Item: DREDGE+
Rating: 92
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

92/100

DREDGE is a rare gem that manages to be both incredibly relaxing and deeply unsettling at the same time. The core loop of sailing out, catching fish, and playing 'inventory Tetris' to fit your haul into the boat is strangely therapeutic. The colors are beautiful, and the sound of the waves is peaceful. But then the sun sets, the music shifts into something dissonant, and suddenly you’re terrified of a shape in the fog. That transition is handled masterfully.

On mobile, the controls feel surprisingly natural. Dragging fish into your inventory and steering the boat with touch inputs works better than I expected for a port. The mystery of the archipelago keeps you pushing just a little bit further into dangerous territory, driven by the 'one more haul' mentality. It’s a brilliant mix of RPG progression and Lovecraftian horror that stays with you long after you’ve docked for the night. If you missed this on PC or console, the mobile version is an absolute must-play.

Reviewed on: Thu Apr 09 2026

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. I didn't expect a fishing game to be the one that kept me up at night. Dredge is simple on the surface—you fish, you sell, you buy a bigger engine—but the atmosphere is thick enough to cut with a knife. The 'Lovecraftian' tag is thrown around a lot these days, but Dredge actually earns it through restraint.

The mobile port is surprisingly good. The grid-based inventory management feels natural on a touchscreen. My only real gripe is that some of the tension is lost when you're playing on a small screen in a brightly lit room. This game demands a quiet space and headphones. It's a slow burn, and it doesn't hold your hand. It’s the kind of game that respects your intelligence, which is a rare find in the mobile store.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Exceptional atmosphere and sound design
Addictive gameplay loop of upgrading and exploration
Unique art style

Can feel a bit repetitive in the mid-game
Tension is easily broken by external distractions
Sanity mechanics can occasionally feel arbitrary

Technical Report

Performance: Runs smoothly; touch controls for dredging mini-games are intuitive.

Accessibility:

Passive Mode (Less Horror)
Text Scaling
High Contrast UI

Audience Fit

Buy if: You love atmospheric exploration, mystery, and don't mind a bit of existential dread.

Skip if: You want fast action or a traditional 'cozy' fishing experience.

Similar Games:

Sunless Sea
Dave the Diver
Outer Wilds

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative veteran gamer
Hardware: iPad Pro M2
Playtime: 20 hours
Status: Finished Story / All Fish Caught

The Game

Available on: Mac, iPhone, iPad

6753196416

Free🏆13+★4.9 98 reviews

Author : Black Salt Games

Pubish Date : Fri Jan 30 2026

Last Update Date : Fri Apr 10 2026

Support Languages : English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese

Genres :

Version 1.0.1Fri Apr 10 2026

Achievement fixes
Requires iOS 16.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17e, iPad Pro (11‑inch), iPad Pro (11‑inch) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (3rd generation), iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (3rd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (5th generation), iPad mini (5th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11‑inch) (2nd generation), iPad Pro (11‑inch) (2nd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (4th generation), iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (4th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (4th generation), iPad Air (4th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (8th generation), iPad (8th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11-inch) (3rd generation), iPad Pro (11-inch) (3rd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (5th generation), iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (5th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (6th generation), iPad mini (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (9th generation), iPad (9th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Air (5th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (10th generation), iPad (10th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11‑inch) (4th generation), iPad Pro (11‑inch) (4th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (6th generation), iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (6th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M2), iPad Air 11-inch (M2) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad mini (A17 Pro) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (A16), iPad (A16) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M3), iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 13-inch (M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M5), iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M5), iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M4), iPad Air 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 13-inch (M4), and iPad Air 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular.
Winner of the 2025 Apple Design Award for Interaction and App Store 2025 iPad Game of the Year, DREDGE arrives on Apple Arcade as the Complete Edition of the acclaimed sinister fishing adventure.
Captain your trawler across a remote archipelago, sell your catch, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Outfit your boat with better equipment to trawl deep-sea trenches and navigate to far-off lands, but keep an eye on the time. You might not like what finds you in the dark...
Apple Arcade Complete Edition
This version includes all content released for DREDGE:
- The Pale Reach - A frozen new biome filled with icy hazards and hidden lore
- The Iron Rig - A constructable destination with its own story, items and adversities
- Blackstone Key - Opens a workshop on Blackstone Isle with two unique starting items
- Custom Rod - A unique starting fishing rod
Game 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."

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Ratings & Reviews

4.9 out of 5 with 98 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 13+

DREDGE is a unique single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Based in the archipelago of 'The Marrows,' players must sell their catch to locals while completing quests to learn more about each area’s troubled past. As you progress, you can research special equipment and upgrade your boat to reach more distant lands and deeper waters. However, time management is crucial; as the sun goes down, the ocean becomes a dangerous place filled with eldritch horrors and mind-bending threats. It’s a game of exploration, inventory management, and survival where the greatest treasures are often better left at the bottom of the sea.

Features

Explorable open-world archipelago with unique island regions.

Over 125 fish to discover, including rare 'aberrant' versions.

Deep boat upgrade system involving hull strength and engine speed.

Eldritch horror elements and a compelling overarching mystery.

Full touchscreen optimization for the mobile release.

Tips

Managing Your Sanity

At night, your panic meter increases, especially if you aren't using bright lights. High panic leads to hallucinations and attacks from shadowy creatures. Use 'Rest' at docks to lower your panic and skip the dangerous nighttime hours if you aren't prepared.

Promotion Videos

DREDGE - Launch Trailer

Gameplays

Fishing and Inventory Tetris

Catching fish involves a timing-based mini-game. Once caught, you must fit the fish into your boat's limited grid-based cargo hold. Balancing space for valuable fish, dredging materials, and essential equipment is the core strategic challenge.

Q&A

Nighttime introduces fog, hallucinations, and aggressive sea monsters. It is much more dangerous but also offers opportunities to catch specific nocturnal fish.