On the surface, “Dave the Diver” is a cute little indie restaurant simulator game where you catch fish and manage a sushi place. In reality, the game is a fairly robust RPG (role-playing game) with an unexpected level of creativity and variety of gameplay. 

We play as the titular Dave, who is called out of retirement with the promise of free sushi in exchange for some light scuba work. Though it becomes very clear that Dave’s generosity is constantly being taken for granted, he is nonetheless willing to explore the waters of the mysterious “Blue Hole” while doing favors for a cast of quirky characters. By day, Dave dives in the depths, catching fish from around the world and uncovering the legacy of the mysterious Sea People. By night, he serves sushi to the impatient customers of Bancho Sushi. 

I was caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this game. It isn’t perfect, but it is fun. And, surprisingly, it’s funny. I can’t remember the last time I genuinely laughed while playing a game, but several moments feature some seriously funny animations (which, by the way, are all beautiful and make full use of the pixel art style) that highlight the characters’ personalities. 

Perhaps the best part of this game is that it can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. There’s no pressure to follow the “story,” and you can simply dive in the shallows, catch the fish you need, and serve sushi day in, day out. For many (including myself), that will probably be the most fun part of the game. If you want the mystery, the lore, the boss fights, that’s all there for you too. 

“Dave” has its share of rough spots as well. For one, Dave moves slowly, which makes sense at the beginning of the game, but gets frustrating as you go on and upgrade other abilities. There are also a ton of loading screens. Like, “Skyrim” levels of loading screens (IYKYK). Another issue I didn’t expect is an uncomfortable amount of body shaming. Dave is a larger character, which totally makes sense for someone who’s retired, but his weight is consistently used as a punchline, which feels unnecessary and out of place. If you can look past that, you’re in for a good time. 

It has its flaws, but “Dave the Diver” once again proves that indie games are where it’s at.