Look, Another Crab's Treasure is weird. You’re a hermit crab named Kril, you’re underwater, and everything is made of literal human garbage. It’s a "Soulslike," which usually means "prepare to die until your controller breaks," but Aggro Crab—the developers—actually made this one approachable. Still, if you’re looking at the Another Crab's Treasure achievements list, you might feel a bit overwhelmed. Some are just story beats. Others? They require you to find every single piece of trash that can double as a home.
Most people dive into the Sands Between thinking they can just wing it. You can't. Well, you can, but you'll miss the "Fashion Victim" achievement or realize too late that you haven't been paying enough attention to the stowaways. It’s a 100% completion journey that is surprisingly deep. Honestly, the difficulty spikes are real, but the achievement hunt is where the real soul of the game hides.
The Bare Essentials: Story and Boss Achievements
You're going to get a good chunk of these just by playing. If you beat the game, you're looking at roughly 15 to 20 achievements right off the bat. Most of these are tied to the "main" bosses—the big baddies that hold the map pieces or stand in your way to the deep.
Take Polluted Platoon Pathfinder, for instance. That’s your first real test. It’s the first boss that actually teaches you that this isn't just a cute crab game; it's a fight for survival. Then you’ve got the heavy hitters like the Heir to the Anthill or The False Monarch. These aren't just milestones; they are lessons in parrying and shell management. If you're struggling, remember that the game has "Assist Options." Aggro Crab was cool enough to let you give Kril a gun. Yes, a literal Glock. It doesn't disable achievements. If you just want the platinum trophy or the 1000 Gamerscore without the headache, turn on the gun. No judgment here.
But for the purists, the boss achievements are about learning patterns. The Ceviche of the Deep or the encounter with Pagurus—who is terrifying, by the way—require genuine skill. Pagurus patrols the Sands Between early on, and most players get the achievement for dying to him long before they get the one for killing him. It's a rite of passage.
Hunting Down the "Shell Collector" Achievement
This is the big one. It’s the one that makes people pull their hair out. To get the Shell Collector achievement, you need to wear every single shell in the game. There are over 60 of them. Some are common, like the Soda Can or the Coconut. Others are weirdly specific, like the Among Us bone or the various "sushi" shells.
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You don't just have to see them. You have to wear them.
- Check the shops: Some shells, like the expensive "luxury" ones, only show up in the shop in New Carcinia.
- The Insurance Mechanic: Once you wear a shell, you can "insure" it at the shell shop. This doesn't help with the achievement directly, but it helps you keep track of what you've found.
- Missable Shells: Technically, none are permanently missable because you can backtrack, but some are tucked away in corners of the Unfathomable or the bleached glacial areas that you really have to squint to see.
The Fashion Victim achievement goes hand-in-hand with this. It’s not just about the shells; it’s about the costumes. You’ll need to find the different outfits scattered throughout the ocean. Some are rewards for side quests, others are just sitting in chests. If you see a purple glow in the distance, swim toward it. It's probably a costume or a stainless steel hammer.
Upgrades and the "Art of the Shell"
The Another Crab's Treasure achievements aren't all about killing things. A lot of them are about growth. You've got In its Right Place, which involves finding all the Stainless Steel Hammers to upgrade your fork. Your fork is your primary weapon. Don't ignore it. If you're running around with a Level 1 fork in the late game, you're going to have a bad time.
Then there's the Umami Training. This is the game's magic system. To get the achievements related to skills, you need to collect Microplastics and Kelp Forest essence.
Why Adaptations Matter
Adaptations are the "boss moves" you can use. You get most of these by defeating "Optional Bosses." This is where the achievement list gets tricky. If you're just rushing the story, you'll miss bosses like the Topoda or the Grovekeeper.
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Topoda is a big deal. Not only do you get an achievement for beating him (The Old Master), but he also unlocks the ability to upgrade your Adaptations. If you want to max out your "Mantis Punch" or your "Tactical Nuke" (yes, that's a thing), you need to find Topoda in his hidden garden. It’s located in the Curdled Village area, hidden behind a waterfall—classic video game logic.
The "Soulslike" Grind: Heartcones and Bloodstars
You want more health? You need Heartcones. You want more Umami charges? You need Bloodstar Limbs.
There are achievements for maxing out your health and your Umami. This is the "collectible" part of the game that feels the most like Hollow Knight or Zelda. You’ll find these hidden in the environment, usually guarded by a tough elite enemy or at the end of a platforming challenge. The platforming in this game can be a bit floaty, so be prepared to fall. A lot.
The achievement Max Potential is essentially the culmination of all this exploration. It’s not just about being strong; it's about seeing every inch of the map. From the trash heaps of the Shallows to the terrifying darkness of the Abyss.
Making the Achievement Hunt Easier
Honestly, the best advice for snagging all the Another Crab's Treasure achievements is to play the game in two "phases."
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Phase one: Just play. Don't look at a guide. Experience the story of Kril trying to get his shell back from the tax-collecting shark. It’s a funny, surprisingly emotional story about environmental collapse and the crushing weight of capitalism.
Phase two: Clean up. Once you have the ability to fast travel between Moon Snail Shells, go back and hunt the optional bosses. Use the "Shell Guide" online to see which of the 60+ shells you’re missing. Most people miss the ones hidden in the "Unfathomable" because it's pitch black down there and everything is trying to eat you.
Specific Achievements People Struggle With:
- The Great Gastropod: Finding all the stowaways. Stowaways are little critters that sit on your shell and give you buffs. Some are sold by the shopkeeper, but the best ones are hidden.
- A Star is Born: This involves the "Starfish" stowaway and some specific interactions.
- The Completionist Mindset: Remember that some achievements require you to talk to NPCs multiple times. Don't just spam the 'A' button. Actually listen to what the barnacles have to say.
The game is a masterpiece of indie design, but the achievements are designed to make you see the stuff the developers worked hard on. Like the hidden bosses. There are bosses tucked away in the Sands Between that you would never find if you weren't looking for an achievement.
Final Thoughts on the Completionist Journey
Achieving 100% in Another Crab's Treasure is a badge of honor. It shows you've mastered the parry timing, explored the deepest trenches, and wore a party hat while fighting a giant lobster. It's a quirky list, but it’s fair. No achievements are tied to "Permadeath" or "No-Hit" runs, which is a blessing. It’s a game that wants you to succeed, even if it kills you a hundred times along the way.
If you’re stuck on a specific boss or can’t find that last shell, take a break. Explore a different zone. The ocean is huge, and sometimes the thing you're looking for is just a few fin-flaps away from where you gave up.
Step-by-Step Action Plan for 100% Completion
- Enable Assist Mode if needed: If a specific boss achievement is blocking your progress, don't be afraid to use the "Give Kril a Gun" option in the settings. It does not void achievements and can save you hours of frustration.
- Prioritize the "Stainless Steel Hammers": Your damage output is tied to these. Finding all of them makes the endgame bosses significantly easier, turning potential hour-long grinds into five-minute fights.
- Visit Topoda early: As soon as you reach the Curdled Village, find the "Old Master" boss. Unlocking Adaptation upgrades is the single biggest power spike in the game.
- Keep a Checklist for Shells: Since the game doesn't have an in-game "checklist" for the Shell Collector achievement until you've already found the items, keep a manual note of weird shells you've worn. Check the "Trash" sections of the Abyss especially carefully.
- Talk to everyone in New Carcinia: Several achievements and costumes are tied to NPC dialogue that updates after major story beats. Make it a habit to do a "lap" of the city after every map piece you find.