Game Reviews: Escape the Heat by Ascending an Ocean Throne

During the early summer days of oppressive heat, Crab God, Riven and Rabbids: Legends of the Multiverse offer tantalizing virtual experiences in refreshing ocean biomes, a lush science fiction land and cool medieval villages.

Crab God

In a world of coral reefs, industrious sea creatures and dangerous predators, you are in debt to the eponymous Crab God. The offering begins as a Tamagotchi-style endeavor in which you must oversee round-eyed crablings with anthropomorphized names like Clawdette. They coo like babies as you hatch them, and then are given jobs to create a diverse aquatic biome.

But there’s deep strategy involved. Five types of crabs are protecting the lair and a precious egg that will evolve into the next crab god. Crablings build, garden and pay homage to the leering crustacean who looms large in the background. It’s all an effort to help the colony thrive on the sea’s bottom.

Because of the tactics and science involved, this 30-hour computer game is alluring in every way possible. I was drawn in by the balance needed to secure a thriving, stable ecosystem and details like the delightful sideways moves of a crabling holding a mallet.

Crab God, by the studio Chaos Theory, is part of a genre of climate games that make you cognizant of real-world environmental challenges. It won a Unity for Humanity Award because a healthy chunk of it deals with ocean preservation.