I played Dredge on an eight hour flight to New York. I vividly remember turning into a tight valley in search of resources, only to be set upon by some terrifying Lovecraftian-inspired leviathan that stalked my little tugboat from below. Paranoia began to set in, the once idyllic ocean warping and twisting, eyeballs swimming before my vision, taunting me. I let out a terrified squeak, not only waking up my snoring dad, but also attracting the attention of the flight attendant, who offered me a bag to breathe into. I’m still not sure whether it’s funny in hindsight, or absolutely mortifying.
It’s safe to say that I have a soft spot for Dredge, then. While seemingly harmless at first glance, it’s easily one of the best horror games I’ve ever played. Casting you out into the ocean in search of fish, resources, and mysterious artifacts, what initially appears to be a chill little fishing game quickly transforms into a genuinely creepy experience, as the creatures you catch spawn more and more eyes, and the crushing darkness somehow manages to get darker.
There have been two huge DLCs since its launch back in 2023, too: The Pale Reach and The Iron Rig. The former tasks you with exploring an icy outcrop just off the coast of The Marrows, adding three hours’ worth of new content and 11 new fish. The latter is a lot bigger, adding 50 creatures to the bestiary, as well as the titular Iron Rig, an abandoned oil station that you can customize to suit your needs.
If you’re not keen on the horror element, however, don’t sweat. As part of Dredge Update 2, Black Salt Games added Passive Mode, which allows you to explore the entire game in peace. No more monsters, no more penalties for late-night jaunts. If you’re looking to simply take photos and bob around, you can do just that.
For me, Dredge is an absolute must-play, and it’s hit its lowest price every courtesy of Fanatical (except for that one time that it was free on Epic, of course). Note that this is just the base game, so The Pale Reach and The Iron Rig aren’t included, but the Deluxe Edition does come with the Blackstone Key, which provides access to a mysterious abandoned workshop filled with goodies.
You can pick Dredge up for just $10.99 / £9.67 on Fanatical until Tuesday February 25 by clicking the button below. Note that the deal 4am PST / 7am EST / 12pm GMT / 1pm CEST, so you’ll need to be quick.
If you’re looking for more new adventures but don’t want to break the bank, check out our list of the best free Steam games. Alternatively, if Dredge’s Passive Mode appeals to you, we’ve got a rundown of all the best relaxing games to help you chill out.
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