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Play OverviewPlay Overview

Dave the Diver (2023) is a simulation game where you manage a sushi bar by night and hunt for fish to sell by day. You explore the depths of a lagoon, using your harpoon to catch fish and solve puzzles to unlock new areas. Then in the evening, prepare dishes and manage your clients and staff back on land. It creates a compelling interplay where success in one part opens possibilities in the other, in a world rich in things to do and discover.

You play Dave, an overweight diver with dreams of running a successful sushi bar on the seaside of a lush tropical lagoon. Along with a cast of comedic characters, you establish the restaurant and cater to every whim of your clientele. Then during the day, you set out on underwater expeditions to kill and capture fish and other aquatic creatures to serve.

In the ocean, you move around to explore the coral reefs and caves of the blue hole, solving simple environmental puzzles to unlock new areas, and hunting fish, crabs and sharks with your harpoon gun. On the seafloor, you can take pictures of wildlife and find traces of ancient cultures and even mermaid villages that need your help. Back on the surface, you manage every aspect of your bar, from hiring new staff to preparing meals. The money you earn can then be used to buy equipment for diving, which in turn can yield better fish which drives up profit even more.

The result is an unusual combination of management simulation and deep-sea adventure. Going down into the depths in search of new stock for your bar only to end up racing a seahorse or talking to a mermaid makes for a lighthearted, whimsical adventure.

Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Dave The Diver 9 months ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 8 days ago.
Kids not old enough for this yet? There are lots of games similar to Dave The Diver. Here are some similar younger-rated games:

Play StylePlay Style

This is an Adventure, Collecting and Simulation game with Action, Narrative, Puzzle, Role-Play, Shooting and Traversal elements. This is a single-player game.

 
You can play this game in the following styles:

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 17 hours and 27 hours to complete. The game is fairly open-ended, allowing you to continue to grow your business and hunt more fish for as long as you want, meaning you can continue to play for over 50 hours.

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

Rated PEGI 12 for moderate violence. This game contains non-realistic looking violence towards pixelated humans and fish. Players are tasked with catching fish, which they do using a variety of weapons. When hit, a targeted fish will bleed into the surrounding water. Once caught, the fish will immediately disappear. The player's character can also be attacked by some species of fish, which causes him to bleed. When the player's character dies, the screen fades. If the player's character is running out of oxygen, a flashing red light is seen around the screen as a warning to the player. No injuries are seen when this happens. As soon as the player approaches an oxygen tank, health is restored. There are also scenes in which the player can fight other humans underwater. The enemies flash when hit, with a reduction in health points. Once their health depletes, they simply float and stop attacking but do not die and can be spoken to afterwards. The game also contains depictions of alcohol. While serving customers in the sushi bar, the player is asked to pour beers. The player is not able to consume the alcohol themselves. Bottles of alcoholic beverages are also visible at the sushi bar. The owner of the bar can, at times, be seen drinking from a bottle which resembles beer when he is on a boat. This game contains scenes that may be frightening to young children. At one point, while diving for a specific artifact, a large kraken-like creature’s eye appears seemingly out of nowhere, before it swims away. The atmosphere during this scene creates a sense of dread.

Rated for younger players in the US. Rated ESRB EVERYONE 10+ for Mild Blood, Mild Violence and Alcohol Reference.

Skill Level

9+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. It's also important to ensure children understand in-game purchases and have spending limits set-up. Managing your sushi bar requires some strategy as you figure out how to make money while pleasing your clients, and the diving and hunting section requires good aiming with your harpoon and fairly quick reactions to avoid attacks from hostile creatures.

CostsCosts

Dave The Diver usually costs £15.99 to £16.99.
 

Dave The Diver

PlayStation Store PS5 £15.99 Free

PS Plus Extra

PlayStation Store PS4 £15.99 Free

PS Plus Extra

Switch Store Switch £16.99

Dave the Diver

Steam Store PC £16.99
Steam Store Mac £16.99
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
  • In-Game Purchases: Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.
 
You can purchase the Digital Extra expansion, which adds some new cosmetics and gives you a digital artbook and the soundtrack. The Deluxe Edition is a bundle of the game and the Digital Extra. 
 
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
 

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 28/06/2023, updated in 2024

Out Now: Mac, PC, PS4, PS5 and Switch

Skill Rating: 9+ year-olds

Players: 1

Genres: Adventure, Collecting, Simulation (Action, Narrative, Puzzle, Role-Play, Shooting and Traversal)

Accessibility: 15 features

Components: 2D Side-On, Day and Night and Pixels


Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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