Matt Dinniman's exciting literary RPG series, Dungeon Crawler Carl, has seen an explosion in popularity in recent months, which meansan explosive May 12 for the franchise. The fast-paced, action-heavy book series, in which protagonist Carl and sentient cat Princess Donut team up to challenge an eighteen-story dungeon in an attempt to rid the Earth of alien invaders, has gained immense popularity among gamers for its rich world, compelling characters, and effective integration of game-inspired mechanics.
On May 12, the long-awaited next book will be released Dungeon Crawler Carl series, making it a big day for fans of Carl, Donut and their royal court of allies.
A Parade Of Horribles debuts May 12
May 12, 2026 was recently announced as the official release date for A parade of horrors, the eighth book in the LitRPG series. Author Matt Dinniman has maintained an impressive publishing pace, with seven books and an ongoing bonus novella since the series' debut. The Dungeon Crawler Carl Books are best read in order of publication, as the series follows a linear timeline where Carl tackles one to two floors of the World Dungeon per book.
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Carl will experience the racing game genre
Book Eight, entitled A parade of horrors, has been confirmed to see Carl tackle the tenth and seemingly eleventh floors of his eighteen-story odyssey. Each previous floor of the dungeon had a unique theme, often inspired by different video game genres, such as the open world of the third floor or pokemon-like Trading Card Battles – complete with cards so rare they can sell for millions of dollars – found on Floor 8.
The tenth floor has been confirmed to be centered around winning races and upgrading vehicles between each race, which, according to the teaser synopsis, Carl and Donut find “a little too normal, a little too easy.” But nothing is ever simple in the world of Dungeon Crawler Carl, so it is likely that there will be some kind of twist. Maybe bots will be able to attack each other with their vehicle upgrades, similar Mad Max films. Alternatively, Carl and his allies can earn items that they can use against their opponents, but are significantly more lethal than the standard Mario Kart bananas and blue peel. Given that Dinniman's original working title for Book 8 was “Carl's Book of Boom”, it seems likely that explosions will be involved in some capacity.
What is Parade Of Horribles?
According to the teasers, even the showrunners of the deadly game show Carl is attending don't know what the parade is — but the Dungeon AI, which has become increasingly glitchy over the last few books, refers to it as “a coming-out party for the ages.”
The synopsis for book 8 also says that Carl is planning a party of his own, but he can't tell his friends about it, not even Donut. It also says that the stakes are even higher than Carl's or Donut's demise.
Speculation on social media sites such as Reddit has been rife for the past few months. Some users believe that the “Parade of Horribles” will involve the AI introducing the mechanics, monsters, and other dangers of the Dungeon to the world at large. Others point out that the phrase “parade of horribles” is used to refer to actual parades of individuals wearing grotesque costumes, suggesting that it may be a boss rush level – perhaps an even more extreme version of the multi-boss challenge featured on the fifth floor.
Notably, Dinniman, who posts on Reddit under the username hepafilter, referred to the “11th” floor in quotes in one post, suggesting that something particularly sinister might be up there — or perhaps that it might not be a traditional “floor” at all. Alternatively, Carl has previously jumped floors in the Dungeon, most notably the seventh, so something like that could happen again.
There will be a simultaneous multi-release of print, e-book and audio
For the first time in series history, A parade of horrors will be released simultaneously in print, e-book and audiobook formats on the same day, May 12. There will be both a hardcover version and a limited edition paperback that will feature the “traditional” cover style seen before the series' re-release in 2024. Audiobook listeners are especially excited about this news, as they previously had to wait months or months for their debut book version each month. The fast pace, focus on action sequences and the incorporation of game mechanics such as loot boxes, skills and a detailed progression system worthy of the best RPGs make Dungeon Crawler Carl books a perfect choice for the audiobook format.
Many more exciting Dungeon Crawler Carl projects are in the works
The imminent release of A parade of horrors is not the only exciting thing Dungeon Crawler Carl news on the horizon. Following the series' rapid rise in popularity, several adaptations and side projects are planned for the future. Developer Renegade Game Studio has successfully funded both a TTRPG adaptation and a deck building game of the title Unstoppable, while Seth MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door Productions is working on a TV show. A Webtoon adaptation is also in the works, with a spin-off graphic novel focusing on Crawler Florin Du Pont in the works. Dinniman has also previously discussed plans for more physical merchandise such as figures, toys, trading cards and more.
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Dungeon Crawler Carl fans should not only mark May 12 on their calendars, but also look out for many more exciting updates and announcements in the future. Maybe a video game adaptation of Dungeon Crawler Carl maybe even underway? Carl, Donut and their royal court may only have a few floors to go before they reach the end of the dungeon, but there's still plenty to come in the future for Dungeon Crawler Carl franchise as a whole.
