not a comical device, it's something ruthless.

📌 Jinwoo Evolution
The best aspect of the episode is without a doubt the protagonist's reaction. Jinwoo isn't passive. He's confused, sure, but it doesn't take him long to realize that something has changed, and that this time he has a chance. His determination shines through between one physical exercise and another, and the idea that he can "level up" suddenly makes him a character to watch, not just pity.

📌 The Penalty Zone: Tension and Immersion
The punishment sequence – the one where Jinwoo is thrown into the desert and forced to escape from monsters in order not to die – is short but extremely effective. It is the moment when the viewer understands: ok, it's not a symbolic game, this system really kills him if he makes a mistake. And from there, training takes on a completely different weight.

📌 Instant Dungeon and Atmosphere
The mini-dungeon at the station is another great idea. Not only does it introduce new rules and challenges, but changes visual and musical register, bringing tension without having to shout. Jinwoo enters silently, observes, moves with caution. That's when we understand: he's starting to think like a hunter.

❌ Cons – Where the episode could have dared more

⚠️ Swinging rhythm
The initial part, between the hospital and internal dialogues, is a bit slower than the rest of the episode. Understandable, but the contrast with the more dynamic sequences makes everything a bit broken.

⚠️ System still little explained
Ok, the “game” has begun. But what's this this system? Who activated it? Why Jinwoo? It's right to keep a bit of mystery, but a little more hint would have helped make the tension even more alive.

⚠️ Absence of other characters
I understand that the episode wants to focus on Jinwoo (and it succeeds very well), but a quick look at the other survivors or the outside world wouldn't have hurt. The universe of Soil Leveling it's rich, and isolating it completely for an entire episode risks losing track of the larger context.

🎯 Conclusion

“It's Like a Game” is the episode that changes the rules of the game – and it does it with style. It's no longer just desperation, but a new form of tension: the knowledge that Jinwoo can now improve… but only if he is willing to suffer, sweat, take risks.

An episode that does not focus on explosiveness but on the slow construction of a fascinating idea: what if we could really get stronger like in a video game?
But most of all: would we be willing to pay the price, day after day, mission after mission, without missing a single one?

🔸 Rating: 8,2 / 10
A solid transition episode, with great ideas, well-managed atmosphere and a protagonist who finally starts to shine. Now that the game has started, the best is yet to come.

Solo Leveling Episodes

1 – I'm Used to It
2 – If I Had One More Chance
3 – It's Like a Game
4 – I've Gotta Get Stronger
5 – A Pretty Good Deal
6 – The Real Hunt Begins
7 – Let's See How Far I Can Go
7.5 – How To Get Stronger
8 – This Is Frustrating
9 – You've Been Hiding Your Skills
10 – What Is This, a Picnic?
11 – A Knight Who Defends an Empty Throne
12 – Arise
13 – You aren't E-rank, are You
14 – I Suppose You aren't Aware
15 – Still a Long Way to Go
16 – I Need to Stop Faking
17 – This is What We're Trained to Do
18 – Don't Look Down on My Guys
19 – The 10th S-rank Hunter
20 – Looking Up was Tiring Me Out
21 – It Was All Worth It