Dredge is a pleasant package of lightly melancholic story, delightful aesthetic, and simple mechanics. Dour fishermen and forlorn hermits keep a consistent tone that is lightly dreary and infused with subtle menace. I would have enjoyed Dredge more if there were additional story and more connective tissue between their vignette style stories, and I would point to this as my main complaint with the game. The highlight of the game is the art style, which delighted me at every turn and kept the story from feeling overly oppressive. Lastly, the depth of the fishing and movement mechanics is just enough for the story's length, but I am a completionist, and the fishing became chore adjacent by the time I caught all types of fish.

In short, Dredge is an enjoyable experience that falls short of being a modern indie classic.