DREDGE

Too long wont read – Dredge is incredible in ways I did not expect, and I will recommend it to anyone who even slightly enjoys video games.

I have been in a rut with games for a while. Burnout, unfinished titles piling up, and that missing sense of closure that used to come from rolling credits. So many modern games want you to play forever without ever truly ending, and somewhere along the way I stopped feeling excited to finish anything. My goal this year was simple: find the joy again. Play games I actually enjoy, and ultimately finish them.

From the moment i started Dredge, something clicked. The fishing mechanics are some of the best i have ever experienced implimented in a game. its simple but oh so satisfying. The story also surprised me. I will admit i skipped the early dialogue because I wanted to get into "the game" faster, but eventually I slowed down and started reading the notes, the lore, all the strange details. Before i knew it, I was hooked (couldnt help it)

I wont spoil anything, but a game that feels this "cozy" has no business being this good. its calm, eerie, warm, unsettling, and somehow terrifying at times. (if you're like me and afraid of the ocean) I genuinely stayed around the shore for a while before having the courage to tug boat out across the sea. my heart was racing so fast at some points but it was all so encouraging getting over that fear in this game. fear of something popping out just to get ya....which may or may not have happened a couple times. But I've never experienced a game that makes you feel cozy and then makes your heart race like this one and I was here for it!

And I actually finished it. No DLC yet, but that is absolutely happening. When the credits rolled, I felt something I had not felt in a long time: relief, not because the game was over, but because I genuinely wanted to see it through. Most games have not made me want that in years.

This game...dredged...up something I did not realize I was missing. It gave me closure. It reminded me that finishing a game can feel meaningful. It made games fun again.



oh and one last thing.
After finishing this game, i realized its easily in my top games list. But that got me thinking, what games have i enjoyed, what games WOULD make that list? I dont know, but one thing i do know. Dredge has a spot up there, for sure

I wish I could play this for the first time again. The gameplay, art style, story, soundtrack are all fantastic.
If you're worried about it being too spooky, as someone who really dislikes scary games - I played Dredge twice. While there are dark elements, theres no jumpscares and you can tell when things are changing because of the soundtrack. Definitely don't pass on it!
10/10

Dredge is a game for weirdos who want a nice, calm fishing adventure but would also occasionally like a heart attack.
Overall, I enjoyed it.

The idea of a fishing game with elements of Lovecraftian horror is an interesting one, and Dredge makes good use of it for the first few hours. The cozy atmosphere and music are immediately arresting, and the mysterious narrative hooks and art style make for an intriguing introduction.
Once the novelty wears off, Dredge quickly settles into going through the motions of checklist gaming. After the first couple areas, you've essentially seen everything the game has to offer, and most of the progression entails optimizing tasks that aren't particularly demanding to begin with. The main threats at hand are nightfall and the leviathans that occupy the different areas, but both of these pose minor inconveniences at best and hardly live up to the mythology the game presents. The various tasks you're given are equally formulaic and rarely require much thought or intrigue to get through. These problems are compounded with the addition of DLC which add more padding to a game that doesn't need it.
Ultimately I think the fundamentals of Dredge are solid, and it's worth picking up the base game and spending a few lazy evenings with it. There are a few interesting story beats that crop up, and pulling a new horror out of the water never ceases to be satisfying. But once you hang up your captain's hat, I wouldn't expect much of this largely frictionless experience to stick with you in the long run.

One of my all-time favourite games. You can go from completely relaxing and only slightly creepy to WHY ARE THERE SO MANY EYES AND WHAT THE HECK IS THAT WHAT IS FOLLOWING ME OH MY FREAKING HECK GET AWAY FROM ME and then back to a lovely time fishing and boating and doing fetch quests AND THEN THE HORROR HAPPENS AGAIN.
10/10, Will forever replay over and over and over and over and over and over again.

I played through the whole game on steamdeck and absolutely loved it; runs flawlessly and looks great too. The gameplay loop immediately hooked me and I really enjoyed upgrading my ship and exploring the world. The game has such a strong identity with all aspects from the art design and music to the game systems and story working in tandem to create an atmosphere that is both relaxing and creepy. The Lovecraftian/ cosmic horror themes are such a perfect match for this type of game and it can be genuinely scary at times, particularly in the early game, getting caught out at sea when night creeps in makes you feel so panicked as you try to navigate your way through the fog with your only source of light blinking out back to the nearest dock before something finds you. If you haven't played this yet it is definitely worth it and the DLCs are pretty great too. <3

DLC buying guide:
The Pale Reach - Buy it about half way through the base game. Once you are comfortable with the gameplay.
Blackstone Key - Glorified tip button. Buy before playing if you already know you will enjoy the game and want to support.
The Iron Rig - Buy it at about half way through, and then progress along side the base game.