DREDGE
DREDGE is a single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your boat, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Explore a mysterious archipelago and discover why some things are best left forgotten.
DREDGE is a exploration, fishing and lovecraftian game
developed by Black Salt Games
and published by Team17.
Released on March 30th 2023 is available on Windows and MacOS
in 12 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Portuguese - Brazil and Polish.
It has received 37,400 reviews of which 35,832 were positive and 1,568 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. 😍
The game is currently priced at 12.49€ on Steam and has a 50% discount.
The Steam community has classified DREDGE into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
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Requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 | AMD Phenom II X4 965
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia 8800 GT 512MB | Radeon HD 6570 1GB
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Additional Notes: 720p @ 30 FPS
MacOS
- OS: MacOS Big Sur 11.4
- Processor: Intel Core i7-4650U, Apple M1
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5000, 1.5GB
Reviews
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Dredge is a weird game. Its a game that does so many things at an incredible level to the point that I forget its an indie game. But at the same time it also does some stuff at such a boring level that I genuinely wonder at times if I am enjoying the game. Its a game thats trying to be a cozy fishing game mixed with a horror exploration game, is it in the end worth your time? Lets get into it. The good The games ambiance is top tier. Every character interaction, every location you visit, the first like 7 hours of this game are truly magical. Leaving your little starting fishing town feels like a nightmare. You get sold on how horrible night time is, how everything is awful and you truly feel like an outsider lost in the middle of an ocean. When you look at your map you get this giant idea of all the places and things you are going to visit, a side quest ends and you wonder what is going to happen next for these characters. As someone that couldn't deal with Subnautica due to how scary it felt, this felt perfect. Its scary but its also very forgiving, and it also feels like the game is constantly motivating you to explore and see what is out there. The design on the fish are incredible, they look interesting and every special fish you catch is a huge motivator to see what kind of weird fish are out there in the wide world. Besides the ambiance, the games gameplay loop is also really addicting at the start. You are constantly upgrading and getting access to new tools, every island you visit gives you new quests, and you feel like this is a huge game. It really feels like an open world game to the point I forgot it was an indie game. The bad After those 7 hours the game progressively gets more mediocre. Everything I said about ambiance just doesn't hit the same anymore. All the scary stuff just feels like fluff that gets in the way of you playing a cozy fishing game. Its not scary, its just an annoyance. The constant inventory management, the day and night cycle that forces you to find a random save point, the random horrors that try to attack you. All of it is kind of disappointing. In the end it just starts feeling like a cookie clicker game, go out to collect random resources and fish just so you can collect more resources and fish. The problem with that gameplay loop is that none of the extra upgrades start sounding interesting at some point. Here is a fishing rod that you HAVE to buy because you otherwise can't interact with the fishing hole you need for a quest. Here is an engine upgrade that gives you like 10 % more power over your previous engine. This lightbulb gives you more light but its barely noticable. Remember the exciting and interesting side quests and how you wonder what happens next? Like 85 % of the time nothing happens next, they just kind of fade into the background and repeat the end of quest line if you try to talk to them. Its disappointing. After 1 or 2 areas it feels like you have seen everything the game has to offer, its cool to see what new horror or challenge the game will try to present. But all of that quickly fades away as its almost always just more of the same you have done for the last like 10 hours. Conclusion I may have sounded harsh but I think all of that is very valid criticism. None of it was bad enough for me to not recommend this game. But its relevant enough for me to mention it. Those annoyances built up to the point that I didn't even finish the encyclopedia, at some point the idea of getting more fish just stopped being exciting to me. I finished all the side and main quests and I had a fun enough time. I loved the story and characters. I even enjoyed the fishing at many different times, as basic as the mini game eventually becomes. But at the end of the day I keep being reminded that this is an indie game, and that huge scope I set out for myself at the start, just isn't realistic. Even towards the end of the main story and the dlc story, the parts I loved the most, it always feels like there is so much more that could be done. Overall I was disappointed by Dredge, but that's because everything it does good it does at an extremely high level. I kept wanting more and more and when the game ended I kept asking myself, was that really it? Those 7 hours are magical enough that I will still recommend this game, and even when it becomes worse it never really becomes ''bad'' it just becomes ''acceptable''. In the end it never reached the 'depth' I expected from it. Short DLC overview (Should you buy the complete edition?) The dlcs for dredge consist in 3 parts. 1. Blackstone key: This is honestly a slap in the face, in the game there is a workshop that is closed, this dlc is the only way to open it. Thats literally all the dlc does, no story, no additions to gameplay. The reward is some very mediocre gear, this is the only DLC I honestly can't recommend. 2. The pale reach: This dlc feels like cut content. Its practically just an extra area with new fish and a short story that doesn't tie into the main game. The gear you get is good for the mid game and its worth buying and playing after doing 1 or 2 areas in the main game. 3. The iron rig: This is a late game DLC that adds a more expansive story that ties a bit more into the main game. It adds a bunch of gameplay loops that allow you to play dredge for much longer. I personally thought some of these new mechanics made the game worse, but overall you don't really have to interact with that bad stuff if you don't want to. Its still worth it because its story is fun and because it really allows you to explore dredge further if you are interested like I am.
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This was a game. It was a good game. It was a game I played. That must sound like a ringing endorsement, right? Well I think it perfectly encapsulates my feelings of the before-and-after of Dredge. It is a game, very distinctly; it features fun and interactive thingamajigs, with stuff to do which will occupy your time. And it's entertaining; it will absorb your time, and you will enjoy that time spent (mostly). So what's the rub? Why all the ambiguity? Well, suffice it to say, although I did enjoy my time with Dredge, I'm not sure how much I actually like it. The game comes in two parts: the introduction and the second half. In the first half of the game, you wade into the cold, murky waters of the deep sea, a melancholy, brooding, discomforting space of strange creatures and even stranger people. What is this small bay and inlet? Why are you here? What are all the strange occurrences? It's all straight out of a Lovecraft novel, and it's well met, with all the odd, painterly artstyles and strange happenings. It's not scary, per se, and doesn't actually hit that cosmic dread of Lovecraft either. But it always gives you pause. What is the panic meter? What are all those eyes? Why is it when you toot your boat horn, something beyond your vision toots back? There's this great, fun build-up with "what could be." Because all the townsfolk speak to you all bewildered, it's hard to piece puzzles together. You really feel like you're adrift in this world, and that's awesome. And then there's the second half. Because remember, this isn't a Lovecraftian story, this is a game! A game where you fish with very simple, cozy-game styled minigames, which offer no real challenge or depth. A game about accumulating capital through income streams. A game with tech-trees, upgrades, challenges, missions, and levels. How fun! You accomplish tasks for bespoke goals, and voila, you are completing a game! You can optimize to your wishes, and can even break the game entirely if you are particularly efficient. Then, you can finish that game, and finish the game's story, winning the game! I think you can see my issue. When I was a nervous fisherman in a tiny boat, locked in a dangerous world, fearful to even leave the harbor, the game was AWESOME. I was fully invested, wanted to learn more, and eager to discover. Unfortunately, there's not actually a lot out there once you get your feet wet. It's just classic gamey quests and rewards. The mysterious, aberrant aquatic life? Eh, run of the mill by the 10th day. The evil beasts that lurk in the depths? If you haven't lost at least 2 engines to a kraken, have you even played the game? Dredge somehow makes the cosmic horrors of the deep seem boring and passé. I should feel aghast when a horrible tentacle reaches out at my boat; instead, I'm more like, "Really? Again? That's so annoying!" It's a tale of two ideas. The idea of a moody choose your own adventure of cosmic horror, and the idea of a cozy fishing game. It tries to blend these concepts, and I don't even think it does a bad job of it. But because of the games inherent simplicity from the more high concept elements of Lovecraftian horror, it inevitably degrades all the mood and tone and build-up the game is graced with. I did play the game to completion. It is entertaining. I did enjoy my time. But when I think about the game, I struggle to find a moment which really grabs me past the intro; a moment that really makes me dwell on this game, that makes me think on it fondly. It was just an experience - a passage of my time - a neat thing that I did. I don't have a strong memory of it beyond the beautiful artstyle and exquisite score. As an art piece, it's awesome. As a game? It's just kinda whatev, nothing particularly notable or special. This game would be great for someone who is really into the ocean, lovecraftian horror, or cozy games. It's a weird venn-diagram, but I promise if two of those things overlap, you're going to have a great time. But if all three overlap, or only one of those is the draws for you, you might find yourself a bit underwhelmed. Entertained, sure. You'll have a good time. But you might be itching for something more that the game just isn't offering.
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If you want a game full of Lovecraftian horror, this probably isn't for you If you want a cozy fishing game that is lovingly crafted and has subtle Lovecraftian elements scattered through its world, this game is definitely for you
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It's a simple loop: go fishing, sell your fish, upgrade your boat, and search for mystery and treasures across the seas. A dash of Lovecraftian horror sets the tone, and so DREDGE sucks you in. DREDGE doesn't overstay its welcome. My 18 hours is pushing the limits of what can be squeezed out of the game, and, with a less completionist mindset, it only would have taken 10. The time spent is relaxing, exploration is rewarding, and uncovering mysteries is satisfying. I enjoyed playing 100% of the available content, with 1 glaring flaw. The time. Up at the top of the screen, there's a constant reminder of how many in-game days have passed. This lead me to believe it was important how quickly I progress, that the world would change as time goes on. The pressure was on to manage my time, so I prioritized efficiency over fun at times. HOWEVER, nothing in game depends on the day counter. The passage of time only ever effects day/night and the spoilage of fish. You are free to explore the world at your leisure with no negative effects whatsoever. It would have been nice if this was relegated to a menu somewhere instead of prominently displayed at the center of the screen at all times, so I wouldn't have felt pressured. I still recommend DREDGE. Ignore the day counter, take it at your own pace, and enjoy the atmosphere. It's a nice casual diversion into the horror of the seas. DLC The Pale Reach is only $6, and adds about 2 hours to the game. It's fits in well about halfway through the game, so its best to pick it up early if you're enjoying DREDGE. If you've already finished the game, it doesn't add much worth doing.
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I can't help but feel a little betrayed by DREDGE. It promises a delicious and intriguing adventure, proves to you that it indeed can fulfill this promise - and then it just kinds of... trails off into mediocrity. Okay, mediocrity is a bit of a strong word. The game still manages to be very engaging, and the way it channels the spirit of Lovecraft's... uh... craft - a nice surprise, considering how often "Lovecraftian" is just a shorthand for tentacled cosmic horrors. But that only strengthens the burning question I'm left with after beating it: what if? Sunrise over Innsmouth the Marrows See, DREDGE has a very strong start. Something's not right. You know something is going to happen. Fishing? Sure, let's fish, sell the fish, get better gear. Don't pay attention to the black ooze coming from the package you're asked to deliver. And make sure to come back before sundown. Point is: the mood is there. On top of it, you're given a nice gameplay loop with an extensive upgrade tree. Oh yeah. This is going to be a great ride. Eventually, you begin the main quest in the earnest, and things really get moving. A leak in the hull But then you slowly start noticing the flaws. The pacing is not quite right, for example. When upgrading my boat, I often felt constrained in this... artificial way. Almost like I'm just supposed to do things in a specific way. This one's a bit hard to explain, and maybe it's a me problem; who knows. Another artificial feeling comes when you realise how the game world is structured. It feels less like a living, breathing world, and more like, well, a set of video game levels. Everything is too deliberate; too functional. You might say that it's a good thing, keeps things lean. I say it's a tradeoff - one I personally didn't like too much. Light up the night And the final complaint is that once you begin the main quest, the dread just stops. Yes, there is the general feeling of 'what the hell am I even working towards' which keeps going until the very end, but that's about it. The areas start feeling sterile. The threats - all manageable with ease. Even the night stops being an issue after a while. Also, the general design of the areas other than the central one is just... not very eldritch, if that makes any sense? There's nothing ominous about them. Yes, there are major, location-specific threats, but they're rather obvious and have some pretty fool-proof ways of neutralising. Maybe it's my fault for comparing this game in my mind to [url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/304650/SUNLESS_SEA/?curator_clanid=42922988]Sunless Sea (can you blame me?), where literally every place filled you with a dread of different flavour (even if the gameplay itself was nowhere near as fun as here). Rise from the depths Yeah, the game is fun, in spite of all these flaws. Fishing might be a collection of minigames, but they're varied and short. The inventory management is a pleasure throughout the entire game. And even though I said that the threats are all trivial to manage, it still remains a thrill to do so - mainly because your boat is very susceptible to damage, and every hit can ruin your haul. And the main mystery, hoo boy. You're being fed pieces of the truth as you go, and let me tell you: I've seen a lot of mysteries. I hate the extent of my plot prediction abilities. And here? I managed to piece one thing together, but the final twist caught me off guard like a champ. And it's excellently foreshadowed. Throw me back I guess I just wanted... more. More mystery. More exploring. More upgrades. It's a great game, all things considered; and the combination of fishing and Lovecraft seems like such a natural concept. And yes, in spite of everything I wrote, I recommend this game wholeheartedly - even if, or perhaps especially if you're not very good with horror. And for those who don't generally play indie titles - thanks for reading. DREDGE is a good game, but trust me, if you decide to, uh, dredge the depths of the Ocean of Steam, there are so many amazing experiences out there to find. For sure, play this one; just perhaps consider throwing your fishing line into the unknown sometime. You'll be very surprised by what you'll find. [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/42922988/]Curator page
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Last Updates
| Steam data | 21 December 2024 00:47 |
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| SteamSpy data | 20 December 2024 01:20 |
| Steam price | 23 December 2024 12:50 |
| Steam reviews | 23 December 2024 15:52 |
Online players
1,761
Developer
Black Salt Games
Publisher
Team17
Release
30 Mar 2023
Platforms
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