Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Series: Book 1 of Dungeon Crawler Carl

Publisher: Ace (August 27, 2024)

Length: 464 pages

Author Information: Website

Although I’m a huge fan of MMORPGs and fantasy roleplaying games like D&D, Pathfinder, etc., Dungeon Crawler Carl might actually be my first legit, honest-to-goodness LitRPG novel, rather than broader gamelit genre which simply incorporates a game into its plot elements and framing. And since RPG mechanics like stat allocation, skill leveling, and similar features can be both some of the most exciting and also the most tedious of roleplaying games, I was also very curious to see how it would work out.

The book follows our eponymous protagonist, just your ordinary guy who one night finds himself thrust into a nightmarish game-like reality after an apocalyptic event destroys the Earth and wipes out most of humanity. It was a cold, wintry night when Carl was roused out of bed by his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend’s prize-winning show cat, who decided at that fateful hour to get herself stuck in a tree. Wearing nothing but his boxer shorts and a hastily thrown on leather jacket, Carl goes outside to rescue Princess Donut when suddenly, every man-made structure on the planet was suddenly compressed, instantly smushing anyone and anything under any kind of roofed shelter when the world collapsed.

Long story short, Earth’s survivors become the latest victims to be forced into a deadly dungeon-crawling competition, all part of a massive, universe-spanning entertainment network created for the amusement of alien spectators. Carl, along with Donut—who gains the ability to talk after ingesting a special pet biscuit provided by the game—must face numerous monsters, traps, and other dangerous challenges in order to make their way into the deeper levels of the dungeon, adapting to complex RPG-style rules related to things like stat and experience farming, looting and rewards, and even race/class selection. In addition, since the dungeon crawl is a televised competition, there is the social media factor to consider, where crawlers must navigate the fickle world of views, favorites, and followers to gain an advantage.

To be honest, I’m surprised it took me this long to find Dungeon Crawler Carl. It’s been making big waves in the indie publishing sphere for the last few years, and I can safely say now that the hype is absolutely, indubitably real and well-deserved! As the first three books are re-released with the traditional publisher treatment this fall, I will definitely be devouring the series as fast as I can. This opening volume took me by surprise in the best way possible, taking even the most inscrutable concepts of RPGs and making them entertaining and immersive. This is waaaaay more than just a story about a guy living a real-life video game—it’s a thoroughly binge-worthy adventure set in a richly developed, fully fleshed-out dystopian universe. While gaming mechanics are key to the plot, they are integrated naturally and seamlessly without ever hampering the fast-paced momentum.

Another standout point is the humor, which leans heavily into explosive slapstick and unapologetically pokes fun at the worst aspects of human nature, often in the most inappropriate and crass ways. The contrast between the main character’s grim reality (billions dead, millions more dying by the second for the entertainment of bloodthirsty viewers cheering on every brutal death) and the absurd situations in which he finds himself (partying up with a fame-obsessed talking cat, encounters with a lewd AI harboring a secret foot fetish, using meth to incite a goblin-llama gang war) ensures that even in its bleakest moments, Dungeon Crawler Carl had me rolling with laughter.

Carl himself is an instantly relatable protagonist and convincing despite the circumstances. His personality is a mix of goodness and sensible pragmatism, the perfect counterbalance to the haughty and unpredictable Princess Donut, which results in a dynamic that is endlessly entertaining. The book also has creativity in spades, even with its world-building rooted deeply in familiar RPG worlds and their fantasy settings. Thanks to the alien apocalypse and reality TV angles, Carl and Donut find themselves in imaginative and often bizarre scenarios that keep the story feeling fresh.

But before I offer up my full recommendation, a couple caveats to keep in mind. First, the humor isn’t going to be for everyone. Expect crude comedy and jokes of the over-the-top-omg-I-can’t-believe-they-went-there variety. Second, readers unfamiliar with RPG mechanics may find the sections explaining the ins-and-outs to be too dense and info-dumpy. Certainly, non-gamers can still enjoy the story but there’s the real risk of being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of detail.

Much like Ready Player One was a love letter to the pop culture of the 80s, Dungeon Crawler Carl can be seen as a tribute to roleplaying games. It reads like a mashup of World of Warcraft, The Hunger Games, and War of the Worlds—in other words, an absolute blast! I deem this a must-read for RPG enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy wild humor and action in their stories. This novel is a true gem, and as of this writing, I’m already deep into book two. Can’t wait to continue this crazy journey with Carl!