Despite its crabtastic Soulslike hit, indie dev say funding for its "best game yet" just fizzled: "2024 is really taking no prisoners"

GamesActionAnother Crab’s TreasureDespite its crabtastic Soulslike hit, indie dev say funding for its “best game yet” just fizzled: “2024 is really taking no prisoners"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesActionAnother Crab’s TreasureDespite its crabtastic Soulslike hit, indie dev say funding for its “best game yet” just fizzled: “2024 is really taking no prisoners"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Aggro Crab)

Another Crab's Treasure trailer screenshot showing a cartoon-like crab with wide, vein-y eyes and a painful expression

Another Crab’s Treasure was undoubtedly one of this year’s biggest (or smallest, depending on how you look at it) surprises, but despite selling well andgetting love from all corners of the internet, its developer is struggling to get its third game funded.

Developer Aggro Crab first made a name for itself with satirical dungeon crawler Going Under, a game about an unpaid intern who beats up corporate ghouls using random office junk left lying around. Then it continued its streak of quirky but smart genre remixes in Another Crab’s Treasure, a soulslike that ditches the subgenre’s usual self-seriousness in favor of a colorful underwater world and a crustacean hero dealing with a polluted kingdom.

“The crab is seeking treasure,” the indie studiotweetedjust yesterday as it made a public plea. “So our funding plans for Game 3 fell through. I guess 2024 is really taking no prisoners, but hey, interest rates are down so if you represent an investor/publisher and want to help us make our best game yet, our DMs are open!”

Another Crab’s Treasure seemed like massive success for a small team. Within its first four days of release, the aquatic slasher sold over 100,000 copies, and that was despite launching into Xbox Game Pass on day one. Critic reviews were largely really positive, too, highlighting its fun new ideas, like the way you can recycle random plastic junk as a shell because, y’know, climate crisis. But players in general were just as smitten. “Just hit 10k reviews btw but who’s counting?” the developer wrote alongside a screenshot of ‘Very Positive’Steam user reviews.

Aggro Crab definitely isn’t wrong in its assessment, however. 2024 has been brutal for indie developers, many of whom have had to shut down completely or lay off staff as investment in the industry seems to be drying up. Just last month, the indie team behind Paleo Pineshad to ask the public for help to fund its sequel. GamesRadar’s Austin Wood spoke to several indie teams earlier this year who all, largely, shared the same sentiment:“The game industry is f***ed.“But there are still some bright spots. Breakout hits like Buckshot Roulette or Balatro are definitely rare, but at least they continue to exist. And the company behindAmong Us is using its cash cow to fund other indie games, and the first fruit of its labour wasweirdly wonderful.

Check out some otherupcoming indie gamesto not miss a single release.

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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

1

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3

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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

1

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5

Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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