Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 73 | 16 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 87% | 81 | 99 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 31, 2026) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (8)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Crabmeat’s horror atmosphere is breathable. Its crabbing manages to claw its way out from under the darkness without compromising it. Its outstanding work-a-day gameplay alongside a great attention to detail creates a very involving experience all around. The restraint it shows in certain areas, especially when it comes to narrative and runtime, allow it to succeed in just about every facet. I can’t remember the last time I found a horror game so satisfying, which is a weird thing to say about horror. I’m a little afraid.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Crabmeat offers a part thriller, part fishing sim experience that explores fishing, or more specifically crabbing in a more in depth way than many games do with the obligatory fishing mini-game. Whether you’d like to find out more about the hostile crabs, the Feudostate, or just want to spend some time crabbing, this game could fulfill any of those options.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Crabmeat is a great short-form horror game that delves deep into the existential dread of both being in debt and being stranded in an unforgiving sea. The challenge and threat amps up throughout the 3-hour playtime and everything culminates in a conclusion that works as a suitably fantastic payoff. Similar to a game like Threshold, this is a one-sitting experience that shows the range of indie horror gaming.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Crabmeat offers a short and enjoyable fishing experience. Using the boats various cranes, and navigation allows the player to easily become immersed as they play. I loved sorting the crabs out, and seeing them bonk each other as they ragged dolled. The overall atmosphere was nice, with the eeriness of what is going on. However, the story itself, or mystery I would say, was rather lacklustre. Another minor issue is with Crabmeat’s movement. I understand it is advertised as a point & click game, but the movement really suffers for this. It would be best to ditch it, or at least offer the player the choice to toggle it off. It may not be the strongest mystery game, but I would say picking it up for the fishing aspect is decent enough. Especially if Crabmeat is on sale. So I will be awarding it the Thumb Culture Silver Award.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Crabmeat is a decent fishing game, but if you go into it expecting to get scared by the horrors of the sea then you'll be sorely disappointed.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Overall, Crabmeat is a nice little game. It takes the realistic machines and processes from crab fishing and mixes them into a horror game. While this is an unusual mix, with the storyline, it actually works. If you’re after a little challenge and enjoy the fishing process, jump in and see if you have what it takes to clear your debt and head back to society; your family will thank you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Taking major inspiration from other indie games in both gameplay and graphical design, Crabmeat is a fun, decently paced horror fishing game with incredible attention-to-detail and lackluster visuals.”
read full review ↗ - –
“Ultimately, while the seafaring aspect of Crabmeat has its own meditative qualities, I find it fails to live up to its inspirations and aspirations. The open nature of the sea and sky takes away from any sense of claustrophobia found in similar minimalist titles like Iron Lung, and without any real pressures or threats to be found (outside of a few notable exceptions), I mostly found myself hoping for a future where interesting things might happen, a hope that was so rarely realized.”
read full review ↗
Maximum Utmost
MonsterVine
TheSixthAxis
Thumb Culture
Loot Level Chill
MKAU Gaming
ImpulsegamerPatch history
- Patch 0.4.04Aug 31, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 0.4.03 Hotfix 1Aug 3, 2026
- Patch 0.4.03Jul 23, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 0.4.02Jul 17, 2026
- Patch 0.4.01Jun 18, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 0.4.0May 1, 2026
- Patch v.0.3.23Mar 17, 2026
- Patch v.0.3.22Mar 16, 2026
- Steam Connection HotfixMar 13, 2026
- Patch v0.3.21Mar 12, 2026
- Patch 0.3.20 (Spoilers)Mar 11, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Patch v0.3.19Mar 10, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update v.0.3.18Mar 5, 2026
- Demo Update v.0.3.17Mar 3, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update v.0.3.12Feb 23, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update 0.3.11Feb 22, 2026
- Demo Update 0.3.8Feb 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Development Update: 3Sep 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Development Update: 2Aug 23, 2025
- Development Update: 1Jul 25, 2025