Dive, fish, serve... and repeat until two in the morning
Well, it is not even June yet and we are already dying of heat. This promises some heavy stuff for this summer, so brace yourselves. If you did not miss yesterday's article, you know that today we are talking about Dave the Diver ! So where should we start...?
The reluctant call to adventure
From the beginning. Dave the Diver, he is a guy who likes to take it easy, on quiet beaches, in the middle of the ocean. But one day, he gets a call : on the other end of the line, it is Cobra, an entrepreneur who always has a new idea in mind. He asks Dave for help, because he thinks he has found a really good vein : exploring the Deep Blue. Reluctantly (and surely because he is a bit lazy around the edges...) Dave accepts, and therefore joins Cobra.
This is where your adventure begins !
💾 The kind of game you install "just to see", and from which you only emerge three weeks later. The sessions supposed to last twenty minutes that end at two in the morning... Dave the Diver, it is exactly this kind of trap. A trap you completely embrace.
To share these first magical moments and dive into this adventure together, I've put together a custom Let's Play of the early game, split into 6 parts so we can fully enjoy the depth of this journey.
The angle of rhythm breaking : invisible game design
Daytime : exploration and underwater freshness
You will quickly get the picture : during the day, you will have to dive (sounds dreamy right now, huh ?) and spearfish a whole bunch of fish. You will have 2 diving sessions during the day to stock up. And in the evening, head to Bancho's Sushi Bar (who is a martial arts expert in sushi) to serve your best creations to as many customers as possible !
So right from the morning, here we go, you start at the edge of the boat, you have your diving suit and... Splash ! Can you feel the freshness ? Ahhh... it feels so good to be in this ocean. Let's swim a bit, and meet our first fish. There are so many different ones that we will never get bored. The bestiary is immense, ranging from the tiniest fish to the biggest sharks, including octopuses, crabs, and so on !
You will also have to think about collecting seaweed, and opening the boxes found at the bottom of the waters : they always contain something to pick up for the recipes.
Surviving the dangers of the deep
However, watch out ! Because while many fish are harmless, others are severely hungry, and Dave looks very appetizing to them ! Fortunately, you will have a whole arsenal to defend yourself : upgraded harpoons, underwater rifles, poison darts, stun darts... there will be plenty to do to stay alive. You will also upgrade your suit : you will be able to go ever deeper, you will have more oxygen at your disposal... so look absolutely everywhere to find weapon parts to assemble !
⚠️ Warning : Some inhabitants of the Deep Blue really do not want to end up in your net. Always keep an eye on your oxygen gauge and your health bar. Going too deep too early is the perfect way to come back empty-handed... or to not come back at all.
Evening : the rush at the restaurant
The phases alternate naturally. When you are underwater, sometimes it will be very calm and you will revel in exploring, discovering new areas, quietly fishing for some sea urchins... and sometimes it will be the total opposite ! You will have a stressful dive while doing absolutely everything to stay alive ! Once the evening arrives, it will be the rush : customers will arrive in droves and you will really have to run to satisfy them. This is a transition between contemplation and frenzy that gives two different aspects to the game, and which unfolds naturally well.
💬 We can truly say that it is an absolute model of an addictive gameplay loop. Calm underwater in the morning, chaos at the bar in the evening. And we keep asking for more.
The "Come on, just one last dive" syndrome
An avalanche of quests and applications
If at the beginning of the game it starts quietly, as you progress you will meet plenty of NPCs who will give you a multitude of quests to do : finding artifacts, searching this or that area, bringing back a specific fish, building something... your schedule will be increasingly busy, and you will easily find all the necessary information on your mobile phone apps.
Total management : from the aquarium to the farm
Later, you will even be able to own your very own breeding aquarium to store fish of all kinds, and you will even run your surface farm (rice, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, garlic... and chickens, let's not forget the chickens !) and an underwater one, where you will plant a whole array of different seaweeds. Awesome ! Let's not forget either a few minigames to complete (seahorse racing, playing cards...). In short, patch after patch, the game has been fleshed out with content exactly as it should be.
Characters each crazier than the next
Dave, the reluctant hero
Cobra who always wants more, Bancho who slices his sushi like a Samurai master, and Dave himself, shall we talk about him ? Your very own character is the type to never step out of his comfort zone, he is lazy and paunchy, and the adventure will completely change his routine. While he is often fearful and reluctant, he always ends up helping everyone and lets himself get dragged into these massive adventures. As for the VIPs, they are all a clever nod to stereotypes or well-known figures. It is funny, it is endearing, and it gives immense soul to the title.
My tips for a great start
Underwater : managing your oxygen above all
- At the beginning of the game, your main issue will be oxygen. Do not overdo it, start small, a few fish will be plenty for the first customers at the bar. Also, look out for oxygen barrels, giant shells, and small tanks that can help you breathe underwater more frequently !
- Do not try to dive deeply right away, you need to proceed by stages. You will unlock new equipment designed exactly for this relatively quickly : take your time and follow the natural progression !
- Capture as many live fish as possible : you will then have them at 3 stars in your aquariums, which is the maximum quality, and you will sell them for much more !
- Numerous Bosses await you in the depths, be fully prepared ! Spot the ammo crates, choose your weapons wisely, and carefully observe their patterns ! You might perish a few times, but there is absolutely nothing insurmountable.
Optimizing your sushi bar business
- In the Sushi bar, the more fish you have, the more ingredients you will have, the more you will be able to upgrade your recipes : when customers consume them, you will then earn more money and more hype for your restaurant, so get cooking !
- Recruit at the restaurant ! You can hire employees who will help with service and cooking, and you can also train them so they gain in skill, so take full advantage of it !
💡 Bonus tip : Always keep a solid stock of 3-star fish for the VIP dishes. When a special customer arrives at the bar, premium dishes make a massive difference on the final bill and therefore on your revenue. It is absolutely worth taking the time to capture them alive !
What is next : heading into the jungle !
A final little piece of info for the road, know that a DLC is planned and should arrive very soon : DAVE THE DIVER - In the Jungle Content Pack. Its release is scheduled for June 18, 2026, you will have plenty of time until then to finish the full game !
🕹️ What we know about the Jungle DLC : Dave ventures into a brand-new territory, with a massive freshwater lake to explore instead of the Blue Hole, a hidden village named Utara, a new restaurant (the Bancho Grill), and a versatile new weapon, the Jungle Rifle, which transforms at will into a net launcher, shotgun, or sniper rifle. Over 10 hours of content are announced, with new systems and fresh gameplay mechanics. Available on all platforms : PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PS4, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2. DLC Page : DAVE THE DIVER - In the Jungle on Steam.
So, are we diving in ?
There you go, for the rest, it is up to you to put on your wetsuit, put your feet in the sand, and jump into the water ! Dave the Diver is a little underwater journey that plays itself out smoothly, in a perfectly chill mode. The missions and the bestiary being quite comprehensive, you will definitely not get bored. Furthermore, the discoveries about the Sea People are extremely cool, and the music accompanies this journey beautifully. The events that frequently occur break any kind of monotony, and the pixel art is brilliantly done. The game is truly beautiful, so... let yourself be tempted.
And if you have any disastrous diving anecdotes, or your best sushi recipes, feel free to talk about them in the comments right below !
FAQ : everything you need to know about Dave the Diver
Is Dave the Diver available on consoles in 2026 ?
Yes ! Dave the Diver is available on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and now also on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. It originally launched on PC in June 2023 before being ported to all consoles.
How much does Dave the Diver cost on Steam ?
Dave the Diver is available for approximately $29.99 on its official Steam page. It regularly benefits from promotions during sales, sometimes with significant discounts. Check IsThereAnyDeal to look out for the best moment to grab it.
How long does it take to beat Dave the Diver ?
Count between 20 and 25 hours for the main story. If you want to complete absolutely everything (side quests, farm, aquarium, minigames), you can easily exceed 40 to 50 hours. The game truly does not lack in content.
Is Dave the Diver suited for beginner players ?
Absolutely. The game is highly accessible from the very first minutes and introduces its mechanics progressively. There is no permanent game over : if Dave perishes underwater, you simply return to the surface with a portion of what you have already collected. No need to panic.
What is the content of the Jungle DLC planned for June 2026 ?
The "In the Jungle Content Pack" DLC releases on June 18, 2026, across all platforms. It takes Dave straight into the jungle to explore a large freshwater lake, a hidden village (Utara), and an entirely new restaurant. Over 10 hours of additional content are announced, with new mechanics and a brand-new aquatic bestiary.
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