Step into the vast fog-shrouded ocean.
Welcome to the creaky deck of your trawler, where the calm seas hide ancient secrets and the fog lies deeper than the horizon. With a chilling atmosphere, mysterious ruins, and a fishing system that goes far beyond just casting a net, Dredge is here to stay.
But be careful, anything can happen deep down in the ocean, and as night falls, the sea can change and take you by storm.
Into the Fog
The world of Dredge puts you in the role of a lone fisherman sailing the haunted waters of the Soli archipelago. This is not your typical fishing trip - beneath the fog-shrouded waves lie over 125 species of fish, strange sea relics, shipwrecks, and terrifying creatures that hold secrets too heavy for the light of day.
During the day, the sea is calm, the sun's rays gently fall on the surface, and your job seems straightforward: catch fish, collect materials, and return to port. But as night falls, everything changes. The water turns murky, the shadows become jagged, and the calm sea becomes a playground for horrors. Your flickering lantern may be your only hope against this escalating madness.
Fishing, Upgrades, and Strategic Exploration
Your main task is to catch fish, manage cargo, sell your loot, and upgrade your ship. But behind this simplicity lies a deeply layered system.
- Fishing Techniques: Each species requires a different approach, with mini-games that test your timing and bait selection. This keeps fishing engaging, not monotonous.
- Cargo Grid Management: All caught fish and salvaged items must fit into a grid-based inventory. Like Tetris, but on a boat—with rotten fish and cursed relics.
- Upgrades and Equipment: Use your earnings to improve engines, rods, dredging equipment, and nets. Better equipment unlocks new biomes, such as volcanic rocks, tangled mangroves, and icy trenches.
- Secrets and Progression: As you travel through five interconnected areas, you discover ancient ruins and piece together the archipelago's dark history. Some upgrades even give you supernatural abilities that help you survive - or further uncover the truth.
Mobile Optimization and Touch Controls
The mobile adaptation of Dredge is impressively refined. The developers have gone beyond a simple port to create a handheld experience that feels intuitive and seamless:
- Touch and Drag Inventory: Managing your cargo is done with intuitive drag-and-drop gestures.
- Tactile Feedback: Provides tactile immersion during fishing and other events.
- Pinch-to-zoom and UI scaling: Helps with accuracy and readability, especially on smaller screens.
- Cloud saves and cross-device syncing: Play on your phone, pick up on your tablet—your progress is always with you.
There are some drawbacks, though. On smaller phones, UI elements like cargo tiles and text can feel cramped, making management difficult at times. Performance can suffer during storms or heavy fog on mid-range devices. And without physical controls, the virtual steering can feel vague, especially during tense nighttime navigation.
A Game of Patience, Depth, and Discovery
Dredge is not for players who want fast-paced action or instant gratification. It's a slow-paced experience meant for contemplative exploration and immersion in the environment. The fishing cycle can feel repetitive over longer sessions, especially when returning from previously explored areas.
But for those who love games like Sunless Sea, Spiritfarer, or Don't Starve, Dredge offers a unique twist: a terrifying, psychological aspect wrapped up in the seemingly calm sport of fishing.
Conclusion
Dredge is one of those rare games that feels designed specifically for handheld play. It's satisfying for short sessions, but its depth and mystery will pull you in for longer outings. It's not for those looking for fast action or flashy visuals. But for players who appreciate atmosphere, meaningful progression, and subtle storytelling, it's an unforgettable experience.
