Dave the Diver Reviews
I would strongly recommend Dave the Diver to anyone who enjoys adventure/explorer games – especially if they are fans of retro graphics and some really daft, but excellent, comedy. Having already sunk a good 25-hours into the game, I still feel like I have so much more to do and am really looking forward to seeing what other surprises I can unearth. So come on, jump in! The water is warm… and there’s only a few sharks.
"Take a dive into the world of restaurants."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Thanks to its multi-genre approach, engaging diving and business simulation mechanics, wealth of content, and striking 2.5D visuals, it's one of the best indie titles of the year. It's not a perfect game — its crowded, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink philosophy makes sure of that — but it's one that's absolutely worth diving into.
Dave the Diver is wondrous genre mash-up of adventure RPG and restaurant management sim that becomes so much more than the sum of its many parts. Its constant flow of new ideas, surprises, and engaging mechanics make it a highly enjoyable mash-up.
Dave the Diver is an incredibly charming experience, offering players a somewhat repetitive gameplay loop fortunately saved by its wonderful characters. Its often time cosy atmosphere, offset ever so slightly by the visceral act of hunting fish, and engrossing sushi bar management gameplay kept me coming back for more, despite repetitive fetch quest objectives and ironically shallow fishing. Considering its very low price point, this gorgeous, hilarious, and extremely enjoyable experience is absolutely worth it, especially for all the sushi enthusiasts out there.
DAVE THE DIVER is a lovely little game that blends serving food, fishing, mini-games, and fun dialogue into one immersive package.
Dave the Diver, like the sea, is far deeper than you think it is. It charms with its attractive visuals and addictive loop of diving for fish and running a restaurant, but it never rests on its laurels, always finding new ways to enhance the fun. There's never a dull moment, whether it's a whole new feature expanding the gameplay, an unexpected new story beat, or another hilarious cutscene to enjoy. It's this constant reinvention and surprise that makes the game so compelling, even through the occasional rougher moments. If you've yet to experience it for yourself, we'd highly encourage that you take the plunge.
Dave the Diver is a whacky, 2D/3D game that mixes several genres to form a fun adventure with silly characters and never a shortage of things to do. Each trip into the mysterious Blue Hole is different, and you'll have plenty of quests and upgrades to work on. Spend your days diving, and your nights running a sushi bar. If you are looking for a great balance of not too hard, not too easy, Dave the Diver is it. While some of the missions can get kind of hairy, managing your resources is what it's all about. The story is fun, and I really enjoyed the MarinCa app that gives us facts about sea creatures we catch!
Every moment in Dave the Diver feels unique the first time through. The constant changing of side-missions, the cutscenes when upgrading weapons or fish dishes, and the eccentric cast of characters, all blend together so well into a game that, when viewed just from the surface, might seem shallow. But players willing to dive into the meat of the game will find even more enjoyment than they bargained for, especially with its official 1.0 release. It’s a single-player adventure with heart, good music (‘Hot Pepper Tuna’ will likely end up on a lot of people's personal playlists), and a cast of characters that feel right at home around The Blue Hole. Its eccentricities make it memorable, and Dave might be the kindest and most fun adventuring protagonist players encounter in the world of video games this year.
A wonderfully strange and imaginative indie adventure that delights in terms of its visuals, storytelling, and enjoyably unpredictable gameplay.
Dave the Diver is one of the most interesting games of this year. From such a simple concept – bring some fish to your restaurant! – the game keeps building on its gameplay and deepening the experience, captivating the player in an enjoyable and magnetic loop that you will find hard to jump off from.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dave the Diver is all about what the name says, Dave being a diver. During the day he explores the sea and hunts for fish to have them prepared in the evening at the sushi restaurant. Although it sounds so simple, it is more than that. It's simplistic, which is why this game works so well. You are thinking about your equipment, but also about the menu for that evening. Dave the Diver is an ideal snack that is unfortunately only available on PC for the time being.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Dave The Diver offers an enthralling blend of adventure, strategy, and humor, all wrapped up in a tale of bravery and discovery. With its unique Combat and Capture gameplay, charming characters, and innovative dual-mode progression, this game provides a fresh and exhilarating gaming experience that is sure to keep you hooked from the very first harpoon throw.
Games are often referred to as mixing the right ingredients and mixing the best recipe. But in the case of Dave the diver, the ingredients and recipes on the plate are the most important thing, not metaphorically, but completely practically. And the resulting food tastes so good that you will lick your fingers.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Dave the Diver is a game with a distinctive style that demonstrates the potential of the medium with its comprehensive and varied gameplay. While the late-game mechanics may feel repetitive in the full version, the enjoyable fishing experience for the first ten hours makes it worth the price of admission.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
You might question whether a sushi restaurant management sim crossed with underwater diving is your cup of tea, but that would be missing the point. Dave the Diver is a unique and memorable vacation away from expectations, and it’s the very fact that you don’t usually play games like this that makes it so satisfying.
DAVE THE DIVER is a fun dive into a mysterious ocean locale. The game really comes to life on the Nintendo Switch. While some might wish there was just a bit more, it has more than enough content to keep a person busy for a good long while. You can get completely lost simply exploring the ocean without doing any hunting, provided supplies for Bancho’s Sushi are stocked up.
Dave the Diver is a complete package of a full-sized game, designed to be enjoyed in the most relaxing mood that will give you the taste of experiencing thrill and adventure in the first half and drive your management brain cells to their max in the other half. Backed with an impressive storyline and much extra content, Dave the Diver exceeds its value for money. However, the grind will become repetitive after a while, and you may need more clarification about things for which the game does not elaborate well.
Dave the Diver shows a perfect connection between two genres, Adventure and Tycoon. While adventure element is deep, Tycoon part gives a speedy, hectic fun. On top of that, well handled B-rated vibe, attractive characters, and various mini-games are creating a synergy throughout the game play.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Dave the Diver deserves to be a hit of summer 2023. He does not innovate and does not offer new gameplay mechanics, he is "only" concerned with giving ten hours of superfine quality and succeeds with a style and lightness from which one immediately becomes addicted. It is a much more accurate work than it seems, an experience in magnificent balance between its two souls, characterized by an immense heart and continually able to amaze you as it drags you deeper and deeper into the abyss of the "another dive and I shut off" loop.
Review in Italian | Read full review