All posts tagged in fishing games
Apr 12, 2023
DREDGE is a short, but fantastic fishing adventure with some creepy and sinister undercurrents. You play as an unnamed fisherman and captain of your very own fishing trawler. Take your little fishing boat out into the open ocean to fish up over 100 different types of fish. Explore the beautiful, but mysterious archipelago to unearth some mysteries.
Conduct research on new parts for your boat. Buy upgraded engines to move faster, purchase new fishing poles and trawl nets to fish better, and collect building materials to make your boat better able to hold more items. Don’t forget to stop by and speak to the residents of the islands. They may have some quests or pieces of knowledge to impart. Someone even wants you to dredge up artifacts from the past, but can you truly trust them?
Just don’t get caught on the open sea at night. Nothing good happens at night.
The Overall Game
Black Salt Games really did well with the atmosphere and spookiness of DREDGE. The game isn’t meant to be overtly scary, just have hints of eeriness and an underlying sinister feel to it. And it achieves that.
The archipelago is plagued with secrets and mysteries. The art is beautiful, but really builds that creepy atmospheric feel. The NPC portraits depict tough, weathered people. Some are craggy and aging, some are youthful, but haggard, proving that life in tiny fishing villages isn’t always easy.
The dynamic lighting really helps set the scene, too. The main island, The Marrows, has clear seas and bright, beautiful skies. It lulls you into a false sense of security, but as you adventure around, things aren’t quite so safe. The dark hidey holes of Gale Cliffs hide some interesting fishing prospects, but also something a little more ominous. Stellar Basin with its bioluminescent creatures and white sands looks like a sweet beach getaway. At first. The yellow swampy haze of Twisted Strand hides some haunting mysteries. And Devil’s Spine, an island with volcanic vents and rivers, bathed in a fiery red light, holds an even more grim story.
Along with the unnamed nighttime terrors and the mysterious behaviors of the man who tasks you with uncovering the past, it all adds up to achieve that eerie spookiness without being an absolutely terrifying experience.
It’s a Simple, Easy Game
There is not a lot to DREDGE. You don’t control a character, there are no 3D NPCs to visit, no walking through villages or across islands. You only control your little fishing trawler while out to sea. When in port, it’s a simple 2D menu-type interaction. Your options for buildings and people are set out in front of you, and you simply scroll and tap the button to choose which option you want. I honestly liked it a lot. It simplified things. Do I need to visit the fishmonger to sell a load of mackerel? Slide over and click. Is a visit to the Shipwright for new fishing poles in order? Scroll and click. No mindless running across town to get to different people because I forgot something.
There’s also no over complicated crafting systems or gameplay in DREDGE. You explore the different islands in different biomes, you collect information and quests from the handful of people you come across, you dredge up items from the depths, and you fish! It’s perfect for those days when you don’t want to play something complicated, but want to play something.
The Fishing
There are 125 different types of fish to catch in DREDGE, and they all live in different areas. From the shallows of the main island to the deep dark depths of a volcanic island, and even the swamps of a totally different island. There’s no shortage of fish.
The fishing system is easy to use, too. The game implements a few different types of catching mini games, but they’re all essentially the same. You click a button to reel in the line when the timing is right and the necessary zones are lined up. That’s it. It can get repetitive, but it doesn’t hinder the enjoyment of the game, I think.
Final Thoughts
DREDGE is the first game for indie studio Black Salt Games, and it’s a good one. It’s a little short and slightly repetitive, but I think it’s worth a playthrough.
The spooky factor is just enough that the game feels creepy and a little off, but is pretty low-stakes. I’m a fairly anxious gamer, so it’s perfect for me. Even just hearing the music change in Breath of the Wild as a Guardian sees me is enough to get me anxious! It’s really why I like to mostly stick to the cozy games. Plus, the fishing is easy to do. There’s no fighting to match the bobber with the fish like in Stardew Valley. It can be repetitive, but it’s a fishing system I enjoy much more.
I also wish there was a little more to DREDGE. It has so many upgrades for you to get, but there’s really no use for a large portion of them. I want a reason to need those upgrades, other than personal satisfaction.
Ultimately, I give it:
You can find DREDGE on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, and Xbox.
For more fishing, check out Luna’s Fishing Garden, and for something slightly spooky, check out Critter Crops.
- Apr 5, 2023
Explore an Eerie Locale and Fish For Some Interesting Critters
Dredge is a fishing RPG set in a beautiful ocean where you can explore several different remote island chains. Each set of islands has its own biome, characteristics, and mysteries to uncover. However, Dredge isn’t simply a fishing game. It has a sinister undercurrent to it that really sets this apart from your typical fishing game, and the art style really enhances that sinister feel.
You play as the captain of a fishing trawler starting out in the remote archipelago called The Marrows. Take to the water to catch the 125 different fish Dredge has available in the game, and sell them to the locals. Not all of them are normal, either. Use your hard-earned money to upgrade your little boat. Buy more powerful engines, trawling nets, better fishing poles that allow you to fish in more areas, and lights that make the night time fog a little less creepy.
Along with fishing, Dredge (as its name suggests) has dredging! You can pull up any number of lost trinkets from shipwrecks, then sell those to the local trader. Someone even tasks you with digging up the past, but can you really trust them? You’ll encounter a set of interesting characters during your adventures, too. Each has their own special story, and many have quests for you to complete before you get their story. They might even be able to tell you a bit about the mysteries you face.
Available Now!
Ready to experience the spooky and eerie atmosphere of Dredge? Well, it’s now available! You can find it on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PS5, and Xbox One and Xbox Series.
If you want more fishing games, but perhaps don’t like the spooky vibes, check out this list of fishing games for the Switch!
- Aug 29, 2019
You know what we hear a lot when talking to fellow fans of games like Story of Seasons, and sometimes even Animal Crossing? That FISHING is their favourite part of the game! After hearing this sentiment so many times, we’ve decided to compile a list of games dedicated entirely to fishing, all coming soon to or already available on Nintendo Switch. Get your fishing games here, ladies and gentlemen!
Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure releases on September 17
Natsume’s most recent tweet about this game lauded it as having “Crafting, cooking, a full RPG storyline, and of course – fishing!” The idea of a full RPG storyline is intriguing! Most fishing simulation games have goals and maybe a bare-bones framework of a story, but if Road Trip Adventure really has a full RPG storyline, that’ll be pretty unique. We’re looking forward to learning just what this story entails when the game releases on September 17th.
The game is not yet available to view on the Nintendo Switch e-shop, nor the Playstation Store. But it is available to pre-order at GameStop for both Switch and PS4 for $29.99. It can also be seen on Natsume’s own site. Or you can watch a video right here!
Fishing Star World Tour: Is it new, or isn’t it?
Aksys Games has a new game coming up, due for release in September (no specific date given) and already available to pre-order a physical copy of at most retail game sites. And it looks great! Colourful, slightly ‘cartoony’ graphics, much cuter than most fishing games have, and over 180 fish to catch across 40 different locations! You even have the option to use motion controls.
Screenshot from Aksys Games So what is the confusion? Well…Fishing Star World Tour is ALREADY on the Nintendo Switch e-shop. It has been since January 2019, with the publisher listed as WFS. The screenshots used to promote each version of the game show no noticeable difference in content. Except for a disclaimer screen at the beginning of Aksys’ video, both the trailer on the e-shop page and the trailer Aksys uploaded appear to be the same one. Aksys’ trailer can be watched here:
Colour us confused! Is it that Aksys picked this up so that the game can be offered in physical form, or is Aksys’ version different in some way? And if so, is it a very minor way, such as text changes, or is there some difference in actual gameplay? We have contacted Aksys for some clarification and will update this article if we receive an answer. Until then, we are assuming that the digital version (already available from WFS) and the physical version (available from Aksys in September) are the same game, or with minor localization changes only.
You can get this game on the Switch e-shop ($29.99) or order it on Aksys’ site (regular $29.99 but at the time of writing, on sale for $23.99)
Fishing games already on Nintendo Switch
Fishing Universe Simulator
We like that in this game, every time you catch a fish, you will have a ‘keep’ and ‘release’ option. So you can catch fish to sell, or release them to swim away after you’ve had the accomplishment of catching them. You can even stuff your fish to turn them into trophies for your wall. It’s all up to you! (Publisher: Forever Entertainment. Added to Switch e-shop Jan 2019. Regular price: $9.99)
Dynamite Fishing
This…is NOT your typical fishing game. For one thing, the art style has no semblance of realism…it’s very colourful and entirely cartoony. And very tongue-in-cheek, too! “Fly fishing is boring! Grab your guns and explosives and let’s catch some fish REDNECK STYLE!” And all in a boat made of a repurposed bathtub, it seems. (Publisher: World Games. Added to Switch e-shop Dec 2018. Regular price $9.99)
Just a few of the features Dynamite Fishing has to offer: a multiplayer mode, ten boats with different equipment, 5 player characters to choose from (each with plenty of their own customization options), and competitive matches against virtual opponents. Of all the fishing games we found for Switch, Dynamite fishing sounds the most unique. And the most chaotic!
Rapala Fishing Pro Series
Rapala Fishing Pro Series offers you the opportunity to take part in “world class tournaments and daily challenges”. You can earn money and climb the ranks as an angler until you become a professional You can even become the best in the world! A feature unique to Rapala is that you must gain sponsors in your quest to become the best angler in the world. Weather conditions will also affect your fishing. Catch not only legendary fish, but also monster fishes! (We wonder if this means you can catch Nessie.) (Developer: Concrete Software. Publisher: GameMill Entertainment. Added to Switch e-shop Oct 2018. Regular price $29.99)
Legendary Fishing
In Legendary Fishing, you spend most of your fishing time viewing the underwater world, witnessing the fish dart this way and that on the line. There are over 20 types of fish to catch, and 80 missions to complete that will see you rise from ‘casual angler’ to ‘legendary fisher’. Four seasons, ten venues, and various weather conditions to fish in. Four people can play together, in classic control style or with motion controls. (Publisher: Ubisoft. Added to Switch e-shop Sep 2018. Regular price $29.99…but 50% off at the time of writing.)
If you love fishing games, then you may also love farming games, because almost all farming simulation games include fishing. Check out our list of farming games on console!
