DUNECRAWL

A Crab Crawler Adventure Across the Sandy Seas

Embark on an epic open world action-adventure where you and up to three friends explore a vast desert landscape aboard a customizable, gigantic Crab Crawler. Navigate treacherous dunes and discover hidden oases in this unique blend of exploration, combat, and cooperative gameplay.

Coming to Steam - January 5, 2026 | Demo Available Now

Welcome to the Desert

Command massive Crab Crawlers. Battle jar-headed Vassals. Explore a vibrant desert world filled with danger and wonder.

DuneCrawl is an open world action-adventure where you pilot enormous Crab Crawlers across hostile desert terrain. Experience the conflict between the Polloi pilgrims and the invading Ceramicists. Battle jar-headed Vassals, survive relentless hordes of wild bugs, explore vibrant oasis islands, and delve into cunningly designed dungeons. Your mission: help the Polloi secure their future in this hostile world.

🎬 Official Announcement Trailer

The Battle for the Desert

The vast desert landscape has become a battleground where the Polloi pilgrims fight for survival against the mysterious Ceramicist invaders. As a Crab Crawler pilot, you'll navigate this conflict, making choices that will determine the fate of entire settlements.

Command your giant crustacean vehicle through treacherous sandstorms, engage in epic crawler-to-crawler battles, and discover ancient secrets buried beneath the dunes. Every journey across the sandy seas brings new challenges and opportunities.

  • Experience a rich narrative driven by faction conflict
  • Make meaningful choices that impact the world
  • Uncover the mysteries of the desert civilization
  • Build alliances and shape the future of the Polloi

Can Your PC Run DuneCrawl?

DuneCrawl features relatively modest PC system requirements that make it accessible to a wide range of gaming setups. Check if your computer meets the minimum or recommended specifications below to ensure the best Crab Crawler experience. The game requires a 64-bit operating system and benefits significantly from SSD storage for optimal open-world streaming performance.

Minimum Requirements

Operating System Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit)
Processor Intel Core i5-2400
AMD FX-8320 or better
Memory (RAM) 8 GB
Graphics Card NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB
AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better
DirectX Version 11
Storage Space 6 GB available
Additional Notes SSD recommended for best performance

Recommended for Best Experience

Operating System Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
Processor Intel Core i5-8400
AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or better
Memory (RAM) 16 GB
Graphics Card NVIDIA GTX 1660
AMD RX 5600 XT or better
DirectX Version 12
Storage Space 10 GB SSD
Additional Notes SSD strongly recommended, stable internet for co-op

Performance Optimization Tips

🎮 Use an SSD

Installing DuneCrawl on a solid-state drive significantly reduces loading times and eliminates stuttering during open-world exploration and co-op sessions.

🔧 Update Your Drivers

Keep your graphics card drivers up to date. NVIDIA and AMD regularly release optimizations that can boost FPS by 10-20% in newer games.

💾 Close Background Apps

Free up system resources by closing unnecessary programs, especially during online co-op sessions where network stability is crucial.

🌡️ Monitor Temperatures

Ensure proper cooling for your PC. Thermal throttling can cause unexpected FPS drops during intense crawler battles and large-scale encounters.

🎨 Adjust Graphics Settings

Lower shadow quality and effects first if experiencing FPS drops. These settings have the biggest performance impact while maintaining visual quality.

🌐 Stable Internet Connection

For online co-op, use a wired Ethernet connection when possible. This reduces latency and prevents disconnections during critical crawler operations.

Master the Art of Crustacean Warfare

Command the cannons and steer your Crab Crawler into intense battles against rival crawlers, colossal bosses, and fortified island strongholds. True teamwork is essential as you coordinate with your crew to load cannonballs, repair critical damage, and launch daring boarding assaults.

Each Crab Crawler can be customized with different weapon systems, armor configurations, and special abilities. Choose spike-armored legs for close combat, guided torpedoes for precision strikes, or deploy defensive measures to outlast your enemies.

  • Coordinate multi-station vehicle operations
  • Engage in strategic crawler-vs-crawler battles
  • Customize your arsenal with unique weapons
  • Execute precision boarding maneuvers

Fight, Explore, and Conquer

Dive into the heart of the conflict between the Polloi pilgrims and the invading Ceramicists. The vast desert landscape has become a battleground where survival depends on your ability to master your Crab Crawler, work with your crew, and navigate the treacherous political landscape.

Battle against the jar-headed Vassals, survive relentless hordes of wild bugs, explore vibrant oasis islands, and delve into cunningly designed dungeons filled with ancient secrets and powerful rewards.

The Polloi Pilgrims

Desert wanderers seeking a new home, relying on their Crab Crawlers for survival. Aid them in their quest to establish settlements and defend against invaders.

The Ceramicists

Mysterious invaders with jar-headed Vassals, seeking to claim the desert for themselves. Face their advanced technology and relentless assault.

Wild Desert Creatures

Giant bugs, scorpions, and other arthropods that can be both friend and foe. Learn to ride them or fight against their savage hordes.

Key Features

Experience a unique blend of cooperative gameplay, open-world exploration, and intense combat in a vibrant desert setting

👥

Cooperative and Solo Play

Adventure in local or online co-op with up to 4 players, or brave the wastelands solo with the aid of a spectral companion. Share the journey with friends or forge your own path across the desert.

🌍

Open World Exploration

Pilot your customizable Crab Crawler across an expansive desert filled with diverse biomes. Visit numerous islands, complete challenging quests, uncover secret dungeons brimming with loot, and discover the mysteries hidden beneath the sands.

⚔️

Deep Customization

Enhance your character's abilities by collecting powerful Masks, Tunics, and Talismans. Unlock devastating weapons like the Buzzooka and Acid Harpoon! Deck out your Crab Crawler with Spike Armored legs and Guided Torpedoes for the ultimate combat advantage.

🦀

Epic Crustacean Combat

Command the cannons and steer your Crab Crawler into intense battles against rival crawlers, colossal bosses, and fortified strongholds. Coordinate with your crew to load cannonballs, repair critical damage, and launch daring boarding assaults.

🐛

Unique Bug Riding

Giant crabs aren't the only arthropods at your disposal! Team up with friends to ride multi-saddle Beetles, swiftly navigate on skittering Nymphs, or crush opposition with armored Scorpions and Ball Bugs. Each creature offers unique abilities.

💥

Dynamic Action Combat

Engage in fast-paced action combat on foot with a wide array of hand weapons and items. Exploit the environment using Bomb Flowers, Beehives, and Spider Eggs to gain tactical advantages in battle.

Bug Riding
GAMEPLAY SCREENSHOT

🐛 Ride the Desert Creatures

Master the Desert's Living Vehicles

The desert is home to incredible creatures that can become your greatest allies. From swift-moving Nymphs that skitter across the sand to heavily-armored Scorpions built for combat, each creature offers unique advantages for exploration and battle.

Multi-saddle Beetles allow your entire crew to travel together, while Ball Bugs can roll through enemy formations with devastating force. Learning to tame, ride, and bond with these creatures is essential for mastering the desert.

  • Tame diverse species of giant arthropods
  • Each creature has unique abilities and roles
  • Coordinate multi-rider formations
  • Build bonds to unlock special abilities

Featured Videos

Dive deeper into the world of DuneCrawl with gameplay showcases, developer insights, and community highlights

DuneCrawl Is the Next HUGE Open-World RPG You Can’t Miss!

This one looks good, plays good and is so much fun!

CHEESY MADE ME PLAY THIS! (DuneCrawl) | The Jackbox Party Pack After!

Hey Chilled...You got rules?

DuneCrawl Review - Indie Gem or Total Crab?

Will you be checking out DuneCrawl? Let us know in the comments below. Voice to the voiceless!

Bug Riding

🏝️ Discover Vibrant Oases

Explore lush islands in the desert sea

Uncover Paradise in the Wasteland

Scattered across the barren desert are vibrant oasis islands teeming with life. These lush sanctuaries offer respite from the harsh sands and house ancient civilizations, hidden treasures, and challenging dungeons waiting to be explored.

Each oasis presents unique environmental puzzles, rare resources, and opportunities to aid Polloi settlements or confront Ceramicist strongholds. Delve into cunningly designed dungeons beneath the oases to discover powerful artifacts and uncover the desert's deepest secrets.

  • Explore diverse oasis environments
  • Solve environmental puzzles and challenges
  • Discover ancient dungeons filled with loot
  • Aid settlements and build alliances

Gameplay Systems

Deep, interconnected systems create endless gameplay possibilities and replayability

Crab Crawler Operations

  • Multi-station vehicle control system
  • Manual cannon loading and precision aiming
  • Real-time damage and repair mechanics
  • Coordinated crew actions (helm, weapons, support)
  • Epic crawler-vs-crawler naval-style battles
  • Boarding assault capabilities
  • Resource management for ammunition and repairs

On-Foot Combat Systems

  • Dynamic melee combat with combo systems
  • Varied ranged weapons with unique mechanics
  • Dodge, roll, and defensive maneuvers
  • Lock-on targeting for precision
  • Environmental weapon usage
  • Bomb Flowers for explosive destruction
  • Spider Eggs and Beehives as tactical tools

Bug Riding & Mounts

  • Multi-saddle Beetles for team transport
  • Swift Nymphs for rapid traversal
  • Armored Scorpions for heavy combat
  • Ball Bugs for rolling attacks
  • Unique abilities per creature type
  • Taming and bonding mechanics
  • Creature customization options

Exploration & Progression

  • Open-world desert map with dynamic events
  • Quest-driven narrative missions
  • Hidden dungeons with valuable loot
  • Oasis settlements to discover and protect
  • Character customization via Masks and Tunics
  • Talisman system for mystical powers
  • Crawler upgrades and modifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about DuneCrawl before you embark on your desert adventure

General Gameplay

What kind of game is DuneCrawl?
DuneCrawl is a 1-4 player co-op online action-adventure game where players crew desert "crawlers" and explore a hostile dune sea full of enemies and points of interest. The gameplay mixes top-down combat, light survival, crawler management, and open-world exploration with quests and events.
Is DuneCrawl single-player or co-op?
You can play solo, but the game is designed primarily around 2-4 player online co-op where everyone shares and operates the same crawler. Different players can take different roles, such as driving, manning cannons, repairing, or fighting on foot during encounters.
Is the game open world?
Yes, the desert is structured as a continuous "dust sea" you traverse in your crawler, discovering outposts, enemy crawlers, and quest locations. Instead of linear levels, you receive quests and contracts that send you to different parts of the open map.
Does DuneCrawl have a story or campaign?
There is a light narrative framework involving desert privateers, vassal outposts, and sacred crawlers you need to rescue or defend. Most of the content is mission-driven: rescue operations, outpost assaults, crawler battles, and similar objectives rather than a heavily scripted single-player story.
What is combat like?
On-foot combat uses melee and ranged weapons, dodging, and abilities, in a top-down action style. Your crawler also fights: you load and fire heavy weapons while keeping systems repaired during large engagements.
How hard is the game?
Many players find early combat surprisingly punishing, with aggressive enemies and some shielded foes that react very quickly to player inputs. Once you learn enemy patterns and build better loadouts, the difficulty becomes more manageable, but it is not a "relaxed" game.
Is there progression or builds?
Players can unlock and equip different weapons, gadgets (like bombs), and crawler upgrades, allowing more damage-focused or utility-focused builds. Community coverage mentions "crit builds" and specialized loadouts, suggesting at least basic build variety rather than fixed characters.

Technical & Performance

Do I need a 64-bit OS?
Yes, the minimum requirements explicitly say a 64-bit operating system is required (Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit). The game will not run on 32-bit systems.
How big is the download?
Listings mention between 3 GB and around 6 GB of required disk space, so reserving at least 6-10 GB on an SSD is recommended for the best experience.
Can I run DuneCrawl on integrated graphics?
The official minimum requires a dedicated GPU like a GTX 670 2 GB or Radeon HD 7870 2 GB, so older or low-end integrated graphics are not officially supported. Some performance guides state that integrated GPUs may struggle, especially in co-op or large battles, even at low settings.
Why does my FPS drop in co-op or large fights?
Players report frame drops during busy combat even on relatively strong laptops (for example, i7-12700H + RTX 4060) due to effects, AI, and network load. Using an SSD, closing background apps, lowering effects/shadows, and hosting on the most stable connection in the group can help smooth things out.
Is an SSD required?
The minimum specs only say "available space," but performance guides strongly recommend installing the game on an SSD to reduce stutter and loading while streaming the open world.

Online, Features & Content

Is there PvP?
The game is primarily PvE, focusing on fighting AI enemies, factions, and creatures. Standard information sources do not advertise a dedicated PvP mode.
Does DuneCrawl support local co-op?
The focus is online co-op, but some demo coverage mentions multiple controllers and shared crawler management on the same machine, implying local co-op support in at least some form.
Is cross-play supported?
Public information for the Steam version only references PC. There is no widely advertised cross-play with consoles at this time.
Are there difficulty settings?
Standard descriptions and store pages do not list granular difficulty sliders. The challenge mainly comes from enemy design, gear, and co-op coordination.
Does the game support mods?
There is no official Steam Workshop or mod support announced in the basic store description, though third-party tools exist that tweak performance and some gameplay aspects.
Is there controller support?
Gameplay previews commonly show controller play, and as a modern Steam action-adventure, it is expected to have full controller support, including Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam Deck compatibility.

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🏰 Conquer Ancient Dungeons

Delve into mysterious underground lairs

Unlock the Desert's Ancient Secrets

Beneath the shifting sands lie ancient dungeons filled with environmental puzzles, deadly traps, and epic boss encounters. These cunningly designed underground structures hold the key to understanding the desert's history and accessing its most powerful treasures.

Collect powerful Masks that grant special abilities, Tunics that enhance your defenses, and Talismans that provide mystical powers. Each piece of equipment you discover helps you build your character to match your unique playstyle and overcome greater challenges.

  • Explore intricate dungeon layouts and puzzles
  • Face challenging boss encounters
  • Discover legendary equipment and artifacts
  • Unlock powerful character abilities

Join the Community

Connect with fellow desert explorers, share strategies, discover secrets, and stay updated on the latest DuneCrawl news

About the Developer

DuneCrawl is developed by Alientrap, an independent studio passionate about creating unique cooperative experiences that blend innovative gameplay mechanics with distinctive visual styles. With a commitment to delivering fresh perspectives on the action-adventure genre, Alientrap brings creativity and craftsmanship to every aspect of DuneCrawl.

From the giant Crab Crawlers to the vibrant desert ecosystem, every element has been crafted to provide players with an unforgettable cooperative adventure across the sandy seas.

Ready to Conquer the Dunes?

Download the demo today and embark on your epic Crab Crawler adventure across the sandy seas!

Download Demo on Steam