LitRPG Books: Where to Start If You Loved Dungeon Crawler Carl
In short: After Dungeon Crawler Carl, try He Who Fights with Monsters for a snarky hero, The Primal Hunter or Defiance of the Fall for a system apocalypse, Azarinth Healer for nonstop combat, and Cradle if you want progression fantasy without stat screens. Most began as web serials on Royal Road and are popular as audiobooks.
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Get book picksPrefer to answer a few questions? Take the 8-question book quiz →If you loved Carl's humour
- He Who Fights with Monsters (Shirtaloon): Jason Asano, a wisecracking Australian, is pulled into a magic world with game-like powers.
- The Completionist Chronicles (Dakota Krout): a lighter, playful trapped-in-a-game series.
- Beware of Chicken (CasualFarmer): not strictly LitRPG, but a funny, cozy take on cultivation fantasy.
If you loved the survival stakes
- The Primal Hunter (Zogarth): Earth is absorbed into a system and everyone must level or die.
- Defiance of the Fall (TheFirstDefier): a man stranded alone in the apocalypse, growing through sheer persistence.
- Azarinth Healer (Rhaegar): a healer who fights with her fists; lots of dungeon combat.
If you want more depth and fewer numbers
- Cradle (Will Wight): 12 books, finished with Waybound (2023). Tight, fast and very bingeable.
- The Wandering Inn (pirateaba): a huge, slow web serial about a young woman running an inn in a world with levels.
How to choose
Think about what kept you reading Carl. For the jokes, start with He Who Fights with Monsters. For deadly game-show stakes, The Primal Hunter. For emotional payoff over many books, Cradle. Many series are long, so the first book is a low-risk test; audiobook versions are often the most popular way in.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between LitRPG and progression fantasy? Progression fantasy is about a character steadily growing stronger. LitRPG adds visible game mechanics. Cradle is progression fantasy; The Primal Hunter is both.
Where do LitRPG books come from? Many start as free web serials on Royal Road before publication as ebooks and audiobooks, which is why series often run to ten books or more.
Want your next read?
Our book quiz can suggest one to match your mood. New to the genre's biggest hit? See our Dungeon Crawler Carl reading order.