“Peak” brought startling success to the 13-person development team at Aggro Crab – the studio behind “Another Crab’s Treasure” and “Going Under.” It wasn’t that “Another Crab’s Treasure” underperformed; if anything, it performed well for the studio, but the investors of the project just thought it would be a bigger game than it was.
“Peak” and “Crashout Crew” both originated as game-jam proofs of concept made in direct response to eliminate the burnout and pressure the team was feeling at the time. Then the studio needed funding, so they decided to keep developing those titles in the hope of receiving funding for bigger projects. Both games were developed in less than a year, with the Aggro Crab team partnering with Landfall Interactive to publish the first of the two games to release. “Peak” was a massive success for the studio, with over 11 million in lifetime sales. The studio had made one of the most successful games of 2025. So how did they plan on following up on that hit?
Well, with a game about stress, work and forklifts. “Crashout Crew” will not sell 11 million copies, and I don’t think it wants to. It’s a niche game that is fun while it lasts and ends before it stays too long. The levels make it easy to pick up for a quick round without having to relearn the mechanics; the vibe is goofy and lighthearted; and the music is addictive.
In “Crashout Crew,” you play as a forklift driver tasked with making deliveries in chaotic, self-contained levels that grow more difficult to navigate over time. It’s similar to if you took the structure of “Overcooked” and combined it with the movement and chaos from the top ride game mode from “Kirby Air Riders.”
On the technical side, the game ran smoothly on my PC. I recommend checking the Steam reviews for more performance information, but it seems to be in a good state as of writing. Additionally, while there is no matchmaking, the Discord is highly welcoming. Even if you don’t have anyone to play it with, it’s easy to find a group and play.
The music and visuals are foundational to the game’s playful attitude. Though “Crashout Crew” is going to make you mad at people and yourself, the atmosphere reinforces that it’s part of the fun. You can feel the passion in this project.
Since the campaign is only 8-10 hours long, the core game loop never outstays its welcome. The same can be said for the core movement of the forklifts themselves. Overall, “Crashout Crew” is a charming game from a developer passionate about game development and the gaming industry as a whole. I recommend “Crashout Crew” because it’s a good example of what games should strive to be: fun, accessible and escapism.
