Stream Addictive Bite-Sized Episodes Today – Free Episodes Available Now!
Have you discovered vertical short dramas yet? Also called micro-dramas or duanju, these bite-sized episodes are redefining how audiences watch Asian dramas worldwide. Viu is bringing you the hottest collection of vertical dramas on your mobile app—lightning-fast, jaw-dropping stories designed for mobile viewing with cliffhangers that keep you scrolling for just one more episode.
From passionate Chinese dramas to swoony Korean dramas with unexpected twists, these short dramas spin the micro-drama format into pure addiction. Free episodes are live. Sign up on Viu and start your vertical drama obsession today.
What Are Vertical Dramas & Why Are They Taking Over?
Vertical dramas (also called micro-dramas, duanju, short dramas, or web series) are bite-sized episodes—typically 60-90 seconds—created specifically for mobile phones in a vertical 9:16 format. Each episode ends on a cliffhanger to pull you into the next one.
The stats are undeniable: As of 2025, the global vertical drama market reached $10.86 billion, with viewership continuing to surge. The format’s explosive growth reflects a fundamental shift in how audiences consume entertainment—and Viu is leading the charge with curated collections on the platform.
Why? Fast pacing + high emotion + instant gratification = perfect entertainment for busy, mobile-first lives.
Now, let’s count down the Top 10 Vertical Dramas on Viu that are breaking viewership records:
10. Don’t Be a Good Girl
Genre: Chinese Drama, Revenge Drama, Romance, Emotional Roller Coaster
Total Episodes: 88
Synopsis: After enduring a decade of emotional torment from her family, Lu Mingyu meets Duan Xiuming—a powerful CEO with hidden scars—and uses him as an escape. Over time, she discovers his unwavering trust and loyalty, gradually falling in love. Breaking free from her family’s control at last, she rebuilds her life and pursues her passion for painting, regaining the confidence and brilliance she once lost at age twelve.
Cast: Kechun Zhao, Yin Yu
Review: Don’t Be a Good Girl strikes a perfect balance between emotional depth and empowerment. It explores toxic family dynamics with nuance, refusing to play the damsel-in-distress card. Instead, viewers watch Lu Mingyu actively reclaim her power, with Duan’s quiet support serving as the emotional anchor. The pacing is tight, the chemistry electric, and the payoff genuinely satisfying. Perfect for anyone who loves revenge narratives with heart.
9. Drugged Night, Tangled Love
Genre: Chinese Drama, Emotional Drama, Romance, Betrayal
Total Episodes: 92
Synopsis: Once a wealthy heiress, Ji Xuan loses everything following her family’s collapse and her boyfriend’s betrayal. At her lowest, she meets Song Zhaoli—a powerful CEO with hidden scars and a quiet strength that has secretly supported her for years. As they grow closer, a bond forged in hardship blossoms into unexpected love.
Cast: SHEN Hao Nan, WANG Ge Ge
Review: This drama excels at portraying emotional complexity without melodrama. The chemistry between leads feels organic, earned through their shared struggles rather than manufactured tension. The pacing ensures you’re never bored, and the exploration of how trauma creates connection is surprisingly sophisticated for a micro-drama. Viewers praise its emotional honesty and character development.
8. My Lover is Two Decades Younger
Genre: Korean Drama, Age-Gap Romance, Suspense, Revenge
Total Episodes: 50
Synopsis: Forty-year-old culinary researcher Mi Hyun meets Min Seong, a charming 20-year-old rookie chef. What seems like a serendipitous connection through a lost phone becomes complex when Min Seong reveals his true agenda: he’s been sent to take revenge on Mi Hyun’s husband—whom he blames for his father’s death. Caught between love and deception, Mi Hyun must navigate a delicate game where pride, desperation, and unresolved feelings collide.
Cast: NO Ji Yu JANG Won Jun
Review: The age-gap premise could easily veer into cringe territory, but this micro-drama navigates it with surprising maturity. Min Seong’s dual motivation (genuine affection vs. revenge agenda) creates compelling tension, while Mi Hyun’s agency and emotional depth prevent her from becoming a cliché. Fans love the moral ambiguity and the slow-burning emotional payoff.
7. He Betrayed Me, So I Married His Uncle
Genre: Chinese Drama, Time Travel, Revenge, Fantasy Romance, Ancient Setting
Total Episodes: 93
Synopsis: Shen Zhiyi, a brilliant 21st-century doctor, unexpectedly finds herself in an ancient historical body—an unattractive woman who’s been betrayed by both a scheming prince and her duplicitous sister. Refusing to play victim, she decisively breaks off her engagement and marries the powerful Ninth Prince instead, forming an alliance that transforms her fate. Together, they become a formidable force.
Cast: LIU Zhuo Qing, GAO Min Rui
Review: This is peak “I’m not taking your trash anymore” energy wrapped in historical fantasy. The time-travel element feels fresh, and the female lead’s agency is non-negotiable from minute one. The relationship develops through mutual respect and strategic partnership before romance blooms. It’s satisfying, empowering, and gorgeously executed for a micro-drama budget.
6. 19+ First Love
Genre: Korean Drama, Coming-of-Age, Romance, Comedy, Sweet
Total Episodes: 50
Synopsis: Lee Seol, a 19+ novelist, discovers her fictional protagonist has come to life in an unexpected encounter with her college senior—the very person who inspired her novel. This chance reunion sparks an intense, hilarious, and deeply felt love comedy as fiction bleeds into reality.
Cast: Choi So Yoon, Seo Jae Woo
Review: This micro-drama is pure joy. It’s sweet without being saccharine, funny without trying too hard, and genuinely romantic in a way that feels earned. The meta-humor about novels becoming real is clever, and the chemistry between leads makes every scene feel light and warm. Perfect for when you want your heart to feel fuzzy, not wounded.
4. Passion In The Spring Night
Genre: Chinese Drama, Dark Romance, Revenge, Mystery
Total Episodes: 60
Synopsis: Born into the Jiang family, Jiang Sining becomes a victim of her adopted sister’s schemes, losing her adoptive parents and being forced into a fated encounter with casino boss Qin Shen. Six years later, having changed her identity to “Yuan Qian,” she infiltrates Qin Shen’s casino as a dealer to seek revenge. Slowly, Qin Shen begins to realize she’s the woman from years ago—and the person who once saved his life. As they grow closer, a love so intense it borders on obsession emerges.
Cast: ZENG Hui, HAN Yu Tong
Review: This is dark, moody, and absolutely magnetic. The revenge plot has real weight, and the slow-burning realization of their past connection creates genuine tension. The cinematography is surprisingly cinematic for a micro-drama, and the chemistry is dangerous—you’ll find yourself rooting for a couple whose love is messy and complicated. Perfect for viewers who like moral ambiguity.
3. Love Before Sunset
Genre: Chinese Drama, Dark Romance, Organized Crime, Revenge
Total Episodes: 58
Synopsis: Ten years ago, the Feng Corporation collapsed after a financial crisis, and Feng Li lost his parents in a car accident. Rescued and trained by KING, the leader of the Black Water organization, Feng Li rose to become its second-in-command. When he encounters Si Yao at an auction—being sold as a commodity—he sees a reflection of his own helplessness. Intervening to save her, Feng Li begins a journey where her presence forces him to confront his past and question whether redemption is possible.
Cast: WANG Kai Mu, YU Jia Lin
Review: Love Before Sunset is cinematic in scope despite its micro-drama format. The organized crime backdrop feels authentic, the character motivations are layered, and the romance emerges from genuine connection rather than plot convenience. Fans praise its atmospheric tension and the slow-burn healing journey both leads experience. It’s emotional without being sappy.
2. The Reserved CEO Is Captivated
Genre: Chinese Drama, Chaebol Romance, High Society, Emotional Drama
Total Episodes: 106
Synopsis: Bound by a contract to save her gravely ill sister, Xu Yanqing becomes entangled with powerful CEO Yu Zhi. A chance reunion after years reignites tension, forcing them into a delicate game where pride, desperation, and unresolved feelings collide. What begins as a transactional arrangement gradually transforms as Yu Zhi’s unwavering devotion and Xu Yanqing’s emotional vulnerability create an undeniable connection.
Cast: WANG Kai Mu, MA Le Jie
Review: This is textbook emotional micro-drama done brilliantly. The contract premise could feel cold, but instead it becomes a vehicle for exploring emotional intimacy and vulnerability. Yu Zhi’s quiet intensity and Xu Yanqing’s reluctant surrender to love feels earned. The pacing ensures no scene wastes time, and the emotional payoff is substantial.
1. Pear Perfect
Genre: Chinese Drama, Rich Family Drama, Passion & Obsession, Soap Opera
Total Episodes: 85
Synopsis: After a one-night stand with her long-time crush Gu Heng, Shen Qing Li believed they could separate without consequence. But Gu Heng, unable to let go, draws her back into his world—a realm of passion, danger, and old family grudges. What she thought was fleeting desire transforms into something far more obsessive. He’s determined to keep her close, and she’s struggling to understand if this intensity is love or madness.
Cast: Ma Qiu Yuan, He Cong Rui
Review: Pear Perfect is the #1 most-watched vertical drama on Viu for good reason. It has EVERYTHING: tension, chemistry, obsession, family drama, and a protagonist who genuinely questions whether her feelings are reciprocated or manipulated.
The series doesn’t shy away from moral complexity—Gu Heng’s possessiveness is thrilling one moment and unsettling the next, keeping viewers perpetually uncertain. The production quality rivals full-length dramas, and the cast delivers career-defining performances. It’s a masterclass in how micro-dramas can deliver full emotional storytelling in bite-sized packages.
Why You NEED to Watch These on Viu RIGHT NOW
Free episodes available on the Viu mobile app
New episodes airing weekly across all 10 titles
Multiple subtitle options (English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, etc.)
Vertical format optimized for mobile phones
Binge-able pacing—each episode ends on a cliffhanger
Diverse genres from romance to revenge to obsession
Discover thousands more titles in our vertical dramas section and the most popular micro-dramas curated just for you.
Download Viu & Start Your Vertical Drama Obsession Today
These best Korean dramas and best Chinese dramas are available exclusively on Viu. Sign up now to access:
- Unlimited streaming with no waiting between episodes
- Free episodes available right now for all 10 dramas
- HD quality optimized for mobile viewing
- Offline download to watch during your commute
- Instant notifications when new episodes drop
Download Viu App Now
The addiction starts NOW. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
