diff --git a/idlerpg/models.py b/idlerpg/models.py
index 3ef672f..1db7242 100644
--- a/idlerpg/models.py
+++ b/idlerpg/models.py
@@ -86,6 +86,19 @@ class CharacterManager(models.Manager):
                     character.game.name, character.name, character.next_level)
         return character
 
+    def levelable(self, game) -> models.QuerySet:
+        """Provide the characters that are ready to level.
+
+        Args:
+            game: the game instance to filter characters on
+        Returns:
+            QuerySet of the characters that can be leveled up
+        """
+        if not game.active:
+            raise ValueError(f"{game.name} is not an active game!")
+        return self.filter(enabled=True, status=Character.CHARACTER_STATUS_LOGGED_IN,
+                           next_level__lte=timezone.now(), game=game)
+
 
 class Character(models.Model):
     """A character in a game."""
diff --git a/tests/test_idlerpg_character.py b/tests/test_idlerpg_character.py
index 27ccd4e..3d864cb 100644
--- a/tests/test_idlerpg_character.py
+++ b/tests/test_idlerpg_character.py
@@ -218,3 +218,43 @@ class CharacterTest(TestCase):
         char.log_out()
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             char.level_up()
+
+    def test_levelable_query(self):
+        """Test that the right things are returned by the levelable query used to find characters to update."""
+        game = Game.objects.get(pk=1)
+        # base data is one character ready to level
+        assert len(Character.objects.levelable(game)) == 1
+        # add one to fiddle with
+        with patch('django.utils.timezone.now', return_value=timezone.now() - timedelta(days=1)):
+            new_char = Character.objects.register('levelable-test', game, 'pass',
+                                                  'bss!bss@levelable_test', 'unit tester')
+        assert len(Character.objects.levelable(game)) == 2
+        # log the new one out
+        new_char.log_out()
+        new_char.save()
+        assert len(Character.objects.levelable(game)) == 1
+        # log the new one back in but penalize it heavily
+        new_char.log_in('pass', 'bss!bss@levelable_test')
+        new_char.save()
+        assert len(Character.objects.levelable(game)) == 2
+        new_char.penalize(60*60*24*2, 'test')
+        new_char.save()
+        assert len(Character.objects.levelable(game)) == 1
+        # actually level them
+        new_char.next_level = timezone.now() - timedelta(seconds=30)
+        new_char.save()
+        assert len(Character.objects.levelable(game)) == 2
+        new_char.level_up()
+        new_char.save()
+        assert len(Character.objects.levelable(game)) == 1
+
+    def test_levelable_query_bad_game(self):
+        """Test that trying to find levelable characters for a non-active game errors."""
+        game = Game.objects.get(pk=1)
+        game.active = False
+        game.save()
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            Character.objects.levelable(game)
+        # clean up
+        game.active = True
+        game.save()