
2023Rick Gardner
From BoardGameGeek
Crabs in a Bucket is a fast-paced shedding type card game for 2-6 players that blends luck, strategy, and a cast of colorful crab characters. The goal of the game is to be the first player to play or discard their entire hand. Players start with seven cards in hand from a deck comprised of 52 suited cards (resembling a standard deck) and 22 "Joker Crabs" that are unsuited. During play, players use two discard piles, one for suited cards (referred to simply as "The Discard Pile") and another for Joker Crabs (referred to as the Joker Pile). Suited cards may be played on the discard pile on top of other cards that match their suit or number. Once a suited card is played, a player may also discard all cards of higher value of the same suit from their hand. When a Jack, Queen, or King is on top of the discard pile, no Joker Crabs may be played. Additionally, if a player cannot play, they must draw cards at the end of their turn. Joker Crabs, which are all based on real crab species, have unique effects. All but one of them can benefit a player by, for instance, forcing an opponent to draw from their hand or allowing them to play unique combos. The final Joker Crab - the Lobster - is a barrier to victory as it cannot be played; should you hold the Lobster, you must find a creative way of discarding it without playing it.
Crabs in a Bucket has 3 videos from 3 creators: 2 reviews and 1 other video. They date from 2024 to May 2026.
If you like it, try Crabs in a Bucket: Shrimpocalypse, also by Rick Gardner, or UNO, UNO Ultimate Marvel and Mindbug: First Contact, which share several of its mechanics.
2022Aaron Weil
2 - 4 players10 - 30 minLight weight
2022Skaff Elias, Richard Garfield, Marvin Hegen, Christian Kudahl
2 players15 - 25 minLight weight
From BoardGameGeek:
Crabs in a Bucket is a fast-paced shedding type card game for 2-6 players that blends luck, strategy, and a cast of colorful crab characters. The goal of the game is to be the first player to play or discard their entire hand. Players start with seven cards in hand from a deck comprised of 52 suited cards (resembling a standard deck) and 22 "Joker Crabs" that are unsuited. During play, players use two discard piles, one for suited cards (referred to simply as "The Discard Pile") and another for Joker Crabs (referred to as the Joker Pile). Suited cards may be played on the discard pile on top of other cards that match their suit or number. Once a suited card is played, a player may also discard all cards of higher value of the same suit from their hand. When a Jack, Queen, or King is on top of the discard pile, no Joker Crabs may be played. Additionally, if a player cannot play, they must draw cards at the end of their turn. Joker Crabs, which are all based on real crab species, have unique effects. All but one of them can benefit a player by, for instance, forcing an opponent to draw from their hand or allowing them to play unique combos. The final Joker Crab - the Lobster - is a barrier to victory as it cannot be played; should you hold the Lobster, you must find a creative way of discarding it without playing it.
Designer
Rick Gardner
Publisher
Blue Rondo Games
Categories
Mechanics