There are a handful of indie darlings that came out in 2023, with one of the most talked about games of the summer being Dave the Diver. A resource-gathering RPG mixed with a restaurant managing game, this title from MINTROCKET stands out for fun gameplay and a cool art style.

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The concept of Dave the Diver is rather unique, telling the story of how Dave gets a job working at a sushi restaurant and needs to use his scuba diving skills to hunt down fish for various dishes. While there aren't many games quite like it, there are a handful that are worth checking out if players are looking for a similar experience.

Updated April 9, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Dave the Diver is making its way to the PS4 and PS5 on April 16, 2024. Mintrocket produced one of 2023's greatest indie games, and its reputation has only grown as its reach has expanded. Despite sharing ideas with many other projects, this release combines everything in a way that results in a truly one-of-a-kind package. There might not be many games like Dave the Diver out there, but these titles should scratch a similar itch.

1 The Sushi Spinnery

Run The Ultimate Sushi Bar

Dave puts his life on the line to get the best fish possible for his sushi restaurant. While not nearly as stressful as trying to take down a shark, The Sushi Spinnery does put pressure on the player to figure out how to make their sushi bar a must-place to be.

A game by Kairosoft, which has a long history of making a plethora of management simulators, The Sushi Spinnery tasks players with crafting a menu that will most appeal to customers, including introducing unique combinations of ingredients. In addition, players can add a variety of amenities to spice up the joint and enter specific dishes into contests.

2 Spiritfarer

A Different Type Of Sea

From the jump, Dave the Diver is a very silly and upbeat game that is also pretty fast-paced in terms of going back and forth between fishing and restaurant management. Those who are looking for something a bit more laid back and sentimental may enjoy the vibes of Spiritfarer.

As Stella, players are tasked with being ferrymasters for those who have passed on. The main goal of the game is to take care of those aboard the ship and expand the ship to make those accommodations. The game is meant to tug at the heartstrings as players get to know each of these ghosts before saying goodbye to them as they move to the afterlife.

3 Bear And Breakfast

Manage A Bed And Breakfast, Enjoy A Good Story

At the beginning of Dave the Diver, the player learns that Dave has just been a normal diver and has been approached with the idea of running a sushi restaurant. This is a somewhat similar premise of the cozy management game Bear and Breakfast, which is about a bear taking on the role of remodeling and managing an inn located in the forest.

Hank the Bear runs the bed and breakfast with his friends as they look to attract customers and continue to grow the business. However, there is a much deeper story to Bear and Breakfast as an aspect of this game includes Hank learning about some secrets that are hidden in the wilderness.

4 PlateUp!

Co-Op Restaurant Fun

One of the unique aspects of Dave the Diver is that it has a roguelite element when it comes to underwater exploration and fishing. However, these elements somewhat disappear when focusing on simply managing the restaurant. PlateUp! is a roguelite game all about managing restaurants at procedurally-generated locations.

Players are given full control over a single restaurant, being able to select a menu and decorate a restaurant that they feel works best. If they can get through 15 days of service, they'll gain access to a new restaurant that will involve new options and challenges. PlateUp can also be experienced with up to four friends.

5 Moonlighter

Dungeon Crawl To Fill Up A Shop

There is a minimal amount of combat in Dave the Diver, but those who are looking for a more combat-focused RPG that also has some management simulation elements should check out Moonlighter, a game about being an adventurous shopkeeper.

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These recipes will fetch a pretty penny from customers in Dave the Diver.

Setting up shop near a portal into other realms, the player will be tasked with going through difficult dungeons in an attempt to get valuable rewards. These items can then be put up for sale in the shop where players can make money, and then use money received to get stronger to take on steeper challenges.

6 Subnautica

Beautiful Deep Sea Exploration

This recommendation depends entirely on which part of Dave the Diver someone loves. If a player mainly enjoys the restaurant management side of things, they should stir clear from Subnautica. However, if they cannot get enough of swimming through Blue Hole in the hopes of discovering something new, they might very well fall in love with Unknown Worlds Entertainment's 2018 release (and its sequel, Subnautica Below Zero). Now, to be clear, both games handle exploration very differently, and that goes beyond the fact that Subnautica is played from a first-person perspective. However, they both implement an element of mystery and emphasize equipment, albeit in unique ways.

Set on an alien planet, Subnautica opts to leave players to their own devices, encouraging them to explore the deep waters in search of information and tools. The ultimate goal is to learn what happened on this planet while also trying to escape, but the journey is far more enjoyable than the destination. While catching fish is a small part of the equation rather than the main focus, Subnautica's ocean is packed with fascinating creatures, some of which are downright terrifying. The game falls within the survival genre, so players will need to manage a few meters; alternatively, they can opt for one of the secondary modes that remove a couple of these requirements.

7 Abzu

An Underwater Journey

Swimming around the ocean collecting fish can be more meditative than it initially seems. But those who aren't interested in taking out fish or want a break from the constant harpooning and take in the sights may be interested in Abzu.

This ocean exploration game has players swimming with various sea creatures in peaceful environments with the main task of swimming deeper into the ocean. Learn about each of the fish that is around the player while also discovering the remains of an ancient civilization.

8 Overcooked! All You Can Eat

Chefs In A Chaotic Kitchen

During restaurant service in Dave the Diver, players will need to keep customers happy by topping off their tea, delivering sushi on time, and various other tasks during the service. Balancing all of this is reminiscent of Overcooked! All You Can Eat, one of the most chaotic cooking management games out there.

A combination of the first two games in the franchise, All You Can Eat is a level-based game that can be played with up to four chefs per level. The goal of each level is to keep up with making dishes for customers while also dealing with obstacles that are introduced along the way.

9 Cult Of The Lamb

A Dark Cute Roguelite

There are a lot of tone shifts in Dave the Diver, with the game seeming rather chill at some points and then getting intense at others. No other indie game brings that amount of whiplash quite like Cult of the Lamb, a game about a possessed lamb looking to gather followers for its mission.

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Players will receive a Curse when entering a dungeon in Cult of the Lamb, and each one is unique to the different abilities and amount of power.

The roguelite does involve dungeon crawling, intense combat, and boss fights, but after going out on a run, players can return to their camp and look to take care of their followers. This involves setting up new stations, putting followers to work, and even handling conflicts between the followers. The game perfectly blends simulation mechanics with its roguelite action.

10 Dredge

Lovecraftian Fishing

While it doesn't include managing a sushi restaurant, Dredge is yet another 2023 indie that is all about fishing. And unlike Dave the Diver, which is going for a much more comedic tone overall, this exploration game has a Lovecraftian horror twist to it and an overall more serious vibe.

In Dredge, players drive a boat around attempting to find various fish to make a profit on. However, when going out at night, players will discover some unusual fish that will require more research about the secrets of the ocean. This is all while completing quests to advance a story and upgrading to ship to take on longer adventures and bigger fish.

Dave the Diver

Platform(s)

PC , Nintendo Switch , PS4 , PS5

Released

June 28, 2023

Developer(s)

Mintrocket

Genre(s)

Simulation , Adventure