DAVE THE DIVER

Everyone's experience with Dave The Diver :
- Doesn't understand why a pixelated fishing game is so well rated.
- Buy the game without much confidence.
- Find The fishing part fun enough to continue.
- Start doing Skyrim quests, fight Dark Souls bosses, collect Pokemon cards, visit Zelda temples, see people get "Ratatouilled" with your dishes, manage restaurants teams, crops vegetables, keep chickens, hunt Godzilla, play Tamagotchi, become billionaire, bet on seahorses races...
- Come back here to tell the others to join the cult.
You are next.

You know how sometimes you're with the lads, then you tell them you're off to bed but you're actually playing that single-player game you're addicted to? This is that game.

This game is one of my favorites from the last few years. However recently they keep releasing timed DLCs, the second of which is also paid. You've missed the first one already. If you don't like these kinds of practices then you probably don't want to buy this game.

At the risk of sounding ominous, let's get the bad stuff out of the way first. Dave the Diver to put it bluntly is a lot of things - farming/fishing/diving/RPG/roguelite. And honestly it might be too many things at once. On one hand, that’s part of its quirky charm; on the other, it sometimes feels like the devs stuffed every possible mechanic into the game just to see what sticks.
For a game about fishing and food, you’ve got over a hundred craftable recipes (from food to alchemy to weapons), most of which are somewhat inconsequential aside from a handful for the end-game or a specific event here and there. Then there are the mini-games. And there are oh so many mini-games. Almost every activity has one. A handful are fun, but quite a few are just repetitive QTEs that lean more toward busywork than entertainment. Some aren’t super intuitive either - though to be fair, the game does at least give you rudimentary instructions. Expect a little trial and error before figuring out what some of them want from you.
That said… I still had a blast with Dave the Diver. The game never takes itself too seriously, and it oozes charm from start to finish. The narrative has that cozy, tongue-in-cheek vibe, and the over-the-top cutscenes when serving dishes to side quest NPCs were consistently a highlight. If you’ve ever watched cooking anime like Food Wars, you’ll feel right at home with the dramatic, hilarious, sometimes cringey reactions from NPCs after tasting the food that you’ve served.
The core gameplay loop - diving for fish by day, serving them up in your restaurant by night - is admittedly what reeled me in (fishing pun!). Even when the grind set in (and trust me, for 100% there’s a lot of grinding and gold required), I still found myself hooked (more fishing puns!).
If you’re aiming to tackle (fish pun?) the 100% completion, it should be noted the DLC is not required though 2 out of 3 of them are free (Dredge and Godzilla update). I highly recommend a few guides that saved me hours and explained a lot of the in-game mechanics:
- Extensive Guide to 100% the game (includes all collectible fish and other assorted useful information)
- Guide to GYAO! - it’s basically a Tamagotchi mini-game and one of the achievements for 100%; there’s almost no clear explanation on the mechanics of the game)
- Employee Management Guide - the best/worst staff to hire
In summary, Dave the Diver tries to be everything (sometimes to its own detriment) but its charm and addictive gameplay loop make it easy to forgive the clutter. A cozy little adventure worth DIVING (okay I’ll stop now) into.

Whishlisted this game for years, waiting for it to get a 50% off.
Terrible mistake.
This game is totaly worth the full price, and even moar. Seriously, the content given by the devs is just insane. Basicaly you get an exploration/hunting game with many different biomes, mixed with a restaurant simulation/gestion and some harvesting/farming elements. This is already quite a lot in itself, but you add to this a HUGE amount of other activities ! From photography to gambling, seahorse racing, tomagotchi, Final Fight, Wotagei (google it) simulation and many other mini games, of all styles, incredible. Also the humor is delightful and the cutscenes just awesome. If you're considering this game, just try it and go for a refund if you're not overwhelmingly satisfied. But you will be. Buy it. Now.

Dave the Diver is one of those rare gems that arrives without a massive marketing blitz, yet leaves a lasting impression thanks to its unexpected depth, charm, and sheer creativity. Developed by Mintrocket, this hybrid game mixes exploration, restaurant management, and quirky storytelling into a surprisingly cohesive package. It shouldn't work—but it absolutely does.
You play as Dave, a delightfully pudgy diver who’s roped into helping run a sushi restaurant. By day, you dive into the ever-changing Blue Hole to catch fish and uncover underwater mysteries; by night, you manage the restaurant—prepping ingredients, upgrading your gear, and serving customers. It’s a satisfying gameplay loop, turning the mundane into magic.
Fishing feels tactile and rewarding, with a range of weapons and tools to experiment with. Each dive is slightly different thanks to procedural elements and a day-night cycle, which keeps things fresh without feeling repetitive. Combat is simple but engaging, and there’s an impressive roster of sea life to encounter—some majestic, some terrifying.
Restaurant management could have easily been an afterthought, but it’s surprisingly robust. You design the menu, balance customer demand, and unlock new recipes. It’s got that addictive “just one more day” energy. The sushi chef, Bancho, is a stoic culinary genius whose intense passion for food gives the game a lot of its personality.
Then there’s the story. What begins as a simple business venture spirals into a borderline absurd, yet endearing, plot involving marine biologists, sea people, and corporate conspiracies. The writing is humorous and self-aware, leaning into its silliness without ever becoming grating.
The art style is a standout. The pixel graphics are rich with detail, and the animations breathe life into every character and creature. The underwater sections in particular are beautifully lit and atmospheric, backed by a mellow, lo-fi soundtrack that complements the oceanic vibe perfectly.
Dave the Diver is a genre-defying, joyful oddity that’s hard to put down. It mixes chill vibes with high-stakes moments and never takes itself too seriously. Whether you’re harpooning a shark or nervously watching sushi orders pile up, the game strikes a near-perfect balance of fun and frustration.
A must-play for fans of creativity and cozy-core chaos. Dive in—you won’t regret it.
Rating: 9/10

Dive by day, serve sushi by night... seems simple enough, right?
And it really is. But surprisingly, it's all the little fluff and fillers that give this game it's true substance. That and the genuinely unique story, vibrant characters and cut scenes that have me smirking.
Usually I hate fluff and filler but this game does it right. It actually adds something to the game, instead of just being there for show. Same with the characters. They each have their own story and add to the gameplay in some way. You have silly little apps on your phone that you manage, and they all have different features and tasks. You work through the chapters and quests, advancing the story and building your reputation while earning money on the sushi market. You can customize your menu, staff, restaurant and can learn new recipes along the way. You can similarly customize your kit when you are diving during the day. The daytime runs almost feel a bit rogue like, collecting and upgrading gear actively on the expedition. You run out of oxygen, you lose everything.
The addition of the phone and the apps offers so much utility and variety. I am never bored by the loophole. Everyday is a bit different. I like how the story just flows naturally with everything, very smooth progression system. The fluff and filler (side quests, the phone apps) don't feel burdensome. You complete a lot of them as you progress through the story, hand in hand.
Way to keep it engaging every step of the way *thumbs up*
(and you get to save cute little dolphins from pirates...bonus points, YAY!!)