Crab Champions Isn't Just Another Weird Steam Game & Here's Why

Look, a shooter about battle-ready crabs duking it out on tropical islands sounds wild - but after 40 hours, this bizarre indie gem has completely won me over.
Don't let the goofy premise fool you. The team behind the viral "Crab Rave" meme has packed some serious heat into this fast-paced shooter, with rounds that hit harder than a speedrunner's coffee addiction.
Sure, the cartoony vibes might make you think this is just another meme game, but there's way more under that colorful shell. Between dodging enemy fire, hunting down loot, and blasting through waves of baddies, you'll find some genuinely solid shooter mechanics at work.
Each run throws something fresh at you - whether you're testing new builds or discovering crazy weapon combos. Trust me, this isn't just another throwaway indie shooter. Let me break down why this crustacean chaos has kept me hooked since day one.
First Hours With Crab Champions - Expect To Die A Lot
Jumping into Crab Champions feels like being thrown into the deep end of a very weird pool. A standard run takes about 45 minutes on normal difficulty, but trust me - those minutes fly by when you're scrambling to stay alive.
Survival mode doesn't mess around. You think you're safe? Boom - enemies pop up right in your face. Learned that one the hard way when a squad of baddies flanked me while I was busy admiring the scenery. Rookie mistake.
Here's where things get spicy - the movement system is absolutely nuts:
- Slide around like a crab on ice
- Pull off sick air dashes that keep your momentum
- Slow down time while aiming (because why not?)
- Jump-boost your way to victory
The loot system? It's addicting. Clear a wave, crack open some chests, and suddenly you're shooting elemental rounds that turn enemies into fireworks. Normal mode hits that sweet spot for learning the ropes, but there's easy mode if you're not ready for the deep end yet.
Then there's the crystal currency system that'll make your inner loot goblin very happy. Hunt these shiny boys down across the islands and trade them with Tony the Shopkeeper for game-changing gear. Every run feels different thanks to these roguelike elements - sometimes you're a unstoppable crab tank, other times you're running for your life with a peashooter.
Crab Champions' Island System Is Brutal & That's The Point
Think you've mastered the islands? Think again. Every island you clear cranks up enemy health until you hit the game's limit. It's like cranking up the heat until you can't take it anymore.
Here's where things get wild - there's 239 different loot choices to play with. Some perks are straightforward, like Gemstone's flat 5% damage boost per island. Others, like Sharpshooter, get trickier with diminishing returns the stronger you get.
Want my secret to not dying instantly? Crystal hunting. Sweep those cleared islands for shiny deposits before hitting the shop. Snag early powerhouses like the Coral Amulet or Ring of Parrying - trust me, your future self will thank you.
Pro tip: grab damage perks early or cry later. Gemstone, Checklist, and Assassin aren't just good - they're your ticket to actually surviving past the first few islands. The earlier you stack these bad boys, the more ridiculous your damage gets.
Every choice shapes your run - from which perks you grab to which corners of the island you explore. It's like building a deck in a card game, except your deck is a murderous crab with increasingly deadly weapons.
Crab Champions' Movement System Is Pure Chaos & I Love It
You haven't lived until you've seen a heavily armed crab slide forward at a 50% increased speed while pulling off mid-air dashes every few seconds. This isn't your standard point-and-shoot game - it's weaponized parkour with shellfish.
Those red crabs? They'll chase you down like they're auditioning for a horror movie. And don't get me started on the slugs - these sneaky little bombs-with-legs will absolutely ruin your day with their explosion radius.
The arsenal's pretty nuts too, with 17 distinct weapons to play with:
- Grab the rifle for that sweet 12-rounds-per-second spray & pray action
- Dual pistols hit that perfect 6-shots-per-second sweet spot with laser accuracy
- Sniper rifle? More like enemy kebab maker - pierces 4 baddies per 100-damage shot
Here's the kicker - these enemies aren't dumb. The AI reads your movement like a pro gamer reading patch notes. Run in straight lines and you're crab cake. Mix up those slides, jumps, and dashes? Now you're cooking.
Want to get really spicy? Slap on some weapon mods across 8 slots. We're talking black holes, chain explosions, and that sweet Deja Vu mod with its 50% chance to turn enemies into fireworks at tier 4. It's like building a custom murder machine, but with more sideways walking.
Want The Most OP Crab Build? Here's What Actually Works
Ready to turn your little crustacean into a walking apocalypse? After getting stomped enough times, I've cracked the code on what builds actually slap in Crab Champions.
The sniper rifle's still king of the hill, with damage numbers that'll make your eyes water and accuracy that puts aimbots to shame. That rocket launcher used to be the meta pick, but recent nerfs have knocked it down a few pegs.
Want to absolutely melt everything in sight? These loadouts are straight-up broken:
- Minigun + Sharp Shot combo for that sweet DPS scaling
- Crossbow with Heavy Shot and Bouncing Shot turns rooms into death zones
- Orb Launcher build that hits like a truck - we're talking up to 900 million damage per hit
The perk system's wild - 239 different ways to customize your murder-crab. Grab that Stamina perk first - those extra i-frames from dashing will save your shell more times than you can count. Stack damage perks like Gemstone and Collector and watch those numbers go brrr.
Just one catch - if you're running potato hardware, maybe skip those flashy multi-projectile builds. Nobody wants their game turning into a PowerPoint presentation, especially in multiplayer when you can't see past your own particle effects.
Crab Champions' Multiplayer Is Chaotic & That's The Best Part
Squad up with three buddies in online co-op mode and watch this crab party turn into pure mayhem. The chaos hits different when you're coordinating builds with your crew.
The game serves up three flavors of multiplayer madness:
- Survival - Team up against AI hordes for that sweet random loot
- Duels - Duke it out in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, or 4v4 showdowns
- Racing - Prove you're the speediest crab in town
Want couch co-op? Nucleus Co-op lets you split that screen - just make sure your PC can handle multiple instances running at once.
Here's the big brain move - everyone gets their own currency stash and plenty of upgrade terminals to go around. No more fighting your squad over loot like it's a battle royale drop zone.
The devs are crushing it on the official Discord server, dropping updates and chatting with the community like they're part of the squad. Word is, random matchmaking might be dropping soon - fingers crossed.
Team up with the right crew and you'll pull off some absolutely broken combos. We're talking build synergies that would make solo players cry. It's like someone took the base game and cranked the crazy dial to eleven.
Crab Champions Is Way More Than Just Another Meme Game
Look, I went into Crab Champions expecting a silly shooter about armed crustaceans. 40 hours later, I'm still discovering new ways to break this game - and I mean that in the best way possible.
Don't let those cute graphics fool you. Between the roguelike elements, that butter-smooth combat system, and 239 different ways to turn your crab into a walking disaster, there's some serious meat under this shell.
The movement tech? Insane. The build crafting? Deep enough to drown in. And just when you think you've seen it all, grab some friends and watch the chaos multiply. No fighting over loot either - everyone gets their own treasure pile to play with.
Sure, the premise sounds like something cooked up during a late-night gaming session, but Crab Champions delivers where it counts. Whether you're a hardcore shooter fan or just someone looking for something fresh, this oddball gem deserves your attention. Now excuse me while I go try that new 900-million-damage Orb Launcher build again.