PC Critic Reviews

Dredge is a masterclass in atmosphere, worldbuilding, tactile mechanics, and game flow. Like all good sinister stories, by the time you get to the end of the line you might wish you had never kept going. But in Dredge, it’s impossible not to.

Dredge is an indie horror gem that will be looked upon fondly by anyone with an affinity for adventure and mystery. Every part of the game is engaging and otherworldly, yet distinctly down to earth. From the charming low-poly graphics, to the deeply emotion-invoking soundtrack, to the heartfelt story, Dredge understands how to make the player feel immersed in its dark yet beautiful world.

Dredge‘s ending, like the rest of the game, succeeds in marrying bewilderment and satisfaction. The title is, simply put, a must-play. Every element — atmospheric mystery, engaging moment-to-moment action, and brilliant storytelling earns it the top spot in my favorite games of the year so far.

Dredge is the first indie game of 2023 that will surprise you. The overall simplicity of this game will at first deceive you and afterward, you will appreciate this decision and how everything is synchronized with each other. Maybe the quest designs were too simplistic, but the other aspects of the game, especially the music is so good, that you would eventually forget about it.

DREDGE is the perfect mix of an RPG, fishing, puzzle, and survival game. It combines all these elements with an interesting and creepy story that evokes feelings of horror from an H.P. Lovecraft tale. This is a must-play title, especially if you want something more unique to try out.

DREDGE is a fishing game that breaks all the rules, and is all the better for it. The combination of relaxing fishing and Lovecraftian horror is a match made in heaven (or maybe hell) and the loop of catching sea creatures and selling them for upgrades is consistently compelling. If you think you can handle the horrors that lie beneath, you’ll find a fantastic game that’s unlike anything else.

An excellent realisation of a brilliant pitch, Dredge nails its core ideas and never strays too far from what makes it great. Progression means that later chapters struggle to maintain the early game's impeccably creepy vibes, but this is still one of the tightest indie creations I've played in a long time.

Dredge’s blend of relaxing fishing and unnerving Lovecraftian horror fuels a unique atmosphere and makes for a game that’ll charm you one second and terrify you the next.

Dredge is the well-realized synthesis of a simple idea with the graft of the mysteries and the horrors of a sea full of secrets, aberrations and forgotten stories. Black Salt Games manufactures an astounding debut, capable to keep the players hooked beyond its final credits. Suspended between curiosity and fear, Dredge can be lived by the players at their own pace, without haste, knowing full well that the ocean, with its wonders and its nightmares, will always be out there, waiting for us.

DREDGE is both atmospheric and mechanically engaging. The story threads are very personal and, at times, heartbreaking. Even though I didn’t catch all the species featured in the encyclopedia, I had plenty of fun moving around the world, trying to identify the best spots for certain species and mastering mini-games. Narrative progression can sometimes feel slow, especially if players only approach fishing as a means to an end. Catching some fish feels needlessly complicated. But these are minor issues with a game that has a big dark heart and makes exploration and fishing very fun. DREDGE is a great experience that mixes genres and ideas while keeping the experience accessible to everyone.