A Bright Soulslike
Another Crab’s Treasure is a creative underwater soulslike from Seattle studio Aggro Crab. It launches April 26 on Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC, and PS5. You play as Kril, a hermit crab who has lost his shell and goes on a trash-strewn quest to get it back.
The art direction is bright and cartoony, which is a huge shift from the oppressive mood of most soulslike games. Instead of creeping through gloom, I found myself moving forward with curiosity. The enemies and environments are charming enough that exploration feels light rather than tense.
A World Made of Trash
The setting is a sea polluted by human waste, but the game treats trash as treasure. Soda cans, banana peels, plastic junk, and glass bottles become tools, weapons, and architecture. The moment a boss swung a stainless tea infuser at me like a meteor hammer, I knew the developers were fully committed to the idea.
This reimagining of marine life coexisting with garbage gives the world a playful logic. It’s weird, but it works.
Shells and Combat
Combat offers a nice range of approaches. You can learn skills to deepen your kit, or you can take the stress-free route and equip a gun that lets Kril mow through enemies. It’s a welcome option if you don’t usually play action-heavy games.
Shells are both armor and spell catalysts. Each one has its own durability and weight, and shells unlock “umami” magic. There are over 60 shells to try, and the game encourages experimentation. I also love the little insurance system in town; losing a shell doesn’t feel like a disaster because you can file a claim and move on.
Progression and Companions
The soulslike DNA is obvious in the progression systems. You collect stainless relics to boost weapons, use kelp pods for healing, upgrade Kril with microplastics, and teleport between moon-snail shells. You can also equip tiny parasite companions that grant buffs like extra attack or defense, but their capacity is limited so you have to choose your loadout carefully.
Bosses and Story
The roster mixes crabs, lobsters, seahorses, and fish, each with distinct attack patterns. Bosses are the highlight: they demand observation and patience, and failure isn’t too punishing thanks to quick respawns nearby.
The story is about Kril’s search for a shell, but it also weaves in dark humor and a fable-like take on pollution and madness. The NPCs are eccentric, and their little stories make the world feel alive rather than just “set dressing.”
Closing Thoughts
At first glance, Another Crab’s Treasure looks like a cute, lightweight game. After spending time with it, I see a clever soulslike that trades grimness for charm while keeping the structure that makes the genre satisfying. The mix of playful visuals, weirdly inventive enemies, and flexible combat made me want to keep diving deeper.