Action games have long been among the most popular in the gaming industry, leading the scene in terms of features, popularity, and accessibility. However, most action games tend to have the same general themes, with characters fighting to save the world from the brink of collapse. King of Crabs, published by the studio Robot Squid, brings a new approach to action games that provides a fresh take on battle royale games.

In King of Crabs, shellfish duel it out to become the biggest crustacean in the sea. Players start off as a tiny crab, fighting other crabs and lobsters using power-ups such as aluminum cans and crab legs in order to increase power and strength. These power-ups are scattered around the map, requiring several minutes of thorough exploration to find a single tennis racket, flamethrower, or hand-clapper toy. Each tool is different, not only visually, but in terms of the damage, it inflicts on opponent crabs and its attack speed. Pincer-held tools are divided into long-range or short-range brackets, with each limited to a number of uses before they break. Upon dismantling a shellfish, gruesome yet cartoonish “meat” is dropped which gives the player’s crab the ability to grow in size. An in-game ranking system allows the player to compare the size of their crustacean to those in the lobby, fueling competition during each round. Better yet, King of Crabs features a multiplayer mode, offering players the opportunity to interact with others from around the world. The more victories, the higher the levels the shellfish can reach, unlocking new customization options. Customizations aid avatars in standing out on the crustacean-covered battlefield. 

King of Crabs is not all lobsters and rainbows, though. For one, the game features advertisements between rounds, which creates an uncomfortable and drawn-out playing experience. Additionally, the button used to switch between long range tools and short range tools can easily be mis-clicked, causing players to frequently equip the wrong tool. Next, the art style of the game may cause players to become a little disoriented after playing for several rounds straight. Although this may be part of the game’s underwater design, players have often found themselves having to stop and refocus while playing. Lastly, the leveling system is quite confusing to players in how it incorporates many aspects such as the final rank of your crustacean, interactions with other shellfish, and time under the sea into the round’s score. Subsequently, it can be challenging for players to learn how to increase their score in future rounds without a clear understanding of how to improve.

Despite its flaws, King of Crabs is a thoroughly entertaining action game geared for teenagers and adults alike, and in a time where similar games either target younger or more mature audiences, King of Crabs stands out from the crowd. The game is quite addicting once you understand the controls and level system, and it is strongly recommended to try it out.