Did We Just Get Our First Tease of Dungeon Crawler Carl Pinball?
Rumors surrounding a Dungeon Crawler Carl pinball machine have been circulating for months, but a recent social media post has given fans another reason to believe something may actually be in the works.
Luciano Fleitas, the artist responsible for the striking cover artwork featured throughout Matt Dinniman's bestselling Dungeon Crawler Carl series, recently shared a new illustration on Instagram with a simple caption:
"This will look great on a pinball machine, won't it?"
Naturally, that was enough to send the pinball community into detective mode.
Who Could Be Building It?
The biggest question isn't whether the license exists—it's who may have secured it.
Barrels of Fun
For quite some time, many fans believed the project belonged to Barrels of Fun.
Part of that speculation centered around designer Karl DeAngelo, who has openly shown his enthusiasm for the Dungeon Crawler Carl universe. Fans have even pointed to photos of DeAngelo dressed as Carl for Halloween as evidence that he's a genuine fan of the series.
Combined with Barrels of Fun's willingness to pursue unconventional themes, it seemed like a natural fit.
Multimorphic
More recently, however, the conversation has shifted toward Multimorphic.
Rumors connecting the title to the company's modular P3 platform have become increasingly common, and many longtime rumor watchers now believe Multimorphic is the more likely candidate.
Of course, until a manufacturer confirms anything, both remain educated guesses.
Could This Artwork Actually Be for a Pinball Machine?
That's the million dollar question.
It's entirely possible Fleitas was simply having fun with fans or referencing the ongoing speculation. Artists often create promotional pieces that never become part of a larger project.
On the other hand, it's also possible he knows something everyone else doesn't.
If a manufacturer has licensed his artwork or commissioned new pieces for cabinet or playfield art, noq his Instagram caption suddenly becomes much more interesting.
Without additional evidence, though, it's impossible to say whether this was an intentional tease or just a playful comment.
Why Dungeon Crawler Carl Makes Sense for Pinball
Whether you're already a fan of the books or just discovering the series, it's not hard to imagine why the theme has generated so much excitement.
The Dungeon Crawler Carl universe is packed with larger than life bosses, bizarre monsters, outrageous humor, memorable characters, and video game inspired progression. Those elements naturally lend themselves to pinball through creative modes, multiballs, boss battles, and kinetic artwork.
It also represents something manufacturers are increasingly chasing: licenses that resonate with younger audiences while still appealing to longtime collectors.