In 2020, indie developer Aggro Crab released their first game. Going Under is a dungeon crawler that puts the player in the shoes of a monster-slaying unpaid intern. Since then, that game has garnered Very Positive reviews on Steam and made its way to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. Following the success of their first title, Aggro Crab announced their second game. Another Crab’s Treasure is a soulslike platformer game coming to the Nintendo Switch and PC next year.
Another Crab’s Treasure stars a hermit crab named Kril who is on a mission to retrieve his lost shell, which was “repossessed.” Who (or what) took the shell wasn’t revealed in today’s press release. Hopefully, the culprit’s identity will become clear in the game, but regardless, having no shell is a bit of a problem for a hermit crab.
This soulslike platformer game takes place in a polluted ocean world. Of course, pollution is harmful. However, in a clever twist, trash actually helps Kril on his journey. He can pick up various pieces of garbage scattered around the ocean floor and use them as makeshift shells to protect himself from enemies.
Another Crab’s Treasure Will Be An Accessible Soulslike Game
Enemies are a staple of many video games, but soulslikes can take them to a new level. Even the word “soulslike” is derived from FromSoftware‘s notoriously challenging Soulsborne games, which are chock full of intimidating opponents.
It sounds like Another Crab’s Treasure will keep with this tradition. Today’s press release promises that players will face “enemies many times your size.” However, it will also be accessible to newer soulslike players. An accessible soulslike may sound like an oxymoron, but the team at Aggro Crab says it can be done.
“‘We set out to create a game inspired by the challenge of games like Elden Ring or Sekiro that’s a bit more approachable to people who suck at those games (like us) while still respecting the challenge and threatening atmosphere that makes them so enticing,’ explains Caelan Pollock, Narrative Director at Aggro Crab. “We think there’s way more room for innovation in soulslikes than is currently being realized—it doesn’t have to be a grimdark medieval castle every time! Everything from our whimsical graphics to our over-the-top soundtrack to our character-driven storytelling serves to expand the genre in ways we think both longtime fans of souls games and new players will appreciate.'”
If you like the idea of an accessible soulslike, you might want to keep an eye on this game. Another Crab’s Treasure arrives on PC and Switch in 2023.