DAVE THE DIVER

The store page itself does not do the game justice of how much actual content there is in Dave the Diver.
Has a lovable, lighthearted, and silly style of humor, from cutscenes to gameplay. It does not reveal the depth and ridiculous amount of different minigames hidden either as side quests or woven into the main progress all at once, instead it keeps popping up the new content just when you would think you are about to reach the end.
My final verdict, though rated using a more personal scoring system:
I like it so much I actually wrote this review, the only review in many years.

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.

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.

Someone somewhere wasted their wish upon a star for a mobile game that wasn’t pay to win gatcha trash.
And Dave the Diver was born.
Or maybe the developer saw the mobile game landscape and wanted to challenge themselves, who knows? What I can tell you, is that Dave the Diver takes super simple could-work-on-a-touchscreen mechanics across a Smorgasboard of familiar genres and smashes it all together into a surprisingly lengthy and worthwhile adventure.
It’s got bits of warioware, mobile farm sims, burger time resturant-ing, pokemans, and steamworld dig-esque loop. It works better than you’d expect, and no one element stays longer than It should. Wrap it all up with truly Humorous characters and scenarios, and this little would-be mobile game that lasts upwards of 20 hours until the end never gets stale. There’s even plenty of endgame grind for folks that wanna stick around a bit longer, and all without a single gatcha or request for your credit card information.
It’s a very fine game.

Overview
Dave the Diver is a mix of a diving adventure, with some light simulation elements, and a restaurant manager in form of a Sushi bar, garnished with a lovely story and wrapped up in beautiful 2d pixel graphics. And you can feed cats :3

Gameplay
The general gameplay can be loosely sorted into 3 categories.
Diving and collecting loot and fish for the restaurant, doing main and/or side story missions and working and managing the restaurant.

Your day starts on your trusty boat in the morning (each day is divided into morning/afternoon/evening) and you set out to dive into the Blue Hole to collect fish / materials and other things for yourself and for your restaurant, or follow other various activities, the same happens in the afternoon and in the evening, you work in the restaurant.
And while this may sound like a repetitive and boring – it is far from that.
The Blue Hole is generated randomly to a degree. So while you might find certain fishes in the same depth regions, there is always some variation to the landscape and loot. Three times a week you can also put in an extra dive in the evening which allows you to hunt different fishes which only come out at night, but be careful, it’s dangerous!
When you work for the restaurant, your job is to set up the menu, upgrade dishes and serve customers. With time you can hire new stuff and level them up to help you with the service or send them out on missions to collect certain ingredients.
There are also some more unlocks later, but I don’t want to spoil anything here.

The money you make is used in various ways. To upgrade Dave’s gear, so he can dive for longer, carry more or dive deeper. Buy vanity items for the restaurant and other crafting efforts.
Also later in the game, you unlock various side activities, which I won’t mention here.
What I like about Dave/tl;dr
-The graphics, Dave the Diver is certainly one of the most beautiful pixel art style games ever released, every part of the game is filled with lovely details, vibrant colors and lovely animations that often just put a big smile on your face.
-You can feed and pat cats!
-Beside the fantastic general gameplay, there are also a lot of side activities later in the game, which are just there to be enjoyed and nothing else.
-The main story, but also the side stories are so much fun to play through
-Characters/npcs – so many interesting personalities’, each with their own funny quirks and goals
-Did I mention that you can pet cats?
-Exploration: the Blue hole is vast, deep and filled with things to uncover
-It’s fun to work the restaurant and see how it improves with time.
Dave the Diver works so well as a game, all aspects of it go hand in hand together, from the gathering and upgrading to the restaurant management and Story, it all combines to an amazing and enjoyable adventure which I can only recommend.

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

Yes, definitely play it.
Its management, fun storytelling, satisfying & addictive gameplay, boss battles, collecting, mini-games, upgrading, exploration, relaxing & sometimes terrifying combat. Not to mention the stunning combination of 2D & 3D pixel art.
Usually KBM but for Dave? Grab a controller, put your feet up and just chill...