Indie hit Dredge is getting its own movie adaptation

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Video game adaptations are hot stuff right now, following the runaway success of HBO’s The Last of Us and Amazon Prime’s Fallout series. And the big game train isn’t showing any signs of slowing down either, with a movie version of the indie hit Dredge on the way.

For any of you scurvy dogs who have yet to bask in the open waters of Dredge‘s wonderous world, this 2023 fishing sim sees you trawling the seas around Greater Marrow, in hopes of landing the catch of the day.

What is Dredge?

Setting sail from port in your modest sailboat, Dredge‘s gameplay sees you following a rolling day/night cycle of fishing, selling your stock at the market, crafting upgrades for your vessel, and pursuing ever more exotic species for more money.

This is in itself a great way to spend some time. But, as with all good fishing puns, there’s a catch.

You see, the waters around Greater Marrow’s archipelago are far more treacherous than they first appear, as skulking in the deep depths are monstrous creatures who come out when the sun goes down. And when these behemoths take to the surface, it’s not a good idea to be out on the open seas.

Dredge is a unique game unlike any other. Part chilled-out fishing sim, part Lovecraftian nightmare, it brings the perils of the open sea to life. Making deft use of creepy hallucinatory effects, it has you second-guessing yourself constantly. The intertwining of the mundane and the supernatural makes Dredge a very special type of horror game.

And now, it seems that Hollywood has snagged Dredge on its line, reeled it in, and plans to serve it up on a platter, as a horror movie in its own right.

Dredging the silver screen

Dredge developer Black Salt Games is reportedly working with Story Kitchen, the production company behind the Sonic the Hedgehog movies to bring the eldritch horror of Dredge to life. Tipped to carry a “Sixth Sense on the Water” type vibe, Dredge the movie sounds very promising.

With Black Salt Games committed to working closely with the movie’s production company, we can expect Dredge‘s tense, eerie atmosphere to be preserved. Representatives from Black Salt Games have confirmed the developers are “excited to collaborate with such an experienced studio to bring the world we have created to life and activate the imaginations of audiences worldwide.”

Given that sales of Dredge far exceeded expectations during 2023, with over 1,000,000 copies being sold, this big-screen adaptation seems to have a ready-made audience to lap it up as soon as it lands. And if Story Kitchen manages to nail the atmosphere of the game, Dredge‘s big screen conversion could share the same level of success.

When can we expect Dredge… the movie?

No details have been released yet as to who’s been cast in the movie, or when this particular ship might reach the shore. So for now, we can only speculate who might land the role of Dredge‘s grizzled old sea dog of a protagonist.

But the fact that this indie hit has scored big by hauling in its own movie adaptation is reason enough to celebrate.

And there’s even more good news for gamers who have yet to plunder Dredge‘s treasures, as the base game is currently available with a whopper of a discount. Hoist your mainsail and head across to Steam to hook your copy and enjoy a 30% discount.

Plus, for completionists, you can pick up both Dredge and its DLC, The Pale Reach, in a discounted bundle pack with 33% off the RRP.

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