Deep Paralysis — How the Fishing RPG, Dredge Made Me Face My Greatest Fears

When I started the game, I hadn’t realized that the currency in Dredge — a fishing slash eldritch horror game from Black Salt Games was — time. In essence, Dredge is a panic management game. And for someone who has always struggled with anxiety, it unlocked an existential dread in me that I have always been afraid to face. <img alt="n DREDGE, step into the boots of a down-on-their-luck fisherman and explore a collection of remote islands while scouring the surrounding depths for a variety of fish and valuable, deep-sea curios." src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:770/1*9uCE-my8yt66GPh6BHHF1A.png" style="height:394px; width:700px" /> In DREDGE, step into the boots of a down-on-their-luck fisherman and explore a collection of remote islands while scouring the surrounding depths for a variety of fish and valuable, deep-sea curios. Dredge creeps up on you, literally. From the jump, you aren’t told much. Your gamer brain tells you, it’s another “Cozy Game”. You recognize the patterns of a typical Cozy Game. Idyllic island towns, a little fishing trawler, open seas, delicate piano stylings and a picturesque watercolor palette. It has all the hallmarks of an escapist indie adventure — in the veins of Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. And the mechanics reinforce that idea — you talk to the locals in the small towns of The Marrows. You do little mini-games to catch fish. And then play a little inventory Tetris to fit your catch in the rather confined hold of your boat. You see that there is an upgrade tree and you feel snug, safe and comfortable because you know what to expect. <a href="https://medium.com/@munazil.rahman/deep-paralysis-how-the-fishing-rpg-dredge-made-me-face-my-greatest-fear-7fd7f286aafc">Website</a>