Dredge

You’re a fisherman sailing to your new home. The sun hangs high over your boat; an “angler wanted” sign rests amongst your messy belongings; you steer across the vast open water.

- Alyssa Rochelle Payne

Everything is calm, quiet — until it isn’t. The fog rolls in, obscuring your vision until only darkness surrounds you, and then you meet the jagged rocks. Your boat is hopelessly destroyed and you’re rendered unconscious, but hey, at least you made it to Greater Marrow (almost in one piece).

Dredge is a single-player fishing adventure developed by New Zealand indie studio Black Salt Games. The sudden shipwreck at the start of my preview perfectly encompasses Dredge’s unique ability to lull you into an almost hypnotic state of relaxation with gentle waters and beautiful sunsets while an uncanny, sinister undercurrent reminds you not to get too comfortable. I never expected to be scared of the dark in a fishing game, but after spending hours sailing around the mysterious archipelago, I’ve had enough slithering stowaways and monstrous run-ins that my guard is up the moment the sun goes down.