Gameplay 9/10
This is where Dave the Diver knocks it out of the park. The core loop is genius. By day, you dive into the Blue Hole, this mysterious patch of ocean where the fish and layout change on each dive. You're harpooning fish, dodging sharks, managing your oxygen, finding treasures, and upgrading your gear (flippers, air tank, harpoon gun – all that good stuff). The diving just feels great. You get to explore caves, discover new species of fish, collect items and occasionally run into a huge boss fight. Then, at night, you take your catch to Bancho Sushi. You help set the menu, serve demanding customers (make sure you pour that green tea just right!), hire and train staff, and use your profits to upgrade the restaurant and your diving equipment. The two halves feed each other perfectly: better diving gear gets you rarer, more valuable fish, which makes the restaurant more money, which lets you get even better gear. On top of that, there are tons of side activities – a fish farm, taking photos, out of control mini-games, farming seaweed, helping ancient Sea People... it never gets boring because there's always something new popping up. It's insanely addictive.

Story 7/10
The story isn't trying to be some super serious epic, and that's perfect. You're Dave, this super chill, slightly overwhelmed dude roped into this whole diving/sushi gig by his smooth-talking (and slightly shady) buddy, Cobra. You meet a cast of really funny and memorable characters – Bancho, the stoic sushi master; Duff, the anime-obsessed weaponsmith; the Sea People with their ancient secrets. There are twists, silly moments, and a surprising amount of heart, especially as you uncover the mysteries of the Blue Hole. It’s lighthearted and gives great context for all the crazy stuff you're doing. It keeps you engaged enough, but the real star is the gameplay here.

Graphics 8/10
The game looks fantastic. It uses a gorgeous pixel art style with tons of detail and full of personality. The underwater sections are vibrant and colorful, packed with amazing-looking fish (that animate really well when you harpoon 'em!), cool coral reefs, and spooky deep-sea areas. The character sprites are expressive and funny, especially during cutscenes. Even the sushi looks delicious! It nails that retro vibe while still feeling modern and polished. Just a treat for the eyes.

Sound & Music 9/10
I still hum some of the tunes from Dave the Diver occasionally. The music is super catchy, especially the tunes that play during the diving sections and the surprisingly bumping tracks at Bancho Sushi when it gets busy. Sound effects are spot-on – the thwack of the harpoon, the glug of diving, the satisfying cha-ching of the cash register, the little voice clips the characters have. It all adds so much personality and makes the world feel alive. You'll probably have the restaurant theme stuck in your head for days (in a good way).

Controls 9/10
The controls feel tight and responsive, which is super important when you're trying to dodge a shark or perfectly aim your harpoon. Swimming feels natural, managing your inventory is easy, and even the restaurant serving mini-games feel intuitive after a minute or two. Whether you're using a keyboard and mouse or a controller, everything just works smoothly. Makes playing feel effortless.

Final Verdict 9/10
Look, Dave the Diver is simply brilliant. It blends two totally different types of gameplay (action/exploration diving and management sim) seamlessly, wraps it all in charming visuals and sound, and throws in a fun story with memorable characters. The core loop is always feels fresh and there's a surprising amount of depth and content. The game is just polished to a shine. It’s one of those games that respects your time while always giving you something fun and rewarding to do. If you're looking for a unique and completely engaging game you can sink hours into without even noticing, you absolutely need to play Dave the Diver. It's easily one of the best indie games in years.

Screenshots

Captured on PS5