A Fine Kettle of Fish--Dredge

Well, I finally took the bait and decided to make a purchase during the recent Steam Holiday Sale (be prepared for plenty of fishing metaphors/analogies).  I had seen many positive reviews for Dredge and even though it didn't look much like other games that I have played, I decided that it'd be worth checking out something different.  After a couple of fishing filled adventures, I've trawled a good chunk of the depths and am ready to write my review.

What is it?

Steam tags with the following labels--adventure, fishing, lovecraftian, and exploration.  It's a mostly casual game that involves solving a mystery through fishing.  The lovecraftian label comes from the ominous, mysteries of the deep type of vibes that permeate the game.  I've seen some label it as "horror" but there's nothing scary about it.

How long does a playthrough last?

Like most games it depends on whether you decide to just stick to the story or if you decide to explore, collect, etc.  I did a bit of both and my first playthrough clocked in at around 12 hours.  (I completed all the official side tasks but did skip a set of "hidden" puzzle type tasks that could undoubtedly add on a couple more hours of playtime)

A nice view of my boat and some whales.

Pros:

+ Oddly enjoyable gameplay loop.  The game operates on a 24 hour clock but time only passes if you're doing something--moving, fishing, dredging, etc.  You can choose how to spend your time during the day based on your goals--fishing is the main way to earn money, so you must navigate your boat to various shoals of fish scattered around the area.  You receive a creepy warning at the beginning of the game...you definitely want to make it back to the harbor before the fog rolls in.  Strange things happen in the fog....  Each day feels like it passes incredibly quickly, but the number of days you play doesn't seem to matter.

Keeping an eye on the clock is important and it's easy to lose track of time when you find something you really want to get.  There's always a need to balance your needs (money vs. upgrade items) with the amount of time you have each day.  You can always risk staying out a little bit long...but it may turn out to be a mistake.

+ There's a Tetris-like management aspect that can seem annoying, but winds up being fun.  You only have so many slots in your cargo hold and each fish, piece of dredge, or random treasure you find takes up a certain amount of space.  You can rotate items and try to fit them perfectly in the limited space you have.

+ Fishing is simplistic but fun.  To catch different fish there is a sort of timing-based challenge that might require you to land a ticking gauge within a certain highlighted portion.  The gauge might differ depending on the species of fish.

+ A mysterious story that you have to piece together from clues you find from exploring.  (No spoilers here.)

+ A large area to explore and find hidden areas and side tasks.  There are a number of side tasks that you can dedicate yourself to.

+ Cosmetic options to personalize your boat.  You can find special flags located in shipwrecks found around the map and can help the painter develop new shades of paint by bringing him various aberrated species of crab (and maybe some fish--this is one area of the game that I didn't do).

+ Collection type tasks.  There are a ton of different species of fish to catch--finding and fishing them up is a true challenge.

+ Photo mode.  You actually have to unlock it by completing a side task, but it's there.

+ Unlockable upgrades for your boat.  You can find a special resource that allows you to research new gear and you can unlock the ability to dredge for supplies like metal or lumber that can be used to upgrade your boat.  There are several different branches of upgrades, so you have lots of options.

+ Hidden tasks for people who like to puzzle things out and 100% games.  I told myself I wouldn't look up a guide and I don't have the patience to puzzle them out, so completed a few of the easy ones, but haven't done all of them.

+ Two different endings--there's basically a good one and a bad one.  I managed to get the bad one on my first playthrough and then did another one to get the good ending.

+ Ran well.  Requirements are low, so it's a good one if you're on the lower spec side of things.

+ Nice music.

Cons:

- I suppose that it's a bit on the short side, but I thought the length seemed just right for the story and tasks.

Recommendation:

I had a dandy time with Dredge and would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a casual game with a bit of a creepy mystery vibe.  It actually won the "Best on Steam Deck" award in the Steam Awards--I can totally see that it would be perfect for a handheld.  It's another great indie game with a fishing focus and it's great for anyone who has played the Dave the Diver crossover content and wondered about Dredge.