Many people have watched the Netflix show Squid Games; so far, 111 million people have seen it. Similarly, Crab Games, the multi-player video game, has become very popular riding the Squid Games coattails. The show Squid Games is about a competition where people risk their lives to play dangerous children’s games for a chance to win a $46,500 prize. 6 billion prize. All of the players are deeply in debt and are struggling to make ends meet. They use their desire to get out of debt to drive them to compete in these deadly challenges. The game is classified as a South Korean survival drama television series.
The show came out in September 2021, and soon after, Crab Games came out to cash in on the popularity of the Netflix show.
In the last couple years, a wildly popular Netflix series called Squid Game took the world by storm. Riding on that wave of hype, a free indie game called Crab Game has also gone viral by cloning the concept. But what exactly are crab games? Let’s take a deep dive on this surprise PC gaming hit.
The Appeal of Squid Game
First, a quick background on the show that inspired Crab Game. Squid Game is a brutal Netflix thriller from Korea focused on destitute people competing in deadly children’s games for money It struck a chord in our current era of inequality and exploitation, becoming Netflix’s biggest show ever.
Key elements that made Squid Game so gripping include
- Simple childhood game concepts turned lethal
- Lavish rewards for winners, horrible consequences for losers
- Commentary on economic disparity and the value of human life
- Mysterious, masked game organizers running the show
- Dramatic style and set design
Crab Game took this basic formula and transformed it into a video game format.
What is Crab Game?
Crab Game is a free, multiplayer PC game clearly inspired by Squid Game’s premise. Up to 40 players compete in various minigames, with losers eliminated after each round until one player remains victorious.
Some key facts about Crab Game
- Developed by indie dev Daniel Sooman in about 2 weeks
- Released October 2021 for Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Has a cartoonish art style compared to the show
- Includes voice chat and player customization
- Minigames range from tag to deathmatches to obstacle courses
- Gained quick popularity among streamers and YouTubers
On the surface, it clones Squid Game’s idea of playing childhood games in a survival format. But it also brings plenty of unique ideas to the table.
Crab Game’s Unique Appeal
Part of what made Crab Game blow up so fast is that it pivoted over time to focus less on copying Squid Game specifically. Instead, it carved out its own identity with an expanding variety of content and modes.
Some examples of how Crab Game differentiated itself:
- Added tons of new maps and game modes with updates
- Introduced abilities like double jumps and rocket launchers
- Has no direct references to the show beyond the basic format
- Provides cosmetic character customization for goofy aesthetics
- Encourages player interaction via proximity voice chat
Rather than just being a shallow tie-in game, Crab Game grew into its own thing – a sandbox for crazy player-driven moments and emergent fun.
Signature Crab Game Modes
While every round of Crab Game is unique thanks to the players, here are some of the most popular recurring modes and maps:
- The Bridge – Players try to knock each other off a bridge into deadly pink goo.
- Lilypad Hop – Hop across floating discs that disappear when stepped on.
- Bomb Tag – One player with a bomb tries to tag others before time runs out.
- Dodgebot – Avoid robots trying to push you into the slime.
- Skywars – Battle on floating platforms with rocket launchers.
- Zombies – Survive against waves of zombie players.
Part of the fun is not knowing which wacky game you’ll get thrown into next!
Who Developed Crab Game?
Crab Game was created in Unity by solo indie developer Daniel Sooman, better known by his handle Dani. He’s a YouTuber and game dev known for his videos chronicling the creation of his other hit games Muck and Karlson.
Fun facts about Daniel “Dani” Sooman:
- 26 year old based in Norway
- Started posting devlogs on YouTube in 2018
- Known for his humor and exaggerated reactions
- Develops games based on viewer comments and memes
- His game Muck has over 16 million downloads
Dani’s reactive, community-driven development style helped drive Crab Game’s rapid evolution and expansion. He listens closely to player feedback.
Why “Crab Game”?
You may be wondering why it’s even called Crab Game when there are no crabs in it. Originally Dani wanted to call it Squid Game, but that name was already trademarked by Netflix.
He explained that:
“I wanted to have something similar to Squid Game so I decided to go with Crab Game. Crabs are basically just sea spiders anyways.”
So the crustacean moniker was chosen mainly to capitalize on Squid Game’s popularity while being legally in the clear. It spread rapidly among streamers and fans looking for a way to engage with the show in game form.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, Crab Game tapped into the simple fun of competing in playground-style games with friends. The wacky social dynamics that emerge when you throw a bunch of strangers together in voice chat creates endless laughs and memorable moments.
It succeeded by taking a simple premise and expanding on it in creative ways, while cultivating a vibrant community. Crab Game found a way to bottle the carefree fun we remember from childhood games, while adding a fresh comedic twist.
Why Crab Game is a Brilliant Video Game
FAQ
What is the meaning of Crab Game?
What is Crab Game on Steam?
How many people play the Crab Game?
|
Month
|
Avg. Players
|
Peak Players
|
|
Last 30 Days
|
51,747.7
|
69,698
|
|
May 2024
|
54,969.2
|
69,448
|
|
April 2024
|
56,254.0
|
69,932
|
|
March 2024
|
55,618.0
|
69,507
|
What is crab game based on?
Crab Game is a First-Person Multiplayer game where you fight for the ultimate cash price in different minigames based on children’s games, until only one player is left to claim it all. Definitely not based on any online streaming pop culture korean tv shows, as that would get me in legal trouble, so we’re certainly not doing that.
What do we do in Crab Game?
What do we do? Crab Game is a mini-game centered game inspired by the popular Squid Game series on Netflix. Players compete against each other in multiple mini-games to survive to the end and be the last player standing. This can be difficult for newer players, especially if you don’t know what to do in each game.
Is crab game based on squid game?
Based on the Netflix series Squid Game, players compete with each other in minigames in order to be the last one alive. Crab Game is a competitive first-person party game where players compete in various minigames based around childhood games.
Is crab game free?
Crab Game is a free-to-play video game developed and published by Norwegian indie developer Daniel Sooman, also known as Dani. The game was initially released for Linux and macOS on Itch.io and for Windows on Steam on 29 October 2021; the Linux and macOS editions were later released on Steam on 16 November.