How Dredge Corrupts ‘Cozy Fishing’ Into ‘Cosmic Horror’

At first light, your journey begins. You sail out as the sun rises and its shining reflection dances in the gentle bay waves. As you look down into the sea, there are plenty of fish shoals. It’s a fine day for fishing. It’s also a good day for fishing.

Dredge The sequence above will put you at the controls of your boat in the very first minute. This scene is stunning. It is a beautiful scene. The water looks glossy and stylized against the islands, which are surrounded by trees that swing in the wind. Soon, the murmurs of seagulls will be joined by the sounds of sparse piano keys.

You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in a happy place.

The sun sets sharply at six o’clock, and the fog descends soon after. Any anglers still left out on the water better have good lights, or they’ll never make it back to safe harbor.

Cosmic Horror Fishing

Dredge It is initially a fishing game. The premise of the game is simple. Catch fish, sell fish and upgrade your equipment. You’ll want to invest in your boat, as it’ll allow you to equip faster engines, better rods, and store more fish – all in a grid-based inventory that grows with your vessel. While money may seem to be important, your greatest resource is undoubtedly time. As you sail around, a day-night cycle is in motion, and it’s something to behold.

While you’re more likely to catch valuable, corrupted specimens in the dark, eldritch encounters are also more frequent – particularly in deeper water. You’ll also come across larger, hostile creatures which can be outsmarted (via abilities) or outmaneuvered (via a sufficiently upgraded vessel) rather than outgunned. The abandoned communities you find are often home to strange people with bizarre requests.

We try to twist every feature that might feel familiar into something unexpected, so that right from the start, you’ll sense that something sinister lurks under the surface. It’s no accident that the name ‘Dredge’ is adjacent to “dread” – we’ve infused every aspect of the game with an unsettling atmosphere. In this article, I’ll delve into the ways we’ve achieved this, and touch on how each element contributes to the overall experience.

A Harsh Aesthetic

The visuals of the game will immediately feel familiar to fans of typically joyous adventure and exploration games – and that’s where our subterfuge begins. These low-poly models can appear very detailed. The jagged edges and sculpted shapes are used to highlight false shadows. A dark and dreary color tone underpins the world, offsetting any warmth from the sun’s bright colors. It’s crucial to visually remind players that something unexpected could happen at any moment, even if everything seems calm right now.

We added angular edges to the portraits of characters – reminiscent of paint applied by palette knife – leaving harsh patterns on their faces and sleeves to match their already prickly dialogue. The same geometry can be seen in the clouds. Normally light and fluffy, we have made them more sharp and they move between different shapes.

This world doesn’t want you here. It wasn’t made for you. But you’ll explore it all the same.

You may not know what the weather is like. Thunderstorms can make overcast days into stormy weather, slowing down your return to port. Civilization itself can also be found in a state of disrepair. So it makes perfect sense that other people in the world suffer as much, and for as long as you have suffered. This unforgiving and bleak landscape adds to the sense of despair and isolation that is permeating the game.

We raise the camera above the boat when you are fishing for fish. This allows us to show you what is below. We do this to eliminate peripheral vision. You’re focused on fishing, after all. We bring down the fog around you at night. This leaves you without much vision, and you can’t navigate through rocks or other dangers. The shapes you see through that fog might be imagined or real – I’m not sure which is worse.

This world doesn’t want you here. It wasn’t made for you. But you’ll explore it all the same.

Words are not wasted

There are many things to be thankful for in the world DredgePeople are pragmatic and efficient. We made sure that their dialogue was based on this utilitarian mentality. Every line attempts to accomplish at least one of these goals.

Send us an instruction.
You can add to the tale of the world.
Use a dark, mysterious or unusual tone

Although dialogue is vital, Dredge, we understand the value of brevity, and don’t want to keep you from the gameplay for too long. You can skip most conversation to keep it from overwhelming you. The world itself should do most of the talking, and the people in it aren’t so keen on gossip anyway. These characters don’t have names, either – they have roles, like “The Fishmonger”, and “The Mayor”. You wouldn’t want to get too familiar with them. They’re not your friends.

It is important to note that the environment can affect item descriptions, particularly for fish. The strange, corrupt items you take aboard may give you some insight as to their origin and purpose.

Our storytelling doesn’t stop at the borders of the game itself, of course. The achievement descriptions as well as the OST song titles give a unique perspective and names things that are not known or unspoken.

Combining Genres

When describing, Juxtaposition is one my favourite words. Dredge. The juxtaposition of ‘cosmic horror’ and ‘fishing’ genres is one of the things players love about it. We combined a lot of features, mechanics and concepts that wouldn’t normally exist together in the same game. We set out to create something fresh, unexpected, and unpredictable – and what better way to evoke the sense of cosmic horror than by diving into the unknown?

DREDGE – Digital Deluxe Edition

Team17

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$26.99

This is the ultimate packing list for any impending expedition. The DREDGE Deluxe Edition includes everything you’ll need to weather the seas and trawl the deep for sinister secrets.

Includes:

DREDGE
Blackstone key in-game item
Pre-Purchase Only: Custom Rod

DREDGE

Team17

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$24.99

To receive your custom rod, pre-purchase DREDGE

This improved starter rod will give you an edge. This stylish equipment will help you start your game. It is decorated with the logo of the creator. It’s more than just looks. Unlike other equipment you might find in DREDGE, this rod is in reasonable condition and should allow you to get the edge on other anglers – for a while at least.

You can now access the following items:

Rod custom
The rod can be used to replace the usual starting rod for a save. This rod can catch fish better than other rods its size.

Your fishing boat will take you to remote islands and the depths below. Sell your catch to the locals and complete quests to learn more about each area’s troubled past. You will need to equip your boat with more equipment in order to navigate into faraway lands and trawl deep-sea tunnels. But, keep an eye on time. You might not like what finds you in the dark…

Video 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: Strengthen your mind and use your abilities to survive trips out on the water after dark