Dive into the LitRPG Genre with Books Like Dungeon Crawler Carl

If you flew through the Dungeon Crawler books, you’re likely looking for your next adventure-filled fix. You’re in luck! There are plenty of similarly immersive, thrilling, fantastical titles to choose from. The next time you’re stocking up your bookshelves, keep these recommendations in mind.  

Why are the Dungeon Crawler Books So Popular?

When Matt Dinniman self-published the first Dungeon Crawler book, there was no way he could have predicted just how much of a hit it would be. Turns out, the Dungeon Crawler books were perfectly written to entice anyone who has ever played (or wanted to play) Dungeons & Dragons or is looking to escape into a world entirely unlike their own. By blending a darkly humorous voice, an apocalyptic sci-fi set-up, classic video game mechanics, and an impossible-to-put-down plot, Dinniman’s series has managed to popularize an underappreciated genre of fiction.

Dungeon Crawler Carl Books in Order:

• Dungeon Crawler Carl
• Carl’s Doomsday Scenario
• The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook
• The Gate of the Feral Gods
• The Butcher’s Masquerade
• The Eye of the Bedlam Bride
• This Inevitable Ruin
• A Parade of Horribles

What is LitRPG?

If you’re not already familiar with the concept of tabletop role-playing games, this acronym likely doesn’t mean anything to you. LitRPG, short for literary role-playing game, is a subgenre of storytelling that blends fantasy or sci-fi with traditional gaming mechanics. This means that characters tend to have visible stats and attributes, as well as the ability to level up their experience points (XP) throughout the plot.

Subgenres of LitRPG:

• Deckbuilding: characters must collect, trade, and duel with card decks to continue the story
• Base building: protagonists focus on protecting, expanding, and building their domain or kingdom
• Crafting: creating objects, such as spells, weapons, or magical items, is key to progressing the character’s development
• Isekai: characters are transported to another world or land where they must adapt and grow (like the Dungeon Crawler books!)
• Apocalyptic: characters must utilize RPG mechanics to survive in a world with overwhelming catastrophe
• Monster evolution: the protagonist must undergo a series of transformations, evolutions, and ability gains to grow

5 LitRPG Books Like Dungeon Crawler Carl

The Dungeon Crawler books may have taken the world by storm, but don’t worry! Once you finish the eight-part (with more on the way) series, there are plenty of other books like Dungeon Crawler Carl to explore. Dive deeper into the engrossing subgenre with any of these titles below.

1. He Who Fights with Monsters by Travis Deverell

When Jason, an office-supplies-store middle manager, wakes up in a mysterious world of magic and monsters, he finds himself facing off against cultists, wizards, cannibals, and more. But it’s hard to be a heroic interdimensional adventurer when all your newfound powers are evil. Will he be able to find the courage, wit, and strength to survive? Find out in He Who Fights with Monsters.

2. All the Skills by Honour Rae

Fans of the Dungeon Crawler books will love the coming-of-age story and deckbuilding LitRPG elements in All the Skills. Arthur may live, condemned to toil in service to the Baron, with his father in Border Village #49, but thanks to a dragon, he has a secret weapon: a stolen heart card that the tyrant Baron will kill to get back. To save the day and his own hide, Arthur joins a trader caravan where he meets a new friend, Horatio, and gains more skills with every mile down the kingdom’s backroads. Together, the two will have to outsmart the Baron’s hunters and discover that sometimes, extraordinary things come from the simplest magics.

3. Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko

Determined to escape a stagnant society, Marcus and his friends escape into a revolutionary new video game that defies their wildest dreams. But the moment he logs in, Marcus finds himself completely alone in a remote village, face to face with an incoming goblin attack. To survive, Marcus will have to rally the villagers, drive off the invaders, and rebuild his newfound home—and those are the least of his problems.

Most fans of LitRPG knew these books before Dungeon Crawler Carl came out. If you love tales of found family and virtual reality gaming systems, grab the first in the Ascend Online series today.

Other Books in the Ascend Online Series:

• Hell to Pay (#1.5)
• Legacy of the Fallen (#2)
• Glory to the Brave (#3)
• Threads of Fate (#4)

4. The Primal Hunter written by Zogarth, illustrated by Senchiro, and designed by Adam Cahoon

If you’re looking for a book like Dungeon Crawler Carl, any experienced LitRPG reader will tell you that The Primal Hunter is a must-read. Jake was working a perfectly normal day at his perfectly average office job when suddenly, Earth was forcibly integrated into a cosmic multiverse known as the “System.” His coworkers falter at every turn of this new reality, but surprisingly, Jake finds himself thriving. Maybe, just maybe, this is the world he was meant to be in all along.

5. Discount Dan by James A. Hunter

In Discount Dan, all Dan wants is to find a way home. But after being “noclipped” into an extradimensional, ever-changing dungeon of backrooms, getting a bite to eat and grabbing a bit of shut eye is downright impossible. With horrific creatures known as the Dwellers at every turn, Dan will need to harness a strange game-like magic, make some new allies, and carve out a little corner for himself before the Flayed Monarch of the 999th floor hunts him down.

Can You Enjoy Books Like Dungeon Crawler Carl As Audiobooks?

If you prefer to listen to your latest reads, rather than buy the physical copy from an independent bookstore, you’re in luck! Since they’re so immersive, LitRPG books are incredibly fun to listen to on audiobook. Search for our recommended books like Dungeon Crawler Carl on your preferred audiobook service and lose yourself in the professionally trained voice actors’ rendition.

When you read books like Dungeon Crawler Carl, escapism is easy! Once you’ve caught up on Carl and Princess Donut’s grand adventures through the 18-level dungeon, you can move on to other LitRPG books. Stop by Novel today to find one that tickles your fancy.