I have read more than my fair share of LitRPG books, but Dungeon Crawler Carl has been a contender for my overall favorite series since I first picked up book one. In short, it’s an ongoing story about a man and his sassy cat’s descent into the madness of an apocalyptic space game show. The author, Matt Dinniman, has a writing style that perfectly blends outrageousness with intrigue, making it hard to put down once you start reading.
There are a total of seven Dungeon Crawler Carl books that have been published so far, with an eighth book set to release in May 2026. All of the books are available to read with a Kindle Unlimited subscription, and as of September 2025, hardcover copies of all seven books are available for purchase.
Dungeon Crawler Carl reading order at a glance
The Dungeon Crawler Carl books are meant to be read in the order in which they were released. The story is chronological as Carl and Donut make their way through the dungeon.
Dungeon Crawler Carl (October 2020)Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (January 2021)The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (March 2021)The Gate of the Feral Gods (June 2021)The Butcher’s Masquerade (February 2022)The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (June 2023)This Inevitable Ruin (November 2024)A Parade of Horribles (May 2026)
What’s the Best Way to Read Dungeon Crawler Carl?
I’ve read all of the Dungeon Crawler Carl books via a Kindle Unlimited subscription, which is what I’d recommend if you want to save as much money as possible. All of the books are included with a subscription, so you can burn through the full series fairly quickly without having to buy each individual title. If you prefer reading actual physical books, however, you can also buy hardcover copies of all seven books. A Parade of Horribles, the upcoming eighth book in the series, will be getting a physical release at the same time it comes out on Kindle, so you won’t have to wait to pick up a copy like you did with the previous entries.
Alternatively, if you’re a fan of audiobooks, the Dungeon Crawler Carl Audible editions come highly recommended. Voice actor Jeff Hayes does an incredible job portraying all of the different characters Matt Dinniman features in his books. You can listen to the first book for free by signing up for an Audible subscription.
The Future of Dungeon Crawler Carl
Matt Dinniman has stated that he expects to write 10 total entries in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. He indicated that this number may be flexible in a more recent interview, but this is the current plan. With an eighth book due out in May 2026, that leaves only two more books before the series comes to an end. In addition to the main series, there is also a graphic novel spin-off called Crocodile that’s expected to arrive in March 2027 after a very successful crowd-funded campaign.
Outside of books and graphic novels, Dungeon Crawler Carl has been picked up by Universal International Studios and Seth McFarlane’s Fuzzy Door to be adapted into a TV series. The Dungeon Crawler Carl TV series has not yet started development, so all we really know is that Chris Yost (known for Thor: Ragnarok and The Mandalorian) will be the one adapting the book.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and over 8 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics — from TV series to indie games and books.
