Scared of narwhals? Dredge, the cozy fishing horror game, goes to the Arctic in The Pale Reach

SHOULD I PLAY DREDGE: THE PALE REACH?

If you dug the creepy, cozy vibes of Dredge, you’ll definitely want to check out the latest DLC. Dredge: The Pale Reach brings this lovecraftian fishing game to colder waters, adding a brand-new icy area to the game. Whether I was catching fish for a mysterious hooded figure, staring at the northern lights, or trying to avoid a surprisingly terrifying narwhal, this DLC really made Dredge feel new again. If you haven’t played Dredge yet, but you’re interested in checking it out, you’ll be happy to know you can access the new Pale Reach content at any time.

TIME PLAYED

I played the new DLC for around three hours, which gave me plenty of time to take on side quests, install some new ship parts, and explore the icy waters. I haven’t managed to complete the entire DLC—there’s still one pesky fish I’ve been struggling to catch—but I’ve gotten a good look at what it has to offer. From chilling lore to underwater monstrosities, just about any fan of the original game will find something to love here.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT DREDGE: THE PALE REACH?

• Gorgeous visuals. This is the best that Dredge has ever looked. Even though I was navigating my ship through treacherous waters, it was hard not to get distracted by the shimmering lights flickering all around me. I loved the pastel hues of the glaciers and all the strange, spine-chilling shapes I could see when my boat drifted closer to the ice. I hate the cold, but The Pale Reach made the arctic seem pretty inviting.

• Terrific new storyline. The Pale Reach isn’t just about catching fish. There are secrets hiding beneath the ice, and I slowly uncovered them during my playthrough. This is an eerie tale that mixes human heartache with cosmic horror, and the combination is extremely satisfying. Fishing is its own reward, but the mysterious narrative motivated me to explore every inch of this frozen world.

• Awesome new ship upgrades. When I started The Pale Reach, it quickly became clear that my trusty ship wasn’t built for the arctic. Thankfully, with a little help from a traveling merchant, I was able to convert it into something that could handle an iceberg or two. I even installed an add-on that could literally smash through glaciers. Not only was breaking through blocks of ice a ton of fun, but I could actually use the ice to preserve fish until it could be sold.

WHAT SUCKS ABOUT DREDGE: THE PALE REACH?

• It’s more of the same. The Pale Reach has ice to smash and new fish to catch, but it never strays far from the basic Dredge gameplay loop. That’s not necessarily negative—I really enjoyed the way Dredge combined fishing, horror, and inventory management—but if you weren’t a fan of the game before, this isn’t going to win you over.

PLATFORM TESTED

PC via Steam Deck