Dredge mobile review – “A magnificent port in a foggy, Lovecraftian storm”

Black Salt Games’ port of their eldritch fishing sim is a perfect fit for mobile
Dredge‘s various elements combine to make something truly special
A few minor quibbles don’t ruin an otherwise excellent game

If you’re a frequent reader of Pocket Gamer, you’d recall that Dredge was one of my highly anticipated mobile game releases for 2025. I got to play it at the beginning of the previous year on PS5, though a bit late to the game, yet I enjoyed it tremendously and even earned the Platinum trophy. Since completing its two expansion packs, I’ve been searching for a reason to dive back into my fishing boat and haul out eldritch monstrosities from the deep waters. What better motivation could there be than exploring the mobile port version?

At first glance, Dredge seems well-suited for mobile devices. Although the hazards hidden in the mist that descends when night falls call for some nimbleness to navigate around, generally speaking, it’s not excessively challenging or speed-intensive. Consequently, a successful port should maintain the same predominantly tranquil yet occasionally eerie experience. And I’m pleased to confirm that, overall, this is indeed the case.

What are the main differences?

With the console version, the fishing mini-game was always fairly generous timing-wise and on mobile – it’s just as straightforward, only requiring you to tap the screen at the right moment.

In a simplified manner, the inventory system works seamlessly. Just tap, drag, and place your fish, scrap metal, or valuable trinket at your desired location without any hassle. No longer do you need to repeatedly tap or manipulate the analog sticks. Additionally, the icons that appear as you move around are well-sized, eliminating the risk of frustrating misclicks.

As a gamer immersed in the gritty world of Dredge, I can confidently say that the game’s performance has been nothing short of outstanding. Throughout my gaming sessions, I didn’t experience any significant dips in frame rate, which is quite impressive. What’s more, it seems like the development team hasn’t sacrificed the visual appeal to maintain this smooth performance. The game’s unique low poly art style looks every bit as stunning on my Infinix GT 20 Pro as it does on the PS5, a testament to their design choices and technical prowess.

It’s no wonder that Dredge, which isn’t typically seen as challenging, fell short in some mobile ports. However, it’s commendable that Black Salt took the time to delay the release and ensure a flawless experience. That bit of extra time appears to have made a significant difference.

As a gamer, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my time with Dredge port, but there’s one minor hiccup when using my Razer Kishi V2 controller. Everything operates smoothly, except for the LT and RT buttons. Unfortunately, these are crucial for disposing of unnecessary items and accessing Repair Mode. Since I can’t use them, I have to rely on touch controls instead, which isn’t a huge issue as I seldom need to perform those actions. However, it’s worth mentioning that this could potentially be an isolated incident, so other players might not experience the same challenge.

What’s a Dredge anyway?

Stellar performance aside, you might be wondering what Dredge actually is. Given it’s a veritable indie darling, my opening preamble assumed you’re reading this review to find out how well it runs on mobile. As established, the answer is splendid. But if you’re new to Dredge and wondering what this delightful-looking fishing sim-meets-Lovecraft is about, wonder no more.

The story begins as you find yourself stirring awake following an unexpected collision of your boat against the rocks. Strangely, the town mayor appears indifferent about your well-being, but delighted that Greater Marrow now has a fisherman since the last one mysteriously disappeared. He then provides you with a replacement boat and encourages you to start fishing, reminding you that there will be a payment due for the boat at some point in the future.

From that point on, you’re captivated by the picturesque charm of Dredge. The sun sparkles on the water while your boat gently rocks across its surface, creating a sense of tranquility. As long as you explore beyond Greater Marrow during daylight and return before dark, it’s incredibly calming. Fishing in Dredge during the day is truly therapeutic. Approaching an area filled with fish and pulling them up feels oddly addictive.

It’s not too complicated

It’s not overly complicated, but still involved enough to bring a sense of satisfaction while squeezing your fish into the remaining storage space pleases the puzzle-loving part of the brain. After that, you drift back to the dock and sell your day’s catch to the fisherman, the little coin-dropping sound as you sell everything providing a delightful full stop to a hard day’s work.

To be truthful, if Dredge were just a relaxing fishing game for about 8 to 10 hours, I wouldn’t have had any issues. But the eerie undertones give it an edge, making it extraordinary and worthy of being on my list of all-time favorites.

Fear of the dark

You see, after the sun goes down, an almost impenetrable fog rolls in and the once-beautiful world takes a turn for the sinister. Stick around in it for too long and your Panic level will rise, causing nightmarish creatures from the deep to rear their ugly heads and attack your ship, damaging your hull and potentially causing it to break entirely.

Not all sights should be taken at face value; some may not pose an immediate threat. For instance, a harmless-looking bird might swoop down to snatch your catch, or a boisterous entity could switch off your boat’s light. Alternatively, you might collide with a rock that appeared out of nowhere, making a hasty dash towards the dock potentially dangerous. The intricate plot unfolds in such a way as to create an overwhelming feeling of suspicion and unease, a feeling that can only be bred by solitude on the water and an unyielding otherworldly force.

Cosy becomes creepy when the sun goes down

I truly felt relieved when I saw a dock in the distance, the sun peeping out from the edge of the horizon as my boat limped its way to safety. At this point, you’ll hear a soothing piano track play that’s as comforting as one could hope after a night at sea with Lovecraft’s finest. It perfectly captures the weariness you’d feel coupled with the perceived comfort and protection the sun brings.

Initially, you’re likely to focus on daytime fishing and only explore one of Dredge’s four other main islands once you feel assured about crossing the dangerous waters safely. But just because it’s daylight doesn’t exclude the possibility of strange occurrences happening.

Whilst enjoying a day of fishing, you could accidentally catch something unusual – a genetically altered fish sporting additional eyes, excessive teeth, or disturbing, luminescent bumps. The moment it appears on your boat deck is marked by a quick piano note that sends a chill through you as you lay your eyes on this grotesque creature. Despite its unnerving appearance, it fetches a higher price, suggesting looks aren’t always crucial.

During the day, your fear goes away

When during the day you set sail changes, though. Alongside fishing, you can, well, dredge up items from deep within the ocean such as wood, paper and scrap metal. These resources are used to kit out your boat, fitting it with more space for better rods, engines, and lights. Once your erstwhile companion is upgraded sufficiently, you’ll feel more confident sailing out into the night to look for fish that don’t swim about during the day.

However, much like how Darkest Dungeon – a game reminiscent of Lovecraft’s work – puts it, “Overconfidence can be a subtle and deadly menace.” And just as your advanced engine may break down unexpectedly, you could find yourself stranded at sea, vulnerable to the wrath of Cthulhu’s shark-like kin.

As a gamer on this epic journey, if you’re sticking to the main quest by collecting those five mystifying relics for the enigmatic collector, you’ll find yourself empowered with unusual abilities that come in handy during tight spots. When you activate Haste, it appears your boat’s engine gets a magical boost, causing the world to blur and smoke to pour ominously from your ship’s smokestack. It’s perfect for dodging Kraken tentacles, but overusing it might lead to engine damage.

As Manifest works its magic, your ship appears to break apart into floating debris and then miraculously reforms outside the island belonging to the collector. This is Dredge’s swift travel method, but be warned, it dramatically increases your Panic meter. Considering the traumatic experience of being dismantled and rebuilt, such a response seems justified. I must admit, I found myself using this animation more often than necessary due to its captivating visuals.

And that’s a common thread in Dredge. The little details are everything and play a huge role in making it such a delight. As I’ve nodded to already, the music and sound effects are excellent, doing exactly enough to instil a sense of relief or unease, depending on what’s required.

As intensity increases, the diverse animations and softening of the surroundings become captivating and harmoniously complement the audio. I strongly recommend playing it using headphones for an immersive experience.

The world is equally stunningly designed. Each person you encounter seems burdened by the weight of those who have battled the dread of fog more times than they can count in their lives. Their conversations are typically concise, straightforward, and surprisingly grounded. Be it retrieving belongings of a deceased loved one to bring solace to someone or reconciling two headstrong brothers embroiled in a long-forgotten argument, your instinct is to assist them.

In other places, the enigma about the collector is quite fascinating, whereas every account of the altered fish is strikingly vivid, with some descriptions being as chilling as the creature itself.

I find that the fourth and fifth islands in Dredge lack the intrigue found in the initial three. However, the excitement of uncovering new fish species and their unusual variants continues to be captivating. This thrill of exploration has never waned.

Nevertheless, The Twisted Strand stands out as a complex island with a somewhat tedious feel due to the occasional growth of vines obstructing paths, requiring me to pause and wait for them to retreat so I can proceed. This minor inconvenience doesn’t detract significantly from an otherwise flawless game experience.

2025-02-27 13:19