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Don't Die Dave #1
Don't Die Dave: A LitRPG Action Comedy Death Game
A death game where the prize isn’t power or money—it’s health insurance.
+Insert coin to keep breathing+
To erase his crippling medical debt, 50-year-old Dave signs a contract that uploads his mind into RiftBorn—a brutal pay-to-win dungeon-crawler death game watched by millions.
Dave doesn’t need to level up or get loot. He has 20 days to win over a generation raised on TikTok and Twitch, or the system pulls the plug on his real-world body.
The problem? He skipped the tutorial and has no idea what he’s doing.
Broke, bald, and armed with nothing but discarded loot and blistering sarcasm, Dave is trapped in a world where every quest is sponsored, every death is monetized, and every mistake goes viral. And for a social hermit like Dave, being watched might be worse than dying.
To survive, Dave must outthink influencers, sabotage engagement systems, and fight back against a healthcare machine that profits if he dies.
Figure out the rules. Survive the game. Don't die, Dave.
+Insert coin to keep breathing+
To erase his crippling medical debt, 50-year-old Dave signs a contract that uploads his mind into RiftBorn—a brutal pay-to-win dungeon-crawler death game watched by millions.
Dave doesn’t need to level up or get loot. He has 20 days to win over a generation raised on TikTok and Twitch, or the system pulls the plug on his real-world body.
The problem? He skipped the tutorial and has no idea what he’s doing.
Broke, bald, and armed with nothing but discarded loot and blistering sarcasm, Dave is trapped in a world where every quest is sponsored, every death is monetized, and every mistake goes viral. And for a social hermit like Dave, being watched might be worse than dying.
To survive, Dave must outthink influencers, sabotage engagement systems, and fight back against a healthcare machine that profits if he dies.
Figure out the rules. Survive the game. Don't die, Dave.
- GenresLitrpg
Audible Audio
Published April 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 13, 2026
An amazingly written and genuinely witty book. This was my first LitRPG, and honestly, it was so funny it had me full on laughing. Don't Die, Dave is hilarious and beyond clever, and A.R. Witham's writing really shines. From the characters to the story, everything about it just worked, easily making this a top-tier read for me.
September 1, 2026
# ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
**Don't Die, Dave was an absolute blast.**
I went into this knowing people compared it to *Dungeon Crawler Carl*, and honestly, that made me slightly nervous. I didn't want a copy-and-paste version of DCC with different characters and a slightly different setting.
Thankfully, that is **not** what this is.
Does it have similar vibes? Absolutely. It has that same wonderfully chaotic, ridiculous, completely unhinged energy where you're constantly thinking, **“What the actual fuck is happening?”** 😂 But it is also completely its own thing, with its own characters, story and humour.
This book genuinely made me laugh out loud. Not just the occasional little chuckle either. I'm talking proper **laughing out loud, staring at the book and going “OH MY GOD”** moments. From Dave's reactions to the ridiculous situations he finds himself in, to Pepper, the old educational computer-program penguin who decides Dave is apparently its mommy, the humour was just completely up my street.
And then there's Hank. In the game he's this massive, intimidating character, but in real life he's just an eight-year-old kid. Dave knows that, so while Hank is trying to be a badass and insisting he's perfectly capable of looking after himself, Dave is constantly trying to protect him because, to Dave, he's still just a little kid. Their relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book.
But what really made this book special for me was that it wasn't **just one massive joke**.
Beneath all the insanity and ridiculous humour, there is actually a lot of heart. Dave has these moments where he talks to Hank about life, about what really matters, about the little moments and the people who help lift you up. And despite everything Dave himself is going through — trapped in this game, fighting for his life and trying to pay off his medical debts — he still takes the time to care about the people around him.
That is where I think the comparison to *Dungeon Crawler Carl* really works.
Not because this book is trying to copy it, but because it gives you a similar feeling. You laugh at the madness, but you also **care about the characters**. Just like Carl and Donut, I found myself becoming attached to Dave and his little ragtag crew. They are the underdogs, fighting against a system designed by powerful people who are happy to exploit them, and you genuinely want to see them win.
And that ending! 😭
The ending gave me exactly what I wanted: a satisfying conclusion to this part of the story, while still leaving me excited for what comes next.
**Don't Die, Dave is stupidly fucking funny, wild, chaotic, ridiculous and completely unhinged — but it also has heart.**
It isn't *Dungeon Crawler Carl*, and I'm glad it isn't. It doesn't need to be.
It is unique enough to stand on its own, but it gave me the closest feeling I've had to reading DDC since finishing that series: the constant laughter, the “WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?” moments, the ridiculous situations, the ragtag group of underdogs and, most importantly, characters I genuinely cared about.
**I absolutely loved it. Five stars. Bring on the next season.**
**Don't Die, Dave was an absolute blast.**
I went into this knowing people compared it to *Dungeon Crawler Carl*, and honestly, that made me slightly nervous. I didn't want a copy-and-paste version of DCC with different characters and a slightly different setting.
Thankfully, that is **not** what this is.
Does it have similar vibes? Absolutely. It has that same wonderfully chaotic, ridiculous, completely unhinged energy where you're constantly thinking, **“What the actual fuck is happening?”** 😂 But it is also completely its own thing, with its own characters, story and humour.
This book genuinely made me laugh out loud. Not just the occasional little chuckle either. I'm talking proper **laughing out loud, staring at the book and going “OH MY GOD”** moments. From Dave's reactions to the ridiculous situations he finds himself in, to Pepper, the old educational computer-program penguin who decides Dave is apparently its mommy, the humour was just completely up my street.
And then there's Hank. In the game he's this massive, intimidating character, but in real life he's just an eight-year-old kid. Dave knows that, so while Hank is trying to be a badass and insisting he's perfectly capable of looking after himself, Dave is constantly trying to protect him because, to Dave, he's still just a little kid. Their relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book.
But what really made this book special for me was that it wasn't **just one massive joke**.
Beneath all the insanity and ridiculous humour, there is actually a lot of heart. Dave has these moments where he talks to Hank about life, about what really matters, about the little moments and the people who help lift you up. And despite everything Dave himself is going through — trapped in this game, fighting for his life and trying to pay off his medical debts — he still takes the time to care about the people around him.
That is where I think the comparison to *Dungeon Crawler Carl* really works.
Not because this book is trying to copy it, but because it gives you a similar feeling. You laugh at the madness, but you also **care about the characters**. Just like Carl and Donut, I found myself becoming attached to Dave and his little ragtag crew. They are the underdogs, fighting against a system designed by powerful people who are happy to exploit them, and you genuinely want to see them win.
And that ending! 😭
The ending gave me exactly what I wanted: a satisfying conclusion to this part of the story, while still leaving me excited for what comes next.
**Don't Die, Dave is stupidly fucking funny, wild, chaotic, ridiculous and completely unhinged — but it also has heart.**
It isn't *Dungeon Crawler Carl*, and I'm glad it isn't. It doesn't need to be.
It is unique enough to stand on its own, but it gave me the closest feeling I've had to reading DDC since finishing that series: the constant laughter, the “WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?” moments, the ridiculous situations, the ragtag group of underdogs and, most importantly, characters I genuinely cared about.
**I absolutely loved it. Five stars. Bring on the next season.**
July 6, 2026
Really good references and I want my own Pepper
August 30, 2026
#dontdiedave | Ultra funny, and extremely entertaining
I think Don’t Die, Dave works because, underneath all the ridiculousness, it understands exactly what kind of story it wants to tell. The American healthcare system is obviously part of the target, and I think the satire lands because it exaggerates problems people already recognize without turning the whole book into a political lecture.
Living in Utah, I am spoiled with healthcare. I also know healthcare looks different depending on where you are; systems like Intermountain Health show there are nonprofit models with real advantages, even if it's not universal healthcare. Obama and Mitt Romney used IH to try and create universal health care. The book still gives that frustration plenty of room to breathe.
The humor is unreal. I think this is one of the funniest LitRPGs I’ve read because the jokes are built around Gen X and millennial culture without feeling trapped in one decade. TV, movies, video games, music, internet culture, and pop-culture references stretch across more than sixty years, and somehow it all works.
The game’s social-media layer, RiftTok, might be one of my favorite ideas because survival isn't enough; you also have to stay interesting enough for people to keep watching.
Dave’s character arc surprised me most. He starts as a grumpy, isolated old hermit who mostly wants everyone to leave him alone, and then this broken little AI ghost penguin named Pepper begins sanding down the rough edges. I think their relationship gives the entire book its heart.
The leveling, loot drops, AI messages, inventory, classes, and progression are also the perfect amount of “crunchy” for me: enough mechanics to make it feel unquestionably LitRPG without stopping the story every three pages to hand me a spreadsheet.
And then the book keeps finding ways to get darker, stranger, and more inventive. Character leveling goes places I did not expect, some deaths hit much harder than the comedy prepares you for, teenagers treat the game’s violence with an uncomfortable level of normalcy, and the constant pressure to trend adds another layer of absurdity to everything happening.
I think Don’t Die, Dave is a fantastic addition to the LitRPG community: funny, weird, surprisingly heartfelt, and different enough to have its own identity.
I think Don’t Die, Dave works because, underneath all the ridiculousness, it understands exactly what kind of story it wants to tell. The American healthcare system is obviously part of the target, and I think the satire lands because it exaggerates problems people already recognize without turning the whole book into a political lecture.
Living in Utah, I am spoiled with healthcare. I also know healthcare looks different depending on where you are; systems like Intermountain Health show there are nonprofit models with real advantages, even if it's not universal healthcare. Obama and Mitt Romney used IH to try and create universal health care. The book still gives that frustration plenty of room to breathe.
The humor is unreal. I think this is one of the funniest LitRPGs I’ve read because the jokes are built around Gen X and millennial culture without feeling trapped in one decade. TV, movies, video games, music, internet culture, and pop-culture references stretch across more than sixty years, and somehow it all works.
The game’s social-media layer, RiftTok, might be one of my favorite ideas because survival isn't enough; you also have to stay interesting enough for people to keep watching.
Dave’s character arc surprised me most. He starts as a grumpy, isolated old hermit who mostly wants everyone to leave him alone, and then this broken little AI ghost penguin named Pepper begins sanding down the rough edges. I think their relationship gives the entire book its heart.
The leveling, loot drops, AI messages, inventory, classes, and progression are also the perfect amount of “crunchy” for me: enough mechanics to make it feel unquestionably LitRPG without stopping the story every three pages to hand me a spreadsheet.
And then the book keeps finding ways to get darker, stranger, and more inventive. Character leveling goes places I did not expect, some deaths hit much harder than the comedy prepares you for, teenagers treat the game’s violence with an uncomfortable level of normalcy, and the constant pressure to trend adds another layer of absurdity to everything happening.
I think Don’t Die, Dave is a fantastic addition to the LitRPG community: funny, weird, surprisingly heartfelt, and different enough to have its own identity.
July 9, 2026
There are a lot of good things I liked about this book. There were also several things I didn't like, most of them technical, but immediately took me out of the story.
I liked the commentary on our capitalist society, the abysmal state of US healthcare, and how kids growing up in the digital age can lose sight of, well, humanity. The plot is decent. The story moves along quickly. As a voice actor, the author is great. I love Pepper.
This book reads like a love letter to GenX (and Matt Dinniman).
What I *didn't* like were typos or complete misuse of words. At one point he referenced the "hold" of the ship as if it were the deck, where typically cargo holds are below deck. After research, however, I did find out that more modern ships do have holds *on* the deck, but that was also something that took me out of the story for a brief second. But this is the one that really bugged me: at one point, he used the word "dias" and I would've chalked it up to being a typo, except in the audiobook he pronounced it dye-us, when what was being described was a dais. Not to mention, he uses the correct word with the correct pronunciation at the end of the book.
Speaking of the audiobook, there were several paragraphs in the kindle book that were missing from the audiobook. There were also a couple of sentences in the audiobook that weren't in the kindle book. This completely took me out of the story. I'm not sure which is canon, the book of the audiobook, but not having them match up when you're listening along while reading is so distracting. I would post screenshots, but imgur isn't working right now and I don't want to mess with it. ANYWAY, the inconsistencies between the book and the audiobook derailed me, and that wasn't enjoyable.
This could be a 4-star book but it's wrapped in 3-star packaging.
I liked the commentary on our capitalist society, the abysmal state of US healthcare, and how kids growing up in the digital age can lose sight of, well, humanity. The plot is decent. The story moves along quickly. As a voice actor, the author is great. I love Pepper.
This book reads like a love letter to GenX (and Matt Dinniman).
What I *didn't* like were typos or complete misuse of words. At one point he referenced the "hold" of the ship as if it were the deck, where typically cargo holds are below deck. After research, however, I did find out that more modern ships do have holds *on* the deck, but that was also something that took me out of the story for a brief second. But this is the one that really bugged me: at one point, he used the word "dias" and I would've chalked it up to being a typo, except in the audiobook he pronounced it dye-us, when what was being described was a dais. Not to mention, he uses the correct word with the correct pronunciation at the end of the book.
Speaking of the audiobook, there were several paragraphs in the kindle book that were missing from the audiobook. There were also a couple of sentences in the audiobook that weren't in the kindle book. This completely took me out of the story. I'm not sure which is canon, the book of the audiobook, but not having them match up when you're listening along while reading is so distracting. I would post screenshots, but imgur isn't working right now and I don't want to mess with it. ANYWAY, the inconsistencies between the book and the audiobook derailed me, and that wasn't enjoyable.
This could be a 4-star book but it's wrapped in 3-star packaging.
September 4, 2026
This was decent, entertaining, but Dave is constantly talking about being Gen X person, and that may be true, but he's definitely on the early end of Gen X and doesn't seem to understand a lot about the pop culture that made Gen X big, and also makes me question their date range for Gen X (generally recognized as 1965 -1981). As a younger Xennial (a micro generation born on the cusp of Gen X and Millennial 1977 - 1985) I honestly felt I couldn’t relate to a lot of how unaware he was with technology and gaming idioms even though we were both here for the Sega/Nintendo console wars discussed in the book, and I too remember playing pong on Atari before they came out.
Dave is more fitted for a Boomer role than Gen X, but even my Boomer dad was more into gaming and lingo before he passed than Dave seems to be in this book. I get that Dave is shoved into this game to pay his medical bills, but he's down right angry at everyone and everything for his failings and how the world has failed him til literally the last 5% of the book.
I like how he dedicated the book to Matt Dinnimann, as he was given inspiration to write this book, and this is a great start, however, I think the writer needs to lose dome animosity against the world and start finding the humor (even the dark humor) in it all. He has the technical ability to write a GREAT book, but a book about how much you hate Big Pharma, Medical Insurance companies, and how they essentially leave you to die or make you sign your life over to possible "placebo trials" when you have Cancer, just isn't it. I'm sorry your wife died.
Dave is more fitted for a Boomer role than Gen X, but even my Boomer dad was more into gaming and lingo before he passed than Dave seems to be in this book. I get that Dave is shoved into this game to pay his medical bills, but he's down right angry at everyone and everything for his failings and how the world has failed him til literally the last 5% of the book.
I like how he dedicated the book to Matt Dinnimann, as he was given inspiration to write this book, and this is a great start, however, I think the writer needs to lose dome animosity against the world and start finding the humor (even the dark humor) in it all. He has the technical ability to write a GREAT book, but a book about how much you hate Big Pharma, Medical Insurance companies, and how they essentially leave you to die or make you sign your life over to possible "placebo trials" when you have Cancer, just isn't it. I'm sorry your wife died.
September 15, 2026
Unfortunately, ‘Don’t Die Dave’ was just way too cringey for me.
I’m honestly not sure who the target audience was supposed to be, but I guess I’m just not it. There are a ton of Gen X/Millennial references throughout the book, and although that wouldn’t normally bother me, the way Gen Z/Gen Alpha were written felt so exaggerated and painfully cringey that I refuse to believe it’s even remotely accurate. It felt less like playful generational humour and more like a caricature of younger people written entirely from the outside looking in. The humour became really repetitive for me because of that, and instead of being funny, it started to feel kind of forced.
The frustrating part is that I actually really like the premise. I think the concept itself is fun and had so much potential, but the execution just didn’t work for me. I kept wishing the story would lean more into the actual plot and characters instead of relying so heavily on generational jokes.
One HUGE positive, though, is Pepper. Pepper is easily my favourite part of the entire book. She is genuinely the cutest thing ever, and basically every line of dialogue she had made me laugh. Her constantly calling Dave “Mommy” absolutely killed me.
I’m honestly not sure who the target audience was supposed to be, but I guess I’m just not it. There are a ton of Gen X/Millennial references throughout the book, and although that wouldn’t normally bother me, the way Gen Z/Gen Alpha were written felt so exaggerated and painfully cringey that I refuse to believe it’s even remotely accurate. It felt less like playful generational humour and more like a caricature of younger people written entirely from the outside looking in. The humour became really repetitive for me because of that, and instead of being funny, it started to feel kind of forced.
The frustrating part is that I actually really like the premise. I think the concept itself is fun and had so much potential, but the execution just didn’t work for me. I kept wishing the story would lean more into the actual plot and characters instead of relying so heavily on generational jokes.
One HUGE positive, though, is Pepper. Pepper is easily my favourite part of the entire book. She is genuinely the cutest thing ever, and basically every line of dialogue she had made me laugh. Her constantly calling Dave “Mommy” absolutely killed me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2026
A Pleasant Surprise!
I'm fairly new to LitRPG, and I honestly haven't found anything in the genre to keep my interest besides Dungeon Crawler Carl. Maybe that's my problem - I started with the best, so everything else seems lackluster. Imagine my surprise, then, when I started a book that I knew would be a DNF because of the goofy cover, and got totally sucked in! The narrator's voice was strong and genuine, and the plot stayed engaging throughout. It was also educational as I (and the main character) learned modern lingo such as fire, rizz, and cap. I would highly recommend this book to anyone just entering the genre, or anyone who loves DCC. Mongo would approve.
This book is fire, fam, no cap!
I'm fairly new to LitRPG, and I honestly haven't found anything in the genre to keep my interest besides Dungeon Crawler Carl. Maybe that's my problem - I started with the best, so everything else seems lackluster. Imagine my surprise, then, when I started a book that I knew would be a DNF because of the goofy cover, and got totally sucked in! The narrator's voice was strong and genuine, and the plot stayed engaging throughout. It was also educational as I (and the main character) learned modern lingo such as fire, rizz, and cap. I would highly recommend this book to anyone just entering the genre, or anyone who loves DCC. Mongo would approve.
This book is fire, fam, no cap!
October 3, 2026
Something for everyone
As a retired teacher of Dave's generation, I could really appreciate his character's confusion with today's youth and their impenetrable slang and totally related to his curmudgeonliness. The book's premise was completely whacked-out, but was surprisingly easy to follow. It was sad and hilarious, cartoonish and engrossing, all at once. I can see where the story borrowed a bit from Dungeon Crawler Carl but it was more of a fond tribute and not a derivative theft. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
As a retired teacher of Dave's generation, I could really appreciate his character's confusion with today's youth and their impenetrable slang and totally related to his curmudgeonliness. The book's premise was completely whacked-out, but was surprisingly easy to follow. It was sad and hilarious, cartoonish and engrossing, all at once. I can see where the story borrowed a bit from Dungeon Crawler Carl but it was more of a fond tribute and not a derivative theft. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
May 24, 2026
You’ll here this compared to Dungeon Crawler Carl, but it stands on its own merits
The only commonality it has is regular guy in a competition fighting the man. In this case we are taking on the US Health Care system which is ripe for ridicule. A fun ride through multi player online gaming with depreciating assets (sick people) pumped into the game and told to entertain or be unplugged.
I enjoyed it very much and am looking forward to book 2.
The only commonality it has is regular guy in a competition fighting the man. In this case we are taking on the US Health Care system which is ripe for ridicule. A fun ride through multi player online gaming with depreciating assets (sick people) pumped into the game and told to entertain or be unplugged.
I enjoyed it very much and am looking forward to book 2.
July 14, 2026
I wanted to explore the LitRPG genre after reading dungeon crawler Carl and absolutely loving it. This was fun. Definitely had a similar vibe to DCC. Loved the fact that the villains in this book was an evil giant insurance corporation using people in medical debt to play a new video game. Also loved how some of the humor was geared towards millennials and Gen X. Looking forward to reading the next one!
July 19, 2026
Don’t Die Dave was such a fun read. The story kept me on my toes and laughing to myself the entire time. I ended up buying a signed copy when I was only halfway through because I was enjoying it that much.
If you’re looking for an entertaining, fast-paced story with humor, heart, and a main character you’ll cheer for, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a shot. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes Dave.
If you’re looking for an entertaining, fast-paced story with humor, heart, and a main character you’ll cheer for, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a shot. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes Dave.
July 27, 2026
I tried my hardest not compare Don’t Die Dave to Dungeon Crawler Carl but given they are both LitRPG it was very hard not to. There are definitely similarities. I think Dave sets the two apart the most. Dave is not meant to be a player. He’s meant to be more of a guide for actual players. He uses this to his advantage often which is what makes Dave entertaining to read. Also having my favorite animal as the adorable sidekick doesn’t hurt either!
I did receive an ARC from the author in exchange for a review.
I did receive an ARC from the author in exchange for a review.
April 24, 2026
Really fun quick read with a timely BBEG
I loved this quick paced romp in the spirit of Dungeon Crawler Carl and Discount Dan! This one is an evil hospital system in a dystopian future.
The writer has proven that he's got a fun engaging story and I can't wait to read more from Pepper and Dave!
I loved this quick paced romp in the spirit of Dungeon Crawler Carl and Discount Dan! This one is an evil hospital system in a dystopian future.
The writer has proven that he's got a fun engaging story and I can't wait to read more from Pepper and Dave!
June 21, 2026
Litrpg has a lot of different approaches. I was looking for something after dungeon crawler and came about this. The sidekick of this story is awesome and reminds me of that good angel on your shoulder when all he wants to do is be a little bad. If you need to scratch the DCC itch. Pick this up and you won’t be disappointed.
June 28, 2026
Ripsaw gamer fun with ALL of the archetypes
When you get it, you get it. When you don’t you’re either too old or too young. But when you get it together even it could just work.
Dave is old and dying, the health care company wants their money back but the game CAN be beaten!
A great, if sometimes frenetic, romp with some heart and soul.
When you get it, you get it. When you don’t you’re either too old or too young. But when you get it together even it could just work.
Dave is old and dying, the health care company wants their money back but the game CAN be beaten!
A great, if sometimes frenetic, romp with some heart and soul.
August 24, 2026
There’s absolutely nothing about this book I disliked. It had me hooked. Pepper is the G.O.A.T and book two is too far away (October 1st on Kindle) I need more 😭😭😭 I had so much fun and I got mad with Dave. Read this book. Make it a top priority. Seriously. If you love Lit RPG and Dungeon Crawler Carl you’ll eat this up.
August 5, 2026
Too much of an attempt to be Dungeon Crawler Carl. Lots of teen lingo. Penguin Pepper was about the only redeeming part of the book, in my opinion.
August 15, 2026
Absolutely lovable main character. Fun premise, excited for book 2
June 9, 2026
A Great Read
Don't Die Dave is a great read. DDD was a fun ride. I wish I could read it all over again!
Don't Die Dave is a great read. DDD was a fun ride. I wish I could read it all over again!
August 12, 2026
grows into a great story
I was frustrated at the beginning of this book. There was only Dave to relate to. Most of the peripheral cast were incredibly annoying caricatures, however the second half really pulls through as a great book
I was frustrated at the beginning of this book. There was only Dave to relate to. Most of the peripheral cast were incredibly annoying caricatures, however the second half really pulls through as a great book
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews