2023 is becoming the year of the cool indies. Hundreds of thousands are still going crazy over BattleBit Remastered, which surpassed Battlefield 2042 in popularity, and now Steam is tearing Dave the Diver apart.
First place in the sales chart, 95% positive reviews, 100,000 one-time online players, even blockbusters like Dead Space remake never dreamed of such hits. But what is Dave the Diver’s secret?
The video is available on the MINTROCKET YouTube channel. The rights of the video belong to MINTROCKET.
Buy Dave the Diver in Russia
The game is not officially sold in Russia (and Ukraine), the reasons are unknown, however, users from other Steam regions (Turkey, USA, Kazakhstan) can buy the game from 650 to 1100 rubles, depending on the region.
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This is a great bagel
Dave The Diver talks about a unique place in the middle of the ocean that changes every day. He goes underwater today and sees green algae, peaceful fish and a couple of cozy caves. But tomorrow you will find a new location there with frilly plants and toothy predators.
Isn’t this the perfect place to open a sushi bar? However, the menu will be constantly updated and surprise visitors.
Extraction of ingredients is one of the main mechanics. The hero regularly plunges into the depths, explores new territories and hunts. At this point, the game becomes a muffin: keep an eye on your oxygen supply, reserve space in your bag for valuable fish, fight off predators, solve puzzles, and repeat the process.
dave went fishing
Photo: MINTROCKET
Over time, the diver will purchase volumetric oxygen tanks, get lethal weapons, and expand the inventory. Meanwhile, the exploration becomes more interesting and more dangerous. Formidable bosses will stand in the way, at the bottom there will be a beautiful city with sea people, and new biomes will surprise, for example, with complete darkness.
The variety of fish, locations, and tools make Dave the Diver a great roguelike. Of course, the novelty is inferior to such classics of the genre as Dead Cells and Hades, but it is still a lot of fun.
local atlantis
Photo: MINTROCKET
From the ocean to the sushi bar
Dave hunts during the day and runs a sushi bar at night. At first, the establishment is seedy: there are few customers, the food is simple, and there are not enough staff. But it’s up to you to change everything! If he sources great ingredients, makes a smart menu, and serves everyone well, he’ll make a lot of money. They will come in handy for hiring waiters, upgrading the premises, or pumping a harpoon for the next hunt.
Manager Simulator is full of interesting mechanics. Did someone order tea? Take your order and prepare your drink correctly. Has the chef prepared the dish? Serve it quickly to the visitor. Is the room empty? Request advertising on television. There are too many people? A second chef is urgently needed, because the chef alone does not serve everyone.
It’s good to worry about these little things. Still, the game fills up with tasks and keeps you in good shape, but never makes you nervous. Time is running out, dissatisfied customers leave, and you still relax. In addition, you can immediately see the results of your efforts: until recently, the cafe was falling apart, but now it is turning into paradise on earth.
The cocktails are prepared through a minigame.
Photo: MINTROCKET
Dozens of other mechanics
Spearfishing and restaurant management are closely related. Did you succeed in diving? This will lead the sushi bar to success. Made a mistake on shift and scared all the customers? Now there is not enough money for improvements. But don’t think that Dave The Diver only surprises with these mechanics! New dozens of other activities that affect the hero’s life.
Find a camera, film an underwater attraction and get a reward. Go to a seahorse race and bet money on your favourite. Watch the concert and dance with QTE. Step into a visual novel and discover the backstories of important characters. These are just some of the possibilities that will surprise you.
Unfortunately, not all the mechanics are truly captivating. What is boring stealth, where Dave sits behind crates and overlooks armed guys? But the game of hide-and-seek ends quickly, and other activities are good entertainment.
May the fastest win
Photo: MINTROCKET
beautiful and moving
Artists have long proven that pixels can be beautiful. Take at least Songs of Conquest, where I wanted to see each building. In Dave the Diver, the situation is similar: all the locations are full of details, the color scheme is perfect and the cutscenes are extremely stylish.
Add here a meditative sound and a touching story about a dream that never dies. The end result is one of the most relaxing and fun games in recent years.
simple but tasteful
Photo: MINTROCKET
Is it worth playing?
Dave The Diver is reminiscent of the legendary Stardew Valley. At first, you see a simple game with banal mechanics and a primitive image, but over time you notice a huge number of mechanics, admire their interconnectedness, and can no longer pass up. Therefore, if you are tired of blockbusters and are looking for a cozy game, take a closer look at Dave the Diver.
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