In this modern age of gaming, horror titles are a dime a dozen, and unless you belong to one of the major horror franchises, it’s incredibly difficult to make a name for yourself. That’s why many modern horror games attempt to forge a distinct identity by merging together several genres and gameplay styles.Black Salt Games’Dredgeis the perfect example of this.
Released in 2023,Dredgeis a fishing RPG with strong Lovecraftian horror elements. During the day, players sail the open seas, catch fish, and upgrade their equipment. By night, they need to avoid the gigantic monsters stalking them through the fog.Dredgereceived very positive reviews at launch, and thanks to some post-launch DLCs and ports to new platforms, it’s continued to stay relevant these last few years. So much so, thatDredgeseems to be inspiring new indie games likeOut Fishing.
Why Dredge Fans Should Wishlist Out Fishing
Out Fishing - A Cozy Fishing Sim With a Dark Twist
On the surface,Mūn Mūn Games’Out Fishinglooks like another chill indie fishing game. The reveal trailer shows all the trademark mechanics fans of the genre would expect to find, with the player-character throwing out a line, catching some fish, selling their catch, and using that money to upgrade their equipment. It’s a familiar loop, and one that looks suitably relaxing, with some ambient music, dynamic weather, and a day-night cycle aiding it.
ButOut Fishingis far from just another cozy fishing game. Lurking just below the surface is a world of psychological horror. The lake players find themselves fishing in is actually the site of a long-forgotten disappearance, and the memories of that grim event haunt the location. But muchlikeDredge, these horrors only come at night.
While players can fish to their heart’s content during the light of the day, the darkness of night will see them surrounded by unknown threats, hiding in the pitch-black forest that encircles their fishing spot. The player’s campsite is their only safe haven, and upgrading it will be a key part ofOut Fishing’s gameplay loop.
Players will need to use their earnings to not just upgrade their fishing equipment, but to purchase weapons to defend themselves, and buy upgrades for their camp to ensure their survival. And the longer players survive, the closer they’ll come to learning the truth behind this mysterious disappearance.
Out Fishingdoesn’t have a release window just yet, but it can bewishlisted on Steam.
Over the course of several in-game nights, players will experience an unfolding “slow-burn” horror story that presents them with “cryptic encounters and unsettling discoveries.” As players progress through the game, their character will slowly lose their grip on reality, as their intrigue grows into an obsession.
OnOut Fishing’s Steam page, it’s stated thatgames likeAlan Wake,Silent Hill, andMundaunare all inspirations, specifically for the game’s approach to psychological horror. With those influences in mind, players can probably expect to experience some pretty unhinged gameplay sequences.
