Crab Stack

About this board game

Crab Stack is a 2–4 player board game with 20-minute play time, in which families of crabs move, stack, and pin one another while competing to make the final move.

Each player begins with nine crabs: three large, three medium, and three small. The crabs start in random locations on the board, and every turn presents a choice about which member of your family to move.

• Large crabs move exactly one space.
• Medium crabs move exactly two spaces.
• Small crabs move exactly three spaces.

A moving crab must land on top of another crab of the same size or smaller. The crab underneath is pinned and cannot move for as long as the other crab remains on top of it. This stacking system lets crabs interfere with one another and changes which pieces remain available on the board.

Movement comes with another danger: you cannot move over open water. If your move splits the cast of crabs, the smaller group is washed away by the waves. Careful positioning matters, since a single move can alter the groups on the board as well as the pieces that can be reached.

If you cannot move on your turn, you are out of the game—even if one of your crabs is uncovered later. Play continues until only the player who made the last move remains the winner.

With its distinct crab sizes, exact movement distances, and push-and-pull of stacking, Crab Stack offers a compact contest of positioning. Build upward when you can, pin opposing crabs, and keep your family connected enough to stay in the game.