Review: 'Dredge' – The eeriest fishing trip you'll ever take

There are a few calm and picturesque moments like this one in "Dredge", but the mutant nocturnal fish tend make things a little more sinister. — Photo: Team17/dpa

BERLIN: You have one responsibility, and it's an important one: Take to the seas in a fishing boat to supply an entire island with fresh fish.

But what makes "Dredge", a new game for PCs and consoles, different is that the fish you're trying to catch also turn into dangerous mutants.

The fish-catching part itself is not complicated. When the net is cast over a shoal, all you have to do is press buttons at the right moment. There is little space in the boat and the catch has to be stowed properly until it can be sold.

Navigating is done manually with the help of a map. When you visit other islands, you have to solve tasks and also uncover one or two dark secrets. The money earned is spent on better equipment, which can then be used to catch more fish species.

But after the sun goes down, the real danger starts. Huge mutant fish lurk beneath every wave. The fact that there’s no background music only makes the experience even more unsettling. Even so, the game never veers into horror.

Up to 12 hours of gameplay are possible. Even though there are significantly longer games, this virtual fishing trip is worth it just to see how "Dredge" oscillates between pure calm and eerie, silent dread.

The game is available for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and the Nintendo Switch for around €25/US$25 (RM87 on PC, RM99 on PlayStation, RM119 on Nintendo Switch and Xbox). – dpa