Developer: Mintrocket
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre: Adventure, RPG, Simulation
Publisher: Mintrocket
Dave the Diver is an adventure RPG that blends deep-sea exploration, fishing, restaurant management, and plenty of quirky humour into one incredibly addictive package. Developed and published by Mintrocket, this review was completed on PC and covers both the base game and its latest expansion, Dave the Diver: In the Jungle. The DLC will also be available for Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Now, I’ve had my eye on this game for quite some time, and the developers have released a brand-new DLC to make the game even bigger. I’m incredibly thankful to have been given a code to check out the new DLC, but as someone who had never played the base game before, I felt it was only right to start from the beginning before jumping into the expansion.
I’ll briefly talk about the base game first before diving into the DLC, In the Jungle. To my surprise, this game was filled with surprises, and I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.
Dave the Diver is a game where you play as Dave, a diver who is tasked with hunting fish to keep Bancho’s sushi restaurant running. The fishing mechanics are excellent, and I loved how the more you progress, the deeper you’re able to venture into the mysterious Blue Hole. Along the way, you’ll discover new biomes, encounter different species of fish, gather valuable resources, and even come face-to-face with powerful bosses.
The fishing and exploration are genuinely fantastic. There are so many unique sea creatures to discover, and using your grapple hook alongside melee weapons and guns makes every dive feel exciting. You can forage for resources like seaweed, kelp, and sea urchins, all while managing your oxygen and carry capacity. Those limitations make the early game challenging, but that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding. Every dive feels meaningful because you’re constantly gathering materials and treasure to upgrade your equipment and stay underwater for longer.
What I enjoyed most was how the game constantly builds upon itself. As you progress, you’re introduced to an incredible cast of characters and become part of a lively community. One moment you’re rescuing dolphins and whales, and the next you’re photographing rare marine life for magazine articles or taking on enormous sea monsters. The pacing is fantastic because there’s always something new waiting around the corner.
Combat is also a lot of fun. Dodging attacks while using different weapons keeps encounters engaging, and the boss fights are definitely a highlight. The designs of these gigantic deep-sea creatures are incredible. That being said, a few bosses did feel slightly underwhelming compared to others, and I wish a handful of them had been expanded upon a little more.
Visually, this game is absolutely stunning. The pixel art is gorgeous, and the anime-inspired cutscenes, especially Bancho’s over-the-top cooking sequences or the VIP food taste testing, are packed with personality. The exaggerated facial expressions, fluid animations, and vibrant underwater environments all give the game so much charm. Watching schools of fish swim by or jellyfish gently drifting through the ocean is incredibly relaxing, and the sound design perfectly complements every dive.
One thing that surprised me was just how much content the game introduces as you progress. The chapter structure keeps the story engaging, while the side quests are genuinely worth completing. I constantly found myself getting distracted by side missions because they often led to memorable moments or introduced new mechanics. Continuing the main story also unlocks features like the Fish Farm, farming, and plenty of other systems that expand the gameplay. Even Dave’s phone is packed with useful apps that keep everything organised, making it easy to keep track of your objectives.
The restaurant management is practically a game within a game. It’s your main source of income, allowing you to hire and train staff, improve dishes, and customise your nightly menu. The day, afternoon, and night cycle works brilliantly, creating a satisfying gameplay loop between diving and serving customers. My favourite moments were always the special themed events where huge crowds would come flooding into the restaurant wanting a particular type of fish. Those nights became wonderfully hectic and incredibly rewarding.
Dave the Diver: In the Jungle continues directly after the events of the base game and expands everything into an entirely new setting. You can either start the DLC after finishing the main game or jump straight into it, but I’d definitely recommend completing the base game first.
As someone who originally became interested because of the DLC announcement, I was curious how much they could realistically add. After spending dozens of hours with the main game before exploring the expansion, I was honestly amazed. It genuinely feels like there’s almost as much content here as there was in the original game.
Instead of returning to the Blue Hole, Dave and his friends travel to the jungle village of Utara, inspired by Southeast Asia. They’re called there to investigate a mysterious problem involving ancient fish-beasts washing ashore, shocking the local villagers.
The new biome completely changes the gameplay. Rather than exploring the ocean, you’ll now dive into freshwater lakes filled with entirely new species while also venturing across the jungle itself.
These new environments introduce mechanics that simply didn’t exist in the base game.
What I loved most was the world-building. Village life feels authentic, and building relationships with the local residents adds another layer to the experience. These connections don’t just help with the restaurant; they also open up new quests, conversations, and memorable moments that make Utara feel like a living community.
Just like in the main game, you’ll settle into the addictive gameplay loop of diving for fish and gathering resources to keep Bancho Grill thriving. However, Bancho Grill itself has received a major makeover. Rather than the original side-scrolling perspective, the restaurant is now viewed from an isometric angle, allowing Dave to move freely between tables. It’s a refreshing change that keeps the management gameplay feeling new while still maintaining the charm of the original.
The DLC also introduces more customisation than ever before. Alongside decorating Bancho Grill, you’re now able to personalise Dave’s house, which was a lovely addition that made the experience feel even more personal.
What really impressed me is how the DLC almost feels like stepping into an entirely new game while still keeping everything that made the original so addictive. You’re constantly discovering new surprises, whether that’s exploring ancient ruins, solving puzzles, or venturing across the jungle itself. Some of the on-land exploration even gave me slight Indiana Jones vibes, which I absolutely loved.
The DLC also introduces even more boss battles and dangerous creatures. Thankfully, they never feel unfair or overly punishing. Learning their attack patterns and figuring out how to defeat them remains just as satisfying as before.
There are also countless new additions, including upgraded jungle weapons, plenty of entertaining mini-games, and fresh mechanics that constantly keep things feeling new. Whether you’re playing rock-paper-scissors, battling beetles, or taking part in turn-based combat encounters, there’s always something unexpected waiting around the corner.
Visually, In the Jungle somehow manages to be even more beautiful than the base game. The combination of pixel art with subtle 3D effects creates stunning environments packed with vibrant colours and incredible detail. The jungle feels alive, the village is bursting with personality, and the cultural inspiration behind everything makes the world feel incredibly authentic. I especially loved discovering all the new wildlife, particularly the creatures found on land. The soundtrack also deserves praise, constantly adapting to whatever you’re doing and helping every area feel distinct.
Honestly, the DLC feels big enough to be its own standalone game. I could easily spend several more hours uncovering every secret it has to offer. It does exactly what a great expansion should: it builds upon the already addictive gameplay while introducing enough fresh mechanics, locations, and content to keep everything exciting.
There are so many new additions, from bug catching and freshwater fishing to relationship systems, mini-games, and entirely new gameplay mechanics. It genuinely feels closer to a sequel than a simple expansion.
You can really tell how much care Mintrocket has put into creating this DLC. I’ve loved every second of my time with it so far and can’t wait to see how everything concludes. My only small disappointment is that there aren’t any DLC-specific achievements, although after watching the developers’ Mini Update video, I completely understand why they decided against adding them.
The game is also packed with humour and countless pop culture references that make the dialogue genuinely entertaining. In most games, I often find myself skipping conversations, but here I wanted to read every line because it all felt worthwhile.
I’d recommend Dave the Diver to absolutely anyone. Even if you’ve never played the original game like I hadn’t, the DLC alone is enough to pull you in and make you want to experience everything the base game has to offer. That said, new players can also jump straight into In the Jungle, as it almost feels like a sequel in its own right.
Mintrocket has done a fantastic job. One thing I also really appreciated is just how easy the game is to return to after taking a break. Even if you haven’t played in weeks or months, it’s incredibly simple to jump back in without feeling completely lost, making it the perfect game to pick up whenever you’re looking for another adventure.
Dave the Diver: In the Jungle is exactly what a great DLC should be. It takes everything that made the base game so addictive and expands upon it with a vibrant new setting, memorable characters, fresh mechanics, and enough content to feel like an adventure all of its own. From exploring the lush jungles and freshwater lakes to running Bancho Grill and uncovering the mysteries of Utara, there was always something new that kept me wanting to play just one more hour. If you already love Dave the Diver, In the Jungle is an easy recommendation, and if you’ve never played before, this DLC is more than enough reason to finally jump in.
Overall: 10/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
