SPOILERS!
Although my playtime doesn't rival that of a veteran, I’ve played two DLCs and achieved both endings, alongside catching almost every fish and completing all research.
I could write endless paragraphs about the impact this game has had on me. The game begins as a coastal adventure, accompanied by a creeping fear of the unknown. Panic-induced hallucinations—real or not—teach you to fear secrets. Yet, beyond merely revealing the secret, *Dredge* teaches you how to face it.
Every nighttime excursion to interact with a monolith, every catch required for a quest, or even a simple miscalculation that leaves you stranded between islands after dark—it all builds courage. You need courage. In fact, playing *Dredge* itself requires courage.
The dopamine hit from discovering new species is perfectly balanced so it never becomes obsessive. The pleasure of filling out the encyclopedia shares the same deep-seated calm that the clear seas evoke.
Furthermore, *Dredge* delighted me with an upgrade system the likes of which I hadn't seen in a long time. In truth, the simplicity of the quests themselves was a blessing. During my playthrough, I went for the Devil's Spine relic first, rather than starting at the initial location. Naturally, I ran into a need for abyssal-grade equipment. Fearing an impossible task, I ventured into the Stellar Basin and completed the researcher's quest. It was neither easy nor hard. It was satisfying. And realizing my progress so clearly in such a short span of time brought me peace. As an *Ultrakill* player
(for those unfamiliar with the game, it’s an ultra-fast, violent FPS), I expected to get bored—and I won’t lie, I *did* get bored during the frozen DLC—but the content, clearly crafted with such love, won me over and warmed my heart in an indescribable way.
However, with every relic I acquired, I felt that the excitement—and my heart’s enthusiasm—wouldn't last much longer. *Dredge* comes very close to perfection, yet it faces a few issues. Unfortunately, the game lacks substantial content. Sure, there are DLCs and research upgrades, but if—like me—you enjoy games where you can play uninterrupted for hundreds of hours, I wouldn't say *Dredge* is for you. This game is incredible, not because of its length, but because it offers a truly memorable experience.
SPOILERS! X2
One thing I really appreciated was the fact that the game allows you to keep playing even after the ending. Not only that, but it also allows you to get both endings without needing to start a new campaign. I loved that, especially considering how little free time I have. I got chills—deep ones—when I reached the bad ending (which, curiously, happened by accident, even though I knew what was required for the good ending). Who was that woman? What was her role in the story? It remained a mystery. Was she a wife, a daughter, a sister? That question sparks the same curiosity and excitement I felt playing titles like the aforementioned *Ultrakill*. What was that thing that emerged from the sea? I can't just leave those questions unanswered after such an emotional experience.
Then came the good ending. Honestly, I didn't fully grasp everything, but I felt that what needed to be done—specifically, the fisherman's death at the hands of a creature—had been accomplished.
However, this work of art isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Thanks to a friend, I got the base game and some DLCs, but I don't feel the money spent on the DLCs was worth it. I did find the introduction of a minor antagonist in *The Iron Rig* very interesting—along with the scientist's development and tragic end, and the mysterious creature that damaged the rig—but both DLCs I played (the ice one and *The Iron Rig*) eventually became repetitive or tedious. In *The Iron Rig*, we kept searching for species in every biome (constantly spending money on crab pots because I’d leave them behind), siphoning up black sludge, and fishing for crates. It was repetitive.
As for the ice DLC, I really didn't care for it. Freeing the poor souls trapped in the ice was certainly interesting, but that—along with the overpowered net you get from a lunatic on the island—were the only highlights I can recall. Ultimately, Dredge is a relatively expensive and short game, but one clearly crafted with great love, patience, and dedication by the developers. That said, I have no plans to keep playing it intensively, given that I have completed almost all the content. I offer here my most genuine and heartfelt assessment of a game that will certainly leave a lasting impression on me for years to come.
