Dave the Diver

Dave the Diver is one of the most charming, inventive, and compulsively playable indie games in recent memory — a hybrid diving adventure and sushi restaurant management game from MINTROCKET that became a surprise hit of 2023. Dave is a rotund, lovable diver who explores the mysterious Blue Hole by day — catching fish, discovering sunken secrets, and encountering bizarre sea creatures in a gorgeous hand-drawn underwater world — then manages his friend Bancho's sushi restaurant by night, cooking ingredients he harvested during the day. The two halves complement each other perfectly, creating a satisfying loop of exploration, collection, and business management. The diving sections evolve constantly with new biomes, equipment, and story revelations; the restaurant management deepens with staff hiring, recipe research, and viral social media campaigns. Delightfully written, beautifully illustrated, and endlessly surprising. A modern indie classic.