DREDGE is a single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your boat, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Explore a mysterious archipelago and discover why some things are best left forgotten.
Players repeatedly praise the fishing mechanics as the core strength of the experience. The game features a variety of timing-based fishing minigames, each presenting unique challenges. For example, players must carefully time button presses to reel in a particularly elusive fish species. These mechanics offer a more involved, satisfying alternative to the typical "wait and reel" fishing found in many other games.
Beyond the fishing, players eagerly explore the game's collection of remote islands. Each location offers distinct environments, wildlife, and secrets to uncover. Thorough exploration rewards players with valuable resources, rare fish, and narrative clues about the world's Lovecraftian mysteries. The sense of discovery and curiosity drives many players to meticulously search every corner of the archipelago.
As players progress, they can upgrade their fishing trawler with more powerful engines, expanded cargo holds, specialized equipment, and other enhancements. For instance, a high-speed engine upgrade allows players to quickly reach distant islands previously inaccessible. These tangible progression mechanics ensure the core fishing loop continuously becomes more efficient and rewarding over time.
Importantly, the game's excellent atmosphere and ominous, Lovecraftian tone amplify the entire experience. Unsettling creature designs, eerie musical scoring, and ever-present dread create a pervasive sense of unease, particularly when venturing out at night. This haunting ambiance is a major draw that elevates the otherwise relaxing gameplay.