Dredge Reviews
Dredge offers a refreshing experience with an interesting mix of ambiance and gameplay.
Dredge is a totally innovative and creative take on the survival horror genre and manages to tell a compelling story without long-winded cutscenes or spoon-feeding it. The minor metroidvania elements to its adventuring also give players a lot of freedom to play at their own pace.
DREDGE is the perfect mix of an RPG, fishing, puzzle, and survival game. It combines all these elements with an interesting and creepy story that evokes feelings of horror from an H.P. Lovecraft tale. This is a must-play title, especially if you want something more unique to try out.
Dredge is one of those rare treasures: a game unlike anything else that completely captures your attention with its intriguing world and simple yet captivating gameplay. We could keep hunting for rare fish forever, and we only wish there were more secrets for us to uncover; new parts of the world for us to explore. But when our only complaint is “we want more of it”, it’s clear we have something rather special on our hands.
DREDGE is both atmospheric and mechanically engaging. The story threads are very personal and, at times, heartbreaking. Even though I didn’t catch all the species featured in the encyclopedia, I had plenty of fun moving around the world, trying to identify the best spots for certain species and mastering mini-games.
The constant fear and impending sense of dread make sure you're always uncomfortable, making Dredge a master class in the subtlety of horror. Even though the story never comes out and explains everything that's happening, it does enough to make sure you can put it together, while relying on the journey you've made for yourself to stand tall. All in all, Dredge is one of those near-perfect indie games-it accomplishes everything it sets out to do, keeps the player entertained throughout, and manages to be innovative in an industry filled with games for us to play.
Dredge promotes a strange fusion of genres and is proof that even outlandish ideas work when the project is well executed. Black Salt Games' debut game is amazing and delivers an experience of extremes – from relaxing fishing to terrifying moments.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
DREDGE offers an addictive fishing loop that pairs well with its surface-level Lovecraftian horror, undone only by a missed opportunity to dive deeper.
It's a delightful mix. It's really fun to fish peacefully during the day and try to escape the monsters at night to reach the nearest harbor. Unfortunately, the sense of tension wears off quickly and once you figure out the monsters, you can easily escape them all. Still, it's fun to try to catch all the fish species, solve the mystery of the islands and reach different endings.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Dredge has no right to be as good as it is, but it effectively plays to its strengths and mixes solid systems with a strong theme. If you're not into fishing or Lovecraft, Dredge won't be your cup of tea. However, if either even slightly tickles your fancy, I can almost guarantee that you'll have a blast delving into the twisted mysteries of Dredge - and you'll even make a decent buck with mutant fish while you're at it.
Dredge is a masterclass in atmosphere, worldbuilding, tactile mechanics, and game flow. Like all sinister-feeling things, by the time you get to the end of the line you might wish you had never kept going. But in Dredge, it’s impossible not to.
Dredge is an absolute gem. It features a rich, compelling narrative alongside an excellent gameplay and upgrade loop. It doesn’t overstay its welcome and has an excellent narrative. It is a game that you should not miss.
Dredge blends cosmic horror and local fishing economies into a robust but expertly paced adventure that rewards your investment with a strange tale, engaging mechanics and a unique, wonderful vibe.
Dredge is a fishing RPG, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security thinking that it is a cozy game. It is a slowly creeping horror title that lets its mystery engage you until it has caught you in its slimy tendrils and doesn’t let go. While it might be a little slow starting out, once the momentum kicks in, it takes you for a ride. It is a triumph in atmospheric and immersive storytelling. The addictive fishing elements lure you into an addictive game loop, and you stick around for its mystery. You can also just keep fishing and ignore all the strangeness if the fishing loop is what you’re in for, but heed the call of the deep, as its creeping chaos is definitely worth exploring.
DREDGE’s numerous gameplay systems that don’t overwhelm but invite players are a cloak and dagger for the true horrors that’ll keep you lost at sea. Phenomenal in its art direction and engrossing to play, it’s clear that Black Salt Games have dredged up a mystifying debut.
DREDGE offers an original single-player adventure and a whole new concept of fishing adventures that we could have. While the storyline takes an important place, the developers let the player discover at his own pace. The system of management and improvement of our trawler works well and adds a little challenge to our adventure. The biggest flaw remains in the repetition of the tasks performed, I would have appreciated a little more diversity in the fishing activity itself. Nevertheless, the title offers several hours of gameplay and a story that we can't wait to discover.
Review in French | Read full review
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.
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
Overall, Dredge is a nice, enjoyable fishing game with a low-fat horror coating. The mechanics, upgradability, and weird fish variety are enough to make for a lightweight and engaging time. But if your primary interest is in the narrative or atmosphere, you may find yourselves disappointed.
Overall, Dredge is a fantastic horror-tinged adventure game. Flitting effortlessly between relaxing fishing in the day and a panic-laden rush to safety at night, its off-putting ambiance and varied mysteries help drive the player to the very end. A surprisingly thoughtful title that is dripping with atmosphere and salt water.