Introduction
DREDGE is a unique blend of fishing simulator, mystery adventure, and cosmic horror.
You play as a lone fisherman exploring a vast archipelago while uncovering secrets lurking beneath the waves.
At first glance, it’s a calm fishing game — but as night falls, the ocean becomes something far more sinister.
Mastering DREDGE requires understanding its fishing mechanics, managing your boat and sanity, and navigating dangerous waters filled with both natural and unnatural threats.
This guide will take you step-by-step from your first catch to your final discovery, covering everything you need to survive and thrive in these haunted seas.
1. Getting Started: Your First Voyage
When you begin DREDGE, you’ll awaken in the quiet town of Greater Marrow. The mayor offers you a fishing boat and a simple task — catch fish, make money, and stay alive.
The early game is about learning the rhythms of the ocean: fishing by day, selling by dusk, and avoiding danger at night.
Take time to learn the basics:
- How to control your boat’s speed and steering
- How to fish efficiently
- How to manage your cargo space
Your first few days should focus on building a routine and upgrading your boat. Don’t rush to explore the entire map — stick to safe waters until you can handle the dark.
2. Fishing Fundamentals and Resource Management
Understanding Fish Types
Fish are your primary source of income. Each region contains unique species — some are common, others rare or even “aberrant,” twisted by unseen forces.
Pay attention to the symbols near fishing spots: they tell you which tool type (rod, trawl, or crab pot) is needed.
Efficient Fishing Loops
Plan your routes to minimize travel time:
- Fish near your home base in the morning.
- Return to sell before sundown.
- Use leftover time for repairs or upgrades.
Staying organized keeps profits flowing and risks low.
Managing Cargo and Spoilage
Fish spoil over time. Sell or store them quickly before they rot.
You can upgrade your cold storage or research gear that slows decay. Every wasted catch is lost money — timing matters as much as skill.
3. Upgrading Your Boat: The Path to Power
Hull and Engine Upgrades
Upgrading your hull increases cargo space and durability, while engines boost speed.
Speed is your best defense at night — faster boats escape horrors that slow ones can’t.
Fishing Gear and Lights
Each fishing rod type targets specific biomes: shallow, coastal, oceanic, volcanic, or abyssal.
Upgrade your lights too; brighter lights delay panic buildup when night falls.
Research Parts and Efficiency
Research parts unlock new equipment. Always use them wisely — prioritize multi-purpose rods and faster engines early.
Efficient upgrades let you reach remote areas safely and shorten dangerous night travel.
4. Exploring the Map: From Marrow to Madness
Safe Exploration Strategy
The world of DREDGE is divided into several major regions — Greater Marrow, Gale Cliffs, Stellar Basin, Twisted Strand, and Devil’s Spine.
Each region introduces unique threats and special fish. Start close to home, then gradually expand outward.
Navigation Tips
Use your compass and map frequently. Mark safe spots and ports for quick reference.
Never travel without a destination — aimless wandering burns time and invites the dark.
Managing Time and Distance
Time in DREDGE flows faster than it seems. Always check how long a trip will take before leaving port.
If you see dusk approaching, turn back. Many players sink because they overextend just one minute too long.
5. The Night and the Unknown: Surviving Darkness
The Sanity Mechanic
Nightfall triggers panic, a subtle but deadly system. As panic rises, illusions appear — rocks where there were none, ghost ships, and worse.
Your vision blurs, the sea distorts, and the sound of whispers grows.
Tips for Night Safety
- Always carry bright lights.
- Avoid staying out past midnight.
- Return to port when fog grows dense.
If you must travel at night, go full speed and avoid distractions. The darkness is patient, and curiosity kills.
Encounters in the Deep
Some horrors are real, not hallucinations. Learn their sounds and patterns.
If chased, don’t panic — turn sharply, boost your engine, and seek the nearest dock.
Survival depends not on courage but on restraint.
6. Quests, Relics, and the Story of the Sea
Pursuing the Collector’s Questline
The main story centers on a mysterious man called The Collector, who tasks you with retrieving ancient relics scattered across the map.
Each relic deepens the mystery — and your connection to the sea’s darker forces.
Side Quests and Town Requests
Various townsfolk offer smaller missions: delivering goods, catching rare fish, or finding lost items.
Completing these earns money, resources, and insight into the lore of the world.
Choices and Consequences
Pay attention to dialogue. Your actions influence the tone of the ending — whether you embrace or resist the darkness beneath the waves.
7. Advanced Fishing and Rare Catches
Using Crab Pots and Trawl Nets
Crab pots and trawl nets let you passively collect income while exploring. Drop them in high-traffic areas and check them daily.
Repair and replace regularly — neglected gear is wasted profit.
Finding Aberrant Fish
Aberrant fish, twisted by supernatural influence, are valuable but risky to catch.
Use special rods or visit cursed fishing spots to find them. Handle with care — keeping too many aboard raises panic and invites attention.
Legendary and Hidden Catches
Each region contains legendary fish with unique names and appearances.
To catch them, you’ll need special bait, patience, and sometimes completion of specific side quests.
8. Managing Risk and Sanity Long-Term
Balancing Greed and Safety
The biggest danger in DREDGE isn’t the monsters — it’s greed.
Staying one trip too long or overloading your hold can cost you everything.
Learn when to quit, even with empty hands.
Using Sleep and Recovery
Sleeping restores sanity and resets time safely. Dock often to sleep before venturing into dangerous zones.
A well-rested captain sees clearer and reacts faster.
Emergency Items
Keep emergency tools like flares and panic-calming trinkets aboard.
Flares can disorient night predators and guide you home. Don’t hoard them — use them when survival depends on it.
9. Secrets of the Deep and Hidden Lore
Reading the World
The environment tells a story. Shipwrecks, ruined towns, and strange carvings hint at what happened before your arrival.
Examine relics closely — every item whispers fragments of the truth.
Forbidden Knowledge
As you collect relics, you’ll gain access to powers that warp the world: teleportation, speed bursts, even banishment of horrors.
These abilities are useful but dangerous. Overusing them accelerates your connection to the abyss.
Moral Interpretation
DREDGE’s true horror lies not in monsters, but in temptation — the cost of knowledge and progress.
Every discovery carries weight. Ask yourself: are you mastering the ocean, or becoming part of it?
10. Endgame, Mastery, and Replay Value
Preparing for the Final Voyage
Before pursuing the final relic, ensure your boat is fully upgraded: strong hull, fast engines, and efficient rods.
Stock up on supplies and clear your storage. You’ll need space and stamina for what comes next.
Alternate Endings
DREDGE offers multiple conclusions — determined by your choices in the final quest.
One ending embraces the darkness, while another resists it.
Both reveal truths about obsession and survival.
Post-Game Exploration
Even after finishing the story, many mysteries remain: hidden catches, unmarked wrecks, and Easter eggs.
Revisit old regions with new tools to uncover everything the sea has buried.
Conclusion
DREDGE lures players with its serene fishing gameplay, then ensnares them in a web of fear and fascination.
To master it, you must learn balance — between greed and caution, curiosity and sanity, discovery and survival.
Every voyage teaches something new: how to read the waves, hear the whispers, and decide when to return home.
Those who survive long enough realize that the sea’s greatest monster isn’t the one beneath — it’s the hunger within.
So set sail, keep your lantern bright, and remember — the ocean always watches.
