The Dungeon Crawler Carl books have consistently been one of my favorite LitRPG reads. They are the perfect blend of comedy, sci-fi, and what feels like a video game all wrapped up into an incredibly entertaining story line. And while some LitRPG books can go a bit too heavy into the stats and levels in a way that may turn some readers off, Dungeon Crawler Carl does a great job of being the perfect entry point to the genre. It’s a chaotic tale told through the lens of a man named Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat Donut that I’d recommend to anyone.

The series is ongoing, and all of the books that have been published so far are available with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. But hardcover editions have been making their way into stores for anyone looking to add physical copies to their collection. Almost all of these hardcovers are currently available in Amazon’s buy 2, get 1 free sale on books (with the exception of the first one), so right now is a great time to grab them all at a discount.

Dungeon Crawler Carl Books on Sale at Amazon

There are a total of seven books in the series so far, and as of September 2025, all seven of them have received hardcover releases. Amazon had a similar sale to this one earlier this year, but The Inevitable Ruin wasn’t included because it just wasn’t out yet. This time Amazon has included the latest entry in this sale, while excluding the first book. Since it’s a “3 for 2” sale, you could realistically buy all seven of the books at once and get two of them for free—which is a pretty solid deal.

I’ve listed all of the books in their correct reading order in the carousel above, but there’s a quick chronological list below as well. An eighth book in the series, called A Parade of Horribles, is tentatively expected to be released in May 2026. Unlike the previous releases, this book will be published as both a hardcover and an e-book simultaneously.

Dungeon Crawler Carl reading order

1. Dungeon Crawler Carl
2. Carl’s Doomsday Scenario
3. The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook
4. The Gate of the Feral Gods
5. The Butcher’s Masquerade
6. The Eye of the Bedlam Bride
7. The Inevitable Ruin
8. A Parade of Horrible (Expected May 2026)

Dungeon Crawler Carl Is a Good Entry Point Into LitRPG

This series is a great starting point for the LitRPG genre because it doesn’t spend too much time throwing a bunch of stat sheets and complicated magic systems in your face. It leads with fast-paced action and some generally fantastic dialogue I think anyone would enjoy. The overarching story and interplay between the galactic audience and the Earth survivors also makes for a really interesting concept that never gets old.

The main character starts out as a regular guy on Earth only to be forced down into a dungeon controlled by alien invaders. The actual LitRPG elements of the story are introduced via an unhinged AI that grants dungeon participants power and levels. So if you like more modern, fast-paced fantasy and sci-fi stories, you’re probably going to like Dungeon Crawler Carl.