April 22, 2026
By Eva Shrestha
Staff Writer
This article is part of a four-part in-depth reporting project for Earth Month.
The polluted ocean becomes an adventure with the single-player indie game Another Crab’s Treasure, released on April 25, 2024, by Aggro Crab.
At first glance, the game appears to be a lighthearted underwater experience, full of bright colors and playful characters. But beneath its charming appearance lies a challenging strategic mission.
Set in a diverse underwater world, each of the nine regions offers something unique. From New Carcinia, a trash-constructed city, to the Old Ocean, a wasteland-like coral reef littered with trash, there is something new to see around every corner. The game has vibrant, appealing visuals while providing a serious message about the impact of pollution.
The game weaves the consequences of pollution into its world through design and gameplay, letting players understand its effects without being told outright.
The player plays as Kril, a small hermit crab whose shell has been stolen, and must navigate a polluted ocean to reclaim it. As Kril navigates an ocean littered with debris and microplastics, trash becomes a major influence not only in the narrative but also in gameplay.
The Moon Snail, a mysterious and wise creature, guides Kril more than any other and serves as both a mentor and a key to progression. Found in the Moon Snail’s Domain, players can spend Umami Crystals, magical energy collected throughout the ocean, to unlock new combat abilities, fast travel points and other upgrades. Finding a Moon Snail in a region grants players the ability to teleport back to that area at any time.
The game’s most unique mechanics are Kril’s ability to equip trash items as temporary shells. Objects like soda cans and disco balls offer different defensive and combative abilities. From the 69 available shells, players can find that each shell has specific abilities, bonus stats and weights. Each shell has a unique strength gained through Umami, magical energy that is accrued by dealing damage to enemies.
The game is populated with a variety of enemies and boss battles. Success comes from shell selection, strategic management of Umami energy and well-timed attacks.
The game weaves the consequences of pollution into its world through design and gameplay, letting players understand its effects without being told outright. Coral reefs appear broken, currents carry tangled nets and discarded cans across the ocean floor and glass shards in the sand make the paths. With these details, the game paints a vivid picture of an ocean struggling to survive, allowing players to understand ocean pollution without dialogue or text.
Another “show-don’t-tell” example is the presence of gunk. The toxic substance adds an extra layer of challenge to the underwater world, causing players to consider shell choice based on their area. Some enemies and polluted areas release gunk that slowly drains Kril’s health, making even brief exposure risky. Some shells provide protection or can even turn the gunk’s effects back to the enemy, while others leave players vulnerable. By adding gunk to both combat and exploration, the game gives players another way to understand the consequences of pollution.
Despite its charm and creativity, Another Crab’s Treasure has drawbacks. The biggest shortcoming is the lack of clear objectives; though the underwater world is vast and visually stunning, it is easy to get lost in. The game’s directional cues are very subtle, often forcing players to wander through similar-looking regions, backtrack repeatedly or experiment with multiple routes just to find their goal. This trial-and-error approach can be time-consuming and discouraging, turning exploration into a test of patience. Without a map marker, menu tab or quest log, players who don’t fully understand their objectives must do a lot of extra exploring to progress.
The game’s difficulty levels are also problematic. By design, this game automatically puts players on the hardest difficulty from the start. Enemies are aggressive, and health depletes quickly. While this may interest those ready for the challenge, newcomers or casual players who prefer a more relaxed experience will not appreciate it.
Another Crab’s Treasure isn’t perfect, but it’s an unforgettable game that is still worth playing. Environmentally conscious, fun and memorable, the game is a true treat, especially during Earth Month.
