Dredge (2023): A supernatural spin on fishing simulators

My first impression of Dredge, released in March 2023 by Black Salt Games, came on one of those dreaded nights of boredom when I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself and nothing in my games library looked worth playing. With a few quid of store credit, I blindly approached the Steam store, not looking for anything in particular. What I stumbled on, however, in a moment of serendipity, was Dredge, filling that often-overlooked spot at the generic intersection of fishing simulation, fantasy, and horror. On any other day, I probably wouldn’t have touched such a game with a barge pole, but something about Dredge drew me in, like a sailor to a siren’s song.

In Dredge, the player takes the role of a fisherman serving the remote island village of Greater Marrow, with its opening missions appearing to be little more than a fishing simulator. The story quickly reveals its darker elements, as the player begins to pull mutated fish and possessed relics from the waters, both signifiers of the island’s dark past, the ships wrecked on its treacherous coastlines, and a foreboding supernatural presence. The player is warned away from the island by a hunchbacked lighthouse keeper, who describes in as little detail as possible, the dangers of the waters surrounding Marrow and the archipelago.

"The story quickly reveals its darker elements, as the player begins to pull mutated fish and possessed relics from the waters"

Following the opening sequence, missions start to pile up, at a rate quick enough to give the player a choice between storylines but not so fast that it becomes overwhelming. Tasks naturally centre around the core gameplay mechanic, sailing and fishing, but achieve an impressive variety of function, whether that be doing favours for townspeople, working to uncover the story’s lore, or simply fishing for money.

Outside of story missions, the player is free to explore Dredge’s many waterways, fish to their heart’s content, saving money which can be used to expand the functionality and speed of their ship.

Dredge, on the whole, is a game that does just about everything right. The story carries a healthy mix of rational and mystical elements, and is neither obscure nor spoon-fed to the player. The pacing is largely down to the player as missions have no set timeframe. Mechanics are intuitive and are neither overly unnecessarily nor simple enough to get repetitive. It is worth noting as well that new mechanics, creatures and storylines are introduced with each of the game’s five primary areas. The various minigames that come with different types of fishing also help to keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.

I would be remiss not to mention Dredge’s award-winning art, a simple yet incredibly effective low-poly design, complemented by a gorgeous colour palette which helps to elevate elements as integral as oceanwater, lightning, and underwater elements such as fish and shipwrecks.

After having spent five hours with Dredge, I am beyond captivated and desperate to work through the rest of the story. Still selling for just £21.99, you’d be hard pressed to find better value for money in gaming right now.