A mast have

Something terrible lurks beneath the waves inDredge.

Actually, scratch that.

Or are you too afraid of what you’ll find in Davy Jones' locker?

Cover image for YouTube video

In Dredge, the answer is always yes.

Dredge is a game that thrives on its superbly crafted atmosphere.

You begin your ill-fated adventure washed up on the shores of the Greater Marrow fishing village.

An overhead view of a fishing boat and its cargo menu screen in Dredge

You don’t want to get caught out.

So far, so good.

Everything seems hunky dory in this picturesque little cove, but the plainful soundtrack immediately sets you on edge.

An overhead view of a fishing boat and its cargo menu, and a broken reeling tools in Dredge

This is noMoonglow Bayor 3D, waterborneStardew Valley.

This is something else.

A seed - a hook - of ghoulish delight and curiosity.

A fishing boat narrowly misses a large anglerfish at night in Dredge

The actual act of fishing is relatively simple in Dredge.

It’s a compelling upgrade curve that Dredge sustains brilliantly for the length of its 12-odd hour run-time.

This is especially true at night, when the dreaded ‘aberrations’ start to emerge.

Dolphins break through the waves during the day in front of a small fishing boat in Dredge

These tricks work once, but other details creep in to complete the picture.

And that’s the great thing about Dredge.

Why are there campsites littered with strange runes and rotting fish spikes everywhere?

A small fishing boat sails toward the shadow of a dark ship on the horizon at night in Dredge

A ship passes over a large chasm filled with glowing tentacles in Dredge

A ship is moored at a travelling merchant station in Dredge