Crab God Review (PC)

Crab God is a strategy game that has recently been released. It follows the creation of a crustacean god and the management and progression of their followers. These crablings come equipped with several unique abilities that make each of them valuable and viable in their own right. In addition to this, the way the player chooses to lead their colony of crabs is entirely up to them. As you progress throughout the game, you are able to upgrade your underlings in a way that feels impactful, which is great to see. As we continue with this review, we will break the game down into its core components and cover each accordingly. With that said, enjoy our review of Crab God.

Cautious Crustaceans

The first part of this review will cover the game’s opening moments, as well as several of its core mechanics. Mechanically, the game is incredibly sound, allowing players to learn the ropes slowly and giving them more tools to experiment with later. The number of different crab units each serve their own individual purposes well, which is helpful as you move along. The game’s tutorial manages to teach the player the game’s mechanics, albeit in a relatively scant way. Players are simply shown the different kinds of units and their uses, and they have to put their colony into action themselves.

This is not only a great way to slowly introduce new information to the player, but it also introduces the day/night mechanics and the migration mechanic. As players progress their colony of crabs, they will gather food and resources. Upon obtaining these items, players are then able to progress to the next area. This migration can only be accomplished when a certain quota is met. The game features a rather reserved opening, allowing the player to experience all this title has to offer. In addition to this, the game’s opening moments are really lenient for the player.

The game does a fantastic job of rewarding players for their thoughts and strategizing. The emphasis the game has on the individual strengths and weaknesses of different units is excellent. Also, the player is given several avenues of success, allowing them to lead their colony how they wish. Whether you wish to be a more passive colony that focuses on worshiping your Crab God or a more passive group, the choice is yours. For players who are more detail-oriented and are able to keep track of their resources, the game’s Favor system also allows you to tailor your colony to your needs.

Fortuitous Favor

The Favor system in Crab God essentially acts as a form of currency. As the player makes their way through the game, each of their followers will generate Favor. The player can augment and boost the collection of this resource by employing the Worshipper unit type. This, in turn, will allow the player to not only spend more Favor on units but is a great system to get stuck in with on its own. The crab units in the game also each have their own distinct personalities and quirks. In addition, players can level up these units and gain more potent abilities.

All of the player’s efforts are in service of improving their colony as well as the locations around them. There are physical obstacles, as well as enemy units, for the player to overcome as well. These enemy units can be quite varied and unique, with the game featuring a collection log of different enemies you encounter. The game places great emphasis on the player’s positive progression throughout its levels. The levels in Crab God, in fact, play a vital role in the player’s progression. As the player makes their way through the game, they are able to tweak and tailor their environments to suit their needs. Whether you choose to leave an invasive species of coral to ward off invaders or focus on cultivation, player agency plays a huge role. Perhaps you will choose different goals entirely. The game’s world is a part of what makes these adventures great & impactful.

A Delightful Dive

As alluded to above, the world of Crab God is part of what makes it so great. Feeling the thrill of progression as you unlock new areas and units feels rewarding. Also, upgrading these units in their own specializations allows the player a significant amount of control. In addition to this, the game will soon have features that provide many different ways for players to enjoy it. Whether you are someone who enjoys a more challenging run like the Permanent Roles Trial or something more relaxed, the variety here is excellent.

In the Permanent Roles Trials, players will only have one chance to assign each unit a role. This emphasizes the player’s choices and makes each moment of the game feel all the more impactful. For more eager or time-pressed players, there is also the Time Trial mode. This mode allows players to receive increased progression speeds and rewards them for their quick decision-making skills. The core elements of the game also highlight how important and impactful player choices are throughout the experience.

In addition, as the player progresses, the levels of the game begin to shift. This allows players to experience a number of new challenges, which is lovely to see. Also, the type of enemy units that try to thwart the players will also improve over time. The game does a great job of pacing itself in this regard. This, in turn, allows players to come to grips with the game’s combat systems relatively quickly. This combat system is something that not only improves the moment-to-moment gameplay but features many tiny details for players to comb over.

Clever Combat

In the next section, we will cover the combat within Crab God. As hinted at above, the unit-based combat of Crab God is rather spectacular. Learning the ins and outs of these roles is not only fun and rewarding but can significantly increase your efficiency at the game. Coupled with the environments, each of the units is for both combat and more passive roles, and it is incredibly crucial to the player’s journey. The combat in the game allows players to ward off enemies relatively efficiently and effectively. This ensures that they can focus on the management of their colony.

As players make their way deeper into the game’s depths, they will find an assortment of treasures waiting for them at the bottom of the ocean. Here, they will have to employ Scavenger units to collect these items. Itemization & unit progression are such a heavy part of the game. Players who enjoy the challenge and replayability of roguelike titles will no doubt like this feature. How the units interact with one another, as well as their enemies, can have a long-lasting impact on the player’s success.

The game’s mechanics serve this combat exceptionally well, with players able to build up resources to upgrade their defenses and units. Protecting their migrating home always feels rewarding, which is due in no small part to the game’s combat. That said, the combat system is intuitive and allows players of all skill levels to simply jump in and find what works for them. Altogether, the combat within Crab God is but one of its more significant & well-polished aspects.

A Claw-some Conclusion

For players looking for a strategy title with a unique premise and incredibly in-depth mechanics, Crab God is great. The game also features a conservationist movement that is aided with every purchase. It is plain to see that ecological awareness and improvement are at the heart of this delightful title’s development. For fans of older strategy titles such as the Pikmin franchise, Viva Pinata, or other games of a similar style, this is a title to keep your eyes on.

Moving through the exquisite environments in the game feels breathtaking and intriguing as you discover more. This feeling is absolutely aided by the phenomenal artwork the game features. Suppose you are looking to support a game that has clearly been combed over and is well-polished. This game certainly fits the bill. Whether you wish to jump into the game for its novelty or its in-depth mechanics, there are no right or wrong answers in this regard. This is due not only to how the gameplay of Crab God is balanced but also to the bright future the game has ahead of it.

All in all, for strategy game fans, this title is a great way to enjoy an innovative game with a claw-some concept. For those still trying to get into the strategy game genre, this is also a great entry point for players. Regarding this accessibility, as well as its mechanical depth, Crab God certainly doesn’t disappoint. To close, we are looking to dive back into the game soon. We eagerly await many of the upcoming updates surrounding the game.