Dredge Reviews

Dredge is ranked in the 89th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
INVEN
Top Critic
8.4 / 10.0
Apr 13, 2023

Dredge is a fine combination of fishing and adventure, gives you peaceful mind and thrill of an adventure at the same time. It shows a number of aspects to avoid repetitive gameplay that fishing games normally have. Also, it is a must-try game for the fans of Lovecraft.

Review in Korean | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Apr 14, 2023

Dredge is a fantastic game that offers some laid back exploration, but enough depth and tense moments to not become boring in its simplistic at times design. The slow build of horror is perfectly balanced as you start to uncover the truth about what is going on, and who this ominous collector is. There were times I was taken aback as a revelation happened, and I understood certain characters. If you’re looking for something easy to sink your teeth in and like horror, but not jumpscare or gory horror, I highly recommend Dredge.

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4 / 5.0
Apr 6, 2023

Enriched lovingly with scenic qualities and bolstered by the delightful day/night contrast to which it excels at evoking a juicily contradictive atmosphere, Dredge may not look like a meaty steamboat-empowered expedition, but when you find yourself supplementing your vessel with new hulls and boosts, as well as interacting with the various personalities sequestered on each of the islands you visit, Dredge may look like shallow waters, but it’ll surprise at how quickly it can submerge you in its depths. No, Dredge did not need the horrors of the nighttime, and banging into suddenly-appearing rocks can prove a hassle, but Dredge is otherwise a splendid offering that’s certainly worth checking out.

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8.5 / 10.0
Apr 4, 2023

Dredge is a remarkable blend of polar opposite genres that benefit greatly when mashed together like this. It’s not the deepest fishing game nor is it the scariest horror game, but it blends these two distinct halves well enough so that it doesn’t rely on one tone or style for too long. And because of this, much like the aberrational fish that plague its sea, Dredge is unique enough to be quite the catch.

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9 / 10.0
Apr 10, 2023

Dredge manages to be both a fantastic fishing game and a horrifying look at what it's like to be alone in the ocean.

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9 / 10.0
Apr 9, 2023

Dredge’s enjoyable gameplay loop of fishing, selling, and upgrading all set on an ocean where horrors await beneath the waves and beyond the fog makes for an unforgettable indie experience.

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7 / 10.0
Apr 6, 2023

Dredge is an extremely fascinating game that has its foundations in simple but addictive ludics and eerie, distressing imagery.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Mar 30, 2023

This is simply a nautical adventure that continues to surprise, somehow both placid and often tense, routine and yet full of nasty surprises

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9 / 10.0
Apr 3, 2023

The two sides of the game meld wonderfully together, while the fascinating world and story on offer serve up just enough to pull you along until the end.

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9 / 10.0
Mar 28, 2023

With quite dark touches, which in a few occasions are a bit weighed down by somewhat monotonous displacements, Dredge will not leave absolutely no one indifferent. One of the best indies so far this year.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

90 / 100
Apr 1, 2023

DREDGE can come off as a bit underwhelming if you’ve never played it. The same can be said for most games with a Lovecraftian theme. It’s the type of game where you have to dive into the deep end and see for yourself just how much this game has to offer. The story might be a bit vague to follow unless you go out of your way to find everybody and see what they have to say, but this is well worth it.

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86 / 100
Mar 30, 2023

If you stare long into an abyss, the abyss gazes back at you. Dredge stops just a tad short of greatness owing to its occasional repetitive nature and indie budget, but that is but a small nitpick against the overwhelming positives it provides. Fishing, inventory management, saving for upgrades and exploration – each aspect of Dredge is gamified just right, and sandwiched effectively to keep you coming back for more. Clocking in at a good 12–15 hours to complete the story, this thalassophobic collect-a-thon provides enough fun, excitement, horror and mystery to tide you through this quaint fishing adventure!

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8 / 10.0
Mar 29, 2023

DREDGE mixes moments of contemplation and relaxation with good doses of mystery and exploration. It's an experience whose pacing depends a lot on how the player wants to interact in the game world and rewarding it, regardless of which approach will give the most anxiety during their solitary and mysterious adventure.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Loved
Mar 21, 2023

My favourite aspect of DREDGE is this is just a great game to chill to. After a long hard day at my real-life job, taking on the life of a fisherman proved to be quite cathartic. I had just as much fun spending sessions fishing, turning in my catches, and gradually upgrading my ship, as opposed to making progress in the game’s narrative. I didn’t feel rushed and was happy to take in the experience wherever my mood took me. Of course, it’s only fair this design won’t appeal to every gamer. Some might find the pacing slow or the gameplay repetitive. For me, the tackle reeled me in and never let go. DREDGE is the most fun I have had in a fishing game to date, and it gets my highest recommendation. If you want to try it for yourself, download the free demo on the eShop.

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Mar 24, 2023

Dredge quickly gets its hooks into you with its addictive gameplay loop, while its mysteries will keep you intrigued. The delivery of its story makes it feel like one of the create your own adventure books of old, giving it a unique identity.

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9 / 10.0
Mar 24, 2023

Dredge is the perfect blend of Lovecraftian, mystery, and adventure in a role-playing game. Its greatest strength lies in the perfect harmony of its gameplay, visual, and audio elements.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 24, 2023

DREDGE is a great fishing adventure game, with Lovecraftian horror influences. It's admittedly simple, but it absolutely works, and fortunately it ends before it could ever run out of steam.

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10 / 10.0
Mar 24, 2023

Dredge successfully blends a Lovecraftian fishing adventure RPG with a gorgeous vibrant art design and a subtle and powerful piano-led score.

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Worth your time
Mar 23, 2023

There are real monsters in the deep blue sea, and Black Salt Games' fishing adventure keeps pushing to dive in deeper and deeper. With a perfect balance of risk and reward DREDGE is compelling in short bursts perfect for the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch

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Recommended
Mar 23, 2023

Dredge is a delightful game that I easily recommend to anyone. In the start you might have to grind a little so that you can upgrade your ship, but once you’re over that wave, it’s smooth sailing.

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