My PlayStation 5 has been acting up lately — like, full-on open-heart-surgery levels of acting up. I figured it was just clogged with years of cat-fueled dust bunnies, so I gave it a good flossing. Nope. Still kept abruptly cutting off power after about an hour, like The Sopranos finale — just black screen, no warning.
After tearing it down piece by piece, giving it the ol’ emergency room treatment (which took hours and left me borderline feral), I finally got it breathing again. So I figured, hey, I deserve a break. Time to check out whatever looked halfway decent on PS Plus. Another Crab’s Treasure caught my eye — looked like a cute little indie thing, right? I thought I was in for some light, quirky underwater fun. Twenty minutes later, I’m rolling through dodge animations, trying not to die, and realizing: oh. This is a Soulslike! And honestly? Despite not knowing what I had signed up for – I was really digging it.
🦑 Story – Classic RareWare Vibes with a Side of Saltwater Sass
Right from the get-go, I knew this game was for me. It oozes that ‘90s RareWare charm — think Banjo-Kazooie, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, even Donkey Kong 64 — that mix of cartoon chaos and tongue-in-cheek wit. The self-aware humor hits immediately, and the game isn’t afraid to be ridiculous — which, let’s be real, is half the appeal.
The plot? Chef’s kiss in its simplicity. You play as Kril, a tiny hermit crab just minding his business when a literal loanshark rolls up and jacks your shell because you owe him money. That’s it. That’s the setup. And it works beautifully. From there, you’re off across the underwater world, trying to get it back — one recycled soda can at a time.
What really got me though? The relentless, glorious nautical puns. I’m a sucker for that stuff. Every zone, every side character, every bit of dialogue is packed with ocean-themed jokes and wordplay. I mean, there’s a boss fight that had me pausing just to appreciate the dumb brilliance of the name. It’s that same RareWare energy — goofy but clever, stupid but somehow smart. And while it plays it light on the surface, there’s actually some heart underneath all the crustacean chaos.
There’s commentary about pollution, class divides, and survival — but it never feels preachy. It just exists in the world, like the best kind of storytelling. You can take it seriously or just laugh at the hermit crab swinging a fork like it’s a greatsword. Either way, you’re having a good time.
🎮 Gameplay – Soulslike with a Shell Twist
So here I am, laughing at all the crustacean puns and soaking in the cartoon vibes, when outta nowhere — BOOM — I’m getting my claws handed to me. That’s when it hit me: this isn’t just some cute little indie platformer. Another Crab’s Treasureis a Soulslike! Underneath all the goofy sea jokes is a tough, mechanically solid action-RPG with a real challenge.
But it’s not punishing for the sake of being punishing. It’s like if Dark Souls took a vacation to the Jersey Shore and got a little sun-drunk. Combat has weight — you dodge, you parry, you get smacked around — but it’s all balanced by how creative the shell system is. Instead of armor, you scavenge garbage — cans, cups, ramen lids — and each one gives you different stats and abilities. A bottle cap might give you better defense, while a tuna can lets you do a ground pound. You literally collect microplastics to level up your guy. It’s genius. It’s hilarious. It’s dumb. It’s charming to boot! I love it.
And listen, I’ve played my fair share of Soulslikes, but this one actually wants you to succeed. If you’re struggling, there are assist features that don’t shame you for using them. (Don’t judge me – after the major operation on my Playstation I needed to relax) Accessibility without watering it down. Hehe.
The movement feels good, the platforming is serviceable (even if it gets a little floaty sometimes), and the boss fights are surprisingly epic — especially when you remember you’re playing as a crab in a bottle cap. One minute you’re fighting a giant mantis shrimp, the next you’re squaring off with a corrupted sushi chef. It keeps you on your toes or crab stubs – whatever.
There’s just this joy in the absurdity. The combat may be serious, but the context never is. And that’s the magic of it — it’s playful, but amusingly it’s never sloppy.
🎵 Soundtrack – Shell-Shocking Beats That’ll Make You Drop the Bass(tle)
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ How can you not think this?! (Credits to Disney) NOT ACTUALLY IN THE GAME*
Anyway-
Listen, the soundtrack in Another Crab’s Treasure is straight fire. It’s not just background noise — it’s a legit vibe. From chill, underwater lo-fi grooves that make you feel like you’re drifting in the deep blue, to heart-pounding battle anthems that get your blood pumping faster than a crab’s claws in a fight, this score knows exactly when to lay low and when to bring the heat.
Every beat, splash, and clang hits with perfect timing, turning the whole experience into an immersive underwater banger. I found myself bobbing my head through the entire boss fights. It gets your claws twitching and your heart racing, pumping you full of adrenaline so you’re locked and loaded, ready to throw down in every fight like it’s the crustacean cage match of the century!
🌊 World – Bikini Bottom by Way of Blighttown
This little hidden gem game isn’t as vast as Elden Ring, per se — but come on, a charming little adventure about a crab hunting down his stolen shell doesn’t exactly call for sprawling open-world madness. Instead, Another Crab’s Treasure delivers a cozy, tightly crafted underwater playground full of personality. Every nook and cranny feels alive with quirky critters, trashy treasures, and enough nautical flair to keep you smiling as you explore. It’s a smaller world, sure, but one that knows exactly what it wants to be — and it does it really well.
Final Thoughts
If you’re the kind of gamer who grew up loving those quirky indie platformers that carry the spirit of Rareware’s golden mascot days, but you’ve since leveled up to the hardcore stuff like Bloodborne and Dark Souls, then Another Crab’s Treasure is a unique little adventure worth diving into. It’s not a marathon — more like a chill day at the beach compared to the nonstop intensity of Lies of P or Nioh (no disrespect, those games are awesome). Sometimes, you just gotta kick back, soak up the sun, and let a crab do the heavy lifting.
