Perhaps its greatest strength if it’s remarkable timing, arriving early enough in a year of stellar releases that it was able to make a splash when so many indies of similar caliber flounder. The gameplay loop doesn’t have the same hooks as Dave the Diver—it’s aquatic brother in 2023–but it is still satisfying. A hazard with this type of upgrade system is that the early game can feel sluggish, and the boat does initially pilot like an ox. A few hours and upgrades later and it all feels much more seaworthy. The visuals and mechanics are more limited than expected, but that’s more a problem of comparison and expectation than with the game itself as both are cleverly and pleasantly designed. But it was ultimately the “flavor” of the game that caught me. I’m a sucker for a eldritch story, and the unique spin on it here permeates the game.

If you like the story and want more of it, try John Langan’s novel, The Fisherman.