If you loved Matt Dinniman's a deadly alien game show, dungeon survival, and dark humour with an unforgettable talking cat, start here.
A good next read doesn't have to repeat the same plot. These suggestions follow different connections to Dungeon Crawler Carl; use the explanation beside each pick to find the experience you want more of.
For another ordinary person thrown into a world of magic and monsters, follow Jason as he learns unfamiliar powers and builds a band of companions. This is a match for the game-like progression and outsider perspective rather than the televised dungeon setting.
If surviving a suddenly hostile world and growing stronger through its challenges was the draw, try Jake’s monster-filled adventure. The emphasis is on developing power and hunting rather than Carl and Donut’s comic partnership.
Choose this for the deadly competition staged as entertainment and a protagonist resisting the people who control it. Katniss’s fight for survival offers a darker dystopian connection, without the role-playing mechanics or absurd humour.
For a change of pace, follow an everyday worker into an alternate world full of enormous creatures. The connection is an unlikely newcomer navigating a dangerous speculative setting; this standalone adventure leaves the dungeon and levelling system behind.
Start with the connection you want to keep: a deadly alien game show, dungeon survival, and dark humour with an unforgettable talking cat. Read the reasons above rather than treating the first suggestion as a universal best match. A change of tone or pacing can make a book feel very different even when the themes overlap.
This is a read-alike list, rather than a reading order for Dungeon Crawler Carl. Some suggestions begin their own series. Check the linked book information for the appropriate starting volume and whether the series is complete.
We selected these books by comparing their subjects and approaches using author and publisher descriptions. Each suggestion links to book details; the comparison is our editorial judgment.
Read the author and publisher descriptions behind these editorial suggestions.
J. K. Rowling
5 books to exploreJ. R. R. Tolkien
4 books to exploreBrandon Sanderson
4 books to exploreLeigh Bardugo
4 books to explore