Survival

**Survival Mode** is one of the three game modes available to play in Crab Champions. This game mode puts the player in a PvE roguelike environment, filled with enemies, items, perks, and weapons to fight the enemies with.

The gamemode can be played up to 4 players, both through with Steam friends support and normal matchmaking.

## Lobby

Before a survival match, players are placed into a lobby, where you can prepare for your game.

Each player has to choose their abilities before the game starts, and which starting weapon they will use.

Using the boat will launch the game into the first biome. Your crab will travel to the first biome through a cutscene, which promptly displays "Island 1". The biome type is directly below during the scene.

## Levels (Normal)

**Levels** are sections of the current biome that are hand-built for optimal enemy combat. Levels can be accessed through portals.

There are different types of levels:

Entrance Levels: This is the first type of level you will encounter as you enter a new biome. Entrance levels are more open and encourage exploring your surroundings.

Horde Levels: Levels designed for taking care of masses of enemies. Typically favours movement due to the velocity that the mob will be rushing toward you.

## Gameplay

Your crab will travel to the first biome through a cutscene, which promptly displays "Island 1". The biome type is directly below during the scene. The biomes themselves are hand-built, but have some elements procedurally-generated.

When spawning, players begin the Entrance Level for the biome, which a wave of enemies will spawn. Entrance Levels which are more open and encourage exploring your surroundings. Portals will spawn once the level is beaten to take you to other Levels of the biome.

**Levels** are sections of the current biome that are hand-built for optimal enemy combat. There is no time limit with the only requirement being you finish the level to advance.

Gunplay in Crab Champions is all about movement, you can flip, slide, and jump: executing combos to take the baddies down.

There are 10 levels/islands per biome. Each level spawning up to 3 portals upon completion that randomly teleport you to the next level.

Over the course of levels, players can expect to find Chests, Keys and Crystals. Crystals are the exclusive currency for Tony the Shopkeeper, which you can buy commodities that will help you on your journey.

The 10th level includes a big boss. Upon defeating the boss, three boats will spawn, each leading you to a biome of your choice.

Shown in other Development Updates, it's been shown that different kinds of elements (i.e. fire) can interact with the environment.

Customizable games are planned at some point, with in-game modifiers, perks, and items.

Currently, either clearing 4 islands or surviving allows you to complete the gamemode, and go to Crab Island. There you may dance with your fellow crabs, or choose to keep going if you wish, at the increased difficulty you left off with.

A complete run on standard difficulty should expect to take around 45 minutes, increasing as the difficulty selected goes up.

Free-roam was enabled at one point, but was disabled by Noisestorm since he said he "kept backtracking" and it "killed the pacing of the game".

Currently, there are 2 confirmed minigames for survival mode. One of these minigames is called "Protect the Penguin". This minigame features a penguin at the center of the map. You must protect this penguin from waves of enemies, and if you fail, your current run ends. The penguin will have a healthbar for players to check its health. The other minigame is "Parkour", where the main goal is to reach the end within a time limit, with enemies shooting at you, and very long drops if you end up missing a jump.

## Difficulties

There are currently 2 different difficulty modes in place:

* **Normal**
* **Nightmare**

Nightmare mode is only available after Normal is completed. Noisestorm has stated that he may implement higher item drops and rarities in this difficulty.

## Endgame

Clearing **4** biomes will grant access to an endgame social space through a portal.

Reaching this space completes the mode and your run time, but it does not limit what you can do afterward. You may choose to keep going if you wish, keeping all of your weapons and perks, while starting the game back at the same ramping-up difficulty as you left it. The run will continue forever or until you die.

WARNING: Continuing to read may have spoilers.

That social space is indeed Crab Island, as featured in Noisestorm's hugely successful music video, Crab Rave. Unfortunately, Crab Rave (the song) cannot be included in the game due to copyright infringements.

On Crab Island, there has been talk to include an ancient temple, inhabited by an ancient crab, that can be activated by finding unique relics throughout your survival run. Doing so unlocks extra content for all future survival runs. This is just an idea and is not confirmed to be in the game as of now. (if it is, we told you so)

## Challenge Levels

Challenge Levels are generally harder levels that can be found in Portals.

Challenge Levels have a specific gameplay modifier that switch up gameplay in a challenging way. A few of the confirmed ones are:

* **Low-Gravity**: The player and enemies can fly, meaning that you can reach certain areas of the map more easily but can be left vulnerable floating in the air.
* **High-Gravity**: It's harder for the player to jump, and the projectiles are more affected by gravity.
* **Speed**: Everything moves faster (including enemies and their projectiles!).
* **Instagib**: All enemies can be eliminated in one shot, but so can you.
* **No Shield**: All shields are disabled, so certain enemies become a much larger threat.
* **Lethal Liquids**: Watch your step- touching water, acid pools, lava or other liquids results in an instant elimination.
* **Invisible Enemies**: Enemies are almost impossible to see, it's much easier for them to sneak up on you.

* **Tiny Enemies**: Enemies are much smaller than usual, which makes them harder to hit.

Completing challenge Levels guarantees you an epic (or greater) chest, but the scaled difficulty can easily end your run if you are not well prepared.

## Sub-Modes

**Survival Daily Seed**: A fixed seed which changes daily. You play on Nightmare difficulty and try to beat it as fast as you can to get on the global leaderboard.

**Survival Practice**: A gamemode where you can choose your seed to practice. Earning achievements on this mode is disabled.

**Endless Survival**: Survival, but the game never ends unless the player dies. Enemies will keep on increasing, and will become much harder as the game goes on. Different achievements, challenges, and secrets are tied to this sub-mode.

## References

1. ↑ *Development Update #3*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Noisestorm's info dump on Discord
Development Update #9