LitRPG genre gains mainstream popularity in publishing

The LitRPG genre, which blends fantasy storytelling with role-playing game mechanics such as leveling up and earning experience points, is experiencing a significant rise in mainstream popularity. This trend has been driven by the success of series like ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ by Matt Dinniman, which has sold over 17 million copies of its first eight volumes and is currently being adapted for television by Peacock.

Major publishing houses are increasingly engaging with the genre. Penguin Random House’s Ace imprint began publishing ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ in 2024, and Harper Voyager recently acquired titles from the web serial ‘The Wandering Inn’. Additionally, independent publisher Aethon Books has partnered with Vault Comics to launch a new imprint focused on bringing popular indie fantasy titles, such as ‘He Who Fights with Monsters’, to physical bookstores.