- BGG rank
- BGG #21,344
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Rey Mono
- 2–8 players
- 5–10 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2024
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- BGG rank
- BGG #18,988
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Crabs!
2016
Rules assistance for Crabs!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 20–35 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
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Rules assistant for Crabs!
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Crabs! is a board game released in 2016 for 2–5 players, 20–35 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by shane007 and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Set Collection.
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About the game
On this peaceful seaside beach, crab season has come! Hunters and gatherers are coming from near and far, searching for delicious-looking crabs under every rock and pool. The game is plentiful, but due to space limitations you can keep only one crab per catch; maybe you can upgrade your gear to keep bigger crabs, or maybe you can try to fulfill custom orders for special guests... As a renowned crab hunter in Crabs!, you cannot miss this carnival, so grab your gear and let's going crabbing! Each turn you choose one of the following actions: Catch: Draw two cards from the deck or pool. Raise: Exchange cards with the pool, crabs for crabs. Trade: Exchange cards with the pool, points for points. Upgrade: Discard cards to upgrade gear level. Tie Crabs: Discard cards to gain a score card. Relax: Untap up to three score cards. At the end of your turn, you can choose to trade score cards for a single objective card, then you must discard down to eight cards. When a player has gathered 25 or more VP, the game continues until all players have had the same number of turns, then the game ends and whoever has the most VP wins! (Note that some versions of Crabs! carry a minimum player count of three, whereas others have a minimum p.c. of two, but the rules for the game seem to be the same across all versions.)
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Zhiyanjia
- Moaideas Game Design
- Daily Magic Games
Questions and answers
Crabs! supports 2–5 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! is 20–35 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! for ages 12 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! has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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! belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Farming. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Set Collection. 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! are: shane007. 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! 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.