Slower gaming months like December and January are prime time for revisiting older video games. Likewise, the winter season can also be excellent for catching up on a backlog, resulting from issues like climate protecting individuals inside and getting day without work for holidays. This yr, one in all my winter video games ended up being a return to Dredge to atone for DLC I missed, and I discovered it to be among the finest attainable video games to play throughout this time of yr.
As a fast refresher, Dredge is a fishing recreation with horror components. You’re a lone fisherman out on remoted seas. As you discover, you’ll encounter fish and phenomenon you simply can’t clarify. This ramps up if you happen to dare to move out into the oceans at night time. It’s all in regards to the environment and fairly engrossing, even if you happen to flip off threats to show it right into a barely extra stress-free expertise.
A part of Dredge being nice to play in the course of the winter months has to do with the final nature of the sport. It’s a really remoted journey. You’re in an typically quiet place. You fish and search the seas. Given how solemn December and January could be, it’s soothing to absorb that ambiance whereas bundled up in clothes and huddling in heat rooms. Particularly if you happen to’re in an space that simply skilled main snowstorms or freezing rain. All you need to do is hunker in and keep nonetheless, and it accommodates that.
There’s additionally the truth that Dredge has what actually looks like a chunk of winter DLC. The primary add-on, known as The Pale Attain, sends you to the arctic. Which means wanted to interrupt via the ice and examine a brand new thriller. Additionally, there are new fish and a method of higher preserving ones you’ve already caught. I solely simply began that storyline over the vacation break in December, and it actually felt so well-suited to issues being so dreary and chilly outdoors.
Talking of which, it actually felt like slower months like December and January had been after I might meet up with Dredge and its DLC. I didn’t get to The Iron Rig when it launched again in August 2024. With the best way each it and The Pale Attain are dealt with, I really feel it’s virtually like having three full “video games,” quite one expertise with extra adventures. Sure, the brand new mechanics, talents, and fish are nice for the principle recreation, however going again to over after a lot time away felt extra like returning for a sequel as a result of effort and time put into these. Particularly with The Iron Rig’s Ironhaven Companies and the work we are able to do to construct up their attain within the seas and see the place that supernatural story leads.
Given the chilly and solitude that accompanies winter months, I can’t assist however really feel like Dredge is a perfect recreation to return to. (Or play for the primary time.) Particularly given the themes behind one in all its DLC, and the truth that each add-ons are substantial sufficient to really feel like stable further adventures in their very own proper. It’s a type of titles that by no means stops feeling acceptable for sure conditions.
Dredge is obtainable for the Change, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X, and PC, and it’s in improvement for cellular units.
