The ocean’s crystalline body is equal in both serenity and caustic omniscience. Whose fathomless depths and unshifting surface on a wind-starved day depict the latent duality between the calm and the chaos of the natural world. Dredge, a 2023 indie title developed by Black Salt studios encapsulates this feeling wholly. Blending inventory management, exploration, time management and the evasion of all the unseen leviathans rising to the surface. Do not be fooled by the soporific sounds of the piano-led soundtrack, the true horrors of Dredge lay in wait, beneath the tenebrous blanket of the deep. Dredge enshrouds itself in the veneer of a cosy game, sharing its facade with the ocean itself, whose true terrors dwell unseen.

Setting off:

We take control of an outsider who washes ashore at the mouth of Greater Marrow, the game’s hub, seeking work and a fresh start in life. After awakening on the rocks, like many others before us, sun-scorched and dreamless, we’re primed to start work. Initially we’re loaned a skipper and tasked to pay off a debt to the mayor. Dredge swiftly spirals into far deeper territory as we embark on the oceans beyond the cove of the Marrows. The initial veneer of a ‘cosy game’ acts more as a lure, promising blissful fishing trips and sailing upon the seas of its world. A world where the fabled leviathans of the sea shanties are made manifest. The story serves functionally as a backdrop for the adventure and provides a sufficient hook to spur the player onward. As I understood it; I washed ashore, encountered bizarre, cadaverous and malformed fish and subsequently found myself in the presence of a quixotic collector, tasking me with the act of seeking lost treasures. The allusion to greater entities and forces ensure that this world appears grander than its space initially details.

Catch o’ the day

Dredge’s early game revolves around a blissful loop of fishing, dredging and exploration. Thankfully, all of these begin promptly. As I embarked on my initial voyage, the sun swooned before me, bathing  the low-poly world in the hues of morn – the sense of adventure and calm was conveyed with effective immediacy. Movement across the seas is equal to the fishing minigames in terms of fluidity and simplicity. Truly, the simplicity of the mechanics only reveal their complexities when placed under the duress of time. An albeit low demand is placed upon the player, but ill-planned voyages and minigame failstates ensure just enough ramifications to imbue a sense of urgency. Upon success however, the minigames and exploration bring great rewards. Catch and trinkets hauled from the ocean can be sold to vendors littered around the water’s expanse. When sold, these bring currency which can be spent on upgrades and fresh equipment. The loop of fishing and selling along with inventory and time management serves as an effective hook. Working to create both haste and intrigue when night begins to encroach.

Fear of the dark

This fine balancing act never encroached upon the realm of rigidity or overt constraints. There’s only so many hours in a day, by proxy, there’s only so much time to maximise the acquisition of resources and fish. As darkness rolls over the world and night swallows the day, strange visions, voices and malformed creatures begin to billow forth from the sea’s mist. Scant variants of sea life awaken under the cover and night, as do the shapes of the abyss. It’s through the employment of such mechanics that Dredge shines. Whilst its initial appearance can appear simplistic, it is the addition of location specific upgrades, native sea life and environmental variety that Dredge forgoes monotony and remains delightfully fresh. The loop itself is the innately fascinating part of Dredge. Acquiring the necessary equipment for fishing in certain zones and watching my encyclopaedia expand with the vast array of marine life. You needn’t drain the ocean dry to move onward, though for those that do you’ll be out on the seas day and night.

Skipping across the ocean’s uncharted fathoms necessitates a considered approach. The nearest refuge must be assessed and reckless voyages into the cusp of sleepless nights end in inevitable death. Time, In the world of Dredge, passes only when we move, fish, or dredge the ocean’s floor. It becomes a calculated game of chess. Upgrades to the ship do ensure faster movement, mitigation of the night’s imparted madness and cosmic abilities serve to bolster the ease of traversal through these Lovecraftian seas. Though death is always lurking for the bungling seafarer. The voyages that each new day brought never fell victim to cyclical monotony. The ever-changing environments saw me sailing through crumbling volcanic ruins, xanthous mangrove swamps, picturesque coastal coves and sprawling reefs. In conjunction with the aesthetic variety, the enemy encounters are varied enough to skim past the surface of staleness. I don’t truly want to let the cat out of the bag when it comes to just what awaits you beneath the surface – the ocean’s mysteries are best left untold. It’s safe to say though that white-knuckled escapes and Lovecraftian horrors lie in wait for the curious souls willing to depart from the port of Greater Marrow.

Conclusion

Dredge sublimely simulates the tranquillity of the ocean, whilst simultaneously encapsulating its ability to imbue a sense of petrifying thalassophobia. Amounting to an experience that is as adventurous as it is unnerving. My voyages through the vast expanse evaded the mire of tedium and proved instead, to be encapsulating, relaxing and stress-inducing in all the right ways. The precedent set by the initial sense of discovery never waned and continued to expand until the credits rolled. Whilst the ending was fleeting, the journey toward the concluding few scenes has left me wanting to return to the seas of Dredge once again. It’s a spellbinding outing from Black Salt and further showcases their ability to meld elements of horror and meditative serenity. It’s a match made in heaven, blending the terrifying expanse of Lovecraft’s cosmos and wedding that with the ocean. For space and sea are both silent giants, sprawling and incomprehensibly vast, and are as incandescent as they are uncaring. Fitting for one lone vessel to navigate, blind to the terrors that surround them. Dredge is just as wickedly mesmerising as it is peaceful.