What to Read After Dungeon Crawler Carl: 8 Series That Match the Energy
Finished Dungeon Crawler Carl and need more dark humor, system apocalypse, and dungeon crawling? Here are the best similar LitRPG series that capture that same chaotic energy.
You finished Dungeon Crawler Carl. The absurdity, the stakes, the banter between Carl and Donut—it's all done (or you're caught up).
Now what?
Here's what to read when you need more system apocalypse, dark humor, dungeon crawling, and that perfect mix of absurdity and genuine stakes.
What Made Dungeon Crawler Carl Work
Before recommendations, understand what you're chasing:
- System apocalypse where Earth becomes a game-like dungeon
- Dark humor that doesn't undermine the serious moments
- Great character dynamics (Carl and Donut's relationship is legendary)
- Constant stakes with real consequences
- Creative problem-solving over brute force
- Satisfying progression through dungeon floors
- Absurdist elements that somehow work
Different stories scratch different parts of this. DCC hit a particular combination of humor, stakes, and progression that's hard to replicate.
The Closest Matches
He Who Fights With Monsters (Shirtaloon)
Status: Ongoing
System-based progression with humor and great characters. Jason is transported to another world with game-like mechanics. Similar humor, character growth, and found family dynamics.
Similar: System mechanics, humor, character development, found family, ongoing Different: World-hopping instead of dungeon, different tone, more dialogue-heavy
Where to read: Kindle Unlimited, Audible
Why it works: If you loved the humor and character dynamics, HWFWM delivers both with a different setting.
Want more HWFWM recommendations? Check out our complete guide.
Defiance of the Fall (TheFirstDefier)
Status: Ongoing
System apocalypse where Earth integrates with a multiverse. Zac starts alone and must survive, then build. Constant progression, empire-building elements, long-running.
Similar: System apocalypse, constant progression, survival focus, ongoing Different: Less humor, more serious tone, cultivation elements, solo focus initially
Where to read: Royal Road, Kindle Unlimited, Webnovel
Why it works: If you loved the system apocalypse and progression, DoTF delivers that with less humor but more depth.
The Primal Hunter (Zogarth)
Status: Ongoing
System apocalypse with a solo-focused MC. Jake starts alone in a tutorial zone and must survive. Fast progression, great system mechanics, satisfying power gains.
Similar: System apocalypse, fast progression, solo MC initially, great mechanics Different: Less humor, more serious, less character interaction, more solo journey
Where to read: Royal Road, Kindle Unlimited
Why it works: If you loved the system mechanics and progression, Primal Hunter delivers constant advancement with a different tone.
The Land: Chaos Seeds (Aleron Kong)
Status: Ongoing (slow updates)
LitRPG where the MC is transported to a game-like world. Base-building, progression, humor, and a protagonist who must figure out the rules. One of the foundational LitRPG series.
Similar: System mechanics, humor, base-building, progression, ongoing Different: Different setting, slower updates, different tone
Where to read: Kindle Unlimited, Audible
Why it works: If you loved the system mechanics and humor, The Land was one of the early series that established this formula.
Strong Alternatives
Everybody Loves Large Chests (Neven Iliev)
Status: Ongoing
LitRPG with a unique protagonist—a mimic chest that gains sentience. Dark humor, progression, and a very different perspective. Not for everyone, but if you like absurdist humor, this delivers.
Similar: Dark humor, unique protagonist, progression, ongoing Different: Very different protagonist, darker at times, different tone
Where to read: Royal Road, Kindle Unlimited
Why it works: If you loved the absurdist humor, this takes it to another level with a very unique protagonist.
Awaken Online (Travis Bagwell)
Status: Ongoing
VRMMO LitRPG where the MC plays a villain class. Dark themes, great system mechanics, and a protagonist who must navigate being the "bad guy" in a game world.
Similar: System mechanics, dark themes, progression, ongoing Different: Game world instead of real world, different tone, less humor
Where to read: Kindle Unlimited, Audible
Why it works: If you loved the dark themes and system mechanics, Awaken Online delivers with a game-world twist.
Noobtown (Ryan Rimmel)
Status: Ongoing
LitRPG with humor and a protagonist who must figure out the game-like world. More comedy-focused, lighter tone, but similar system mechanics.
Similar: System mechanics, humor, progression, ongoing Different: More comedy-focused, lighter tone, different setting
Where to read: Kindle Unlimited, Audible
Why it works: If you loved the humor and system mechanics, Noobtown delivers with a lighter, more comedic approach.
System Apocalypse (Tao Wong)
Status: Completed (12 books)
The series that named the subgenre. System apocalypse where Earth gets game-like mechanics. Multiple POVs, survival focus, and a protagonist who must adapt.
Similar: System apocalypse, survival focus, progression, completed Different: Less humor, more serious, multiple POVs, different tone
Where to read: Kindle Unlimited, Audible
Why it works: If you loved the system apocalypse concept, this is the foundational series that established it.
Quick Comparison Table
| Series | Humor Level | System Apocalypse | Progression Focus | Status | Similarity to DCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| He Who Fights With Monsters | High | No | High | Ongoing | High (humor + system) |
| Defiance of the Fall | Low | Yes | Very High | Ongoing | High (system apocalypse) |
| The Primal Hunter | Medium | Yes | Very High | Ongoing | High (system + progression) |
| The Land | Medium | No | High | Ongoing | Medium (system + humor) |
| Everybody Loves Large Chests | Very High | No | High | Ongoing | Medium (humor) |
| Awaken Online | Low | No | High | Ongoing | Medium (system) |
| Noobtown | Very High | No | Medium | Ongoing | Medium (humor) |
| System Apocalypse | Low | Yes | High | Completed | Medium (system apocalypse) |
What to Read Based on What You Loved
If you loved the dark humor and banter:
- Start with He Who Fights With Monsters (similar humor and character dynamics)
- Then try Everybody Loves Large Chests (absurdist humor)
If you loved the system apocalypse and progression:
- Start with Defiance of the Fall (constant progression, great mechanics)
- Then try The Primal Hunter (fast advancement, solo focus)
If you loved the dungeon crawling and survival:
- Start with System Apocalypse (foundational series, survival focus)
- Then try The Primal Hunter (tutorial zone survival)
If you loved the humor and system mechanics:
- Start with The Land (early LitRPG with humor)
- Then try Noobtown (comedy-focused LitRPG)
If you loved everything:
- Start with He Who Fights With Monsters (closest overall match)
- Then try Defiance of the Fall (for the system apocalypse)
Where to Find These
Most of these are available on:
- Kindle Unlimited: He Who Fights With Monsters, Defiance of the Fall, The Primal Hunter, The Land, Everybody Loves Large Chests, Awaken Online, Noobtown, System Apocalypse
- Royal Road: Defiance of the Fall, The Primal Hunter, Everybody Loves Large Chests
- Audible: Most have audiobook versions
Create Your Own DCC-Style Story
Can't find exactly what you want? narrator can generate system apocalypse LitRPG with dark humor:
- "System apocalypse with dark humor and dungeon crawling"
- "LitRPG with absurdist elements and great character dynamics"
- "Dungeon crawler story with system mechanics and creative problem-solving"
You can get the exact combination of system apocalypse, humor, and progression you're craving.
Browse our collection: System Apocalypse novels | LitRPG | Dark Fantasy
The Post-DCC Journey
Dungeon Crawler Carl was special. The combination of absurdist humor, genuine stakes, and great character dynamics created something that resonated with a lot of readers.
You won't find an exact replacement. But the system apocalypse and LitRPG genres have exploded. There's more good content than ever.
My advice: don't try to replace DCC immediately. Let it settle. Then pick something from this list based on which elements you're craving most. If it's the humor, start with He Who Fights With Monsters. If it's the system apocalypse, try Defiance of the Fall. If it's the progression, check out The Primal Hunter.
The void after finishing (or catching up with) a beloved series is real. But your LitRPG journey continues. Pick something from this list and start reading. By chapter ten, you'll have a new obsession.
Carl and Donut's story continues, but your next adventure is just beginning.