Best Jeff Hays Audiobooks

The best audiobooks narrated by Jeff Hays — 25 titles spanning Fantasy, Sci-Fi, averaging 4.31 ABR stars.

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Jeff Hays is, for a huge chunk of the LitRPG community, synonymous with one series: Dungeon Crawler Carl. He's narrated every installment — from the original Dungeon Crawler Carl through Carl's Doomsday Scenario and The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook — and at this point it's nearly impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. His performance style is chaotic in the best possible way: fast, irreverent, packed with distinct character voices that range from deadpan sarcasm to full-on unhinged. Carl himself lands as a genuinely funny everyman, but Hays clearly relishes the weirder supporting cast even more. That average Goodreads rating above 4.5 isn't an accident — listeners are obsessive about this series partly because of what Hays brings to it. If you like your audiobooks loud, comedic, and slightly unhinged, Jeff Hays is your guy.

Where to Start with Jeff Hays

  1. 1
    The Butcher's Masquerade cover

    The Butcher's Masquerade

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 5

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays

    4.88 ABR Score (135.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.69 Goodreads (108.1K) ★ 4.94 Audible (27.2K)
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    Carl and Princess Donut navigate a dinosaur-infested jungle floor while alien viewers vote on their survival. Hays captures the series' perfect blend of video game logic and genuine emotional stakes.

  2. 2
    This Inevitable Ruin cover

    This Inevitable Ruin

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 7

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays, Travis Baldree

    4.87 ABR Score (96.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.68 Goodreads (74.1K) ★ 4.93 Audible (22.1K)
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    Jeff Hays and Travis Baldree tackle the chaos of Faction Wars as Carl's team faces nine alien armies in a massive battle for the ninth floor's central castle.

  3. 3
    The Eye of the Bedlam Bride cover

    The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 6

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays, Patrick Warburton, Travis Baldree, Annie Ellicott

    4.83 ABR Score (110.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.66 Goodreads (91.7K) ★ 4.92 Audible (18.5K)
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    Chaos reigns on floor eight as Carl and friends face scattered challenges, forgotten gods, and an AI system falling apart. This ensemble cast including Patrick Warburton creates pure audio mayhem.

  4. 4
    Dungeon Crawler Carl cover

    Dungeon Crawler Carl

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 1

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays

    4.80 ABR Score (335.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.48 Goodreads (284.3K) ★ 4.86 Audible (51.2K)
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    When Earth becomes a literal death game show, one man and his ex-girlfriend's cat fight for survival in underground dungeons designed to entertain alien viewers. Jeff Hays channels Carl's desperate humor perfectly, making the absurd premise land with surprising emotional weight.

  5. 5
    The Gate of the Feral Gods cover

    The Gate of the Feral Gods

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 4

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays

    4.79 ABR Score (150.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.55 Goodreads (125.6K) ★ 4.91 Audible (24.5K)
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    Carl and Princess Donut face floating gnome fortresses and haunted crypts in their deadliest floor yet. Jeff Hays continues his exceptional character work, especially with Princess Donut's regal cat attitude amid apocalyptic absurdity.

  6. 6
    Carl's Doomsday Scenario cover

    Carl's Doomsday Scenario

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 2

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays

    4.78 ABR Score (217.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.51 Goodreads (187.5K) ★ 4.89 Audible (30.0K)
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    Carl and his magic cat Princess Donut navigate the second level of an alien game show designed to kill humans for entertainment. Jeff Hays perfectly captures the absurd humor of this death-trap RPG scenario.

  7. 7
    The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook cover

    The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 3

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays, The Critical Drinker

    4.75 ABR Score (182.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (152.4K) ★ 4.9 Audible (29.6K)
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    Carl and Princess Donut face the impossibly twisted Iron Tangle subway system where up is down and logic doesn't apply. Jeff Hays and The Critical Drinker's dynamic narration perfectly captures this series' blend of absurd humor and genuine stakes.

  8. 8
    Shadow Sun Rebellion cover

    Shadow Sun Rebellion

    Shadow Sun • Book 3

    by Dave Willmarth

    Narrated by Will M. Watt, Annie Ellicott, Andrea Parsneau, Jeff Hays

    4.44 ABR Score (1.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.78 Audible (1.6K)
  9. 9
    Shadow Sun Expansion cover

    Shadow Sun Expansion

    Shadow Sun • Book 2

    by Dave Willmarth

    Narrated by Will M. Watt, Annie Ellicott, Andrea Parsneau, Jeff Hays

    4.41 ABR Score (1.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.75 Audible (1.8K)
  10. 10
    Shadow Sun Survival cover

    Shadow Sun Survival

    Shadow Sun • Book 1

    by Dave Willmarth

    Narrated by Will M. Watt, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau, Annie Ellicott

    4.36 ABR Score (2.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.67 Audible (2.8K)
  11. 11
    Sequel.exe cover

    Sequel.exe

    Industrial Strength Magic • Book 2

    by Macronomicon

    Narrated by Steve Campbell, Jeff Hays, Justin Thomas James, Annie Ellicott, Laurie Catherine Winkel, Andrea Parsneau

    4.34 ABR Score (2.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.57 Goodreads (1.5K) ★ 4.84 Audible (590)
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    Perry returns to find Franklin City controlled by a mad god playing cruel games with reality, while an ancient force from the age of capes plans humanity's extinction.

  12. 12
    Operation Bounce House cover

    Operation Bounce House

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Travis Baldree, Jeff Hays

    4.26 ABR Score (13.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (10.8K) ★ 4.67 Audible (3.1K)
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    A rancher must defend his planet when Earth gamers target his world for remote destruction. Travis Baldree and Jeff Hays work together seamlessly, alternating perspectives while maintaining the story's frantic energy throughout.

  13. 13
    Irrelevant Jack 4 cover

    Irrelevant Jack 4

    Irrelevant Jack • Book 4

    by Prax Venter

    Narrated by Justin Thomas James, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau

    4.22 ABR Score (1.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.36 Goodreads (697) ★ 4.8 Audible (707)
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    King and Queen lead an enormous party of Heroes and Townsfolk to balance Blackmoor and visit neighboring unknown lands. James, Hays, and Parsneau handle the expanded cast as Jack faces leadership challenges both inside and outside Subroutine Sana's Towers.

  14. 14
    Irrelevant Jack 3 cover

    Irrelevant Jack 3

    Irrelevant Jack • Book 3

    by Prax Venter

    Narrated by Justin Thomas James, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau

    4.22 ABR Score (1.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.34 Goodreads (1.0K) ★ 4.74 Audible (912)
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    Jack's defiant leadership of Blackmoor Cove faces consequences as Emberstone's displaced heroes seek refuge from advancing Corruption. The three-narrator team expertly handles the expanding cast and escalating magical conflicts.

  15. 15
    A Parade of Horribles cover

    A Parade of Horribles

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 8

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays

    4.18 ABR Score (650 ratings)
    ★ 4.71 Goodreads (650)
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    Carl and Donut face the dungeon's tenth floor where simple races hide deadly eliminations after each event. Jeff Hays continues to perfect his character voices as the series reaches new heights of controlled chaos.

  16. 16
    Irrelevant Jack 5 cover

    Irrelevant Jack 5

    Irrelevant Jack • Book 5

    by Prax Venter

    Narrated by Justin Thomas James, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau

    4.15 ABR Score (1.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.3 Goodreads (501) ★ 4.77 Audible (530)
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    NPCs gain self-consciousness and explore beyond their programmed boundaries while cosmic infection spreads through Motarn's unexplored regions. The multiple narrators handle the expanding cast as characters seek individual paths.

  17. 17
    Cherry Blossom Girls 4: A Superhero Adventure cover

    Cherry Blossom Girls 4: A Superhero Adventure

    Cherry Blossom Girls • Book 4

    by Harmon Cooper

    Narrated by Justin Thomas James, Jeff Hays, Laurie Catherine Winkel, Annie Ellicott, Andrea Parsneau

    4.10 ABR Score (936 ratings)
    ★ 4.27 Goodreads (377) ★ 4.77 Audible (559)
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    The full voice cast brings energy to this meta-fictional superhero story where the protagonist becomes 'Cherry Blossom Boy' and deals with media attention. The multiple narrators handle the ensemble cast and genre-awareness perfectly.

  18. 18
    Irrelevant Jack cover

    Irrelevant Jack

    Irrelevant Jack • Book 1

    by Prax Venter

    Narrated by Justin Thomas James, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau

    4.09 ABR Score (3.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.13 Goodreads (1.9K) ★ 4.55 Audible (1.9K)
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    Pulled into a game-like world, Jack finds his Hero Class filled with coding errors while trying to save a seaside town from an unknown threat. The trio of narrators brings energy to this LitRPG adventure.

  19. 19
    Bunny Girl Evolution 1: A Monster Evolution LitRPG cover

    Bunny Girl Evolution 1: A Monster Evolution LitRPG

    Bunny Girl Evolution • Book 1

    by Sir Bedivere The Mad

    Narrated by Dorrie Sacks, Justin Thomas James, Ryan H. Reid, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau, Tess Irondale

    4.03 ABR Score (939 ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (521) ★ 4.62 Audible (418)
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    Bullied girl dies and reincarnates as a rabbit with big ears and buck teeth, facing magical world survival. Six-narrator cast handles the evolution mechanics and character growth.

  20. 20
    Wizard's Tower 2: A LitRPG Adventure cover

    Wizard's Tower 2: A LitRPG Adventure

    Wizard's Tower • Book 2

    by Gregory Allanther

    Narrated by Justin Thomas James, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau

    3.96 ABR Score (721 ratings)
    ★ 4.24 Goodreads (633) ★ 4.61 Audible (88)
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    Grumpy wizard Nemon Fargus continues unlocking magical secrets in this high fantasy LitRPG, brought to life by a stellar trio of narrators who capture every cantankerous moment.

  21. 21
    Wizard's Tower cover

    Wizard's Tower

    Wizard's Tower • Book 1

    by Gregory Allanther

    Narrated by Justin Thomas James, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau

    3.95 ABR Score (1.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (1.2K) ★ 4.46 Audible (427)
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    After 150 years serving ungrateful kingdoms, wizard Nemon Fargus finally breaks free to pursue his own path. The multi-narrator cast brings depth to this tale of magical independence and self-discovery.

  22. 22
    Wriggly Little Hands cover

    Wriggly Little Hands

    by Alex Knight

    Narrated by Dorrie Sacks, Justin Thomas James, Gary Furlong, Ryan H. Reid, Christopher Ragland, Tiana Camacho, Andrea Parsneau, Jeff Hays

    3.89 ABR Score (212 ratings)
    ★ 4.27 Goodreads (132) ★ 4.6 Audible (80)
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    Goblin Oli gets tasked with retrieving a doomsday weapon but treats it like a family road trip in this comedy quest. The massive eight-narrator cast - including Jeff Hays and Andrea Parsneau - should bring chaotic goblin energy to life.

  23. 23
    Flamespitter (Elemental Gunslinger, Book 1) - A Wild West Cultivation Story cover

    Flamespitter (Elemental Gunslinger, Book 1) - A Wild West Cultivation Story

    Elemental Gunslinger • Book 1

    by Jonathan Smidt

    Narrated by Ryan H. Reid, Andrea Parsneau, Jeff Hays

    3.88 ABR Score (371 ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (186) ★ 4.45 Audible (185)
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    Mr. Jones hides his impossible four-element gunslinger abilities in this Wild West cultivation tale, with narrators capturing both the frontier grit and mystical power systems.

  24. 24
    Wizard's Tower 3 cover

    Wizard's Tower 3

    Wizard's Tower • Book 3

    by Gregory Allanther

    Narrated by Justin Thomas James, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau

    3.84 ABR Score (465 ratings)
    ★ 4.17 Goodreads (420) ★ 4.22 Audible (45)
    More about this pick

    Nemon Fargus prepares for the End of an Age as the Pestilence arrives and kingdoms crumble, while Jeff Hays and the cast capture his grumpy determination to unlock every magical secret.

  25. 25
    The Beast of the Black Hills (Elemental Gunslinger, Book 2) - A Wild West Cultivation Story cover

    The Beast of the Black Hills (Elemental Gunslinger, Book 2) - A Wild West Cultivation Story

    Elemental Gunslinger • Book 2

    by Jonathan Smidt, Portal Books

    Narrated by Ryan H. Reid, Jeff Hays, Andrea Parsneau

    3.74 ABR Score (32 ratings)
    ★ 4.33 Goodreads (18) ★ 4.79 Audible (14)

How We Rank Audiobooks

Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

Read our full ranking methodology →