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Quick answer: If your teen likes Dungeon Crawler Carl and you want similar books, try Ready Player One, Warcross, Otherworld, Ender's Game, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Illuminae. They offer game worlds, dark humor and big adventure. (The Carl series itself is written for adults.)
Dungeon Crawler Carl follows a man and his cat as they survive a game show where the stakes are life and death. It is written for adults and includes strong language and violence, so teens should read it with care. Teens who like the idea of games, levels and snarky narration will find plenty of alternatives. These 15 books offer the same energy with an age range that fits teens.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready Player One | Ernest Cline | 14+ | gamers |
| Warcross | Marie Lu | 13+ | readers who like cyberpunk |
| Otherworld | Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller | 14+ | readers who like virtual reality |
| Sword Art Online: Aincrad | Reki Kawahara | 14+ | anime fans |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | 13+ | sci-fi fans |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | Douglas Adams | 14+ | readers who like dark humor |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | 13+ | readers who like space adventure |
| Scythe | Neal Shusterman | 13+ | readers who like moral dilemmas |
| Illuminae | Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | 14+ | readers who like unusual formats |
| Little Brother | Cory Doctorow | 13+ | readers who like hacking |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | 12+ | readers who like survival |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | 16+ | older teens |
| The Martian | Andy Weir | 14+ | readers who like problem solving |
| Redshirts | John Scalzi | 16+ | readers who like comedy |
| Armada | Ernest Cline | 14+ | readers who like game fiction |
1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Wade searches a virtual world for an Easter egg left by its creator. Nostalgic and fast.
Best for: gamers.
2. Warcross by Marie Lu
Emika Chen, a bounty hunter, hacks the world's biggest virtual game. Neon, fast and twisty.
Best for: readers who like cyberpunk.
3. Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller
Teens try a new immersive game with a hidden danger. Fast, cinematic and creepy.
Best for: readers who like virtual reality.
4. Sword Art Online: Aincrad by Reki Kawahara
Players are trapped in a virtual world where death in the game means death in real life. A light novel that began the franchise.
Best for: anime fans.
5. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender is trained as a child commander in a space war. A classic of strategy and pressure.
Best for: sci-fi fans.
6. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Arthur Dent escapes Earth's destruction and travels the galaxy. Absurd and funny.
Best for: readers who like dark humor.
7. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Spensa trains as a pilot to defend her planet. Fun and fast.
Best for: readers who like space adventure.
8. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
In a world without death, scythes choose who dies. Dark, original and fast.
Best for: readers who like moral dilemmas.
9. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
A space colony is attacked, and the story is told through files, chats and logs. Fast and visual.
Best for: readers who like unusual formats.
10. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Marcus, a teen hacker, fights back against government surveillance. Fast and political.
Best for: readers who like hacking.
11. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss fights in a televised competition. Tense and fast.
Best for: readers who like survival.
12. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Darrow infiltrates the elite in a violent society on Mars. Intense and fast.
Best for: older teens.
13. The Martian by Andy Weir
Mark Watney is stranded on Mars and must survive. Funny and clever.
Best for: readers who like problem solving.
14. Redshirts by John Scalzi
Crew members on a starship realize they live in a bad TV show. Funny and meta.
Best for: readers who like comedy.
15. Armada by Ernest Cline
A teen gamer finds that the game he plays may be a training program for a real alien invasion. Fast and fun.
Best for: readers who like game fiction.
How to Choose
For game worlds, begin with Ready Player One, Warcross or Otherworld. For snark and humor, read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or Redshirts. For big stakes, try Scythe or The Hunger Games. Many of these include violence, and the Carl series itself includes graphic content and profanity, so wait until your teen is older. A good reading order for teens is a game-world book first (Ready Player One or Warcross), then a funnier one (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), then a darker one (Scythe or Red Rising). Many of these also have audiobooks that capture the humor. Talk with your teen about why they enjoy games, since that can guide your next pick.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dungeon Crawler Carl okay for teens?
It includes strong language and graphic violence, so it is better for older readers, around 17 and up.
What other LitRPG books are there?
Sword Art Online is a famous light novel series, and Ready Player One is a game-world classic.
Why do teens like game-based fiction?
It combines clear rules, rising stakes and fast pacing.
Which book has the funniest narrator?
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Redshirts are the funniest.
What age is Ready Player One for?
It is usually recommended for ages 14 and up, with some strong language.
Does any of this list match Carl's humor?
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy comes closest to its dark, silly narration.