Crabs Must Die!
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About Crabs Must Die!
Crabs Must Die! is a compact open-world shooter with light RPG and survival mechanics. Developed by Roman Kharlamov, it dropped in November 2025 for PC. You play a crash-landed survivor battling mutated crab hordes on a forgotten planet. Armed with a beat-up bike, scrappy weapons, and limited skills, you scavenge, upgrade, and fight through randomly generated zones. The game blends real-time combat, resource management, and a stripped-down leveling system. It’s not a massive world, but it’s chaotic and weirdly addictive. Think of it as a bite-sized, crab-themed survival game with a focus on quick firefights and scavenging. If you’ve played Borderlands or The Witcher but want something shorter and zanier, this is your vibe.
Gameplay
You spend most sessions hopping on your bike to race through environments, ducking into cover to shoot crabs, or looting wrecked vehicles for gear. Combat is real-time and frantic, with a simple cover system and limited ammo meaning you can’t brute force fights. Each crab type has a weak spot, headshots or explosive rounds are key. Upgrades come from a shallow skill tree, letting you boost health, damage, or bike speed. The open world is split into short, randomly generated zones, so exploration feels fresh but not overwhelming. Missions mostly involve clearing crab nests or retrieving items, with some vehicle-based chase sequences. The bike doubles as a mobility tool and a combat asset, letting you ram enemies or boost speed for jumps. It’s not deep, but the pacing keeps things snappy.
What Players Think
The PlayPile community rates it 8.2/10, with 84% positive reviews. 68% of players finish the game, averaging 14 hours total playtime. Moods are split between chaotic (32%), gritty (25%), and absurd (18%). Critics praise the "crabby ride with bite-sized action" but note "simplistic systems for hardcore RPG fans." Achievement completion is 71% with 45 total, including “Crabicide” for killing 1,000 enemies. Some users call it a "pickup-and-play shooter" with "enough depth to keep you hooked." Others gripe about the "repetitive zone layouts" and "underdeveloped skill tree." The price point of $29.99 splits opinions, budget players love it, while others feel it’s overpriced for its length.
PlayPile's Take
Crabs Must Die! is a solid pick for fans of quick, action-heavy survival games. It’s not deep, but it’s polished and weird in a way that’ll appeal to niche audiences. The $29.99 price tag is reasonable if you’re okay with a 10, 15 hour campaign. With 45 achievements and a completion rate just shy of 70%, it’s a game that leans on its charm and simplicity to stick around. If you want something short, chaotic, and crab-focused, this is worth a try. But don’t expect epic RPG systems or a large world.
Game Modes
Single player
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