I'll admit, I was not expecting much from this game going in. The gaming world is full of properties that find a clever, absurdist title that could grab attention for long enough to merit a second glance, then break for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that "Everything is Going to Crab" is not that. Instead, it takes its concept and runs with it, going all in on the ridiculousness with gusto.
The Town of Dang d'eau is packed to the brim with locations and more characters than one can fit on a run down bus on the outside of town, with a ton of opportunity for quirky roleplaying for both players and GMs. A good many of them got a chuckle from me, and they all have just enough for a GM to work with, but not too much so that they become inflexlible. These personalities, local landmarks and happenings fill the town with life and the game with opportunity. There is a goldmine of story potential here.
The biggest drawback, it seems, is scale. The goal of the game is to convince as many NPCs to join your cause as possible, or at least get them out of town, while enemy infiltrators and random events throw up hurdles. Its solid enough to provide escalating ridiculousness and hold a story, but the sheer volume of NPCs at the core of this central premise seems quite daunting, with a danger of repetition for both players and GMs. At present, the game is a sandbox, with some goals, lots of toys, but no clear rules on how a GM might string those together. A little more structure to the game might help bring some order to the sandbox and prevent burnout from the repetition of such RP heavy interaction required for so many characters.
Design-wise, the game is well presented, with popping graphics and clear formatting that make it easily readable and referenced, and the writing itself is amusing enough to pull the reader along. Mechanically, the system is simple, but seems like it is robust enough to get the job done. This is actually a pretty good looking game.
All in all, a ridiculous game that embraces its absurdist angle with pride and manic energy. Even if you don't end up playing it yourself, its one of those games where the manual alone is a lot of fun just to read.