Dave the Diver Reviews

Dave the Diver is ranked in the 99th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10
Aug 14, 2023

Dave the Diver is a huge surprise this year. The game just came out of nowhere and was fantastic. The seemingly primitive title has much more to it than one might expect, so we strongly recommend not underestimating it. If you like underwater adventures with good humor, this will be the game for you.

Review in Czech | Read full review

80 / 100
Aug 21, 2023

Dave the Diver is a whacky, 2D/3D game that mixes several genres to form a fun adventure with silly characters and never a shortage of things to do. Each trip into the mysterious Blue Hole is different, and you'll have plenty of quests and upgrades to work on. Spend your days diving, and your nights running a sushi bar. If you are looking for a great balance of not too hard, not too easy, Dave the Diver is it. While some of the missions can get kind of hairy, managing your resources is what it's all about. The story is fun, and I really enjoyed the MarinCa app that gives us facts about sea creatures we catch!

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4.6 / 5.0
Aug 30, 2023

Dave The Diver is a true indie gem. The story acts as the glue that holds things together while most of the weight of the game is on the shoulders of gameplay mechanics that are gradually added, new areas that are unlocked in each chapter of the story, and new weapons and equipment that can be found in boxes scattered in the Blue Hole. This game is a simple delight like a cup of coffee in the morning or an ice cream in the summer heat; its true value is felt only when you taste it yourself.

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Sep 2, 2023

]A sushi waiter is on a mission to bring exotic fish to the table in this stylish, satisfying game that delivers a vital message on sustainability

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10 / 10.0
Sep 11, 2023

Dave the Diver not only offers a wholly unique experience but manages to make all of the elements fit together and were fun to play. The dialogue and humor are all cleverly written and show deep attention to detail in the game's storytelling.

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Destructoid
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Sep 26, 2023

In a world full of fear and uncertainty, Dave the Diver is here to offer a lighthearted story and engaging gameplay. It doesn’t try to follow trends or emulate big AAA titles. It doesn’t have an in-game shop to try to get you to spend more money. It’s simply a silly, fun game about a diver named Dave, and I can’t put it down.

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Oct 12, 2023

If I’m being completely honest, I couldn’t find fault with the game at all. Dave the Diver is a fantastic game. The setting is beautiful, the characters are funny and interesting and its content is diverse. Yes, it can get infuriating when you’re killed and lose your haul. But that’s on me, not the game. It’s an enchanting tale about a man’s love of the sea… and sushi! 7.8 out of 10. Too much water.

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Atomix
Top Critic
90 / 100
Oct 25, 2023

If you didn't try this game a few months ago, I think it would be the right time to do so, especially because of the portable theme that makes it a relaxing experience to take on trips and distract yourself for a while.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Oct 25, 2023

Dave the Diver on Nintendo Switch is a game that thoroughly deserves your attention, even in an already packed year of classics.

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91 / 100
Oct 25, 2023

Dave the Diver is one of the best indie games of 2023, plain and simple. Not only is it tremendously fun and original, but it's also long, has a very careful audio-visual plot and they keep adding more content. And he exudes a sympathy that is difficult to see today.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Oct 26, 2023

Dave the Diver is an unique experience that constantly throws something interesting and fun, even when you are 30-40 hours into the adventure. Is a game that made us smile from the moment it begins until the end, and the diversity of the gameplay is fantastic and fascinating.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10
Oct 27, 2023

In a year dominated by titanic, big-budget releases like Tears of the Kingdom and Mario Wonder, Dave the Diver steps up to the plate and knocks the ball clear of the park with a heaving swing. Its charming animations and writing supplement a mechanically dense experience that never stops dangling a new carrot to chase. It's one of the few games to come out this year that rivals Mario Wonder's all-out density and charm while doing something almost completely new. You owe it to yourself to pick up this outstandingly funny, enthralling, and weird gem.

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9.7 / 10.0
Oct 27, 2023

Astoundingly varied and deep, dripping with funky charm, and both challenging and approachable. It’s fantastic

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90 / 100
Oct 30, 2023

There is a little bit of everything for everyone in this innovative and entertaining game. It’s been acclaimed as one of the best games of the year, and it certainly lived up to my expectations.

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9.8 / 10.0
Oct 30, 2023

I wish I didn't have to review Dave the Diver because of how much I worry about letting too much of its best parts slip. It's a fantastic title that's worth "going in blind" simply because of how it continuously surprises players, including me. Its Switch port maintains its greatness, barring some slight visibility issues of the smaller fishies and the loading screens, so it's hard for me to recommend the Switch version if you're deciding on which platform to purchase Dave the Diver. However, one thing is certain: You should not miss out on Dave the Diver this holiday season. It's a pearl in an ocean of other holiday AAA titles vying for your attention.

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GamingBolt
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Oct 30, 2023

Dave the Diver is an improbably addictive game that stands out as one of the most unique and memorable experiences in a year full of great titles.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 6, 2023

Dave the Diver is a big surprise and a beautiful labor of love. The developers spent a lot of time trying to balance all the gameplay elements present in Diver Dave's adventure and they were clearly very successful in this attempt. Appreciators of a good video game will quickly realize that something special has been achieved here. This is one of the best titles of 2023 and an unmissable addition to your library of gems on Nintendo Switch.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Nov 7, 2023

DAVE THE DIVER is a lovely little game that blends serving food, fishing, mini-games, and fun dialogue into one immersive package.

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4 / 5.0
Nov 10, 2023

Dave the Diver is wondrous genre mash-up of adventure RPG and restaurant management sim that becomes so much more than the sum of its many parts. Its constant flow of new ideas, surprises, and engaging mechanics make it a highly enjoyable mash-up.

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Buy
Nov 12, 2023

Dave the Diver is a really fun experience with two disparate but complementary mechanics. With its quirky characters and a ridiculous main story that investigates the mystery behind the Blue Hole, it is a great indie game that will keep you engaged through its many mechanics and almost never-ending content until you're finished with the story or when you're ready to move on from catching fish and serving sushi. Dave the Diver is a breath of fresh air for the indie scene, especially for the highly saturated genre of roguelites. By adding the restaurant management mechanic to an enjoyable and addictive story loop, Mintrocket Games has a winner in their hands.

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