DREADMOOR released on Steam: dark fishing on a trawler in a flooded post-apocalypse

DREADMOOR, a dark first-person adventure from Dream Dock, was released on Steam Early Access on November 9th. The publisher is Digital Vortex Entertainment, and the game itself offers a look at fishing as a way of survival in a world that has almost completely gone under water after a major disaster.

A trawler as a home

Players get a fishing trawler that doubles as transport, storage and workshop. On board, players navigate flooded areas, explore abandoned settlements and ruins, catch unusual fish and collect resources. The loot is used to improve the vessel, so that every successful cast works for the next, longer voyage.

Fishing is not just about calmly reeling in the line. Mutated creatures live in the muddy water and on land, and you will have to fight with them. Night forays pose a separate danger: familiar routes in the dark are no longer safe.

Fishing is just part of the gameplay loop. Early access already includes crafting survival equipment, searching for rare blueprints, experimenting with bait, and preparing a trawler for new expeditions. Judging by the description, the game is built around the loop of “caught — dismantled — upgraded — moved on”.

Reviews and plans

At the time of writing, DREADMOOR had 74% positive reviews on Steam - however, based on only 27 reviews. The first buyers praise the visual style, concept and atmosphere, note that the release build runs noticeably better than the demo, and the fishing itself turned out to be exciting. Criticism concerns the writing and dialogue, which need more work, as well as minor visual flaws. Many reviews were written after short sessions, so it is too early to draw final conclusions.

According to the developers, the game will be in early access for six to twelve months. During this time, Dream Dock promises: