Dave the Diver Reviews

Dave the Diver is ranked in the 99th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.5 / 10.0
Aug 10, 2023

Dave The Diver offers an enthralling blend of adventure, strategy, and humor, all wrapped up in a tale of bravery and discovery. With its unique Combat and Capture gameplay, charming characters, and innovative dual-mode progression, this game provides a fresh and exhilarating gaming experience that is sure to keep you hooked from the very first harpoon throw.

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Aug 10, 2023

No matter what I was doing, me and Dave were having a pretty good time and along the way a strange little family of misfits was born, all based around my own favourite food: sushi. Dave the Diver isn’t as deep as the ocean, but it’s deep enough and casts its net wide to drag in all manner of crazy elements. The mix of underwater water adventuring and sushi bar management is like a sumptuous piece of salmon nigiri: simple yet elegant, basic and yet somehow so effortlessly tasty. The game’s other elements serve as the soy sauce for dipping and wasabi for that little touch of tingle on the tongue

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9 / 10.0
Aug 5, 2023

Dave the Diver is a product of unrivaled brilliance for the whole package it offers. It is a passionate adventure capable of stimulating the player through a comfortable and inviting atmosphere, which gives us all the time we want to explore and experience it at our own pace. Charismatic, warm, welcoming and thought-provoking, Dave's adventure will certainly be canonized in the same pantheon as other indie classics, responsible for unique experiences that raise the bar for video games as multisensory forms of entertainment.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Jul 7, 2023

Dave the Diver is an absolute delight to play. Its core gameplay loop is wonderfully relaxing, but before too long players will be finding all the different options in its nooks and crannies. It’s surely one of the best games of the year so far, and players will love taking on the role of our goatee'd hero.

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9 / 10.0
Jul 28, 2023

Dave the Diver, needless to say, was an absolutely delightful surprise that I would recommend to just about anyone. It offers so much variety in gameplay ideas that there is something here for everyone. I’d love to express everything I absolute loved about the game, but what impressed me so much was not knowing all the things this game offered, and I wouldn’t want to strip you of that. This may have not been the mindless fishing exploration game I was expecting, but it became so much more than I even initially wanted.

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9 / 10.0
Jul 22, 2023

Dave the Diver is a delightfully delicious game packed full of charm. It’s a title that doubles up as both an adventure sim and a restaurant tycoon, and harmoniously blends both beats together to create one of the best symphonies of 2023. This is an an absolute must-play.

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9 / 10
Jun 28, 2023

Dave the Diver is endearing and lively, a feel-good game to its core, with just enough lore and mystery to keep nudging you along.

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Pure Dead Gaming
DeadbeatpunK
9 / 10.0
Jul 14, 2023

DAVE THE DIVER begins off pleasantly and lays out new mechanics at a steady pace. The joy never dwindles and it’s a pleasure to play through. Whether you’ve settled in for a long or short session of play, you will get a sense of achievement thanks to the structure of the day and night cycles. I played this primarily on Steam Deck and it feels right at home there. An incredibly endearing adventure and one of the easiest game recommendations of the year.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jul 14, 2023

Dave the Diver is a magical, mesmerizing, unforgettable gem. Mintrocket’s debut game isn’t just one of the best indie games of the year—it’s also quickly become one of my favorite games of the last decade. Its world is beautiful, tantalizing, and surprisingly dangerous. Dave and the cast are well-written and meticulously animated. The sushi makes me hungry every time I play. Dave the Diver more than delivers on its promise as a fun maritime adventure and role-playing game. Part salt-water exploration game, part sushi restaurant management sim, the game becomes so much more than the ocean blue aesthetic that initially meets the eye.

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Jul 14, 2023

Like the ocean itself, there’s so much depth to DAVE THE DIVER , as there’s more that’s hidden beneath the surface. The stunning graphics, mesmerizing sound design, and well-crafted gameplay combine to create an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a fan of exploration games or simply have a love for ocean games, this is sure to captivate you for dozens of hours. Prepare to have your expectations blown out of the water, as it constantly introduces new and exciting things right up until the end. DAVE THE DIVER is a treasure of a find, so take the plunge on what is one of the best games you’ll play this year.

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Mind-blown
Jul 13, 2023

Dave the Diver offers up a delightfully fresh take in a whole bunch of gaming genres that just works.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jul 13, 2023

A game you won’t be disappointed you played and something absolutely worth your time.

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4.5 / 5.0
Jun 27, 2023

Dave the Diver was crafted by video game visionaries with a pure love of fun. I have never seen a game jampack so much into one seemingly tiny title and somehow make it all work with the clarity of something smaller in scope. Dave the Diver doesn’t just deserve your attention, it demands it, and if you’ve been waiting for your sign to dive into this addicting game, I’m telling you now it’s time to take the plunge.

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10 / 10.0
Jul 6, 2023

A charming, fantastic mashup of genres that delivers on all fronts. Dave the Diver is funny, cozy, fascinating to explore, with a solid cast and even more amazing cinematics. It treats its world as a tangible place other than a “place to gather resources”. Its management aspects don’t overdo anything but are just enough to keep you invested. Easily one of the best games of 2023 so far.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

9 / 10
Jul 10, 2023

Dave the Diver is a small surprise of the gaming year so far. With a coherent and complex overall package and a lot of creative ideas and attention to detail, the indie title does a lot right and will probably earn a top position on the permanent favorites list of many players.

Review in German | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jul 2, 2023

Dave the Diver is an incredibly charming experience, offering players a somewhat repetitive gameplay loop fortunately saved by its wonderful characters. Its often time cosy atmosphere, offset ever so slightly by the visceral act of hunting fish, and engrossing sushi bar management gameplay kept me coming back for more, despite repetitive fetch quest objectives and ironically shallow fishing. Considering its very low price point, this gorgeous, hilarious, and extremely enjoyable experience is absolutely worth it, especially for all the sushi enthusiasts out there.

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9 / 10.0
Jun 29, 2023

Dave the Diver is a gorgeous underwater experience that centers around the beauty and mystery found in the depths of the sea. It's packed full of mechanics, some better than others, but its central dives truly shine.

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INVEN
Top Critic
8.8 / 10.0
Jun 27, 2023

Dave the Diver shows a perfect connection between two genres, Adventure and Tycoon. While adventure element is deep, Tycoon part gives a speedy, hectic fun. On top of that, well handled B-rated vibe, attractive characters, and various mini-games are creating a synergy throughout the game play.

Review in Korean | Read full review