DREDGE Review: An Eerie, Yet Tranquil Fishing Voyage
Navigating through the mysterious and serene waters of DREDGE becomes a sinister affair, with every cast and trawl uncovering more than just fish.
last updated Nov 21, 2023
DREDGE makes sure each visual element, from fog to flora, adds to the oppressive lore, ensuring every sighting of the abominable adds a frisson of unease.
A Trawl Through Mysterious Gameplay Mechanics
Those looking for a deceptively simple gameplay loop will find solace in DREDGE's mechanics, which, while ostensibly about the zen art of fishing, sneak up on you with layers of complexity. Balancing the satisfaction of a good catch with the calculated risk of nightmares from the deep, the gameplay creeps from tranquil to tantalizingly terrifying with eldritch ease. The management aspects, composed of upgrades and a dash of economics, keep each voyage strategically engaging as one sails towards the inevitable, whether you're eluding the embrace of creatures best left unseen, or obsessively cataloging your monstrous harvest like some maritime Darwin on a bad acid trip.
Siren Songs and Screams from the Abyss
The audio landscape in DREDGE swims circles around similar indie offerings. Tunes ranging from the creak of your boat to the subtle caress of waves form a symphony of serenity, while darker distortions pull you under with their sinister refrains. With a sound design calibrated to echo the dichotomy of dread and calm on the open sea, the game's acoustic achievements render headphones a must-have accessory. And let's not forget the screech of something that definitely should not be sharing your zip code, a reminder that you're never really alone on these waters.
A Visual Feast for the Salt-Soaked Eyes
DREDGE places you amidst a visual buffet of haunting beauty, serving up an artistic style that's as captivating as the sirens of legend—only with more tentacles. The graphics carry the torch of indie ingenuity, flaunting sleek designs for creatures that seem plucked from the mind of a fisherman who's seen a bit too much. Performance-wise, the game keeps it as smooth as the surface of a still sea, which is no easy feat considering the nightmares it's rendering. And just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, DREDGE makes sure each visual element, from fog to flora, adds to the oppressive lore, ensuring every sighting of the abominable adds a frisson of unease.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Black Salt Games
Publisher
Team17
Release Date
March 30, 2023
The Verdict
DREDGE casts a wide net, capturing the essence of what it means to be a tranquil terror of the high seas. Despite some desires for expanding the murky mythos or a tad more variety in its fishy business, the title stands as a testament to the labor of love of indie development. It is an alluring blend of simplicity and mystery, grounded in a gameplay loop as addictive as it is eerie. With it's chilling narrative and charm, DREDGE proves that the depths of indie games are rich with untapped potential.
