DISCLOSURE: This game was reviewed on the following platform: PC! Check out our Review Policy page for more information.
Dredge is one of the newer games out there made by Black Salt Games and published by Team17. This game right now is sitting at an overwhelmingly positive review score. The game looks like a quaint little fishing game where you control a small boat but looks can be deceiving.
The game actually incorporates mysteries, monsters and Lovecraftian horrors into the mix all within its simple gameplay loop. You’ll meet strange people weird creatures from the deep and feel like something is very wrong with the setting of this game. Let’s dive in deeper to see if Dredge can be called a great addition to the Lovecraftian games out there.
Horrors Beyond The Depths | DREDGE Review
I’ve played Dredge from start to finish in two different saves. Mainly because I didn’t notice the game saved before the ending so if I wanted to go for the other ending, I didn’t need to make a new save. Still, that gave me a chance of not only finishing all the side quests, but also collecting all the message bottles in the game. Why did I do all of that? Because it’s a great way to see the whole picture of the game’s story.
Stories from the Depths
The story of Dredge is the best part of the game and it’s given to you in bits and pieces. You learn more from characters and small messages you find in bottles around the world. The story itself, without spoiling anything, isn’t groundbreaking or new but it is delivered well to the player.
You play as a fisherman that has found work in this little group of islands in the middle of nowhere. Your ship mysteriously crashed after a thick fog came out of nowhere despite the lighthouse being operational, like the rocks came out of nowhere.
Piece by piece you find out that there’s something weird about this place. They tell you to not venture at night, and that there’s weird fish around the sea with horrible mutations. When you do get out at night your sanity degrades and you start seeing things that can harm your boat. From red lights that envelop your ship to boats that follow you, and even giant fish monsters trying to eat you.
The more you play the game the more you see the horrors it has to offer. The game has two endings and without spoiling anything, they’re both well made. One leaves you with dread while the other ending leaves you melancholic.
It’s Not Just Fishing
The inventory or cargo of your ship is grid-based. Many items and fish have weird shapes which makes you play inventory tetris for a bit. A lot of people might find that annoying and I can understand, but it’s part of how the game does puzzles. Some fish have some wacky shapes and they’re part of some puzzles in the game.
The start of the game itself can be a bit slow, with you fishing and trying to make money. With the Blackstone Key DLC you can get a small boost with the items you get but it’s not significant that it’s pay to win.
I myself found it more fun sailing around at night and doing quests for the people in the islands. Some of these islands can have hazards that you need to skirt around and it can be challenging at times. Some of the quests are fetch or delivery quests but they don’t feel that boring since you’re working on learning more about the world. The rewards are often worth it too so it’s not too bad.
The main fun of the game is through adventure. You sail around finding these weird places like swampy mangrove islands that have mind suckers, or an island that has a giant tentacle monster in the middle.
The Looks and Sounds of Mystery
The art style of the characters and the game itself is highly stylized. Characters look rough and rustic like and you’ll know them more from their stories and quests than their looks. Every single one of the NPCs in this game stand out as they’re drawn beautifully.
The game itself isn’t hyper realistic but tries to stay on its own style of graphics that can look like it’s a normal fishing game. Until the horrid monsters, and the mutant fish come into view, all well made and eerie by the developers.
When it comes to night time the sounds and whispers you hear coupled with the sudden quietness of it all is great. Even at day the sound design can be quite good like when you come near some otherworldly shrine the sounds of the sea suddenly trail off and is replaced by whispers and dark music.
Should you brace the Seas?
DREDGE Review
Summary
This game, despite the annoying inventory management and the slow start is nothing short of amazing. The atmosphere the game sets is great and the eerie-ness of it all sticks with you till the end. The story isn’t ground-breaking but it’s well made with the alternate ending leaving me somber and melancholic. Finally seeing the full picture of the game through the side quests and the messages while sailing around is the best parts of this game. You put together the story piece by piece with all the information you get and at the end you’re left with a great Lovecraftian game.
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