Dungeon Crawler Carl: A Collector’s Guide
Dungeon Crawler Carl: A Collector's Guide
Jump to: Introduction | Ace Hardbacks (US) | Michael Joseph Hardbacks (UK) | Special Editions | Self-Published Paperbacks | Audiobooks | Graphic Novels | Kickstarter/Backerkit Exclusives | Games | TV Adaptation | FAQ | If you loved Carl, try…
Introduction
My whole family is obsessed with this series, which I'd describe as Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets The Hunger Games. It's a hilarious LitRPG* saga that blends dark humor, absurd sci-fi and real emotional depth into a wildly entertaining ride that's both funny and heartfelt.
What's it about? The story kicks off when Earth is transformed into an 18-level dungeon by the alien-run Borant Corporation, turning the planet into a deadly game show watched by countless extraterrestrial viewers. Carl, a Coast Guard veteran, and his ex-girlfriend’s pampered Persian cat, Princess Donut, find themselves thrust into this lethal labyrinth. Armed with wit, sarcasm, and an unbreakable bond, they navigate traps, monsters, and the whims of a galactic audience.
How many books in the series? Matt has indicated that the series is anticipated to span 10 books (book 8 was released in June 2026).
Do I have to read them in order? Yes, the story builds on itself and you'll spoil earlier books if you don't read them in order.
How can I vote on the fan boxes? In the story, loot boxes known as Fan Boxes are distributed based on a character’s popularity. These boxes are influenced by real-life fan votes from Dinniman’s Patreon supporters – a special perk for supporting his work. (You also get a sneak peek of the next book as well.)
What's the difference between all these editions? Check out the FAQ for a detailed overview of all the different editions available, or jump to the relevant sections for a list of what's available as Ace Hardbacks (US) | Michael Joseph Hardbacks (UK) | Self-Published Paperbacks | Audiobooks | Kickstarter Exclusives.
What's the difference between US and UK editions?
The hardback editions published by Ace (US) and Michael Joseph (UK) are a riot of bright colors, and offer exclusive content for readers. I found the numbering system on the dust jackets a bit weird (on the front cover you count the colored skulls, ignore the outlined ones; and vice versa on the spine), but you get used to it. There are minor changes to the cover art (usually placement of the “bestseller text). different foiling and boards, and additional bonus content for one of the UK books.
Size: UK books are slightly larger than the US ones (Ace editions are 15.90 × 3.81 × 23.60 cm or 6.26 x 1.5 x 9.29 in; Michael Joseph editions are 16.2 x 4.2 x 24.3 cm or 6.38 × 1.65 × 9.57 in).
Hidden covers: Catchphrases and messages are foiled onto the boards under the dust jackets, for an added bit of joy when you read. US hardbacks have foiling on colored boards, while UK hardbacks have brighter foiling on black boards.
Bonus content: All the hardcover editions include a chapter of the exclusive ongoing novella “Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret,” providing deeper insights into the series’ universe. It's currently exclusive to the hardcover, you can't read it anywhere else. The UK edition of Dungeon Crawler Carl (also available in Canada, Australia, NZ and other Commonwealth countries) also contains a bonus author Q&A “conducted by her royal highness, Princess Donut”.
*What is LitRPG? Short for Literary Role-Playing Game, LitRPG is a fiction subgenre that blends elements of tabletop and digital role-playing games (like Dungeons & Dragons) with traditional storytelling.
Ace Hardback Editions
(click to reveal spoiler as to why…)
(the book is ‘invisible' to the audience and gamerunners)
1. Dungeon Crawler Carl
Ace, Aug 2024. 9780593820247. Cover art by Scott Wegner.
“Carl and Princess Donut are forced into a deadly dungeon designed by aliens after the destruction of Earth.”
*First printings have “design by George Townsend” under the “1st printing” line.
➤ Find it at Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
Ace, Nov 2025. 9798217191277.
Promotional Books-A-Million ‘Book of the Year' signed edition.
➤ Buy from BAM
2. Carl's Doomsday Scenario
Ace, Sep 2024. 9780593820261.
“Carl and Donut delve deeper into the dungeon, confronting escalating dangers and the manipulative whims of a universe-wide audience.”
➤ Find it at Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
3. The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook
Ace, Oct 2024. 9780593820285.
“Carl’s rebellion grows more intense as he uses ingenuity and chaos to fight back against the dungeon’s sinister creators and their rigged system.”
➤ Find it at Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
4. The Gate of the Feral Gods
Ace, Mar 2025. 9780593955970.
“The challenges become increasingly brutal, forcing Carl and Donut to navigate through godlike adversaries and moral complexities in their quest to survive.”
➤ Find it at Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
5. The Butcher’s Masquerade
Ace, Apr 2025. 9780593955994.
“A deadly masquerade ball brings new alliances, hidden agendas, and unexpected revelations as Carl continues his fight against the system.”
➤ Find it at Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
6. The Eye of the Bedlam Bride
Ace, May 2025. 9780593956014.
“Facing psychological warfare and even stranger threats, Carl and Donut must unravel a twisted mystery at the dungeon’s core to stay alive.”
➤ Find it at Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
7. This Inevitable Ruin
Ace, Sep 2025. 9798217190041.
“Nine factions battle for control in a deadly war game, but with the AI failing and unexpected challengers rising, only one will make it out.”
➤ Find it at Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
8. A Parade of Horribles
Ace, May 2026. 9798217190065.
“As chaos and mass panic spread outside the dungeon in the wake of Faction Wars, Carl and Donut find themselves on the tenth floor, where they’re off to the races.”
Nb: At 704 pages, this is the longest book in the series so far!
➤ Find it at Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells
Michael Joseph Hardbacks (UK)
1. Dungeon Crawler Carl
Michael Joseph, Dec 2025. 9780241816264.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
➤ Find signed edition at Blackwells while stocks last
2. Carl's Doomsday Scenario
Michael Joseph, Dec 2025. 9780241816219.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
3. The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook
Michael Joseph, Dec 2025. 9780241816240.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
4. The Gate of the Feral Gods
Michael Joseph, Mar 2026. 9780241829912.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
5. The Butcher’s Masquerade
Michael Joseph, Mar 2026. 9780241829820.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
6. The Eye of the Bedlam Bride
Michael Joseph, Mar 2026. 9780241829899.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
7. This Inevitable Ruin
Michael Joseph, Mar 2026. 9780241829936.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
8. A Parade of Horribles
Michael Joseph, May 2026. 9780241836880.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
Special Editions
Dungeon Crawler Carl: Deluxe Edition
Ace Hardback, Nov 2026. 9798217192199.
The deluxe hardcover collector's edition includes a new cover design and artwork by acclaimed artist Victo Ngai, illustrated endpapers, a fully illustrated hardcover case featuring a solvable maze, illustrations on the inside of the jacket, sprayed decorative page edges (“you will not break me”), and a Q&A with the author.
➤ Find it at Amazon | B&N | Blackwells
Dungeon Crawler Carl: Waterstones Exclusive
Penguin Paperback, Oct 2026. 2928377395193.
Exclusive paperback with foiled cover and pink sprayed pages with skull design.
➤ Find it at Waterstones
Self-Published Paperbacks
DCC as it originally appeared on Royal Road
Dungeon Crawler Carl began as a self-published endeavor in December 2019, initially released on platforms like Royal Road and later through Amazon under Dinniman’s own imprint, Dandy House. The growing popularity of the series spurred Ace Books (an imprint of Penguin Random House) to purchase the print rights to the first six books in the series in 2024. Dinniman retained the rights to the digital editions, continuing to self-publish the ebooks via Amazon. This hybrid publishing model enabled him to maintain creative control while benefiting from the expansive reach of a major publishing house. Cover art for the Dandy House paperbacks is by Luciano Fleitas. They're stupidly expensive, but listed here for the hard-core fan.
I. Dungeon Crawler Carl
Dandy House, Sep 2020. 9798688591507.
Variants: The first novel had multiple self-published printings with different cover art. The first edition with the blue light and tentacles background (art by Elartwyne Estole) is exceedingly rare – the author has said only about 20 copies of this version were released; the Goblin Murder Dozer cover with a ‘survive with style' tag-line was designed for the first ebook (also by Estole) and used on only a couple of physical review copies; there were less than 100 of the “special edition” ribbon cover which was designed for cons and special sales; and the third-edition cover by Luciano Fleitas was the final version (~50 of these covers were released in hardback too). All were issued under the Dandy House label before the Ace Books hardcover re-release in August 2024.
VII. A Parade of Horribles
Grim Oak Press, May 2026.
Printing of paperback editions has moved to Grim Oak Press! They will be designed to match the older style POD books available from Amazon, with cover art by Luciano Fleitas like the previous titles.
➤ Find it at Grim Oak Press
Audiobook Excellence
The Audible audiobook versions, narrated by ‘one-man theatre' Jeff Hays, are a standout feature of the series. Hays showcases incredible versatility by voicing all characters with such distinction that listeners often believe multiple actors are involved. His dynamic performance adds depth and entertainment – if audiobooks are your thing, these are excellent.
If you want a full cast and music version, these are produced by Soundbooth Theatre and Ben Wolfe.
Graphic Novels
The Dungeon Crawler Carl graphic novels are expanding the franchise in two directions: a print repackaging of the Webtoon webcomic series (see below), which brings Carl and Princess Donut’s chaotic dungeon crawl from the first book into standard graphic novel format, and Dungeon Crawler Carl: Crocodile, a separate canon side story that explores the wider universe beyond the main plot currently available only through Kickstarter.
Dungeon Crawler Carl Graphic Novel, Free Comic Book Day
Vault Comics, May 2026.
The first chapter of the Dungeon Crawler Carl graphic novel will be available for free at US comic shops on Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 2, 2026). This special issue has variant cover art by @yoshiyoshitani.
➤ Check eBay
Dungeon Crawler Carl Special Edition #0 Variants
Vault Comics, July 15, 2026.
This is essentially a second printing of the Free Comic Book Day #0 issue, but released with an extensive array of new variant covers.
The main cover variant includes 8 covers that will be available at standard comic retailers. There also seem to be tons of retailer specific variants – the most complete list I've seen is maintained by League of Comic Geeks if you want to check them all out!
Cover A — Nathan Gooden Absolute Batman #1 Homage; Cover B — Nathan Gooden Absolute Batman Homage B&W; Cover C — Nathan Gooden Absolute Batman #2 Homage; Cover D — Brett Bean Variant; Cover E — Blank Sketch Variant; Cover F — Nathan Gooden Absolute Batman Homage #1 Foil Full Art; Cover G — Brett Bean Foil Full Art; Cover H — Nathan Gooden Absolute Batman Homage #2 Foil Full Art
➤ Grab it from a local comic store in July, 2026 or check eBay
Dungeon Crawler Carl Graphic Novel, Vol 1
Vault Comics, May 2026. 9781638493655.
Graphic retelling of the Dungeon Crawler Carl book. Created by Matt Dinniman, Aethon, and ACTUS with art and lettering by Laurel Pursuit and Tevagah. This volume collects episodes 1-13 of the WEBTOON edition.
➤ Buy from Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
Dungeon Crawler Carl Graphic Novel, Vol 2
Vault Comics, Oct 2026. 9781638494812.
Graphic retelling of the Dungeon Crawler Carl book. It covers Carl and Princess Donut igniting an all-out meth war between the Goblins and Llamas aboard the Goblin Copper Chopper. This volume collects episodes 14-30 of the WEBTOON edition.
➤ Buy from Amazon | B&N | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
Dungeon Crawler Carl Graphic Novel, Vol 3
Vault Comics, Mar 2027. 9781638495000.
Graphic retelling of the Dungeon Crawler Carl book.
➤ Buy from Amazon | B&N | Blackwells
Kickstarter Exclusives
Matt Dinniman launched a Kickstarter campaign in October 2023 for some limited release hardcovers of the first book in the series, featuring cover art by Scott Wegener (co-creator of Atomic Robo), endpapers by by Luciano Fleitas and interior spot illustrations by Billy Blue.
A new Kickstarter for volumes 2 and 3 launched in October 2025. (Nb: The ‘standard' editions are not be part of the following Kickstarter releases due to the competing Ace hardbacks, but updated jackets for Book 1 are included for backers of the first Kickstarter to keep your series matching.)
If you missed volume 1 the first time around, you can pick up a matching one during the campaign as an add-on. After the first print run sells out, it will be reprinted during the campaign – but reprints will be distinguished by an additional label “Quest Failed Bitchmeat Limited Edition”.
A graphic novel expansion with new material (Dungeon Crawler Carl: Crocodile) was also announced through Kickstarter in October 2025.
Dungeon Crawler Carl - First Kickstarter Special Edition
Kickstarter Edition – released August 2025.
Two editions were available – a regular special hardcover and a signed limited edition hardcover with a foiled dust jacket. Add-on items included NPC/Item cards, character standees, cloth patch, stickers and Carl's boxers.
Collector's notes: 3,000 copies of the special ed were printed, and 10,000 copies of the LE (for 6,000 backers). Reprints will be labeled “Quest Failed Bitchmeat Limited Edition” (and also won't be signed or numbered).
Carl's Doomsday Scenario Special Edition
Kickstarter Edition – anticipated fulfilment 2026.
Limited edition hardcover (signed & numbered), with a foiled dust jacket that has black & white cover sketches on the reverse side, and sprayed page edges.
➤ Late pledge the Kickstarter
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook Special Edition
Kickstarter Edition – anticipated fulfilment 2026.
Limited edition hardcover (signed & numbered), with a foiled dust jacket that has black & white cover sketches on the reverse side, and sprayed page edges.
➤ Late pledge the Kickstarter
Crocodile (Graphic Novel)
Backerkit Edition – anticipated fulfilment 2027.
The first official side-story in the Dungeon Crawler Carl universe – Dungeon Crawler Carl: Crocodile. This graphic novel follows mercenary and loner Florin DuPont, who struggles with his own humanity as he competes on the alien game show Dungeon Crawler World.
Limited edition foiled hardcover (kickstarter exclusive).
➤ Late pledge on Backerkit
Games
Two games were launched through Kickstarter in April 2026: the official Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG, a full skill-based TTRPG set in the World Dungeon, and Dungeon Crawler Carl: Unstoppable, a solo and co-op card-crafting deck-builder.
RPG
➤ Follow it on Backerkit
Backerkit Edition – anticipated fulfilment 2026.
The Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG + Unstoppable campaign raised over $13.29 million from 55,972 backers, cementing its place among the most successful tabletop crowdfunding campaigns ever launched.
In the tabletop roleplaying game, you either play familiar characters like Carl and Donut or build your own crawler, then fight through the brutal “World Dungeon” using a customizable system of backgrounds, skills, races, and classes. There is a Starter Set focused on the tutorial floors, a 300+ page Core Rulebook covering floors 3–5, and a range of accessories such as a GM screen, character journal, miniatures, and themed dice.
The solo deck game Unstoppable is a solo or two-player co-op card-crafting deck-builder designed for faster, more self-contained play, with you battling bosses, upgrading abilities and equipment, and managing escalating risk as you descend through floors in either Arcade mode (one-off runs) or Campaign mode (multi-floor progression).
TV Adaptation
Live Action Adaptation. A live-action TV show was greenlit by Peacock in June 2026. Matt Dinniman is a non-writing co-executive producer for the series. Chris Yost (best known for his work on The Mandalorian, Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Raganarok) will write and executive produce the series, with Seth MacFarlane (creator and star of Family Guy and The Orville) set to executive produce.
Toys & Collectibles
Playmates Toys, operating under the name “Borant Corporation,” unveiled its inaugural line of Dungeon Crawler Carl collectibles at the North American International Toy Fair in February 2026. The line includes:
- 6-inch Collectible Crawlers (Mordecai, Prepotente, Carl & Princess Donut with a magnetic Donut on Carl's shoulder), blind-box Dungeon Highlight Statues depicting iconic scenes from the books, Loot Boxes, Princess Donut Plush in 8-inch and 12-inch versions, and official Trading Cards.
- The first wave will debut at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026, followed by availability at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Urban Outfitters, Hot Topic, Box Lunch, 5-Below, and others.
FAQ
What are all the different editions of the Dungeon Crawler Carl books?
Online: New chapters of upcoming books are first released on the author's Patreon (subscription required). Originally, chapters were also posted as a webnovel on RoyalRoad for free, but the author has since stopped using that platform.
Softcover Editions: Initially, each completed book is released as a self-published paperback available via Amazon. Once ACE Books acquired print rights, these Amazon editions were discontinued, but you can still get these paperback editions of books for volumes that have not yet been released in hardback.
Kindle Editions: Kindle versions are released alongside Amazon print editions and remain available regardless of changes to physical editions.
Limited Edition Hardcovers: Limited hardcover editions are released via Kickstarter campaigns.
US Hardcover Editions: ACE Books (a US subsidiary of Penguin) has released hardcover editions of books 1–7, with book 8 on preorder. Originally they were available in all jurisdictions, until December 2025 when Michael Joseph released separate Commonwealth editions.
UK Hardcover Editions: Michael Joseph Publishing (a UK subsidiary of Penguin) began releasing hardcover editions for the UK and Commonwealth countries in December 2025.
Audible Audiobooks: Unabridged audiobooks produced by Jeff Hays at Soundbooth Theater become available a few months after each book release, exclusively on Audible.
Audio Immersion Tunnel (AIT): Full-cast audio drama versions are produced by Soundbooth Theatre and Ben Wolfe. Book 1 is complete and available via the SBT app. Books 2 and 3 are in development for release in 2025.
Webcomic Adaptation: A webcomic adaptation is available via Webtoon, which has also been adapted as a graphic novel.
How many copies has it sold so far? Over 10 million by June 2026 apparently!
If you loved Dungeon Crawler Carl, try...
I'm adding a new thing – some recommendations based on other books I've loved I think will resonate with you. Please do share your recommendations in the comments too!
Death Has Joined the Party - Rachel Aaron & Travis Bach
A very fun LitRPG fantasy set in a world where magic has basically reached the information age, and our underdog protagonist (allergic to magic) has to enter a brutally dangerous, widely watched dungeon-running competition to survive. Witty dialogue and entertaining worldbuilding from a writing team that obviously genuinely love DnD. (Unfortunately it seems only available in digital format for the moment, but if it gets popular enough hopefully we'll get one!)
→ Find it at Amazon
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
The most iconic humorous scifi trilogy in five books that follows hapless Earthman Arthur Dent and his alien friend Ford Prefect as they stumble through absurd cosmic adventures after Earth’s sudden destruction. If you haven't read these before, dive in now!
If you just want to check it out, there's a nice paperback illustrated by Chris Riddell, or if you want to splurge on something special go for the Folio Society editions.
→ Find the illustrated paperback at Amazon
→ Find the Folio Society editions at Folio Society
Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
Virtual-reality treasure hunting with clever game puzzles and pop-culture nostalgia.
☞ Find out more about the Hidden Secrets in Ready Player One
6 Comments
Ryan · 9 March 2026 at 8:49 pm
Hi, can you update this to include the Penguin/UK editions?
Daisy · 11 March 2026 at 1:45 pm
Great idea, done! I also included a summary of the (minor) differences. Dx
Ryan · 11 March 2026 at 6:06 pm
Thanks! It was doing my head in why my spines for book 1 and 2 didnt match and I could not find any good information as to why until I stumbled upon this reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/DungeonCrawlerCarl/comments/1rdw8mg/dungeon_crawler_carl_uk_print/
Your post has a bunch of useful information and I figured if it could save someone else a headache it was well worth keeping it updated. 🙂
Willis Richardson · 23 February 2026 at 5:24 am
This is a great article. Thank you for putting everything together. I have noticed on the original paperback books some have a barcode and others have a barcode QR code combination. What is the difference between these two? Were the barcodes printers earlier, and are they more valuable?
Daisy · 11 March 2026 at 1:53 pm
Hi Willis. Matt has said the differences are to do with Amazon’s print on demand function – once the books get popular, they print a bunch at a time. The earliest ones have a date but no barcode. Later ones have a barcode, or a barcode and QR code combo that Amazon use to track their items.
Willis · 11 March 2026 at 2:17 pm
So the earliest copies do not even have a barcode on the back cover? I have never seen one of those. I have only seen a traditional barcode or the barcode/QR code combo. Thank yo for finding that out.