- BGG rating
- 8.2
Crabs in a Bucket: Shrimpocalypse
- 2–6 players
- 5–15 min
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,308
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Crabs in a Bucket
2023
Rules assistance for Crabs in a Bucket
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 5–15 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Crabs in a Bucket
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Crabs in a Bucket is a board game released in 2023 for 2–6 players, 5–15 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Rick Gardner and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Matching.
Expansions
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,222
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Babel
- 2 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2000
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,899
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Dogs With Jobs
- 2–5 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,688
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Nuts about Mutts
- 3–8 players
- 30–40 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,666
- BGG rating
- 6.1
UNO Flex!
- 2–8 players
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,456
- BGG rating
- 7.6
RIN RIN RAJA
- 2–6 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,685
- BGG rating
- 5.5
UNO Attack!
- 2–10 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,289
- BGG rating
- 5.5
UNO
- 2–10 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1971
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,759
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Claro
- 3–6 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,987
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Mad Magazine Card Game
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1979
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,120
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Twin It!
- 2–6 players
- 5–10 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,680
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Archduke
- 2–6 players
- 15–25 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,055
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Throw Throw Avocado
- 2–6 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2021
About the game
Crabs in a Bucket is a fast-paced shedding type card game for 2-6 players that blends luck, strategy, and a cast of colorful crab characters. The goal of the game is to be the first player to play or discard their entire hand. Players start with seven cards in hand from a deck comprised of 52 suited cards (resembling a standard deck) and 22 "Joker Crabs" that are unsuited. During play, players use two discard piles, one for suited cards (referred to simply as "The Discard Pile") and another for Joker Crabs (referred to as the Joker Pile). Suited cards may be played on the discard pile on top of other cards that match their suit or number. Once a suited card is played, a player may also discard all cards of higher value of the same suit from their hand. When a Jack, Queen, or King is on top of the discard pile, no Joker Crabs may be played. Additionally, if a player cannot play, they must draw cards at the end of their turn. Joker Crabs, which are all based on real crab species, have unique effects. All but one of them can benefit a player by, for instance, forcing an opponent to draw from their hand or allowing them to play unique combos. The final Joker Crab — the Lobster — is a barrier to victory as it cannot be played; should you hold the Lobster, you must find a creative way of discarding it without playing it.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Blue Rondo Games
Questions and answers
Crabs in a Bucket supports 2–6 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 Crabs in a Bucket is 5–15 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 Crabs in a Bucket for ages 10 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.
Crabs in a Bucket has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Crabs in a Bucket belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Matching. 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 Crabs in a Bucket are: Rick Gardner. 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 Crabs in a Bucket 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.