DAVE THE DIVER

Dave the Diver not only offers a wholly unique experience but manages to make all of the elements fit together and were fun to play. The dialogue and humor are all cleverly written and show deep attention to detail in the game's storytelling.

97%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

97% User Score Based on 43,738 reviews

Critic Score 90%Based on 39 reviews

Platforms

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About

"DAVE THE DIVER is an adventure-RPG management hybrid where you explore the Blue Hole to gather resources for your exotic sushi restaurant. Experience casual combat and rogue-like elements, upgrading and forging equipment with collected resources. Meet eccentric characters in a lighthearted narrative, all set in a beautiful 2D/3D underwater environment."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 43,738 reviews

story3.1k positive mentions

grinding1.6k negative mentions

story
7,623 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The story of "Dave the Diver" is a whimsical and engaging narrative that follows the titular character as he navigates the challenges of running a sushi restaurant while exploring the depths of the ocean. Players encounter a variety of quirky characters and humorous situations, with the plot evolving through a mix of main quests and side missions that often involve light-hearted fetch tasks and mini-games. While some players find the story enjoyable and well-paced, others feel it can become repetitive and overly reliant on fetch quests, detracting from the core gameplay experience. Overall, the narrative adds a charming layer to the game's exploration and management mechanics, making it a delightful experience for many.
- “The game is story-driven; it's meant to take you on a silly adventure of Dave's life that went sideways after being called for a simple dive mission that turned into a full-on career with everyone depending on Dave to do so many things.”
- “The game is phenomenal in just about every aspect, but the story is kind of what keeps you playing more and more.”
- “It has a captivating story and delightful gameplay, especially for a casual experience.”
- “The story moves like molasses and is constantly delayed by 'we'll have that ready tomorrow' interruptions.”
- “If you play it, my advice is either ignore the main story entirely or race through the sea people stuff; it's all tedious.”
- “The story I was not remotely interested in, especially as it grew more and more tedious.”
gameplay
7,155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The gameplay of "Dave the Diver" is widely praised for its engaging and addictive loop, which combines diving for fish during the day with managing a sushi restaurant at night. Players appreciate the gradual introduction of new mechanics and mini-games, which keeps the experience fresh and prevents monotony, although some feel that the sheer volume of mechanics can become overwhelming. Overall, the game is celebrated for its charming visuals, humorous storytelling, and the seamless integration of various gameplay elements, making it a standout title in the indie gaming scene.
- “Dave the diver is an absolute gem that combines quirky humor, engaging gameplay, and a rich world full of surprises.”
- “The gameplay of catching and collecting underwater creatures with multiple mechanics and features plus managing a restaurant makes it fun and entertaining; loved the characters with their unique traits and story, the details are amazing and gorgeous, and the soundtracks are pleasant to listen to!”
- “The core gameplay loop is simple: hunt fish by day, run a sushi shop by night.”
- “This game is really interesting and fun for a while, but after 10 hours or so the gameplay loop becomes repetitive.”
- “The game especially in story missions throws new gameplay mechanics at you just for the sake of novelty.”
- “The gameplay loop gets repetitive after a while, but there's a lot of content to discover.”
graphics
2,951 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The graphics of "Dave the Diver" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant pixel art style, which combines 2D and 3D elements to create a charming and immersive underwater world. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the animations and cutscenes, which enhance the overall experience with humor and personality. Despite being pixelated, the visuals are described as stunning and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “The graphics are stunning, and the art style perfectly captures the whimsical yet immersive atmosphere of the ocean.”
- “The charming pixel graphics draw you in with their vibrant colors and delightful character designs, creating an inviting underwater world that's both whimsical and immersive.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the music is amazing, and the characters you meet are a lot of fun.”
- “I kept skipping on getting this one as I felt I would not like it, and yes, a big factor were the pixel graphics.”
- “The graphics are terrible and the lack of fun makes this game way overpriced.”
- “I can't agree with this style of graphics in a game that is not 20 years old.. also, it crops my image when playing on an ultra-wide monitor (3440 x 1440).”
humor
2,534 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Dave the Diver" is widely praised for its quirky, lighthearted nature, with many players highlighting the hilarious cutscenes and character interactions that keep the gameplay engaging and entertaining. The game effectively combines absurdity and charm, often drawing laughter through its clever writing, funny animations, and unexpected twists, making it a delightful experience for those who enjoy a mix of comedy and casual gameplay. Overall, the humor is a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal, contributing to its status as a beloved indie title.
- “Dave the diver is an absolute gem that combines quirky humor, engaging gameplay, and a rich world full of surprises.”
- “The characters are likable and hilarious, with perfectly over-the-top antagonists.”
- “The cutscenes are hilarious and the story holds my attention.”
- “It's not funny.”
- “I guess they are supposed to be funny.”
- “I know it's supposed to be funny, but it got old pretty quickly for me.”
music
2,210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
35%
1%
The music in "Dave the Diver" has received widespread acclaim for its captivating and diverse soundtrack, which enhances the game's immersive underwater experience. Players appreciate the relaxing and catchy tunes that accompany various gameplay elements, from diving to managing a sushi restaurant, creating a delightful atmosphere. While some noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The music is great, with a variety of tracks well-suited to the different environments and activities you'll be going through.”
- “The soundtrack is a bubbly mix of tunes that will have you humming along as Dave belly flops onto unsuspecting sea creatures.”
- “The music, the gameplay loop, the story, just the vibes overall of this game had me smiling and feeling good every time I booted the game up.”
- “The music is zone locked and some zones you spend way more time in than others, so the music kinda gets stale.”
- “The music could have been better, but besides that, the game fit everything together very well and made it a great time.”
- “The music is very relaxing, but it becomes repetitive after a while.”
grinding
1,634 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
95%
The grinding aspect of "Dave the Diver" has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the engaging gameplay loop that combines diving, fishing, and restaurant management with farming elements, some find the repetitive nature of resource gathering and certain quests to be tedious, especially in the late game. Overall, the game offers a variety of activities that can feel rewarding, but players seeking a more streamlined experience may find the grinding to be excessive at times.
- “The game is not too grindy, even if you decide to go for all the achievements, and it offers just the perfect amount of challenge while remaining a relaxing experience.”
- “Achievements aren't too grueling either; it took me this long for 100% so it's very doable, most of this time was spent just playing and not grinding.”
- “Very relaxing, a very well-made game, and it's not grindy at all.”
- “I really wanted to love this game, and it did start out pretty intriguing and fun, but unfortunately it eventually turned into an incredibly tedious grind, diving for the same few fish day in and day out hoping to finally get the random drop needed to continue.”
- “The game becomes increasingly tedious and repetitive.”
- “The farming aspect is the dive, with all captured fish going towards sales for your sushi restaurant.”
emotional
365 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of "Dave the Diver" is overwhelmingly positive, with players frequently describing it as a "wholesome" and "heartwarming" experience. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings of joy, nostalgia, and even tears through its charming characters, engaging storylines, and delightful gameplay mechanics. The combination of humor, touching moments, and a cozy atmosphere makes it a standout title that resonates deeply with players, often leaving them feeling uplifted and satisfied.
- “The story is uplifting and even heartfelt at times.”
- “This game made me feel genuine happiness in a way nothing else could in a difficult phase of my life.”
- “What truly sets Dave the Diver apart is its heartwarming story.”
- “The game is chill and good at the beginning, but you will soon lose your patience and interest by getting stuck in the boring story and different stupid missions.”
- “And the little amount of gameplay there is (which is interrupted every 2 seconds) isn't fun enough to make up for the otherwise boring story.”
- “I wish the game just stuck to the fish harvesting and restaurant management, and left out the mid-game aspect of fighting bosses, doing fetch quests, and sitting through countless amounts of dialogue/scripts and being forced to follow a boring story I have no interest in.”
atmosphere
338 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The atmosphere of "Dave the Diver" is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, enhanced by beautiful pixel art, a charming soundtrack, and engaging sound design. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a welcoming underwater environment that balances tranquility with moments of excitement, making exploration enjoyable and captivating. Overall, the combination of whimsical visuals, delightful characters, and a soothing ambiance contributes to a uniquely enchanting gaming experience.
- “The astonishing atmosphere motivates to explore more thanks to the well-fitting soundtrack.”
- “Most diving and ocean-related games try to play up the creepy atmosphere, but this game does an excellent job in making the ocean feel welcoming, exciting, mysterious, and fun to explore.”
- “The soothing underwater sounds and the subtle music in the background create a serene atmosphere, perfectly complementing the exploration theme of the game.”
- “I didn't really enjoy the gameplay or the atmosphere, way too casual for me, but considering this game is marketed honestly with the 'Dave the Diver is a casual adventure' in its description, I can't give it a thumbs down.”
- “After 8 hours of play I am suddenly forced to do tasks like: take this thing x to location y z times, bring 3 seaweeds, bring an object from location xyz etc so after a very promising start of fine atmosphere, restaurant managing, environment issues and activism I find myself stuck with some sea people and wasting hours of my time in childish missions, searching sea horses from the sea like it's intended for 6-year-olds and I don't want to continue.”
- “The charm and atmosphere of this game is absolutely unmatched, everything from art design to sound to progression is perfect.”
replayability
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
7%
The reviews for "replayability" in the game highlight a mixed reception. While some players praise its engaging mechanics, diverse missions, and procedural environments that enhance replay value, others express disappointment over limited post-story content and a lack of multiple endings, leading to a perception of low replayability after the initial playthrough. Overall, the game offers substantial replay potential for those who enjoy exploration and upgrades, but may not satisfy players seeking extensive replay options.
- “This blend of mechanics not only enhances replayability but also ensures that monotony never creeps in.”
- “With a variety of missions, upgrades, and secrets to uncover, 'Dave the Diver' offers substantial replay value.”
- “The diving is highly replayable as it shifts on every dive and offers new and engaging challenges quite frequently.”
- “Not much replayability in my opinion - would have loved a post-game where you could just upgrade everything and everyone to your heart's content.”
- “Ultimately, I'd say not terrible to play once, but there is zero replayability, because I can't stomach going back through everything that annoyed me.”
- “Only downside is that there isn't much replay value after you beat the game and collect everything you want.”
stability
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
2%
61%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting frequent freezes and glitches, particularly during specific gameplay moments or on certain platforms like Mac. However, many users also noted that the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck and described it as largely bug-free, with only minor issues present. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, particularly in certain scenarios, many players still find the game enjoyable and commend the developers for their responsiveness to bugs.
- “Pretty much bug free and my favorite of 2024 so far.”
- “Above all, I appreciate the love and care that went into making Dave the Diver an enjoyable, bugless experience - I ran into virtually no glitches or problems.”
- “For a game that released just now, it is really a full package; it's not buggy as one would expect from a new game, and the team is always making new hotfixes as soon as possible, so they definitely care about Dave the Diver.”
- “The game is extremely buggy, with fairly frequent crashes.”
- “Game freezes sometimes and has to be reopened, but that might just be because I'm on Mac.”
- “Unfortunately still buggy; some achievements don't register even after completion, which is very frustrating.”
optimization
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with smooth performance on various platforms, including lower-end PCs and the Steam Deck. While most players report minimal technical issues and a well-polished experience, some users have noted occasional performance dips, particularly on the Steam Deck and Mac, as well as minor glitches. The game effectively balances its diverse gameplay elements, though some players feel that certain aspects could benefit from further optimization to enhance the overall experience.
- “Super fun game if you like exploring, interesting and funny characters, resource optimization, pixel graphics, treasure, and some combat.”
- “This game is a well-made, optimized, fun, creative game filled with the love of the developers and great humor.”
- “The graphics are breathtaking, and the game's optimization ensures a smooth and visually stunning experience.”
- “Do not buy this, it is so poorly optimized and laggy that it is literally unplayable.”
- “What I would recommend be looked into and/or fixed: optimization is a problem with this game, in the sense that in crowded areas my frames drop and especially in the ocean people's village.”
- “The game is fun but is poorly optimized on Mac.”
character development
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its depth and integration into the gameplay, while others feel it lacks focus and depth, particularly among a large cast. Many highlight the charming character designs and animations, which enhance the overall experience, but note that character growth can sometimes feel secondary to the game's mechanics and visual appeal. Overall, while there are standout moments of character development, the execution varies, leading to a blend of engaging and superficial character arcs.
- “The personalities and character developments are unique and interesting.”
- “The plot is nuanced and (generally) sweet, the character development is great, and the mechanics and facets of the game all complement one another like layers of flavor, which is really the point, I think.”
- “It is charming, the developers and community are fantastic around the game, gameplay is as varied as it is addictive, and the character development is both deep and does not take itself too seriously.”
- “Just someone who stands in the background and tells you: 'Yes, I have this thing to advance the plot, here you go.' And again, about the time of the sea village introduction, and after learning why Bancho left the hotel, character development flies out the window; it's bizarre.”
- “The characters are charming/quirky, but the visual designs are carrying them as character development is not the focus, nor is there much room in the game/quests.”
- “There is 0 character development across the course of the game, and one of the characters in particular desperately needed some.”
monetization
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
52%
42%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its lack of microtransactions and loot boxes, which contrasts sharply with the prevalent trends in the gaming industry. Some users express relief at the absence of predatory monetization tactics, while others remain skeptical about potential future monetization changes, especially given the game's association with Nexon. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative to the typical cash-grab models, offering a complete experience without additional costs.
- “In lieu of a sea of monetization these days, this game is an absolute unicorn!”
- “Very charming and feature-packed game with no microtransactions, would recommend!”
- “If you are longing for a game that doesn't have microtransactions, a horrid grind, and greed written all over it, then pick this game up; the price is amazing for what you are given.”
- “Get ready for all the predatory microtransactions and scummy monetization tactics.”
- “That this was published by Nexon, possibly the inventors of microtransactions and other pay-for-convenience schemes... well it's kind of like oil in water.”
- “Worst than mobile games with those annoying ads every 30 seconds... really disappointed.”