New Games, New Videos!

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we seem to break records every month with our amazing output of new games and videos.

And what’s more amazing is that James Ernest is also working behind the scenes on great stuff that we can’t even tell you about.

But fear not, because these secret projects will someday either be sold to the publishers who asked for them, or as often happens, they will become part of our catalog.

Game Updates

Bread Basket: After twelve months of tinkering (mentioned as far back as the GameStorm ‘24 video), Bread Basket is finally back in a good place. We have chased away all the rules it didn’t need, and fine-tuned the basics into the game we have always wanted. It’s still getting some final touches, which we’ll likely test at GameStorm ‘25.

Cowards: This two-player bluffing game for the Blossom Deck is getting a gentle facelift and a new video next week. Check out the updated rules on the Island Deck page.

Farmer’s Market: After several lesser versions were tried and discarded at DunDraCon, Farmer’s Market has been updated with a simpler scoring system. We feel pretty close with this one, and we’re thrilled to have one more great game for the Vines Deck.

Cold Comfort: The latest version of Cold Comfort is mostly an update to the art, though we have some fairly thorough external test feedback that may lead to a new draft soon. But there’s no need to wait for that. Try Cold Comfort today and let us know what you think.

New Videos

As you might have noticed, we’ve decided to up our video game this year. This month’s new videos are a mix of travel recaps and how-to-plays.

How to Play Prudh: This streamlined classic-style abstract game would win awards for streamlinedness if there were such a thing. Prudh has just 36 stones on a 6x6 checkerboard, two kinds of move, and delightfully deep strategy.

How to Play Bulldog: On the other end of the “classic” spectrum is this raucous gambling game for the Blossom deck. Bulldog is a contest of luck and creativity where players can spend cards from their hands, or money from their stakes, to stay alive on every round.

DunDraCon: James visits Santa Clara twice every year, to test games with the prolific and talented designers of the Bay Area. Follow him around DunDraCon and see what it’s like!

JoCo Cruise: Once again, James Ernest and family join Jonathan Coulton and hundreds of his most seaworthy adherents aboard the JoCo Cruise, a celebration of nerdery, geekery, gamery, and musicery. Sail along in this jaunty recap.

Thanks For Your Support!

Are you enjoying our games? We hope so.

Crab Fragment Labs is a tiny design studio on an imaginary tropical island, so we rely on our fans and supporters to help spread the word.

Please share our games with friends and family, and let them know where to find us. We’d like to see that subscriber list tick up once in a while.

And if you really appreciate what we’re doing, consider becoming a backer on Patreon. Our beloved Hermit Crabs enjoy the quiet satisfaction of helping awesome new games come into the world.

Thanks as always for your support, and we’ll see you at the table.