Dungeon Crawler Carl is getting a television series by Family Guy‘s Seth MacFarlane on Peacock. The LitRPG book series has a legion of fans and an eighth installment coming in 2026. While we totally think it is worth diving into as you wait for more information about the live-action adaptation, time is a tricky thing. We simply don’t have enough of it, it seems. So, here’s everything you need to know about Dungeon Crawler Carl.
What Is a LitRPG?
LitRPG, short for Literary Roleplaying Game, refers to a genre of literature that combines a lot of familiar mechanics from computer roleplaying games/tabletop games with science fiction/fantasy novels. The game elements are a core component of the story, and they often follow the path of a “progression fantasy,” where characters will slowly but surely get stronger over a long period of time. It leads to a very satisfied, earned power level that you get to watch every step of. You’ll find yourself cheering for new weapons from Loot Crates and fascinating rewards from Achievements. While often viewed as inaccessible, the success of titles like Dungeon Crawler Carl shows that LitRPGs can be for everyone.
An Alien Invasion Kicks Off Dungeon Crawler Carl
“Every interior of your world has been crushed, and all raw minerals—organic and inanimate—are in the process of being mined for the requested elements. Per the Mined Material Reclamation Act, along with the Subsection 35 of the Indigenous Planetary Species Protection Act, any surviving humans will be given the opportunity to reclaim their lost matter.
Per Syndicate rules, Subsection 543 of the Precious Elemental Reserves Code, having failed to file a proper appeal for the mineral and elemental rights within fifty solars of first contact, your planet has been successfully seized, and is currently being mined of all requested elemental deposits by the assigned planetary regent.”
One ice-cold, snowy night in Seattle, the world ends. At least for Carl, a 27-year-old boat repairman and former Coast Guard machinery tech. Every structure on Earth is flattened in the blink of an eye. Everyone inside? Dead. Luckily, Carl (and his ex-girlfriend’s cat Princess Donut) are outside. Unluckily, he is in his underwear, a leather jacket, and a pair of too-small pink Crocs. An AI voice explains to the survivors that Earth is going to be essentially strip-mined for all of its minerals. But, humans have the right, legally, to attempt “reclamation.”
It’s all according to some bullsh*t Syndicate code. The Syndicate is the universe-spanning governing body for billions upon billions of planets. The Syndicate dictates that the planetary regent (read: invading force) gets to decide how denizens of a planet can reclaim their home… or what remains of it. This invading force—the Kua-Tin of the Borant Corporation—choose the Eighteen-Level World Dungeon, as it is outlined in the Precious Elemental Reserves Code.
The Kua-Tin are a race of tiny humanoid fish people. Borant Corporation is an extremely powerful Kua-Tin company. And they are all too happy to use this hostile takeover as an excuse to produce a season of Dungeon Crawler World, with the survivors of Earth as the stars.
Staircases open up all over Earth. You can either choose to stay on the surface (bad idea), or you can descend into the Eighteen-Level World Dungeon.
The Eighteen-Level World Dungeon & Dungeon Crawler World
“The Borant corporation, having been assigned regency over this solar system, is allowed to choose the manner of this reclamation, and they have chosen Option 3, also known as the Eighteen-Level World Dungeon. The Borant corporation retains all rights to broadcast, exploit, and otherwise control all aspects of the world dungeon, and will remain in control as long as they adhere to Syndicate regulations regarding world resource reclamation.”
On average, there are two seasons of Dungeon Crawler World (or its equivalent, depending on what race of aliens are controlling it at any given time) every 2.5 Earth years. The season our heroes are participating in is called Dungeon Crawler World: Earth. As you might imagine, Carl takes the staircase with Princess Donut in his arms and becomes Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Dungeon Crawler World is a sci-fi fantasy game where Dungeons & Dragons meets mind-boggling crimes against humanity, with the highest stakes imaginable. It’s all with the tone of a sadistic reality show/game show, hosted by a blood-thirsty AI. The goal is to descend deeper and deeper into the dungeon, until reaching the end of the eighteenth floor. Ten million Crawlers enter Earth’s season, with three million dying in the first hour. Thankfully, Carl isn’t one of them, and neither is Donut. Once they locate the nearest tutorial guild, headed by Mordecai the Changeling, Carl starts to learn how the game functions while Donut knocks over an urn containing Mordecai’s mother’s ashes, and then takes a shit in it. Bless her heart.
Mordecai, currently in the form of a bipedal rat, explains that he used to be a Crawler himself, a long time ago. He was a Skyfowl (a race of alien birds) when he entered the Dungeon, but once he was given the chance to pick a race and class—a Crawler’s reward for making it to the third floor—he selected Changeling. In his current indentured servitude to the dungeon, he does not get to select what form he presents as. Supposedly, this will be Mordecai’s last season, and he’ll earn his freedom at the end.
Carl, having been the first Crawler to enter the dungeon with a cat, receives a Legendary Pet Box—one of many possible loot boxes a Crawler can earn while inside the dungeon, mostly through getting achievements. Inside are special cat treats that Mordecai says will likely make Donut stronger in some way or kill her. Before Carl has a chance to decide one way or another, Donut jumps up, bites him, and eats the treat herself.
Long-story short, Princess Donut gains full sapience and the ability to talk—and a base character build that frankly is much better than Carl’s. Donut promptly names their party Princess Donut’s Royal Court and names Carl her Royal Bodyguard. Donut is like a child in many ways. However, she proves herself to be a formidable threat in her own right as she progresses through Dungeon Crawler World.
The Apocalypse Will Be Televised
As previously mentioned, Dungeon Crawler World is a television show, and a television show that a LOT of people watch. Upon reaching the second floor, Carl and Donut gain the ability to see how many current viewers, followers, and favorites they have. The social media aspect of Dungeon Crawler World is extremely important. On later floors, Crawlers can gain sponsorships from individuals, companies, and even world governments. Who sponsors you, if anyone, often comes down to your visibility and what kind of Crawler you come across as to the viewers. Per Mordecai, sponsorships are often the difference between life and death on the lower levels.
There’s Fanboxes, too, where fans of the show will vote on what they want you to get in a particular Loot Box. It could be the thing that saves you, or it could be a pair of boxers because the audience wants to troll you for saying you want pants.
Carl, the Royal Bodyguard
“You will not break me. F**k you all. You will not break me.”
Carl is a decent guy. That might sound like a pretty weak description, but I think it’s the best place to start. He’s got a good heart and when he can be easy-going, he is. It doesn’t take much to make him happy. He’s friendly, and he likes most folks, as long as they’re not antagonistic towards himself or Donut. Save for his colossal Mommy and Daddy issues, he’s almost well-adjusted. Carl ends up running around in the dungeon in his underoos, an enchanted cloak, bare feet (save a toe ring), and a troll-skin shirt. Will Carl ever get pants? Probably not.
Carl leans primarily into an unarmed build, supplementing his fast-growing Pugilism skill with explosives of all varieties. The stronger he grows, the harder he’ll hit, and the bigger the booms. Carl’s technical know-how from his years of messing around with systems both electrical and mechanical serve him well in the Dungeon. What Carl lacks in Intelligence and Charisma, Donut more than makes up for. His hardiness and high Strength make him an excellent foil for Donut, with her low Constitution.
Princess Donut, the Queen Anne Chonk
“Carl! CARL! Tell them who I am! Tell them I’m beautiful!”
Okay, so the ex-girlfriend’s cat thing. We know the series is titled Dungeon Crawler Carl, but there is a lovely deuteragonist we simply must talk about. Grand Champion, Breed Winner Regional, National Winner, Best-in-Dungeon Princess Donut, the Queen Anne Chonk. Carl’s ex-girlfriend Beatrice comes from a family of Persian cat breeders. Donut was their greatest accomplishment, sweeping awards at every cat show she’d ever been brought to—and she’d been brought to hundreds.
Days before the end of the world, Carl saw a picture of Beatrice in Italy on Instagram, sitting in her ex-boyfriend’s lap. Carl proceeded to dump her over the phone. He said he’d have all of her stuff packed for her when she got back, and he didn’t want any drama. Carl hates drama. Beatrice asked only that Carl take care of Donut until she returned to the States. Carl, who secretly adored Donut, began to plan a daring cat-napping venture. But, then the world ended, and so too did Beatrice. Kinda convenient, right?
Carl and Donut’s dynamic is the heart and emotional driving force of this series. I jokingly told my fiancee that Dungeon Crawler Carl is about the bond between a man and his ex-girlfriend’s cat. But in reality…no. That’s his cat. I know it might seem insane to take a character called Princess Donut seriously. But she has captured hearts in realms both fictional and real for a reason.
Donut’s highest stats are Intelligence and Charisma. And she uses them to the best of her advantage, while also enjoying the high Dexterity of being a cat. Donut’s main move is her Magic Missile, which is a deadly laser she shoots from her eyes. Carl and Donut quickly become a mostly well-oiled machine. Carl is the meat shield and heavy hitter and Donut supports him with her magic.
That doesn’t mean Donut doesn’t go her own way—because she often does. This is how Carl ends up with the catchphrase, “Godd*mnit, Donut.”
The Odds Are Not In Your Favor
While the Eighteen-Level World Dungeon may be entertainment for quintillions of Syndicate citizens across the universe, being inside of it is a hell unlike any other. Humans die at the hands of mobs of monsters, and many other dangers within the dungeon. Whether it’s meth-addled llamas or mantaurs (half man, half…more man), there’s rare respite inside of the dungeon, even on its very first floor.
Oh, and per Mordecai: the lowest any Crawler has ever made it to is the thirteenth floor. No one has ever completed the dungeon. No one has ever reclaimed their planet, not once in all of the seasons of Dungeon Crawler World. Some survive—if you make it to the tenth floor, opportunities to escape the dungeon to live another day start to present themselves. Still, that’s a long way down the line for Carl and Donut, as they grind to grow stronger and chase humanity’s last hope.
Dungeon Crawler Carl is a witty, compelling, and shockingly earnest story. It will make you laugh—a lot. And when you least expect it, it’ll make you cry too. Obviously I encourage everyone to dive into the book series, but if not, I hope you thoroughly enjoy Carl’s live-action adventures to come.
And remember Crawlers: Kill, kill, kill!