Highlights
- Another Crab’s Treasure is the latest title to reach Xbox Game Pass.
- This day-one release is a colorful soulslike with some unique accessibility options and an important environmental message, which is woven into both its story and gameplay mechanics.
Xbox Game Pass members can play Another Crab’s Treasure as part of their subscription starting today, April 25. This day-one addition to the Xbox Game Pass library arrives in the form of a colorful action RPG with an important message about environmental preservation.
Developed by Seattle-based Aggro Crab, Another Crab’s Treasure mixes elements of soulslikes with way better vibes than what fans of this genre are normally used to. The game stars Kril, a hermit crab who loses his shell to a loan shark and embarks on a quest to get it back by exchanging it for a mystical treasure.
How Another Crab’s Treasure Breaks a Golden Rule of Game Development
Game Rant speaks with Another Crab’s Treasure devs about how the game intentionally breaks from a golden rule in development.
The execution of this straightforward premise has so far impressed many a critic, with Another Crab’s Treasure launching to promising reviews that pushed its Metacritic Metascore(s) to the high 70s. Xbox Game Pass members also get to enjoy it starting today, with the RPG being set to reach Microsoft’s content catalog at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 6pm CET.
Xbox Game Pass April 2024 Release Calendar
|
Game |
Date Added |
Genre |
Cloud |
Console |
PC |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ark: Survival Ascended |
April 1 |
Survival MMORPG |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
|
F1 23 |
April 2 |
Racing Sim |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
Ultimate tier only; non-cloud versions were already added in January 2024 |
|
Superhot: Mind Control Delete |
FPS |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Returning title that was last available in May 2022 |
|
|
LEGO 2K Drive |
April 3 |
Arcade Racer |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
|
|
Lil Gator Game |
April 4 |
Action Adventure |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
|
EA Sports PGA Tour |
Golf Sim |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
PC Game Pass and Ultimate tiers only |
|
|
Kona |
April 9 |
Adventure |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
Returning title that was last available in March 2021 |
|
Botany Manor |
Adventure Puzzler |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Day-one release |
|
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition |
April 11 |
Action Adventure |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
|
Harold Halibut |
April 16 |
Adventure |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Day-one release |
|
Orcs Must Die! 3 |
April 17 |
Tower Defense |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
|
EA Sports NHL 24 |
April 18 |
Ice Hockey Sim |
❌ |
✅ |
❌ |
Ultimate tier only |
|
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes |
April 23 |
Action RPG |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Day-one release |
|
Another Crab’s Treasure |
April 25 |
Soulslike |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Day-one release; 🆕new today |
|
Manor Lords |
April 26 |
RTS |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
Day-one release; Game Preview; PC Game Pass and Ultimate tiers only |
|
Have a Nice Death |
April 30 |
Roguelike |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
While it manages to cater to fans of a genre known for its difficulty, Another Crab’s Treasure also boasts some innovative accessibility options. Chief among them is a handgun that Kril can pick up to make short work of bosses. This de facto cheat code first needs to be enabled in the accessibility menu, with Aggro Crab telling Game Rant it opted for its inclusion because it deemed it “funny” and many fans happened to agree.
The newly released soulslike also goes to great lengths to weave its environmental preservation message into both its story and gameplay mechanics. E.g., Another Crab’s Treasure boasts a unique equipment system that has Kril repurpose ocean litter like cans and party hats into makeshift shields meant to temporarily replace his missing shell. Each type of trash comes with its own stats and abilities; tin cans are fairly durable and can usually withstand many hits, while glass objects will break in just one, but damage enemies in the process.
While extremely vivid, the setting of Another Crab’s Treasure also plays into its environmental themes, as the game takes place in a kingdom at the verge of collapse due to a mysterious illness known as the Gunk. Figuring out how the Gunk is connected to all the trash and investigating its effects on ocean flora and fauna is presented as one of the game’s central mysteries. Another Crab’s Treasure is the fourth Xbox Game Pass day-one release in April 2024, as well as the 54th title to reach the subscription service since the turn of the year. The platform’s content catalog will also expand to include Manor Lords and Have a Nice Death before month’s end.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft’s flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles that you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the most outstanding value propositions of the Xbox ecosystem to date.
