DuneCrawl Gameplay Guide with Tips and Tricks (2026)
Updated 13 October 2026 · Covers PC (Steam) and the PS5, Xbox Series and Android versions launching 19 October 2026
Quick answer
DuneCrawl is Alientrap’s open-world co-op action-adventure where 1–4 players crew a giant cannon-carrying crab across a desert. Half the game is on foot (dodge-roll combat, dungeons, bug mounts); the other half is running the Crab Crawler (steer, carry and load cannonballs, repair legs, shield, launch yourself at enemies). The fastest way to get good: loot the whole tutorial, equip the Gilded Mask, grab the Star Shot cannon upgrade, always carry bug gack, and fight forts from range before you go ashore. Solo works – a ghost companion, the Old Keeper, takes orders.
Most DuneCrawl guides you will find are either a list of walkthrough links, a short “bring friends” blog, or an emulator advert. This one explains how the game actually works – what each Crawler station does, what to grab in the tutorial, which mounts do what, how solo differs from co-op – and then gives you 20 practical tips. Everything is checked against Alientrap’s Steam page and the October 2026 console announcement, and anything that comes only from community guides is labelled. For more guides like this, browse our Game section.
Contents
1. How DuneCrawl works · 2. Crab Crawler stations · 3. Tutorial loot checklist · 4. 20 tips and tricks · 5. Bug mounts · 6. Early gear · 7. Solo vs co-op · 8. Quest order · 9. How long it takes · 10. Platforms · 11. Mistakes · 12. Myths corrected · 13. FAQ
How DuneCrawl works: the core loop
You play a privateer helping the bird-like Polloi pilgrims fight the Ceramicist’s invasion and his jar-headed Vassal soldiers. Your home, transport and main weapon is a Dune Crawler – a huge walking crab with black-powder cannons on its back. The world is a “sand sea” dotted with islands, towns, forts and dungeons. Almost every session follows the same loop:
Town NPCs, the Shaman, bounty-style side jobs
Steer across the dunes, fight crawlers and towers on the way
Dock, explore on foot or on a bug, clear the dungeon
Gold, junk, masks, tunics, talismans, crawler parts
The two halves play very differently, so it helps to think of them separately:
| On foot | On the Crab Crawler | |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Top-down hack-and-slash with guns | Ship-style crew management, like a land-based Sea of Thieves |
| Main threats | Vassal infantry, shielded soldiers, bug swarms, dungeon traps | Clay/Vassal towers, enemy crawlers (e.g. the Kiln Crawler), island fortresses, bosses |
| Key skill | Dodge-roll timing and weapon swapping | Keeping cannons loaded and legs repaired at the same time |
| Upgrades | Masks, Tunics, Talismans, new weapons (Buzzooka, Acid Harpoon) | Leg armour, cannon upgrades, Guided Torpedoes, Spike Armoured legs, cosmetics |
The Crab Crawler stations explained
Nothing on the Crawler is automatic. Someone has to physically walk to each job. Learn these early and both solo and co-op get much easier.
| Station / action | What it does | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Helm | Steers the crab across the sand | The crab is heavy and turns wide – start turns early around rocks and forts |
| Cannons | You pick up a cannonball, carry it to a cannon, load it, mount it and aim | In co-op give one player the “loader” job so the gunner never waits |
| Legs | Legs take damage and must be repaired; in the tutorial you heal them with bug gack | Always keep some bug gack on board |
| Shield | Blocks incoming fire and can bounce shots back | Raise it when a tower or crawler fires, then return to the guns |
| Cannon launch | Climb into a cannon and fire yourself (or a friend) across the map | Used for boarding enemy crawlers, reaching far ledges and loot |
| Upgrade slots | Armour goes on individual legs; upgrades such as Star Shot go on individual cannons | Armour a front leg first – it faces most fire when you advance |
| Looks | Crawler masks, hats and paint jobs | Some masks are quest items (e.g. a Longhorn Crawler Mask in The Great Crawler’s Path) |
Tutorial loot checklist: Defend Sanctuary Hill
The opening chapter is longer than it looks and hides several items that make the first hours much smoother. Community walkthroughs (games.gg, Into Indie Games) agree on these pickups:
| Item | Where (roughly) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Scattergun | Under debris after the first enemy wave | Crowd control for groups |
| Hand cannon | Chest at the bottom of the south ramp past the waterfall | Burst damage on shielded soldiers |
| Gilded Mask | Chest at the top of the vines after the bridge fight | Enemies drop extra gold |
| Small gold chests (15, 15, 50) | South side after wave 1, south ramp, far end of the right ramp near the docks | Early trader money |
| Det Pack blueprint + Royal Honey Jar | Far structure you reach by cannon launch | The jar sells for about 60 gold |
| Iron Bark armour | Other side of the second cannon launch | First leg armour for your Crawler |
| Star Shot upgrade | Optional shielded enemy at the docks | Cannon upgrade worth loading before the Kiln Crawler fight |
20 DuneCrawl tips and tricks
Getting started
1. Don’t rush the tutorial. Sanctuary Hill teaches dodging, mounts, cannons and cannon-launching, and it hides two guns, a gold mask, leg armour and a cannon upgrade. Clear side paths before the docks.
2. Smash everything. Crates, pots and junk piles drop gold and junk you will want at the first trader. It adds up quickly in the opening hours.
3. Equip the Gilded Mask straight away. More gold per kill compounds through the whole early game. Swap to a combat mask later, once upgrades get expensive and fights get harder.
4. Hold on to the Royal Honey Jar. It’s a sell item, not a key. Selling it gives you a clean early cash boost.
5. Do the optional shielded enemy at the docks. Most shots bounce off its front, so hit it from behind (launch yourself past it, or have the Old Keeper draw its attention in solo). The reward is the Star Shot cannon upgrade.
Running the Crab Crawler
6. Treat bug gack like fuel. It repairs the Crawler’s legs in the tutorial and it’s also what you feed bug mounts. Running out far from town is the classic early-game soft-lock.
7. Think of cannons as a four-step loop. Grab ball, carry, load, aim. In co-op split it: one carrier, one gunner. Solo, load every cannon before you engage, not during.
8. Use the shield actively. Shots can be bounced back. Raise it when a tower fires, then go back to the guns – don’t just tank damage.
9. Fight towers from cover. Use dunes and rocks to break line of sight, fire a volley, pull back to repair and reload, then re-engage. Rushing into three firing lines at once is how Crawlers get crippled.
10. Park out of range before going ashore. If you dock to explore a dungeon, leave the Crawler away from enemy artillery. Coming back to wrecked legs wastes time and resources.
11. Armour a front leg first. Front legs face the guns as you advance, so they’re the best home for the Iron Bark armour you get in the tutorial.
12. Launch yourself. The cannon launch isn’t just a joke. It’s how you board enemy crawlers, reach far platforms and flank shielded enemies.
On-foot combat
13. Dodge roll is your defence. Vassals hit hard, and normal attacks give you no protection. Learn the roll (X on a PlayStation pad) in the first fight and watch your stamina so you always have a roll left.
14. Swap instead of reloading. Black-powder guns reload slowly. Finish weak enemies with a melee weapon such as the Cutlass and save gun shots for the next target.
15. Use the world as ammo. Bomb Flowers, Beehives and Spider Eggs can be picked up and used against enemies. Bomb Flowers also open blocked paths.
16. Bombard before you storm. Fortified outposts are much easier after the Crawler has shelled them. Going in with just a sword and bow is the most common early death.
Exploration, mounts and loot
17. Pick the right bug. Nymphs are fast but limit you to ranged attacks; Beetles smash barricades and carry more than one rider. See the mount table below.
18. Explore islands off the main path. Shackle Ridge and The Burial Grounds hide chests, a dungeon (Crypt of Masks) and side quests. Masks and talismans are mostly found, not bought.
19. Get the Lute. The Melody of the Dunes quest gives you a Lute that heals nearby mounts – very handy once you rely on bugs in fights.
20. Read before you sell. Community guides warn that some junk is a crafting component. Sell obvious trade goods and duplicates; keep anything marked for crafting.
Bug mounts at a glance
You tame early bugs by feeding them bug gack. Alientrap names four mount types:
| Mount | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nymph | Fast travel over rough ground | Ranged attacks only while riding |
| Beetle | Breaking barricades, carrying friends | Multi-saddle; first one blocks a path in the tutorial |
| Scorpion | Smashing through enemies | Armoured |
| Ball Bug | Ramming groups | Armoured |
Early gear worth grabbing
Your build comes from three slots of found gear – Masks, Tunics and Talismans – plus your weapon set. Effects below are as reported by community guides; Alientrap has not published a gear list, so treat single-source entries as “check in game”.
| Item | Type | Reported effect | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilded Mask | Mask | Extra gold from kills | 2+ sources |
| Spitfire Mask | Mask | Extra shot before reloading some guns | 1 source |
| Blasting Tunic | Tunic | Small explosion when you dodge roll | 1 source |
| Shielded Tunic | Tunic | Reflective shield while dodging | 1 source |
| Buzzooka, Acid Harpoon | Weapons | Exotic weapons unlocked later | Official |
| Guided Torpedoes, Spike Armoured legs | Crawler | Late Crawler upgrades | Official |
Starter weapons people report include the Cutlass, Hunting Bow, Scattergun, hand cannon, revolver and musket. A sensible early set: one melee weapon, one long-range gun and the Scattergun for crowds.
Solo vs co-op: what changes
Some guides say solo is barely playable. It’s harder, but it’s supported: Steam describes playing as a solo “Crab Keeper” with help from a ghostly companion. That companion is the Old Keeper, whom you can order around from the Crawler.
| Solo | Co-op (2–4) | |
|---|---|---|
| Helper | Old Keeper ghost takes commands (e.g. firing at a target) | Friends split helm, guns, repairs |
| Crawler fights | Pre-load guns, fight from cover, retreat to repair | Continuous fire while someone repairs |
| How to play | Single-player | Online, LAN, or local shared/split screen; Remote Play Together on Steam |
| Fun factor | Slower, more tactical | Reviewers agree this is where the game shines |
Solo tip: open the controls screen once you have the Crawler and learn the Old Keeper commands. The tutorial’s shielded enemy is the perfect test – let the Keeper draw its fire while you go round the back.
Early quest order at a glance
Order as covered in Into Indie Games’ walkthrough. Side quests open up along the way.
| # | Quest | Main goal | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defend Sanctuary Hill | Tutorial, get and name your Crawler | Ends by talking to the Shaman |
| 2 | Breaking Camp | Destroy 3 Outpost Towers at the Vassal Outpost | First real Crawler-vs-fort test |
| 3 | The Great Crawler’s Path | Shackle Ridge and The Burial Grounds | Side quest Shackle Smash (free 5 prisoners), Crypt of Masks dungeon |
| 4 | Star Savior | Rescue a Polloi researcher | — |
| 5 | Lost Lice | Save a farmer’s Spiky Lice | — |
| 6 | The Melody of the Dunes | Get the Lute | Lute heals nearby mounts |
| 7 | Convoy Clash & Depot Defense | Two linked combat quests | Attack and defence missions |
How long is DuneCrawl?
Estimates disagree a lot, so here they are side by side (hours, longest = 35):
Our read: a focused run is a long weekend; exploring every island roughly doubles it. The free demo only covers the opening area.
Platforms, price and versions
| Platform | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | 5 January 2026 | US$19.99 list; was 50% off on 13 Oct 2026; free demo; 10 languages; Steam Cloud and achievements |
| PS5 | 19 October 2026 | Console price not announced yet |
| Xbox Series X|S | 19 October 2026 | Online multiplayer on Xbox needs a Game Pass tier with online play |
| Android | 19 October 2026 | First mobile version; iOS not announced |
| Switch 2 / Switch | Later in 2026 | No date yet |
PC minimum specs: 64-bit Windows, Intel Core i5-2400 or AMD FX-8320, 8 GB RAM, GTX 670 2 GB or Radeon HD 7870 2 GB, 6 GB storage.
Sandstorm mode: community sources report a free Sandstorm update a few months after launch that added a battle-royale mode for up to 16 players (bots fill empty slots): grab loot on bugs and crawlers and get out before the storm closes in. Steam now lists online and LAN PvP for the game. Try it after the campaign, once Crawler combat feels natural.
Common beginner mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinting through the tutorial | You miss the Gilded Mask, Star Shot and leg armour | Clear every side path before the docks |
| Storming forts on foot | Fast deaths to grouped Vassals | Shell them from the Crawler first |
| Docking inside artillery range | Crawler legs wrecked while you’re underground | Park out of range |
| Leaving no bug gack | No repairs, no mounts | Pick up every gack you pass |
| Selling everything | Crafting parts gone | Sell trade goods and duplicates only |
| Ignoring the Old Keeper (solo) | You try to do every job yourself | Learn his commands early |
Myths in other guides, corrected
| Claim | Reality (13 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| “You need friends to play it” | Solo is an official mode with the Old Keeper ghost companion. Harder, not broken. |
| “Play the mobile version on PC with an emulator” | There is no mobile version until the Android launch on 19 Oct 2026. On PC, just buy the Steam version. |
| “It’s out on Switch” | Switch and Switch 2 are “later in 2026” with no date. |
| “The story is 10–15 hours” | Estimates range from about 6 to 15 hours; it depends heavily on exploration. |
| Precise stats like “35% of co-op time is menus” | No source for these numbers. We don’t repeat them. |
| “It’s a Dune (Frank Herbert) game” | No. It’s an original Alientrap world – sand seas, Polloi and Vassals, not Arrakis. |
Keep reading
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DuneCrawl FAQ
Can you play DuneCrawl solo?
Yes. Solo is an official mode. A ghost companion, the Old Keeper, helps on the Crawler and takes simple orders such as firing at a target.
How many players does DuneCrawl support?
One to four players, in online co-op, LAN or local shared/split screen.
Is DuneCrawl on PS5, Xbox or mobile?
PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Android versions launch on 19 October 2026. Switch and Switch 2 follow later in 2026. It has been on PC via Steam since 5 January 2026.
How long does it take to beat DuneCrawl?
Roughly 6 to 15 hours for the story depending on how much you explore, and 25 hours or more for full completion.
How do you repair the Crab Crawler?
Walk to the damaged leg and repair it. In the tutorial you use bug gack from the back of the Crawler, so always keep some on board.
How do you ride bugs in DuneCrawl?
Feed them bug gack. Nymphs are fast but ranged-only; Beetles carry several riders and break barricades; Scorpions and Ball Bugs are armoured attackers.
Is there PvP in DuneCrawl?
Yes. A free update added Sandstorm, a battle-royale mode for up to 16 players with bots, and Steam lists online and LAN PvP.
Sources (checked 13 Oct 2026): Steam store page; Gematsu console and Android announcement; Nintendo Everything; TheSixthAxis review; games.gg tutorial, solo and playtime guides; Into Indie Games walkthrough hub; Deku Deals listing. Community-reported item effects are labelled above.