Or should that be Nautical Chart? Whatever the case, the brilliant cosmic-inspired atmospheric-horror fishing game, Dredge, is in line to pull up some new content for all the eager anglers out there who likely helped forge some of the decisions behind these upcoming additions.



Everything mentioned in the map above is scheduled to arrive this year, and most of it for free, which is awesome. Sharing details over at the PlayStation Blog, our friends from across the pond gave up this nice bit of info on the game's foreseeable future:

Finally, we will be developing a paid and entirely optional DLC featuring the mysterious Ironhaven Corporation. They’re looking to establish an innovative drilling operation in the area to revitalize the towns and populations, but their ultimate goal is unknown. As you gather materials to construct new buildings and biomatter to fuel the rig, meet new characters, craft new equipment, and catch new fish, you may uncover the truth behind their potentially nefarious operations.

Can't wait for that one. Here's hoping there's also plans to drop a New Game + mode at some point too, which is something the team told us in our interview with them they'd look at if enough community voice was behind the want for it.

In our in-depth review of the game we wrote:

In Dredge there is an unknown presence which has caused calamitous change to the natural order of things. People crave things they ought not, and the sea has swallowed more than it ever has and things have emerged from depths unknown. You’ll meet mysterious folk in your travels, and even more mysterious creatures. You’ll be tasked with Pursuits -- side-quests gathered along your work and exploration jaunts, that range from helping research elusive fish to reuniting feuding brothers to helping a downed pilot seek revenge on nightmarish creatures of the muck. And each one of these Pursuits is peppered with character and verve. That tone I’ve been so strong on, it’s represented so much in the people you meet and the stories they tell, and throughout all of this, the writing in Dredge, albeit short, is exceptional for what’s here.

Stay tuned for more on the actual dates for these intended updates as we have them, and if you haven't played the game yet, we highly recommend you do.

One of 2023's darling indies, Dredge is out today, capping off a successful demo, preview and review period among media, content creators and the community alike.

A debut original IP from New Zealand-based Black Salt Games, Dredge immediately grabbed us with its focus on fishing with an eldritch twist, and we can't recommend it highly enough for its tone and the simple joy of taking your boat out each and every day to challenge the seas around you.

In DREDGE, step into the water-logged boots of a down-on-their luck fisherman and explore a collection of remote isles while scouring the surrounding depths for a variety of fish and valuable deep-sea curios. Once your trawler is full, sell your haul to the peculiar locals while completing quests and unravelling more about each archipelago. Reinforce your vessel, skills, and knowledge to dredge deeper and reach more mysterious secluded lands.

The DREDGE Physical Deluxe Edition includes the base game, poster, digital soundtrack, sticker set, physical artwork and the Blackstone Key DLC which grants players access to the mysterious workshop on the Blackstone Isle.

DREDGE Key Features

• Unravel a Mystery: Captain your fishing trawler across a collection of remote islands, each with its own inhabitants to meet, wildlife to discover, and stories to unearth
  
• Dredge the Depths: Scour the sea for hidden treasures and complete quests to gain access to strange new abilities
  
• Study Your Craft: Research special equipment and upgrade your boat’s capabilities to gain access to rare fish and valuable deep-sea curios 
  
• Fish to Survive: Sell your discoveries to the locals to learn more about each area, and upgrade your boat to reach even more secluded locations 
  
• Fight the Unfathomable,/b>: Strengthen your mind and use your abilities to survive trips out on the water after dark

In our own review of Dredge we wrote:

In Dredge there is an unknown presence which has caused calamitous change to the natural order of things. People crave things they ought not, and the sea has swallowed more than it ever has and things have emerged from depths unknown. You’ll meet mysterious folk in your travels, and even more mysterious creatures. You’ll be tasked with Pursuits -- side-quests gathered along your work and exploration jaunts, that range from helping research elusive fish to reuniting feuding brothers to helping a downed pilot seek revenge on nightmarish creatures of the muck. And each one of these Pursuits is peppered with character and verve. That tone I’ve been so strong on, it’s represented so much in the people you meet and the stories they tell, and throughout all of this, the writing in Dredge, albeit short, is exceptional for what’s here.

So get out there and get into this atmospheric horror title and support our brothers and sisters from across the pond, available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Sometimes all you need is a few keywords (oh, hey Google). And in this instance from indie dev Black Salt Games and publisher Team 17 it was “eldritch fishing sim” that first caught our attention. Fast forward a bit of time (and bank it), and we’ve been dredging up a slew of thoughts on the studio’s debut original IP, Dredge, a game that definitely delivers on the cosmic horror and eldritch promise to serve up an atmospheric horror experience for the ages.

And what makes it so triumphant is that it’s not *really* a horror, per se. Rather, it presents as such so that your mind works overtime to make it an horrific experience (particularly at night), despite their being no gore, no specific big bads, and certainly no tentac… oh, wait.

Ahem.

Here’s a snippet:

All of this is accompanied by what could be described as a series of tight mini-games that make a whole, and in return represent a fantastic gameplay loop. Fishing is mostly what you do, but there is, of course, the titular task that sees you gathering resources and lost treasures from the myriad shipwrecks that have fallen prey to the many islands and rocky crags of this world. Or, more recently, that eerie fog. Fishing and dredging are all tied to a circular, timed input, though they’re disparate in how they play. Once you upgrade your boat you can also add nets for trawling that effectively gather bounty for you in the background while you go about your seafaring, which winds up being really handy. There’s also crab pots, which is a different lean on fishing itself, but is just as fun when seeking the craziest ones from the deep. Most of this is gated behind biome and water-type access, however, which requires upgrades, and these require resources and money.

There’s also a neat economy built around time. If you don’t move, time stands still. It only advances when you travel or are doing something, such as fishing. In addition, upgrades and repairs and more while docked also ‘cost’ time, and you’ll often need to sleep to avoid traveling at night -- the most dangerous time. But there are rewards for the adventurous, but equally those who don’t get much sleep. Well… they see things ‘neath the waves.

Click here for our full Dredge review.

You may have only heard of Dredge in passing, or you might only have a passing interest in this little Indie from NZ-based Black Salt Games, but we're here to tell you this is one you should absolutely be casting your line for in 2023. It's definitely grabbed us hook, line and sinker.

In playing a preview access build of the forthcoming Dredge we felt compelled, nay destined, to reach out to the young studio behind the game. And while we learnt Black Salt Games is no minnow in the world of game development, the studio's first owned IP and creatively free effort is looking to become a big fish in a rather large pond.

Here's an excerpt from our interview and hands-on with the game:

“I wouldn't say, necessarily, that we're all Lovecraft fans,” Mason says, who also served as the game’s key writer. “I think it's more [that] we like the atmospheric horror games because they have such a cool vibe, but also they're often too scary for us. So we wanted to make that vibe without the huge jump scares or anything.”

It’s interesting because playing through the game, there’s a very clear sense that you’re gonna find a “H.P. waz here!” carving or tag somewhere in the world, but at the same time there is a definite sense that Dredge is very much its own thing. The combination of exploration and collection -- the game’s two key pillars -- is split on an even keel that shouldn’t be, but is. And when you're not recalling item management from Resident Evil 4 or paying memory service to classic text-based adventure games, you're riding the high seas in a lustrous lo-fi game-world that is larger than you might at first think.

Dredge is at all times a surprising game that rolls in on you, like an unexpected fog with nefarious intent.

Click here for our full Dredge feature.