Dungeon Crawler Carl: The Self-Published LitRPG Series That Conquered the World

Key facts

• Dungeon Crawler Carl is a LitRPG series by Matt Dinniman.
• The series has sold six million copies and is translated into about ten languages.
• It is consistently on the New York Times bestseller lists.
• The TV adaptation will be written by Chris Yost (Thor: Ragnarok, The Mandalorian).
• In Italy, the first volume sold nearly 10,000 copies, published by Mercurio Books.
• Dinniman self-published the first volume on Amazon in October 2020.
• The audiobook version, with one narrator voicing over 200 characters, became one of Audible's most downloaded titles.
• Dinniman signed a contract with Ace (Penguin Random House) for print rights only, retaining digital rights.
• The series is set after aliens destroy Earth, with survivors forced into a televised dungeon crawl.
• The dungeon has 18 levels, each with a hidden exit and a time limit.
• John Scalzi said Dinniman 'broke down the door' for LitRPG.
• Italian publisher Tiziano Cancelli notes the series attracts readers who usually buy few books.
• The series is a parody and satire of the entertainment industry.
• The first three volumes were released in Italy starting October 2025.