- BGG rank
- BGG #4,081
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Ekö
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,258
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Crab Stack
2015
Rules assistance for Crab Stack
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Crab Stack
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Crab Stack is a board game released in 2015 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Henri Kermarrec and its main mechanics are Player Elimination and Point to Point Movement.
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About the game
Players in Crab Stack represent a family of crabs who don't start out stacked, but who will become stacked over the course of the game, preferably being top crab in the end. Each player has nine crabs — three large, three medium and three small — and they start in random locations on the game board at the start of play. On a turn, you move exactly one of your crabs — with a large crab moving exactly one space, a medium crab exactly two, and a small crab exactly three — so that you land on top of another crab of the same size or smaller, pinning it and preventing it from moving as long as you sit there. You can't move over open water, and if your move splits the cast of crabs, then the smaller group is washed away by the waves. If you can't move on your turn, then you're out of the game — even if one of your crabs is left uncovered later. The last player who makes a move wins!
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- HUCH!
- Blue Orange Games
- Blue Orange (EU)
- FoxGames
Questions and answers
Crab Stack supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Crab Stack is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Crab Stack for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Crab Stack has a complexity rating of 1.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Crab Stack belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination and Point to Point Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Crab Stack are: Henri Kermarrec. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Crab Stack as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.