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'''''Dave the Diver''''' is a video game developed and published by [[Nexon|Mintrocket]]. The game combines both [[Action-adventure game|action-adventure]] and [[Management game|management]] gameplay styles as players explore deep sea environments to gather ingredients for a [[sushi]] restaurant. It was released for [[macOS]] and [[Microsoft Windows]] in June 2023 following an [[early access]] release in October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-24 |title=DAVE THE DIVER - 'DAVE THE DIVER' Official Early Access Announcement - Steam News |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1868140/view/3236420105735930438 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}</ref> A [[Nintendo Switch]] version was released in October 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=2023-10-25 |title=''Dave the Diver'' is one of the year's best games, and it's still great on Switch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/25/23930889/dave-the-diver-nintendo-switch |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=[[The Verge]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Faulkner |first=Jason |date=2023-06-30 |title=''Dave the Diver'' PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Release Date: Is It Coming to Consoles? |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/942084-dave-the-diver-release-date-ps5-ps4-switch-xbox-is-it-coming-to-consoles |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=[[GameRevolution]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and a version for [[PlayStation]] consoles will be released in April 2024.<ref name="playstation">{{cite web |title=''Dave the Diver'' splashes onto PS5 and PS4 this April, Godzilla DLC revealed |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2024/01/31/dave-the-diver-splashes-onto-ps5-and-ps4-this-april-godzilla-dlc-revealed// |website=[[PlayStation Blog]] |date=January 31, 2024 |access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref>
'''''Dave the Diver''''' is a video game developed and published by [[Nexon|Mintrocket]]. It was released for [[macOS]] and [[Microsoft Windows]] in June 2023 following an [[early access]] release in October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-24 |title=DAVE THE DIVER - 'DAVE THE DIVER' Official Early Access Announcement - Steam News |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1868140/view/3236420105735930438 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}</ref> A [[Nintendo Switch]] version was released in October 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=2023-10-25 |title=''Dave the Diver'' is one of the year's best games, and it's still great on Switch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/25/23930889/dave-the-diver-nintendo-switch |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=[[The Verge]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Faulkner |first=Jason |date=2023-06-30 |title=''Dave the Diver'' PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Release Date: Is It Coming to Consoles? |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/942084-dave-the-diver-release-date-ps5-ps4-switch-xbox-is-it-coming-to-consoles |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=[[GameRevolution]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and a version for [[PlayStation]] consoles will be released in April 2024.<ref name="playstation">{{cite web |title=''Dave the Diver'' splashes onto PS5 and PS4 this April, Godzilla DLC revealed |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2024/01/31/dave-the-diver-splashes-onto-ps5-and-ps4-this-april-godzilla-dlc-revealed// |website=[[PlayStation Blog]] |date=January 31, 2024 |access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref> ''Dave the Diver'' combines elements of [[Management game|management]], [[Action-adventure game|action-adventure]], and [[Role-playing video game|role-playing video games]].

Players control Dave, a hard-working diver, as he collects fish, completes quests, and manages a [[sushi]] restaurant, with gameplay encompassing exploration, restaurant management and boss fights. During the day, players explore the ocean, while at night, they run the sushi restaurant, with the day's catch affecting the restaurant's menu offerings.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Jordan Gerblick |date=2023-07-07 |title=Dave the Diver, an indie RPG about deep-sea fishing and slinging sushi, is the vibe of the summer |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/dave-the-diver-an-indie-rpg-about-deep-sea-fishing-and-slinging-sushi-is-the-vibe-of-the-summer/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}</ref> Income earned from the restaurant can be spent to enhance Dave's diving gear and weapons or to employ and train staff for the efficient management of the restaurant.


== Gameplay ==
== Gameplay ==
[[File:Dave_the_Diver_gameplay_screenshot.jpg|left|thumb|Later in the game, players can unlock the ability to dive at night.]]
[[File:Dave_the_Diver_gameplay_screenshot.jpg|left|thumb|Later in the game, players can unlock the ability to dive at night.]]
''Dave the Diver'', in which players control the eponymous Dave, is a game with a [[pixel art]] aesthetic that is divided into two main gameplay styles; diving into the sea during the day and running a sushi restaurant in the evening. Twice per in-game day (with the option to dive again during the evening unlocked later on in the game), players dive into the Blue Hole in search of fish, sealife and various other materials. Dave is equipped with a [[harpoon gun]] for attacking and reeling in fish, and can also use various guns, melee weapons, harpoon attachments and items that can be found during each diving session. Dave has a limited supply of oxygen which further decreases if Dave is attacked by aggressive sealife and other obstacles. If Dave runs out of oxygen before he can return to the surface, the diving session will end prematurely and only one resource that was found can be taken back. Players can use gold earned throughout the game to improve Dave's equipment in various ways, such as increasing his weight and oxygen capacity or allowing him to dive deeper. Players can also unlock additional means for catching sealife as the game progresses, such as fishing nets and drones.<ref name="pcgamer">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/after-only-3-hours-this-fishing-and-restaurant-management-rpg-has-rocketed-to-the-top-of-my-goty-shortlist/|title=After only 3 hours this fishing and restaurant management RPG has rocketed to the top of my GOTY shortlist|last=Livingston|first=Christopher|work=[[PC Gamer]]|date=2023-06-29|accessdate=2023-06-30}}</ref> <ref name="ign">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dave-the-diver-review|title=''Dave The Diver'' Review|last=Northrup|first=Travis|work=[[IGN]]|date=2023-06-26|accessdate=2023-06-30}}</ref> At the end of each in-game day, Dave helps Bancho run the sushi restaurant, using fish gathered from diving sessions to craft sushi and other menu items. Players must then serve these dishes to customers while also serving drinks, cleaning tables and topping up [[wasabi]].<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Jordan Gerblick |date=2023-07-07 |title=Dave the Diver, an indie RPG about deep-sea fishing and slinging sushi, is the vibe of the summer |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/dave-the-diver-an-indie-rpg-about-deep-sea-fishing-and-slinging-sushi-is-the-vibe-of-the-summer/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}</ref> Performing well will earn players gold and increase the restaurant's representation, unlocking new recipes, upgrades and cosmetics.<ref name="ign" /> Occassionally, special customers and VIP guests will appear, requiring the player to gather specific ingredients to create their desired dish. Clearing these requests unlocks additional features, such as staff to assist in the restaurant and a farm to grow rice and vegetables.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/have-you-tried-building-a-sushi-empire-in-pixel-art-heaven-with-dave-the-diver/|title=Have you tried… building a sushi empire in pixel art heaven with ''Dave the Diver''?|last=Gerblick|first=Jordan|work=[[GamesRadar]]|date=2022-12-02|accessdate=2023-06-30}}</ref> The game features multiple side characters who offer side-quests and upgrades, events that appear during the in-game calendar, and various unlockable minigames.<ref name=pcgamer/><ref name="ign" />
Players primarily control Dave, a deep sea diver who is talked into managing a sushi restaurant and supplying it with the fish they need. He fishes at a spot called the [[Blue Hole]] whose geography and fauna change daily. Players can collect resources to upgrade or craft new items for Dave to use, such as diving gear and weapons to use in [[boss fight]]s against giant underwater creatures.<ref name="pcgamer">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/after-only-3-hours-this-fishing-and-restaurant-management-rpg-has-rocketed-to-the-top-of-my-goty-shortlist/|title=After only 3 hours this fishing and restaurant management RPG has rocketed to the top of my GOTY shortlist|last=Livingston|first=Christopher|work=[[PC Gamer]]|date=2023-06-29|accessdate=2023-06-30}}</ref> Dave's air supply is decreased faster as he becomes overburdened, and he becomes more susceptible to predators, such as sharks. Being defeated in combat causes Dave to drop all his cargo except one item as he is rescued.<ref name="ign">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dave-the-diver-review|title=''Dave The Diver'' Review|last=Northrup|first=Travis|work=[[IGN]]|date=2023-06-26|accessdate=2023-06-30}}</ref>

Dave is asked by others to perform various favors, [[quest (video games)|quests]], for them involving exploration, research, or finding rare items. As players retrieve items lost at sea, they can use Dave's contacts in his cell phone to find buyers. Dave can go diving twice a day, once each during the morning and afternoon;<ref name=pcgamer/> later in the game's progression the ability to dive at night is unlocked. In the evening, he manages the sushi restaurant. Players can [[unlockable (gaming)|unlock]] recipes to cook, attract influential customers, renovate the restaurant by adding decorations, hire employees, and more.<ref name=pcgamer/> An in-game app called "Cooksta" keeps track of the restaurant's popularity and rating and can unlock further upgrades. In addition to the main gameplay modes, there are also a number of [[minigame]]s unlocked through the course of the story, including a rhythm game and [[Tamagotchi]] style app. The graphical style uses [[pixel art]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/have-you-tried-building-a-sushi-empire-in-pixel-art-heaven-with-dave-the-diver/|title=Have you tried… building a sushi empire in pixel art heaven with ''Dave the Diver''?|last=Gerblick|first=Jordan|work=[[GamesRadar]]|date=2022-12-02|accessdate=2023-06-30}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
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A free DLC released on December 2023 included crossover content from ''[[Dredge (video game)|Dredge]]'', which adds a fog weather event where the player can dredge for valuable items, as well as a new weapon.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Rebekah Valentine |title=''Dave the Diver'' Is Getting a Free Update Crossover with Dredge Game Awards 2023 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dave-the-diver-is-getting-a-free-update-crossover-with-dredge-game-awards-2023/ |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref> A second free DLC to be released on May 2024 will include crossover content from ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]],''<ref name="playstation" /> with further content updates planned in the future.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Rachel Kaser |title=''Dave the Diver''{{'}}s director on the breakout indie hit of 2023 |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/dave-the-divers-director-on-the-breakout-indie-hit-of-2023/ |website=[[VentureBeat]] |date=September 18, 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023}}</ref>
A free DLC released on December 2023 included crossover content from ''[[Dredge (video game)|Dredge]]'', which adds a fog weather event where the player can dredge for valuable items, as well as a new weapon.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Rebekah Valentine |title=''Dave the Diver'' Is Getting a Free Update Crossover with Dredge Game Awards 2023 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dave-the-diver-is-getting-a-free-update-crossover-with-dredge-game-awards-2023/ |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref> A second free DLC to be released on May 2024 will include crossover content from ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]],''<ref name="playstation" /> with further content updates planned in the future.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Rachel Kaser |title=''Dave the Diver''{{'}}s director on the breakout indie hit of 2023 |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/dave-the-divers-director-on-the-breakout-indie-hit-of-2023/ |website=[[VentureBeat]] |date=September 18, 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023}}</ref>


A physical "Anniversary Edition" featuring crossover content from ''[[Guilty Gear Strive]]'' will be published by [[Arc System Works]] for Nintendo Switch on May 30, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dave the Diver Switch physical release revealed for Japan, includes Guilty Gear Strive collaboration content |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/dave-the-diver-switch-physical-release-revealed-for-japan-includes-guilty-gear-strive-collaboration-content/ |website=[[Nintendo Everything]] |date=February 28, 2024 |access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref><ref>https://www.gematsu.com/2024/03/dave-the-diver-physical-edition-for-switch-launches-may-30-worldwide</ref>
A physical edition, published by [[Arc System Works]], will be released on Nintendo Switch on May 2024 and will include crossover content from ''[[Guilty Gear Strive]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dave the Diver Switch physical release revealed for Japan, includes Guilty Gear Strive collaboration content |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/dave-the-diver-switch-physical-release-revealed-for-japan-includes-guilty-gear-strive-collaboration-content/ |website=[[Nintendo Everything]] |date=February 28, 2024 |access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref>


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
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===Indie label controversy===
===Indie label controversy===
Several commentators and publications have referred to the game as an indie game despite the game's developer Mintrocket being owned by [[Nexon]]. When the game was nominated for the "Best Indie Game" categories at [[The Game Awards 2023]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fanelli |first=Jason |date=November 13, 2023 |title=The Game Awards 2023 Nominees Announced, See Them All Now |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-game-awards-2023-nominees-announced-see-them-all-now/1100-6519120/ |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=[[GameSpot]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Golden Joystick Awards]] 2023,<ref name="golden joystick winners" /> criticism was raised over the game being labeled as "indie", with ''The Gamer'' arguing that "''Dave the Diver'' couldn't be less independent".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=2023-11-17 |title=Should facts or vibes determine whether an 'indie game' is really indie? |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/indie-game-debate-dave-the-diver/ |access-date=2023-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sledge |first=Ben |date=2023-10-09 |title=Does It Matter If ''Dave The Diver'' Is An Indie Game Or Not? |url=https://www.thegamer.com/dave-the-diver-indie-game-mintrocket-nexon/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=January 2024}} [[Geoff Keighley]], organizer of The Game Awards, said "independent can mean different things to different people and it's sort of a broad term, right?"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winslow |first=Levi |date=2023-11-27 |title=TGA's Geoff Keighley Weighs In On ''Dave The Diver'' Nomination Controversy |url=https://kotaku.com/tgas-dave-the-diver-indie-game-geoff-keighley-debate-1851049334 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=[[Kotaku]] |language=en}}</ref> Mintrocket stated that it is not an indie studio<ref name="gametoc">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-20 |title=[인터뷰] 데이브 더 다이버에 담긴 '넥슨의 초심' |trans-title=[Interview] 'Nexon's original intention' contained in Dave the Diver |url=https://www.gametoc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=69776 |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=게임톡 |language=ko}}</ref> and Taehwan Kim, Vice President of Nexon's New Development Headquarters, which oversees the Mintrocket brand,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-06 |title=프라시아·데이브 지휘 '김대훤' 부사장, 넥슨 떠난다 |trans-title=Vice President Kim Dae-hwon, led by Prasia and Dave, leaves Nexon |url=https://www.etnews.com/20231106000358 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=전자신문 |language=ko}}</ref> has stated that ''Dave the Diver'' "may look like an indie, but it's not necessarily the case".<ref name="gametoc" />
Several commentators and publications have referred to the game as an indie game. When the game was nominated for the "Best Indie Game" category at [[The Game Awards 2023]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fanelli |first=Jason |date=November 13, 2023 |title=The Game Awards 2023 Nominees Announced, See Them All Now |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-game-awards-2023-nominees-announced-see-them-all-now/1100-6519120/ |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=[[GameSpot]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Golden Joystick Awards]] 2023,<ref name="golden joystick winners" /> criticism was raised over the game being labeled as "indie"; ''The Gamer'' arguing that "''Dave the Diver'' couldn't be less independent".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=2023-11-17 |title=Should facts or vibes determine whether an 'indie game' is really indie? |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/indie-game-debate-dave-the-diver/ |access-date=2023-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sledge |first=Ben |date=2023-10-09 |title=Does It Matter If ''Dave The Diver'' Is An Indie Game Or Not? |url=https://www.thegamer.com/dave-the-diver-indie-game-mintrocket-nexon/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=January 2024}} [[Geoff Keighley]], organizer of The Game Awards, said "independent can mean different things to different people and it's sort of a broad term, right?"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winslow |first=Levi |date=2023-11-27 |title=TGA's Geoff Keighley Weighs In On ''Dave The Diver'' Nomination Controversy |url=https://kotaku.com/tgas-dave-the-diver-indie-game-geoff-keighley-debate-1851049334 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=[[Kotaku]] |language=en}}</ref> Mintrocket stated that it is not an indie studio<ref name="gametoc">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-20 |title=[인터뷰] 데이브 더 다이버에 담긴 '넥슨의 초심' |trans-title=[Interview] 'Nexon's original intention' contained in Dave the Diver |url=https://www.gametoc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=69776 |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=게임톡 |language=ko}}</ref> and Taehwan Kim, Vice President of Nexon's New Development Headquarters, which oversees the Mintrocket brand,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-06 |title=프라시아·데이브 지휘 '김대훤' 부사장, 넥슨 떠난다 |trans-title=Vice President Kim Dae-hwon, led by Prasia and Dave, leaves Nexon |url=https://www.etnews.com/20231106000358 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=전자신문 |language=ko}}</ref> has stated that ''Dave the Diver'' "may look like an indie, but it's not necessarily the case".<ref name="gametoc" />


===Awards ===
===Awards ===

Revision as of 03:39, 9 March 2024

Dave the Diver
Developer(s)Mintrocket
Publisher(s)Mintrocket
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)
ReleasemacOS, Windows
June 28, 2023
Nintendo Switch
October 26, 2023
PS4, PS5
April 2024
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Dave the Diver is a video game developed and published by Mintrocket. It was released for macOS and Microsoft Windows in June 2023 following an early access release in October 2022.[2] A Nintendo Switch version was released in October 2023[3][4] and a version for PlayStation consoles will be released in April 2024.[5] Dave the Diver combines elements of management, action-adventure, and role-playing video games.

Players control Dave, a hard-working diver, as he collects fish, completes quests, and manages a sushi restaurant, with gameplay encompassing exploration, restaurant management and boss fights. During the day, players explore the ocean, while at night, they run the sushi restaurant, with the day's catch affecting the restaurant's menu offerings.[6] Income earned from the restaurant can be spent to enhance Dave's diving gear and weapons or to employ and train staff for the efficient management of the restaurant.

Gameplay

Later in the game, players can unlock the ability to dive at night.

Players primarily control Dave, a deep sea diver who is talked into managing a sushi restaurant and supplying it with the fish they need. He fishes at a spot called the Blue Hole whose geography and fauna change daily. Players can collect resources to upgrade or craft new items for Dave to use, such as diving gear and weapons to use in boss fights against giant underwater creatures.[7] Dave's air supply is decreased faster as he becomes overburdened, and he becomes more susceptible to predators, such as sharks. Being defeated in combat causes Dave to drop all his cargo except one item as he is rescued.[8]

Dave is asked by others to perform various favors, quests, for them involving exploration, research, or finding rare items. As players retrieve items lost at sea, they can use Dave's contacts in his cell phone to find buyers. Dave can go diving twice a day, once each during the morning and afternoon;[7] later in the game's progression the ability to dive at night is unlocked. In the evening, he manages the sushi restaurant. Players can unlock recipes to cook, attract influential customers, renovate the restaurant by adding decorations, hire employees, and more.[7] An in-game app called "Cooksta" keeps track of the restaurant's popularity and rating and can unlock further upgrades. In addition to the main gameplay modes, there are also a number of minigames unlocked through the course of the story, including a rhythm game and Tamagotchi style app. The graphical style uses pixel art.[9]

Plot

The game follows Dave, a diver who is approached by his friend Cobra into starting up a sushi restaurant venture with the skilled chef Bancho. Setting up location at the Blue Hole, a spot said to contain fish from all over the world, Dave is tasked with fishing for ingredients during the day and helping Bancho with the restaurant at night. During his escapades, Dave comes across a race of sea people and learns that the frequent earthquakes occurring on the Blue Hole are happening because something is affecting the energy crystal that keeps the sea people alive.

Development

Dave the Diver was first announced as a mobile game in 2018 by Nexon Mobile subsidiaries NeoPle and Studio 42, and as a collaboration with National Geographic, "made to bring awareness to all the beauty the ocean has and how it's slowly fading away".[10] Those plans changed, and it became the first game from the Mintrocket subsidiary of Nexon. The initial concept came from a real-life pub on Jeju Island. The owner is a diver who fishes during the day and runs the pub during the night. The more fantastical elements were inspired by the manga Blue Hole. Mintrocket found it challenging to balance the game's various mechanics so no particular gameplay element becomes repetitive. They said they resolved this through trial and error during early access.[11] It entered early access in October 2022, and Mintrocket released it for macOS and Windows on June 28, 2023.[12] An update in August improved accessibility support, allowing people to bypass quick-time events, among other quality-of-life improvements.[13]

A free DLC released on December 2023 included crossover content from Dredge, which adds a fog weather event where the player can dredge for valuable items, as well as a new weapon.[14] A second free DLC to be released on May 2024 will include crossover content from Godzilla,[5] with further content updates planned in the future.[15]

A physical edition, published by Arc System Works, will be released on Nintendo Switch on May 2024 and will include crossover content from Guilty Gear Strive.[16]

Reception

Dave the Diver received "universal acclaim" based on 44 critic reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[17]

Praising the game's complexity, yet calling it "utterly relaxing", PC Gamer's reviewer said it already made his shortlist for game of the year as of June 2023.[7] Destructoid called the gameplay "engaging", and said the story was "silly, yet endearing".[19] IGN labeled it as an editors' choice and said it is "wholesome, wonderfully complex, and delightfully hard to put down".[8] Eurogamer said it was "wholesome, harmonious, and completely unwilling to settle", calling it one of the most generous games in years.[20] Game Informer praised it for being able to handle being both an exploration experience and management sim and said it was a "unique and memorable vacation away from expectations".[21] Polygon said its myriad minigames comes together unexpectedly well, anchored by well-made cutscenes.[24] Cutscenes were further praised by players for its style and humour.[25] VideoGamer.com said "there's always something to do" without it ever seeming like busy work, which they called "refreshingly different" from the games as a service model.[26] GamesRadar+ called it "a smash-hit success story".[27] Several major publications included it on their 'best games of 2023' rundowns, including ReadWrite, Game Rant, The Guardian and The Verge.[28]

Two days after its release, Dave the Diver was the fifth best-selling product on Steam. It had sold over one million copies within ten days of release,[29] and three million copies by January 2024.[30]

Indie label controversy

Several commentators and publications have referred to the game as an indie game. When the game was nominated for the "Best Indie Game" category at The Game Awards 2023[31] and Golden Joystick Awards 2023,[32] criticism was raised over the game being labeled as "indie"; The Gamer arguing that "Dave the Diver couldn't be less independent".[33][34][unreliable source?] Geoff Keighley, organizer of The Game Awards, said "independent can mean different things to different people and it's sort of a broad term, right?"[35] Mintrocket stated that it is not an indie studio[36] and Taehwan Kim, Vice President of Nexon's New Development Headquarters, which oversees the Mintrocket brand,[37] has stated that Dave the Diver "may look like an indie, but it's not necessarily the case".[36]

Awards

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2023 Golden Joystick Awards Best Indie Game Nominated [32]
PC Game of the Year Nominated
Best Game Trailer (Accolades Trailer) Nominated
The Game Awards 2023 Best Independent Game Nominated [38]
The Steam Awards Sit Back and Relax Won [39]
2024 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Adventure Game of the Year Nominated [40][41]
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Story Nominated
24th Game Developers Choice Awards Game of the Year Pending [42]
Best Debut Pending
Best Design Honorable mention
Innovation Award Honorable mention
Audience Award Pending
20th British Academy Games Awards Best Game Pending [43]
Debut Game Pending
Family Pending
Game Design Pending
New Intellectual Property Pending

Manga adaptation

A manga adaptation illustrated by Shinnosuke Tsuchida began serialization in the September 2023 issue of Shogakukan's children's manga magazine Monthly CoroCoro Comic on August 12, 2023.[44]

References

  1. ^ Saver, Michael (December 27, 2022). "Made with Unity: 2022 in review". Unity Technologies. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "DAVE THE DIVER - 'DAVE THE DIVER' Official Early Access Announcement - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. August 24, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  3. ^ Peters, Jay (October 25, 2023). "Dave the Diver is one of the year's best games, and it's still great on Switch". The Verge. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
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