Dredge: Deluxe Edition

Developed by: Black Salt Games

Published by Team 17

Played on Nintendo Switch

The Skinny: The horror of a cozy fishing game

During the day, things are relatively calm, if bleak. Players will catch the occasional horrifying aberration, which can be sold for bonus money at the fishmonger. When the Sun goes down, things become more difficult, with the thick fog hiding deadly rocks, as well as terrifying sea creatures such as lights in the distance that appear to be other vessels, but are really giant angler fish-like monsters. Some fish can only be caught at night, though, so you’ll have to tough it out if you want to catch everything. The game does allow players to turn off random monsters and scary events if you just want to get down to the fishing.
The fishing itself if quite good, with complex but easy enough to grasp mechanics and a gentle gameplay curve and loop that encourages players to upgrade their boat and explore the game’s five diverse areas. Different rods, nets, crab pots and engines are available, and the ship itself can also be upgraded to increase durability and cargo space. You always feel like you are improving, even as the tension in the story and environments ratchets upward.
The story path is creepy, but being able to tackle it at your own pace makes it easier. The areas you go through on your quest are varied and interesting, which helps too. You’ll sail around crumbling, abandoned cliffs, a haunted atoll, a maze of mangrove trees, and volcanic ruins. Each area has their own unique catchable fish as well as their own dangers to avoid. These range from environmental obstacles like falling rocks and tornadoes in Gull Cliffs to active enemies such as the giant tentacled monstrosity crouched in the deep water of the basin. There are also other monsters and NPCs scattered around the map with their own rewards and challenges. The game is stuffed full of treasure-filled wrecked ships and planes, but some are giant crab-like mimics that will attack you when you get close, for example.
With its compelling gameplay loop and atmospheric main story, Dredge is a great little fishing game that does something different than the Bass Pro Challenges of the world. Indie game fans who are looking for something different should check this one out. Dredge is available electronically from Steam and all the usual e-shops. The physical Deluxe Edition comes bundled with the Blackstone Key expansion, which grants a couple useful items in-game, as well as a poster and art book. You can find it for current generation consoles online and wherever video games are sold.