Game Review: Another Crab's Treasure

The Soulslike genre is continuing to grow by the day. While FromSoftware continue to set the benchmark for the genre, I’m happy to see more and more studios are producing their own spins on the formula. While not every studio has access to FromSoftware’s budget or their own Hidetaka Miyazaki to lead the creative vision, that’s not always a bad thing.  Don’t get me wrong, anything that studio produce is sure-fire guaranteed to be a legitimate banger, but I believe there’s a lot of studios out there which have just as much value to offer the genre with their own ideas. The more studios out there offering their own creative ideas, the more we as the players get to experience different interpretations on the genre. While we’ve seen what it’s like when studios with a higher budget get to produce Soulslike games, there’s arguably a lot of potential to be found from studios with a lesser budget. Limitations can often produce innovation and that’s clearly the case with Aggro Crab’s Soulslike experience; Another Crab’s Treasure.

Another Crab’s Treasure is developed by Seattle-based developer Aggro Crab, who also self-published the game as well. In the game you play as a small hermit crab who explores key locations of the ocean in a third-person perspective while combating against enemies and bosses in the typical Soulslike formula.  The game released on April 25th 2024 across PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Upon release, the game aggregated an average score of 81 on OpenCritic and on the sales front the title was reported to have sold 250,000 copies across all gaming platforms in the span of three months, very impressive results for a game clearly working on a limited budget when you consider think about it. 

The story of Another Crab’s Treasure follows Kril, a hermit crab who enjoys his remote life living on his own in a tide pool on the ocean surface.  One day a loan shark appears and steals Kril’s shell right off his back as he claims Kril owes taxes to the resident ruler of the ocean region; The Duchess of Slacktide. Angry at the theft of his beloved shell, Kril jumps right down to the ocean floor to find the Duchess and resolve the matter of his supposedly unpaid taxes.  This will be anything but a simple endeavour for Krill however, as he soon learns that the ocean’s inhabitants are slowly becoming tainted by an affliction known as Gunk which causes them to go crazy and violent.  His journey to recover his shell will take Krill on a journey across the ocean bed as he witnesses first hand the devastation that the Gunk infestation is causing to the ocean and its inhabitants as he also becomes embroiled in a secondary journey to find and locate a fabled treasure.

Let’s talk about the positives firstly, I found the humour in the game quite smart.  The game for the most part takes its central plot with a fair bit of seriousness but is able to inject a good amount of levity when the moment calls for it.  I’ve always been a stickler for smart, self-aware writing in video games and Another Crab’s Treasure does nail that approach for the most part. Where the narrative does lose me however is in the overall structure. Kril’s journey to reclaim his shell is understandable initially, but as the wider stakes of the plot are revealed it doesn’t feel like Kril’s reaction and motivations are made to match against them.  Kril is a fairly weak protagonist because of how little he actually develops throughout the plot.  In these kind of stories, its typical the hero actually learns and gets perspective on what truly matters, but I sadly never felt that with Kril.  The plot never really makes the effort to give Kril a proper character arc until the last 5 minutes of the game, by which point it feels sadly forced. I also wish the plot was a little more subtle at times, between it’s heavy-handed messaging and it’s forced dialogue, it just feels like the story has the intent but struggles with the approach of delivering it succinctly. 

One area Another Crab’s Treasure doesn’t faulter however is the gameplay.  While Kril doesn’t control and move as fast as your typical Soulslike character, what he lacks in motion, he more than makes up for in versatility.  The entire point of hermit crabs is their ability to make a shell out of a lot of items, whether natural or man-made.  The game hones in on that idea and makes it one of the core components of its DNA.  Kril will be able to replace his shell with an assortment of different items he finds upon his travels.  Each item he can use has a unique selection of stats and abilities to utilize.  Each shell will hold a certain weight to it which will impact your movement and dodge speed as well as how much damage you can take before your shell breaks.  The abilities behind each shell are the key element to consider however, as they can apply a number of different effects on either Kril or his enemies which can help shift the outcome of a battle.  One of my favourite shells include the Coconut, which has a hefty defense and allows you to roll into your enemies with enough force to stun them and cause notable damage. There’s also the Yoccult shell, which will allow Kril to gradually regain health overtime every time he drinks out of it. There’s an extensive number of shells in the game which offer the player so much choice to experiment with. Similar to the role of an actual hermit crab, it’s all about finding the shell that is the best fit for the playstyle you’re comfortable with.

Besides this primary function, the game operates in a way that any self-respected Souslike fan will recognize. Within the numerous environments you’ll be exploring, you’ll be pitted against a number of sea creatures who have succumbed to the corruptive nature of Gunk.  The range of enemies the game offers is extensive and that’s not even including the games impressive selection of bosses. I love how the challenge that these enemies present increases in respect to how much further you progress within the game. The general combat mechanics you have to play with is fairly recognizable too, with a dodge and parry mechanic as well as light and heavy attacks.  Again the combat isn’t as fast or fluid as most Souslikes, but the systems in place here do their job well enough that you always feel in control of the battles you’re placed in. Elements that will help with general combat are the Stowaways you can host on your shell.  Similar to the rings you can equip in Dark Souls, Stowaways provide the player with unique buffs and effects that can help the player further tailor the game to suit their playstyle.  Alongside the Stowaway mechanic is also Adaptions, which are super-powered attacks you learn from killing bosses.  These attacks each offer a unique approach to do extra damage besides your standard attack and can be upgraded too.

It wouldn’t be a Souslike game however if it didn’t have larger-than-life bosses and Another Crab’s Treasure has that core element nailed down wonderfully as well.  Each boss you encounter throughout the game, whether in the story or through exploration, is designed to push you to your limits.  These bosses are so wonderfully visualized too with the way they incorporate that sea creature design into something truly intimidating and vivid.  There wasn’t really any boss that felt poorly designed within the scope of this game either, they all presented some unique concept and challenge which you are smartly taught to overcome with resources and shells presented to you.  Some of my favourite encounters worth noting are Heikea, Intimidation Crab, Inkerton, Roland's Right Claw and Camtscha, The Bleached King.  

From an environmental perspective, despite clearly working on a limited budget Aggro Crab do their best to visualize their distinct world through a creative use of a cartoonish and colorful art style. I love how the locations you visit can stand out from one another with their unique designs as the deeper you dive into the ocean bed, the darker and more overwhelming the world becomes.  I also loved the character designs in this game; there’s a smart way the game differentiates friendly sea creatures against ones who are Gunked as the enemies look more like their real-life designs with their soulless black eyes. Felix Peasle helps push the general vibe of the game with his original score too, the boss tracks in the game kick actual ass with how upbeat they can get. 

The ambition Aggro Crab had to realize their vision for Another Crab’s Treasure is clear to see.  From start to finish, it’s easy to grasp just how much fun this developer had putting their own unique spin on what is often considered a dark and serious genre of video game. While its distinct charm and gameplay elements definitely makes it stand out, it does struggle to deliver itself on both a narrative and technical front often, which is slightly disappointing.  I think the flaws the game holds aren’t nearly enough to dismiss this game in any sense however.  If you like Souslike games, Another Crab’s Treasure offers more than enough to satisfy your appetite while also providing a more unique interpretation of the genre that isn’t afraid to do its own thing.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐