I play many games throughout the year and will publish countless game reviews to cover as many AAA, AA, and indie titles as possible. I’ve been at this for over a decade and have reviewed all manner of games, many of which were exceptional, some that floundered altogether. I can proudly and excitedly claim, without a doubt, that none have genuinely stuck with me like Dredge. It’s an indie game that took me by storm, and I reviewed it in March of 2023. Now, in July, I’m still playing in my spare time. Why? What about this Lovecraftian fishing game captured me and so many others?
Related: Dredge Review
Looking Back at My Dredge Review
In the gaming world, March was decades ago. Since then, we’ve had so many game releases, many of which soured our outlook on video games (I’m looking at you, Redfall!), and others proved captivating for numerous reasons.
And yet, despite a hefty schedule of upcoming games to cover, with guides and features to write alongside multiple reviews in the coming months, why am I still playing Dredge?
In my Dredge review, I highly recommended the game for a few reasons. First and foremost, it features an addicting gameplay loop, a satisfying progression system, and an unbeatable atmosphere. As someone who suffers from thalassaphobia (the intense fear of deep water), even spotting a breaching whale caused my heart to race. That’s not to mention the monstrosities lurking even deeper.
Technical Marvel
Alongside the exceptional gameplay, which perfectly mixed relaxation and terror, bringing me right to the edge of my seat at times, Dredge works perfectly well on Steam Deck. In fact, it plays better than most big-budget games optimized for the Deck. I can enjoy an hour here or there while waiting for an appointment or laying in bed, and those bite-size chunks add up.
But when playing on PC, the game still runs flawlessly. Even though we’re talking about an indie game here, the performance is perfection. I don’t experience any stutters, frame drops, or crashes whatsoever. I can load into a session, fish, farm, and complete some story quests, all without worrying about losing my progress or dealing with frustrating technical mishaps.
A Touch of Terror
As I previously mentioned, alongside the numerous fish and other wildlife, like whales and dolphins, the game features more sinister creatures lurking beneath the surface.
Some are relatively harmless, like the variation aberrations you’ll discover in your net. Others, like the Gale Cliffs Serpent or Leviathan, prove both exceptionally well done and terrifying.
Seriously, what other video game allows us to sail across a vast ocean only to come under attack from below by a freakin’ Leviathan! We need more video games with deep-sea creatures involved!
Was Dredge worth returning to after all these months? Absolutely! Should you play Dredge? Yes, right now!