So basically, aliens wipe out Earth and turn the whole thing into a sadistic intergalactic game show. Carl, a Coast Guard vet, and his ex-girlfriend's cat, Princess Donut, end up as contestants. They have to fight through a video game-style dungeon full of monsters and traps. The catch? It's all being livestreamed across the galaxy, and they need to keep the ratings up to survive. It's a wild, funny, and surprisingly emotional ride.
Just go in the order they came out. The timeline is strictly chronological, so you won't get lost. Here's the list:
That's all eight books that are out so far. The series isn't finished yet, though. There are more books planned to wrap up the story. So just start at the top and work your way down.
Just read them in the order they came out. That's the best way to go. The story is chronological, so you won't get lost.
Here's the list:
That's all eight books that are out so far. The series isn't finished yet. The author plans to wrap it up with one more story split into two books. So just start at the top of that list and work your way down.
There are eight books out right now. The latest one is A Parade of Horribles, which came out in May 2026.
The author plans to wrap things up with two more books. The next one is expected to be called The Beautiful Place, and it might be split into two volumes. So the series isn't finished yet.
It's a book series, not a game. It's written by Matt Dinniman. The story has a lot of game-like stuff in it—levels, loot, stats—because it's LitRPG. But it's still a novel. You read it, you don't play it.
Yeah, it's definitely worth reading. People go absolutely nuts over it. The series has sold millions of copies and has a super high rating on Goodreads. Most readers say it's a wild, fun ride that they can't put down.
The humor is a huge part of the appeal. It's hilarious, a little vulgar, and totally ridiculous in the best way. A lot of the jokes hit hard, especially if you're into gaming or D&D style stuff. Fair warning though—some of the humor is pretty crude, and a few readers have pointed out that the jokes can feel a bit "male humor" focused.
But it's not just comedy. The action is fast and intense. The story is surprisingly brutal and dark at times, even though it's funny. People also get really attached to the characters, especially Carl and his cat, Princess Donut. A lot of fans say they binged the whole series in a week and felt empty when it was over.
So, if you like dark humor, fast-paced action, and a story that's way more emotional than it has any right to be, give it a shot. A lot of people say the audiobook version is fantastic too.