One of the biggest breakout stars in the world of literature in the last few years is Dungeon Crawler Carl. Matt Dinniman's fantasy series started life as a self-published passion project in 2019, but was subsequently picked up by Amazon and blew up massively around 2024. Now, in 2026, Dungeon Crawler Carl is a bona-fide hit franchise with multiple adaptations on the way alongside a ninth book.
I can see why Dungeon Crawler Carl resonates with audiences the way it has. The books feel like a traditional role-playing game come to life, set in a world where Earth has been destroyed by aliens and human survivors are forced into an 18-level underground labyrinth to compete in an intergalactic reality television show. It's a fairly simple pitch on paper, but the Hunger Games meets Dungeons & Dragons, vibes are boosted by the humor and world-building that make Carl and friends feel truly alive.
Now, Renegade Game Studios has developed a full tabletop adaptation based on the concept of Dungeon Crawler Carl, where one person acts as the game master, controlling the monsters and enemies while other players fight to survive. Of course, any good tabletop RPG requires...
