Hands-on Preview: Dreadmoor is the Spooky Fishing Game You Have to Play

Dreadmoor got its first available demo at PAX East, and I was lucky enough to get to play it. You may have heard of another indie title called Dredge that Dreadmoor reminds you of; that certainly seemed to be the sentiment when I spoke to the representative on the floor, but the comparison isn't totally accurate.

Dreadmoor is absolutely its own game with its own mechanics that offer a lot more depth than Dredge ever did. Dredge is a phenomenal game. In fact, it was so phenomenal that it's one of the first games I ever reviewed for a college project. But after playing Dreadmoor, it would be tough to go back to Dredge.

From the first-person view, to the story on offer, there's a lot that seems to be different about Dreadmoor, and while it all still needs a little polish, what's there is something really great. For this preview, I'll be covering my thoughts on what I got to play and explaining the general loop of the game.

What is Dreadmoor?

At its very core, Dreadmoor is a fishing game where you'll drive a boat to various fishing spots to collect fish that you'll either sell or break down for guts. There are crates around that you can pull onto your ship to get various items you'll need for crafting. You'll want to keep an eye on the time, though, as when the sun goes down, the danger gets exponentially worse.

There is a story here, and from the looks of it, it's going to be a pretty long one. I played for almost an hour, and I barely made a dent in the content on offer. You'll meet some interesting characters with some very strange things to say, but for the most part, everyone seems nice, even if they are some weird mutant fish people.

There's a lot more to it than just fishing, though. There are boat upgrades you can get, fishing rod upgrades to unlock, and a whole slew of other kinds of discoveries to make. While I didn't get to experience it in this demo, there is supposed to be combat in this game, and as to what that might all entail, I can't say for certain.

It's an interesting game that isn't just focusing on the creepy environment, but rather wants players to really immerse themselves in the world of Dreadmoor. Not much was explained in the demo in terms of lore, but whatever is going on in this game is royally messed up and dark.

So Many Mechanics

There are a lot of mechanics in this fishing game that go beyond just fishing. You've got a little grappling hook you can use to interact with the environment, and you have crafting, so you can make various lures to attract different kinds of fish. It felt a little intimidating at first, since the mechanics can be a little under-explained in some cases.

Pretty much everything in the game revolves around some kind of mechanic, at least for the most part. Want to gas up your boat? You'll need to physically attach the hose. Want to start up an engine? There's a mechanic for that, too. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, since it makes you feel significantly more immersed in the game.

The most important mechanic, though, is fishing. It works just like every other fishing game you've ever played: cast the line, reel it in, and pull against the fish until it's tired enough that you get it close enough to pull it in fully. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of fishing in Sea of Thieves. Especially given the way you pull the fish up, and they still seem to be a little alive.

There's a lot I didn't get to see, but the groundwork is definitely there for some very interesting world puzzles as you open new pathways and head for new areas. It seems like each area will have its own sort of story, and you'll offer help either out of duress or because you need the money.

A Delightfully Creepy Vibe

The artistry in the game, along with the audio, creates a truly amazing atmosphere. It's just the right amount of spooky while keeping that sort of comedy/silly vibe. The first NPC you run into is a two-headed fish person, and one head handles most of the talking while the other one does all the hard work.

They're off-putting, but not so off-putting that you can't enjoy some of the humor they offer up during your dialogue with them. This felt like a great way to separate themselves from other games, as the main subject of the game is dark, but the humor makes it a little easier to swallow. Another great example was a large monster, about the size of your boat, that shows up and attempts to attack the crab house where the NPC resides. It gets shaken off and then stomped on in a rather silly manner before it gets its head ripped off.

It's a fantastic mix of creepy and comedy, even in just the small portion I got to play. It seemed like there was a lot you could glean from the environment as well, but with NPCs having some dialogue, that'll be where most of the story resides. Overall, though, the game's art and writing lend themselves nicely to the vibe they seem to be going for.

Dreadmoor really caught my attention because it seemed so much like Dredge, but after having played the game myself, it couldn't be more obvious that Dreadmoor is making a name for itself. There's going to be a lot more on offer when the game releases later this year, and I, for one, am incredibly excited to get my hands on this wonderfully creepy game.