Dungeon Crawler Carl kicks off with a bang: Earth gets hijacked by aliens who turn the planet into a massive, deadly dungeon for their intergalactic reality show. Most of humanity is gone. Survivors like Carl (a former Coast Guard Sailor) and his ex-girlfriend’s pampered show cat, Princess Donut, get thrust into the crawl. They have to fight monsters, complete ridiculous quests, open loot boxes, and entertain a galaxy of viewers to survive level after level.
What makes this series special is the perfect blend of high-stakes action, clever LitRPG mechanics (achievements, classes, stats, loot), and non-stop humor. Carl is a solid, resourceful protagonist — resourceful, sarcastic, and surprisingly heartfelt as the story deepens.
But let’s be real: Princess Donut is the undisputed star.
This cat is LEGEN… wait for it……DARY. Once she gains the ability to talk (and later, shoot lasers from her eyes), she delivers some of the best, most quotable one-liners in modern fiction. Whether she’s roasting enemies, demanding better loot, throwing diva tantrums, or dropping absurdly timed burns, Donut consistently steals every scene. She’s vain, chaotic, loyal, and hilarious — basically the perfect chaotic good feline companion.
The heart of the story remains the bond between Carl and Donut. It’s surprisingly emotional at times amid all the absurdity. Matt Dinniman’s writing is sharp, fast-paced, and packed with creativity. The audiobook narration (by Jeff Hays) is legendary too — highly recommended if you can listen.
If you’re into LitRPG, dungeon crawls, dark humor, or just want something ridiculously entertaining that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this series is a must. Start with book one and prepare to binge the rest.
Highly recommended.
Princess Donut for Galactic Empress. 🐱👑
PRINCESS POSEY FOR LIFE!!!!!!