Crab Fragment Labs
@crabfragment.bsky.social
Tabletop game design studio of James Ernest (designer of Tak, and classic Cheapass Games such as Kill Doctor Lucky and Unexploded Cow).
Website: https://crabfragmentlabs.com/
Feed managed by co-owner Carol Monahan.🦀
Website: https://crabfragmentlabs.com/
Feed managed by co-owner Carol Monahan.🦀
Holiday Update | Crab Fragment Labs
Get more from Crab Fragment Labs on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
We just backed Bolted! A Frankenstein-Style Game of Creative Necromancy on @kickstarter.com, by our good friend @davidmalki.com!
Check it out:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/mal...
Check it out:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/mal...
Bolted! A Frankenstein-Style Game of Creative Necromancy
A 2–4 player, puzzly card game about "making friends"—out of body parts! From the creator of the comic strip Wondermark.
www.kickstarter.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:58 PM
We just backed Bolted! A Frankenstein-Style Game of Creative Necromancy on @kickstarter.com, by our good friend @davidmalki.com!
Check it out:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/mal...
Check it out:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/mal...
Happy Small Business Saturday!
We still have one Linos set left (pronounced "lin-Ohsh") from the most recent batch. We also have a variety of Tablero and Tak/Prudh boards, as well as Tak books, coins and piece-sets.
And as always, lots of .pdf and POD games!
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop
🦀 😊 🦀
We still have one Linos set left (pronounced "lin-Ohsh") from the most recent batch. We also have a variety of Tablero and Tak/Prudh boards, as well as Tak books, coins and piece-sets.
And as always, lots of .pdf and POD games!
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop
🦀 😊 🦀
November 29, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Happy Small Business Saturday!
We still have one Linos set left (pronounced "lin-Ohsh") from the most recent batch. We also have a variety of Tablero and Tak/Prudh boards, as well as Tak books, coins and piece-sets.
And as always, lots of .pdf and POD games!
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop
🦀 😊 🦀
We still have one Linos set left (pronounced "lin-Ohsh") from the most recent batch. We also have a variety of Tablero and Tak/Prudh boards, as well as Tak books, coins and piece-sets.
And as always, lots of .pdf and POD games!
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop
🦀 😊 🦀
PuzzCulture included some of our games in their gift guide!
Have a scroll. 😊
🎄 🦀 🎄
puzzculture.com/2025/11/25/p...
Have a scroll. 😊
🎄 🦀 🎄
puzzculture.com/2025/11/25/p...
PuzzCulture 2025 Holiday Puzzly Gift Guide: By Category
Welcome to the PuzzCulture 2025 Holiday Puzzly Gift Guide! We’re excited to be bringing you our biggest gift guide ever! There are so many tremendously fun and puzzly products to share with you. We…
puzzculture.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:07 PM
PuzzCulture included some of our games in their gift guide!
Have a scroll. 😊
🎄 🦀 🎄
puzzculture.com/2025/11/25/p...
Have a scroll. 😊
🎄 🦀 🎄
puzzculture.com/2025/11/25/p...
Reposted by Crab Fragment Labs
We met with James Ernest (@crabfragment.bsky.social) at Tabletop Oahu, and were able to play some of his fantastic games. We spoke about our recent partnership with local schools in Hawaii, providing them with pupumu to play Konane!
You can check out his vlog here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPG2...
You can check out his vlog here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPG2...
James Ernest at Tabletop Oahu, Fall 2025
YouTube video by James Ernest
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
We met with James Ernest (@crabfragment.bsky.social) at Tabletop Oahu, and were able to play some of his fantastic games. We spoke about our recent partnership with local schools in Hawaii, providing them with pupumu to play Konane!
You can check out his vlog here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPG2...
You can check out his vlog here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPG2...
Reposted by Crab Fragment Labs
Here’s our Crab Fragment Labs Patreon, which supports us in creating an amazing array of tabletop board games.
🦀
Keep up with the latest from designer James Ernest (the creator of Cheapass Games, including Kill Doctor Lucky and Tak).
🦀
www.patreon.com/crabfragment
🦀
Keep up with the latest from designer James Ernest (the creator of Cheapass Games, including Kill Doctor Lucky and Tak).
🦀
www.patreon.com/crabfragment
Get more from Crab Fragment Labs on Patreon
creating Tabletop Games
www.patreon.com
August 12, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Here’s our Crab Fragment Labs Patreon, which supports us in creating an amazing array of tabletop board games.
🦀
Keep up with the latest from designer James Ernest (the creator of Cheapass Games, including Kill Doctor Lucky and Tak).
🦀
www.patreon.com/crabfragment
🦀
Keep up with the latest from designer James Ernest (the creator of Cheapass Games, including Kill Doctor Lucky and Tak).
🦀
www.patreon.com/crabfragment
Reposted by Crab Fragment Labs
James Ernest and Crab Fragment have Regained Ownership of Cheapass Games #tabletopgames #boardgames
James Ernest and Crab Fragment have Regained Ownership of Cheapass Games
Under Old Management
graphicpolicy.com
June 16, 2025 at 10:07 PM
James Ernest and Crab Fragment have Regained Ownership of Cheapass Games #tabletopgames #boardgames
Reposted by Crab Fragment Labs
At Crab Fragment/Cheapass Games, we offer original print ‘n play tabletop games (free, unless you feel inspired!), as well as print-on-demand, and a small supply of game accessories and lovingly handcrafted pieces. We even have some Tak!
Find it all here:
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop
Find it all here:
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop
Crab Fragment Store — Crab Fragment Labs
Crab Fragment Labs offers many of its fine games as free PDFs
crabfragmentlabs.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:19 PM
At Crab Fragment/Cheapass Games, we offer original print ‘n play tabletop games (free, unless you feel inspired!), as well as print-on-demand, and a small supply of game accessories and lovingly handcrafted pieces. We even have some Tak!
Find it all here:
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop
Find it all here:
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop
Reposted by Crab Fragment Labs
We've got cool stuff.
And I will carefully wrap it up and mail it to you!
I'm particularly fond of James' new batch of 6x6 game boards - suitable for playing Tak, or Prudh!
And I will carefully wrap it up and mail it to you!
I'm particularly fond of James' new batch of 6x6 game boards - suitable for playing Tak, or Prudh!
October 28, 2025 at 10:27 PM
We've got cool stuff.
And I will carefully wrap it up and mail it to you!
I'm particularly fond of James' new batch of 6x6 game boards - suitable for playing Tak, or Prudh!
And I will carefully wrap it up and mail it to you!
I'm particularly fond of James' new batch of 6x6 game boards - suitable for playing Tak, or Prudh!
Gamer friends! We have a new section up in our store, featuring our #Tak accessories.
We have boards, piece packs, tokens and even copies of the original Tak Companion Book available.
The holidays are rapidly approaching - are you ready?
🎁 🤔 😁
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop/tak-acc...
We have boards, piece packs, tokens and even copies of the original Tak Companion Book available.
The holidays are rapidly approaching - are you ready?
🎁 🤔 😁
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop/tak-acc...
Tak Accessories — Crab Fragment Store — Crab Fragment Labs
crabfragmentlabs.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Gamer friends! We have a new section up in our store, featuring our #Tak accessories.
We have boards, piece packs, tokens and even copies of the original Tak Companion Book available.
The holidays are rapidly approaching - are you ready?
🎁 🤔 😁
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop/tak-acc...
We have boards, piece packs, tokens and even copies of the original Tak Companion Book available.
The holidays are rapidly approaching - are you ready?
🎁 🤔 😁
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop/tak-acc...
We've got some of James' handcrafted boards in the shop right now. Very limited quantities, since James has to squeeze in his crafting time between inventing new games and traveling to shows. 😁
Treat yourself to a Tablero set!
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop/from-th...
Treat yourself to a Tablero set!
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop/from-th...
From the Woodshop — Crab Fragment Store — Crab Fragment Labs
crabfragmentlabs.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:18 PM
We've got some of James' handcrafted boards in the shop right now. Very limited quantities, since James has to squeeze in his crafting time between inventing new games and traveling to shows. 😁
Treat yourself to a Tablero set!
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop/from-th...
Treat yourself to a Tablero set!
crabfragmentlabs.com/shop/from-th...
Reposted by Crab Fragment Labs
For the last few months, I've been selling tabletop games at general - not geek or gaming - markets through Cardboard Monster.
Here's what I've learned about selling games to people who don't think they like games:
Here's what I've learned about selling games to people who don't think they like games:
August 30, 2025 at 9:51 PM
For the last few months, I've been selling tabletop games at general - not geek or gaming - markets through Cardboard Monster.
Here's what I've learned about selling games to people who don't think they like games:
Here's what I've learned about selling games to people who don't think they like games:
Check out James' recap of this year's GenCon!
Marvel at his gap-toothed smile! 😅
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSbN...
Marvel at his gap-toothed smile! 😅
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSbN...
James Ernest at GenCon 2025
YouTube video by James Ernest
www.youtube.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Check out James' recap of this year's GenCon!
Marvel at his gap-toothed smile! 😅
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSbN...
Marvel at his gap-toothed smile! 😅
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSbN...
All the latest news from Crab Fragment, now officially #CheapassGames also!
We're announcing a new Patreon level, for wonderful folks who want to support the studio, and also receive new or newly-resuscitated games in their mailbox from time to time.
🦀 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
We're announcing a new Patreon level, for wonderful folks who want to support the studio, and also receive new or newly-resuscitated games in their mailbox from time to time.
🦀 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
Coconut Crabs have arrived!
As Crab Fragment Labs begins absorbing the vast library of games that is the Cheapass catalog, we are pleased to introduce the Coconut Crab tier on Patreon.
crabfragmentlabs.com
August 19, 2025 at 10:57 PM
All the latest news from Crab Fragment, now officially #CheapassGames also!
We're announcing a new Patreon level, for wonderful folks who want to support the studio, and also receive new or newly-resuscitated games in their mailbox from time to time.
🦀 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
We're announcing a new Patreon level, for wonderful folks who want to support the studio, and also receive new or newly-resuscitated games in their mailbox from time to time.
🦀 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
Now that #CheapassGames has come back home to us entirely, we're exploring options for getting the best games back into print.
Top of the list is #Tak. The retail editions have been unavailable for too long!
Let us know what you'd like to see in a new boxed set!
crabfragmentlabs.com/tak
Top of the list is #Tak. The retail editions have been unavailable for too long!
Let us know what you'd like to see in a new boxed set!
crabfragmentlabs.com/tak
Tak Board Game — Crab Fragment Labs
A Beautiful Game by James Ernest and Patrick Rothfuss
crabfragmentlabs.com
June 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Now that #CheapassGames has come back home to us entirely, we're exploring options for getting the best games back into print.
Top of the list is #Tak. The retail editions have been unavailable for too long!
Let us know what you'd like to see in a new boxed set!
crabfragmentlabs.com/tak
Top of the list is #Tak. The retail editions have been unavailable for too long!
Let us know what you'd like to see in a new boxed set!
crabfragmentlabs.com/tak
The Cheapass Games catalog has officially come home!
🦀 😊 🦀
Perhaps some of our primordial games will now escape the bounds of Cheapassic Park. 🦕
crabfragmentlabs.com/game-preserve
🦀 😊 🦀
Perhaps some of our primordial games will now escape the bounds of Cheapassic Park. 🦕
crabfragmentlabs.com/game-preserve
The Cheapass Game Preserve — Crab Fragment Labs
Our scientists were do preoccupied with bringing back these ancient Cheapass Games that they never stopped to ask whether they should.
crabfragmentlabs.com
May 21, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The Cheapass Games catalog has officially come home!
🦀 😊 🦀
Perhaps some of our primordial games will now escape the bounds of Cheapassic Park. 🦕
crabfragmentlabs.com/game-preserve
🦀 😊 🦀
Perhaps some of our primordial games will now escape the bounds of Cheapassic Park. 🦕
crabfragmentlabs.com/game-preserve
Reposted by Crab Fragment Labs
That book is amazing. If you game, you owe it to yourself to get unbelievable insight into everything Cheapass.
A TON of cool games for mere dollars as well; deluxe boxed editions for paper envelope prices!
A TON of cool games for mere dollars as well; deluxe boxed editions for paper envelope prices!
With Greater Than Games shuttered, the remaining games - including old Cheapass Games ♟- are on a very discounted sale.
If you ever dreamed of owning the massive hardcover Cheapass tome, the last copies are going for only $15! 😮
Here: www.greaterthangames.com/collections/...
If you ever dreamed of owning the massive hardcover Cheapass tome, the last copies are going for only $15! 😮
Here: www.greaterthangames.com/collections/...
Sale
Greater Than Games was founded in 2011 with our flagship game Sentinels of the Multiverse! Since then we have prided ourselves on publishing engaging, richly-themed and highly replayable tabletop boar...
www.greaterthangames.com
May 20, 2025 at 4:28 AM
That book is amazing. If you game, you owe it to yourself to get unbelievable insight into everything Cheapass.
A TON of cool games for mere dollars as well; deluxe boxed editions for paper envelope prices!
A TON of cool games for mere dollars as well; deluxe boxed editions for paper envelope prices!
With Greater Than Games shuttered, the remaining games - including old Cheapass Games ♟- are on a very discounted sale.
If you ever dreamed of owning the massive hardcover Cheapass tome, the last copies are going for only $15! 😮
Here: www.greaterthangames.com/collections/...
If you ever dreamed of owning the massive hardcover Cheapass tome, the last copies are going for only $15! 😮
Here: www.greaterthangames.com/collections/...
Sale
Greater Than Games was founded in 2011 with our flagship game Sentinels of the Multiverse! Since then we have prided ourselves on publishing engaging, richly-themed and highly replayable tabletop boar...
www.greaterthangames.com
May 20, 2025 at 4:12 AM
With Greater Than Games shuttered, the remaining games - including old Cheapass Games ♟- are on a very discounted sale.
If you ever dreamed of owning the massive hardcover Cheapass tome, the last copies are going for only $15! 😮
Here: www.greaterthangames.com/collections/...
If you ever dreamed of owning the massive hardcover Cheapass tome, the last copies are going for only $15! 😮
Here: www.greaterthangames.com/collections/...
Happy Monday!
James has quite a number of videos on designing games and prototyping, and we have collected them into a handy YouTube playlist.
Check them out! 🦀😁
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
James has quite a number of videos on designing games and prototyping, and we have collected them into a handy YouTube playlist.
Check them out! 🦀😁
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Game Design Videos - YouTube
Once in a while, James Ernest posts a short video about the game design process. These videos are collected here.
www.youtube.com
May 12, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Happy Monday!
James has quite a number of videos on designing games and prototyping, and we have collected them into a handy YouTube playlist.
Check them out! 🦀😁
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
James has quite a number of videos on designing games and prototyping, and we have collected them into a handy YouTube playlist.
Check them out! 🦀😁
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
A new Crab Fragment Labs newsletter!
Remember: you can still print all of our games at home, or get print-on-demand card decks made here in the US. We are as tariff-proofed as can be.
Share with friends, and please consider joining our Patreon! 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
Remember: you can still print all of our games at home, or get print-on-demand card decks made here in the US. We are as tariff-proofed as can be.
Share with friends, and please consider joining our Patreon! 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
Reintroducing Shipwrights of Marino
The world swirls around us, while we sit quietly on the beach, spinning out new ideas and waiting for the seas to rise.
crabfragmentlabs.com
April 26, 2025 at 12:05 AM
A new Crab Fragment Labs newsletter!
Remember: you can still print all of our games at home, or get print-on-demand card decks made here in the US. We are as tariff-proofed as can be.
Share with friends, and please consider joining our Patreon! 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
Remember: you can still print all of our games at home, or get print-on-demand card decks made here in the US. We are as tariff-proofed as can be.
Share with friends, and please consider joining our Patreon! 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
Reposted by Crab Fragment Labs
Today I learned that James Ernest (@crabfragment.bsky.social) maintains a pdf library of original Cheapass Games that you can download for free 🤩🤩🤩 I bought a bunch of these in the original paper envelopes when they first came out almost 30 years ago, and they are still awesome to this day!
The Cheapass Game Preserve — Crab Fragment Labs
Our scientists were do preoccupied with bringing back these ancient Cheapass Games that they never stopped to ask whether they should.
crabfragmentlabs.com
April 9, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Today I learned that James Ernest (@crabfragment.bsky.social) maintains a pdf library of original Cheapass Games that you can download for free 🤩🤩🤩 I bought a bunch of these in the original paper envelopes when they first came out almost 30 years ago, and they are still awesome to this day!
A recent article by James, answering questions from an aspiring game designer:
🦀♟️🙂
crabfragmentlabs.com/lecture-hall...
🦀♟️🙂
crabfragmentlabs.com/lecture-hall...
Beginner’s Advice — Crab Fragment Labs
James Ernest fields questions from an aspirant in the field of game design.
crabfragmentlabs.com
March 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM
A recent article by James, answering questions from an aspiring game designer:
🦀♟️🙂
crabfragmentlabs.com/lecture-hall...
🦀♟️🙂
crabfragmentlabs.com/lecture-hall...
This post is somewhat belated, but here's our most recent newsletter, with new versions of games, new videos, and a schedule of James' upcoming travels!
🦀 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
🦀 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
New Year, New Games!
Introduced last winter, Cold Comfort is a tile-based board game about hospitality in the Yukon. You are hoteliers serving prospectors in Dawson City, and your customers are dice.
crabfragmentlabs.com
January 27, 2025 at 12:50 AM
This post is somewhat belated, but here's our most recent newsletter, with new versions of games, new videos, and a schedule of James' upcoming travels!
🦀 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...
🦀 😁 🦀
crabfragmentlabs.com/campaigns/vi...