The Dungeon Crawler Carl series is experiencing massive momentum this year, with no signs of slowing down. From the confirmed live-action adaptation at Peacock to a recent RPG crowdfunding campaign that has already raised millions of dollars, the franchise is reaching new heights. As the Dungeon Crawler Carl author Matt Dinniman prepares for the release of book nine, the scale of his success is becoming hard to believe.
A Surreal Rise in Popularity
In an interview with IGN regarding his upcoming book, A Parade of Horribles, Dinniman reflected on the sudden influx of new readers. He noted that the timeline of growth happened while he was mid-production on earlier entries in the series.
"It's been absolutely surreal," Dinniman shared. "I was writing the climax of book 3 when book 1 came out on Amazon. I was well into book 4 when the book 1 audio came out, so it’s relatively new for me to be writing while also seeing such a surge of fans. Honestly, it’s a little intimidating."
How Audiobooks Helped Dungeon Crawler Carl Author Matt Dinniman Reach New Heights
While the series began its journey on Royal Road before moving to Amazon self-publishing in 2020, the audiobooks changed the game. Released by Soundbooth Theater in early 2021, the audio format helped catapult the series to the top of the charts.
Key milestones in the series' evolution include:
- Initial publication on Royal Road.
- Self-published launch on Amazon in 2020.
- Audiobook release via Soundbooth Theater in early 2021.
- Continued dominance on Audible’s bestseller lists.
The Power of Immersive Narration
A huge part of this success is the work of narrator Jeff Hays. Even five years after its initial release, the first Dungeon Crawler Carl book remains near the top of Audible's bestseller list, thanks in large part to Hays' incredible performances.
During a 2025 interview at SDCC, Dinniman praised the immersive nature of the production. "Jeff Hays here is one of the few people that's really started leaning into the voices and a little bit of sound effects, and I really like that," Dinniman said. "I'm very happy that more and more narrators are embracing that."
Mark Your Calendars for May 12, 2026
Fans won't have to wait long for the next chapter in this saga. The next entry in the series is scheduled for a simultaneous release across all major formats on May 12, 2026.
The upcoming release will be available as:
- eBook
- Hardcover
- Audiobook
For those looking to jump into the series, there has never been a better time to dive in. You can find an exclusive excerpt from the book on IGN or begin your journey by signing up for a 30-day free trial of Audible.
