Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Matt Dinniman

Penguin Publishing Group · Paperback · December 30, 2025

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The apocalypse will be televised!

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Who it’s for
A trap-filled fantasy dungeon meets intergalactic reality TV, with survival and entertainment awkwardly intertwined.
Themes
Apocalyptic survival, Exploitation for entertainment, Survival under constant danger
Pacing
Fast

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About this book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition. You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that?

Continue reading

An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what. Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show. Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not. Includes part one of the exclusive bonus story “Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret.”

Apocalypse, On Air

A trap-filled fantasy dungeon meets intergalactic reality TV, with survival and entertainment awkwardly intertwined.

Come here for

  • Comic mayhem in a video game–like dungeon
  • An apocalypse with a galaxy-wide audience

Expect

  • Exploding goblins, magical potions, and deadly llamas
  • A survival story with an unruly game-show edge

Where it sits

LitRPG79%
Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic42%
Funny Sci-Fi37%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Fantasy Adventure
  • Sci-Fi Adventure
  • LitRPG
Authors
Matt Dinniman
Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
Published
December 30, 2025
Format
Paperback
Theme
Apocalyptic survival · Exploitation for entertainment · Survival under constant danger
Reading lane
Fantasy Adventure