In this simple retro game, players help a scrappy crab defend the oceans from pollution.

KEY ROLES: GAME DESIGNER, ARTIST

I might be dating myself, but I have really fond memories of playing Snake on my Nokia phone. So I was all in when a Nokia-themed retro game jam came up on Itch.io. Jamming with developers Michael Kent and Brendan Polley, I took on the challenge to create something under very strict design constraints – an 84 x 48 screen resolution, input through numpad keys, a mere two colours (#c7f0d8 and #43523d), and a short timeline.

I dusted off my pixel art skills and drew a crab as a test. It captured the hearts of my teammates and we decided to roll with it. Thus, Trash Crab was born – a game with simple mechanics but a poignant message about what we’re doing to our planet.

Game credits / Game design: Michael Kent, Brendan Polley, rurupoi / Development: Michael Kent, Brendan Polley / Art: rurupoi