Dave the Diver

XboxEraJesse 'Doncabesa' Norris

9.5/10

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Worth PlayingAndreas Salmen

9.2/10

Combining some adventure, a little RPG and splash of tycoon gaming, Dave The Diver plunges players into an oceanic adventure set in a mysterious marine cavern.

Impulse GamerAli Arkani

If someone told me that the most memorable gaming experience of the first half of 2023 for me would be a part fishing part restaurant simulator pixel art

PC GamerChristopher Livingston

90/100

Like Bancho's cooking, Dave's new adventure is delicious.

Pure NintendoJemma Casson

9/10

Dave the Diver is a tough game to describe. Part restaurant sim, part fishing adventure, it’s all sorts of unique. Throw in some interesting characters, witty

SiliconeraJenni Lada

9/10

Dive into a deep oceanic adventure! Explore the depths of the sea by day, and as the sun sets, step into the shoes of a sushi bar manager. The gameplay loop evolves, revealing new systems, intriguing creatures, and uncharted territories. Equip and upgrade your gear to explore the deep Blue Hole, where friends, foes, and surprises await. Switch version reviewed.

DestructoidChristine Choi

9/10

In a world full of fear and uncertainty, Dave the Diver is here to offer a lighthearted story and engaging gameplay. It doesn’t try to follow trends or emulate big AAA titles. It doesn’t have an in-game shop to try to get you to spend more money. It’s simply a silly, fun game about a diver named Dave, and I can’t put it down.

Nintendo World ReportWillem Hilhorst

8.5/10

But even during dives where the game wasn’t giving me proper direction, I still was enthralled by the experience and wanted to plunge back into the game again and again. I’ll never forget the moments where I was clinging on by single digits on the oxygen tanks and barely made it out alive, over encumbered with fish, or the moments where I was suddenly jumped by a predator and had to evasively dive away and shoot my gun in blind panic. Dave the Diver keeps you on your toes, but the rewards after a successful dive always make me want to play “just one more round.” My sushi restaurant is…

Push SquareStephen Tailby

8/10

If Dave the Diver proves anything, it's that one shouldn't make judgements based on appearances. Not only does the loveable lead character exceed the expectations of his cohorts at every turn, but the game itself goes well beyond what it looks like. At a glance, this is a charming adventure about exploring the sea, catching fish, and running a sushi restaurant. It is all that, but it also refuses to settle, constantly evolving the experience in surprising and compelling ways.

VGChartzEvan Norris

8/10

Ocean man.Dave the Diver is easy to overlook. With its unassuming name, rotund but otherwise nondescript protagonist, and 2D [...]

RPGamerAlex Fuller

Dave the Diver brings its unique mix of adventure RPG and restaurant management sim gameplay to Nintendo Switch. This underwater adventure is a wonderful achievement from first time developer Mintrocket.

GamingTrendHolly Hudspeth

80/100

Dave the Diver is a whacky, 2D/3D game that mixes several genres to form a fun adventure with silly characters and never a shortage of things to do. Each trip into the mysterious Blue Hole is different, and you’ll have plenty of quests and upgrades to work on. Spend your days diving, and your nights running a sushi bar. If you are looking for a great balance of not too hard, not too easy, Dave the Diver is it. While some of the missions can get kind of hairy, managing your resources is what it’s all about. The story is fun, and I really enjoyed the MarinCa app that gives us facts about sea cre...