Dave the Diver: The Fishing RPG That's Taking Steam by Storm

The indie game scene on Steam is known for producing surprise hits, and this summer’s breakout sensation is Dave the Diver, a unique fishing RPG developed by MintRocket. The game has earned “overwhelmingly positive” status on Steam with over 20,000 reviews, and its recent 1.0 release has propelled it to new heights, surpassing the concurrent player count of even Call of Duty.

Dave the Diver is a charming blend of 2D adventure, underwater RPG, and sushi shop simulator. Players take on the role of Dave, a scuba diver who gathers supplies for a seaside sushi shop during the day and manages the restaurant at night. The game features a tight progression loop that makes each day and night feel productive, as players dive for fish, harvest ingredients, and create menus to serve impatient guests. The game’s story expands in scope as Dave meets activists, fights pirates, and uncovers the secrets of a lost underwater civilization.

The game’s addictive gameplay hooks and elegant sea-to-table core are constantly introducing new systems without overcomplicating the game. However, one narrative piece that may give some players pause is the game’s way of hand-waving away some of the moral questions that a game about killing thousands of fish presents. The game sets some boundaries early on to separate Dave from what it paints as a significantly more harmful commercial fishing industry, but it’s hard to separate the two, considering that the core progression hook is built around Dave being able to kill and carry more fish as time goes on.

Despite this, Dave the Diver has become a July obsession for many players, offering a perfect summer game to take on the go during vacation season. The game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck and has already become a huge success on Steam, with a peak of over 78,000 players at the time of publication.

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Dave the Diver is currently only available on PC, but it is planned to arrive on Nintendo Switch sometime this year. The game has received an 89 metascore on Metacritic based on 12 reviews, and it is sure to make waves in the gaming industry for some time to come.

What is Dave the Diver?

Dave the Diver is a unique fishing RPG developed by MintRocket. Players take on the role of Dave, a scuba diver who gathers supplies for a seaside sushi shop during the day and manages the restaurant at night.

What platforms is Dave the Diver available on?

Currently, Dave the Diver is only available on PC, but it is planned to arrive on Nintendo Switch sometime this year.

What is the gameplay like in Dave the Diver?

The game features a tight progression loop that makes each day and night feel productive, as players dive for fish, harvest ingredients, and create menus to serve impatient guests. The game’s story expands in scope as Dave meets activists, fights pirates, and uncovers secrets.

What are some of the criticisms of the game?

One narrative piece that may give some players pause is the game’s way of hand-waving away some of the moral questions that a game about killing thousands of fish presents.

How successful has Dave the Diver been?

Dave the Diver has become a July obsession for many players, offering a perfect summer game to take on the go during vacation season. The game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck and has already become a huge success on Steam, with a peak of over 78,000 players at the time of publication. The game has also received an 89 metascore on Metacritic based on 12 reviews.