10 apocalypse LitRPG series for when the tutorial goes badly
The sky opened. The System arrived. Rent is somehow still due.
Apocalypse LitRPG knows the end of the world is only the opening chapter. Then come the classes, the monsters, and the neighbours with opinions.
Defiance of the Fall
TheFirstDefier
Zac wakes to a System integration, a hostile planet, and a survival problem that keeps expanding into a very large cosmic war.
Next book: Defiance of the Fall 9: A LitRPG Adventure, 9 · Apr 26, 2023
The Primal Hunter
Zogarth
Jake meets the apocalypse with a bow, an odd bloodline, and a refusal to be impressed by the creatures giving him a tutorial.
Next book: The Primal Hunter 17: A LitRPG Adventure, 17 · Nov 18, 2026
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Matt Dinniman
Earth becomes a televised dungeon crawl, leaving Carl and Princess Donut to survive the show and hate its producers with great efficiency.
No announced next book
System Universe
SunriseCV
Derek survives one System apocalypse, then gets sent to another world where his old advantages are suddenly everybody else’s problem.
Next book: System Origin: A LitRPG Adventure (System Universe Book 9), 9 · Nov 3, 2026
The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound
Noret Flood
Randidly becomes one of the first people inside a System dungeon and spends a long, strange series getting powerful before civilisation catches up.
Next book: The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound 16: A LitRPG Adventure, 16 · Dec 16, 2026
Reborn: Apocalypse
L. M. Kerr
Michael gets another chance at a world-ending tutorial and tries to make his hard-won knowledge count before the monsters do.
No announced next book
- Tower Of Ruin
Tower Of Ruin
1000 Scars
A ruined world, a tower full of trials, and a protagonist who understands that every floor is asking a very rude question.
No announced next book
Apocalypse: Regression
R.A. Mejia
A veteran returns to the beginning of an apocalypse with enough knowledge to change the outcome and enough trauma to make it difficult.
No announced next book
Rise of Mankind
Jez Cajiao
Earth’s sudden magical disaster gives an ordinary man new powers and a very large responsibility for the people still standing nearby.
Next book: Age of Forged Steel: Dark apocalyptic LitRPG Dungeon Core (Rise of Mankind Book 5), 5 · Apr 14, 2023
Shadow Sun
Dave Willmarth
Earth receives the System and Adrian starts gathering skills, allies, and the sort of practical competence an apocalypse rewards immediately.
No announced next book
The next book is somebody else’s calendar problem now.
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Start your watchlistWhy these make the shelf
Specialist LitRPG coverage treats System apocalypse as a major ongoing branch, not a passing novelty, because its series tend to run long and update fast. LitRPG Critic.
Pick the itch you want scratched
- Defiance of the Fall. Zac wakes to a System integration, a hostile planet, and a survival problem that keeps expanding into a very large cosmic war.
- The Primal Hunter. Jake meets the apocalypse with a bow, an odd bloodline, and a refusal to be impressed by the creatures giving him a tutorial.
- Dungeon Crawler Carl. Earth becomes a televised dungeon crawl, leaving Carl and Princess Donut to survive the show and hate its producers with great efficiency.
- System Universe. Derek survives one System apocalypse, then gets sent to another world where his old advantages are suddenly everybody else’s problem.
Questions people actually ask
- Which best apocalypse litrpg series should I start with?
- Defiance of the Fall is the cleanest first stop. Start with Defiance of the Fall and give it a proper evening.
- Are these series still worth tracking?
- Yes. Some are complete and make excellent binges; others are active, which is exactly when a release tracker saves you from checking Amazon like it owes you money.
- Can I read these on Kindle?
- Each entry links to its first Kindle book in the matching Amazon store. Availability moves by marketplace, so the card sends you to the edition that is actually being tracked.