To give Dredge’s wider storyline and discoveries away does it a huge injustice–more reason for you to find out for yourself–but it’s difficult to find anything genuinely wrong with the game, given what it Black Salt Games has clearly set out to achieve. Your missions are scattered across post-it notes–a delightfully fitting means of documenting an experience that regularly goes off the rails due to your scatterbrained approach, an intriguing segue, or a massive baddie that completely ruins your day. Upgrades, buff-developing books, new fish (and their freaky aberrations), different islands, and a handful of weird, idiosyncratic characters give you purpose depending on your mood. Progression underpins Dredge but doesn’t define it.

They’re not always easy, either, especially if you want a trophy fish or some spectacular loot. Mechanics are diverse, especially when fishing you won’t have to do the same minigame to catch your prey. Dredge becomes compelling on an almost exponential curve–sure, you may spend a few days only fishing to fill your coffers, but you’ll then go and blow it all on new equipment that allows you to explore even more. Soon, you find yourself traveling further and faster, fishing for more diverse catches in mangroves, volcanic waters, and the abyss, as well as with pots and nets, unlocking more of the game’s hidden delights. Scrap and trinkets can be dredged, giving you access to upgrades to make you fitter, happier, and more productive. However, risk equals reward, especially when you begin to improve your boat and abilities.

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