King of Crabs: Invasion Brings New Campaign Mode and PvE Twist

King of Crabs is getting a follow-up, but it’s not a direct sequel. Instead, developer Robot Squid is branching out with King of Crabs: Invasion, a standalone expansion that leans into PvE territory. While the original built its reputation as a free-for-all crustacean brawler, this new version aims to add structure with missions, progression, and a bigger sense of scale.

Invasion keeps the same absurd, over-the-top energy but shifts the gameplay formula. Rather than throwing dozens of players into a single chaotic arena, this time you’ll be building up your crab, defending territory, and fighting through waves of enemies in an alien-themed storyline.

A Shift from PvP to PvE Campaign

At its core, Invasion is a campaign-driven experience. Instead of the original’s battle royale format, players will take on a series of missions that blend action, base defense, and resource gathering. There’s still plenty of fighting, but the focus is on progression rather than survival.

You’ll start by controlling a basic crab and gradually evolve your character by defeating enemies, completing objectives, and unlocking new forms. Think of it as a single-player or co-op spin on the original formula, now framed by an alien invasion narrative and an enemy faction that isn’t just other players. This approach opens the door to more environmental variety and boss design, which the original’s PvP chaos didn’t really allow. It’s also a notable move for a game that initially thrived on its absurd online matchups.

Upgrade Systems and Crab Customization

Invasion introduces a light RPG layer through its upgrade mechanics. Crabs evolve by gaining experience, and new abilities can be unlocked and improved as you progress. The system isn’t overly complex, but it adds a bit more long-term investment than the original’s matches did.

You can also equip your crab with different gear, adding modifiers or perks depending on your loadout. While the visuals still lean toward cartoonish mayhem, the systems underneath are more deliberate.

This shift mirrors trends in other mobile action games that have layered meta-progression onto arcade-like gameplay. The risk is always bloat, but Invasion looks to be keeping things relatively focused.

Platform, Release Plans, and What’s Known

King of Crabs: Invasion is planned for release on mobile first, with Android and iOS confirmed. No hard launch date yet, but a beta period or soft launch is likely before the full rollout. The original game’s player base was mostly mobile, so this move keeps things consistent.

There’s no word yet on whether Invasion will eventually tie back into the multiplayer side of King of Crabs or remain a separate, self-contained experience. Given the structural differences, it’s likely to stay standalone for now.

As for monetization, details are still under wraps, but the original was free-to-play with cosmetics and optional upgrades. Expect something similar here, possibly with premium content tied to the campaign structure.

A Lighter, Weirder Take on the Survival Genre

With Invasion, Robot Squid is experimenting with how far its offbeat crab universe can stretch. Instead of trying to escalate the original’s battle royale chaos, they’ve pivoted into a more controlled, mission-based experience. It’s still silly and aggressive, but now with a bit more purpose.

For players who liked the look and feel of King of Crabs but bounced off the PvP grind, this campaign-focused spin could offer a more approachable on-ramp. The challenge will be keeping it engaging across multiple missions without losing the unpredictability that made the original memorable.