Dave the Diver In the Jungle DLC Review : Our Honest 2026 Verdict

The summer 2026 event DLC is finally here

Hey bros ! The highly anticipated moment is finally here. After squeezing the original game dry in every possible way, I just wrapped up the expansion to one of our favorite indie titles. The In the Jungle DLC for Dave the Diver is now available, and the burning question is on everyone's lips : is the investment worth it ? Will we rediscover the magic of our first dives ? Get ready, we are breaking it all down together.

If you read my complete review of Dave the Diver, you know how much this title left a mark on me. The addiction was absolute. For this new chapter, the developers decided to shake up our routines. Put on your flippers and your survival gear, we are heading out to explore new horizons.

Before diving deeper, let's take a quick look at the official trailer to get into the swing of things :

A storyline that pushes us out of our comfort zone

The In the Jungle adventure opens up to you in a very organic way. The DLC calls out to you once the base storyline is finished, giving you the freedom to jump in whenever you see fit. The moment the green light is given, we bring along our trusty Cobra and the hilarious Dr. Bacon for a brand-new expedition.

Our new headquarters will be an indigenous village nestled in the heart of a lush jungle. The inhabitants of this tribe quickly make us understand that the region is in crisis. Earthquakes are shaking the area and particularly aggressive aquatic species have shown up, strangely echoing the intense events experienced in the Blue Hole.

The narrative quickly shifts gears into thrilling land and underwater expeditions. We set off in search of a lost temple, discovering that the famous Sea People have unexpected branches here too, and that buried ruins are teeming with life beneath the surface of the local lake. Exploration will require some serious preparation : you will need to equip personal water filters and start up a machine capable of entirely purifying the lake before hoping to dive into the true depths. The main goal is crystal clear : helping the villagers restore balance to their ecosystem.

Custom diving and BBQ nights with Bancho

Rest assured, the frantic and highly addictive pacing of Dave the Diver remains fully intact. There is always something happening. New NPCs regularly flag you down to hand out quests and the game is packed with collectibles (insects, lizards, and of course, a massive amount of brand-new fish).

The daily structure is evolving. You dive during the day and rush to lend a hand to Bancho in the evening. The real novelty lies in the flexibility : you can dive multiple times a day, or decide to stay completely dry to manage your surface business.

Dinner time brings a massive breath of fresh air. Say goodbye to delicate sushi as In the Jungle puts the spotlight on BBQ ! The menu features elaborate dishes and massive skewers. Serving the dining room requires military-level organization. Bancho and his assistant handle the main courses in the kitchen. On your end, you manage the drinks and food service, with a huge twist : you also have to manage grilling your own skewers live. You will need to invest heavily to upgrade your kitchen space and smooth out your movements. You can hire up to two dining room employees and an extra prep cook for Bancho.

Another major change : night diving is gone. In the evening, after your restaurant shift, you have free time to go about your business before drifting off into the arms of Morpheus. The most daring players can attempt an all-nighter, coming with a logical tradeoff : Dave will wake up with a hangover the next day, severely cutting into your available daylight hours.

Surface life, farming and a revolutionized arsenal

Life on the surface gets richer

Terrestrial activities are taking on an unprecedented scale. Between managing your crops, building relationships with the villagers, discovering new zones and playing mini-games with NPCs, the surface is bursting with life. You will even have to play the role of a miner, gathering minerals to craft and upgrade your own tools (axe and pickaxe) to progress through the jungle, all punctuated by terrestrial combat phases.

The 4-in-1 rifle changes everything

On the aquatic gear side, the developers brilliantly streamlined the experience. No more guessing which rifle to bring, make way for the 4-in-1 rifle. With a simple scroll of the wheel, you switch from a net launcher (perfect for capturing live targets in a specific area) to a sniper rifle, a classic gun, or a deadly shotgun firing three rounds simultaneously. It is smooth, intuitive, and it completely transforms your approach to underwater encounters.

Brand-new bestiary and Pop Culture multiverse

The bestiary in this DLC is absolutely generous. No animal, no fish is recycled from the base game. It is a complete change of scenery with every single dive.

The humor and references that make up the franchise's DNA are pushed to their absolute peak. Nods to the video game industry and pop culture flow seamlessly. You will run into heavy tributes to Two Point Museum, Duck Hunt, One Piece, and even Guitar Hero. Every single discovery brings a knowing smile to your face.

My honest opinion : the minor flaws and the final verdict

The overall experience is excellent, the game clearly deserves its Banger status and is already positioning itself as one of the must-play titles of this year 2026. There are still two or three details that made me raise an eyebrow.

• The Land/Sea ratio : Dave the Diver is, by nature, an ode to scuba diving. In this DLC, the balance leans strangely towards terrestrial activities. I felt like I was spending 60% of my time on the surface versus 40% underwater. The quest-heavy days in the jungle sometimes end up totally overshadowing the diving.
• Combat redundancy : The land battles in the jungle tend to string together in a somewhat repetitive way. You lose a tiny fraction of the absolute feeling of freedom provided by the original title.
• The fish farm frustration : Remember those two locked aquariums in the base game's farm ? I sincerely hoped this DLC would finally let us use them to store our new catches. Unfortunately, they stubbornly remain inaccessible.

Despite these slight downsides, boredom never even showed its face. The new map is stunning, the ergonomics of the 4-in-1 rifle are an absolute joy, and the gameplay loop (exploration, farming, restaurant management) is more addictive than ever. Completionists will have plenty to satisfy their inner collectors.

I highly advise you to take your time. Stroll around, max out your relationships, explore every corner of the map day and night, collect lizards and beetles of all kinds. By playing the game to its fullest, you are looking at 20 to 30 hours of pure pleasure. Offered at the unbeatable price of $9.99, this DLC is a model of honesty and generosity. The developers have struck gold once again.

What you need to know before jumping into the jungle

Do you need the base game to play In the Jungle ?

Yes, Dave the Diver : In the Jungle is a paid expansion that requires the base game to launch. Good news though : you do not have to finish the entire main story, an option lets you jump straight into the DLC.

What is the price of the In the Jungle DLC ?

The DLC is priced at $9.99 on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and console storefronts, aligning perfectly with the $10 sweet spot we mentioned earlier.

How long does it take to beat In the Jungle ?

MINTROCKET promises over 10 hours of new main content. But if you are the type to scavenge everything like me, between exploring, farming, and serving at the Bancho Grill, expect closer to 20 to 30 hours to fully enjoy it.

What platforms is Dave the Diver In the Jungle available on ?

The DLC launched simultaneously on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Is the In the Jungle DLC worth it in 2026 ?

Absolutely yes if you got hooked on the original gameplay loop : new biome, new restaurant, new arsenal, you will find everything that made Dave the Diver a massive hit, backed by a huge dose of freshness.

If this expansion made you want to dive even deeper, check out our selection of the best remakes in 2026, or our complete feature on the games I am anticipating the most to discover some massive hits.

What about you, did you dive back into the Blue Hole with this DLC ? Let me know all about it in the comments right below !