Another Crab's Treasure stands out as a soulslike action-adventure game that combines challenging combat with clever platforming and exploration in an underwater setting. You take control of Kril, a hermit crab on a quest to reclaim his shell while uncovering mysteries in a polluted ocean world. This indie title draws inspiration from tough action games but adds unique twists like using everyday trash as protective gear, making it accessible yet demanding for a wide range of players.
Gameplay
In Another Crab's Treasure, the core loop revolves around exploration and combat in a vast underwater environment. Kril uses discarded items as shells, which serve as both armor and weapons, with over 50 options to discover and equip. These shells provide different stats and abilities, encouraging experimentation to counter massive enemies. Combat follows a soulslike style, emphasizing dodging, parrying, and strategic attacks, but it's enhanced by Umami Techniques—special moves inspired by marine life, such as a powerful mantis shrimp punch or a bobbit worm snare.
Platforming elements blend seamlessly with fights, as you navigate kelp forests, coral reefs, and deep trenches. The game includes assist options that let you tweak difficulty, like reducing damage or adding aim assistance, making it approachable for newcomers without diluting the challenge for veterans. Progression involves collecting resources, upgrading abilities, and tackling bosses that test your mastery of these systems.
Game Modes
Another Crab's Treasure is a single-player experience focused on a narrative-driven campaign. You guide Kril through a linear yet open-ended story, with opportunities for side exploration and optional challenges. There are no separate multiplayer components or competitive modes; instead, the emphasis is on solo adventuring and personal progression.
Following the main story, the Year of the Crab update introduced New Game Plus, allowing replay with heightened difficulty and retained upgrades. This mode extends replayability by remixing encounters and encouraging different shell and ability builds.
Updates and Current State
Since its launch in April 2024, the game has received several patches addressing bugs and performance, with the most significant being the free Year of the Crab update in April 2025. This added New Game Plus and other enhancements, keeping the title fresh. As of early 2026, ongoing hotfixes have improved stability, particularly on consoles like the Switch, though some performance hiccups persist in demanding areas.
Community feedback has driven these changes, resulting in a polished experience that maintains the original vision while fixing early issues like camera problems and enemy pathing.
Is It Worth Playing?
With Steam reviews sitting at 95% positive out of over 9,000 English ratings and recent feedback at 91% positive, Another Crab's Treasure has earned strong praise for its inventive mechanics and accessibility. Critics have scored it highly too, with IGN giving it an 8 out of 10 for its clever design, and PC Gamer also awarding an 8 out of 10, highlighting the fun in its soulslike formula.
If you enjoy action-adventure games with tough but fair combat and a humorous take on environmental themes, this one delivers. The assist options make it suitable for casual players, while hardcore fans will appreciate the depth in shell customization and boss fights. Ongoing support through updates ensures it's in good shape, making it a solid choice for anyone seeking a fresh twist on the genre.
