DAVE THE DIVER: In the Jungle review

It was around three years ago now that we were introduced to Dave, one of the most ridiculously named protagonists in gaming history. I didn’t know what to expect from Dave the Diver pre release, but what I got was a game that just kept growing and expanding in wild and wonderful ways. The loop of harpooning fish and serving them up at a sushi restaurant was intoxicating, and the tasty seafood theme appealed to me on an almost primal level. It was easily one of the best games of 2023, and when I heard DLC was coming I was rather reasonably excited. Dave the Diver In The Jungle is practically a full game in its own right, with as much ludicrous variety as the base game.

After completing the original adventure and gathering all the best fish from the roguelike water hole, Dave has a visitor. It turns out there’s another constantly changing fishing location deep in the jungle, and with the help of his friends Dave is more than happy to put the wetsuit back on. This more lush and tree filled location is inhabited by tribes who don’t usually love visitors, but Dave and Bancho reckon that a tasty restaurant could help change that. There are plenty of fun characters to get to know in this DLC with stories attached to them, like the UFO investigators and the budding musician, and they all help make this feel like more than a chunk of optional content.

As you’d expect from more Dave the Diver, In the Jungle features a significant amount of diving. It took me a while to get used to how this works thanks to a few years away from underwater exploration, but after a few dips it all came flooding back. As well as all your trusty gear like the harpoon and machete, you have a special jungle gun to use in this new location. It’s basically four water firearms in one, with modes you can switch between for sniping, shotgunning and netting various fish. It’s a really handy bit of kit that makes restocking your ingredients a breeze, and helps deal with all sorts of prehistoric freshwater foes.

The water in the jungle is a little different to the ocean, and full of deadly toxins. This means you need special equipment to get deeper, and this means grabbing some upgrades. You’ll need to find materials for this, and of course grab some cash too. This is where working in the restaurant comes in, which is fairly similar to the base game. The main difference comes in slightly different dishes and drinks you’ll have to serve, like coconut milk and skewers complete with mechanical and mini game shake ups. This slightly cosier side of the game is as enjoyable as ever, and only grows as you progress.

There are loads of different ways to improve and upgrade your restaurant to maximise profits, but one of the most important is just making connections with the locals. The more side quests you do for the jungle residents the more of them will turn up at the restaurant, and then you’ll rank up and be able to expand your menu and earn more cash. The community side of this DLC is unlike anything you’ll find in the original Dave the Diver, and really brings the setting to life in a fun way.

The sheer variety was always one of the most impressive things about Dave the Diver, and the jungle doesn’t change that in the slightest. It feels like every five minutes something new is added to the game and another tutorial will pop up, and they all layer together in a delightful manner. One moment you’ll be given a net to catch butterflies, the next you’ll be told about decorating your house. It’s almost a bit excessive, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I cannot talk about In the Jungle without mentioning the best minigame of 2026 (and I don’t care what other games release later in the year). Animal Block Stacking is the traditional game of the jungle, and I absolutely love it. You and an opponent take turns dropping different wooden animal sculptures on a platform, and the loser is the first to have a block fall to the floor. It’s a simple game of balance that I just always wanted to play between dives, and with all sorts of fun animals designs to stack it always made me smile.

I had an absolutely wonderful time getting back in the wetsuit with Dave, and this new content really doesn’t have many issues to speak of. Some of the quests and mechanics are maybe a touch less exciting than others, but there’s such a dense amount of content in this chunky piece of DLC that it’s hard to get upset about it. I do also think a little bit of a refresher on how the game works would be nice for those who haven’t played for a while, but this is again a pretty minor complaint.

If you enjoyed Dave the Diver then In the Jungle is an incredibly easy recommendation, bringing an almost entire new game of content to the 2023 gem. The setting and new mechanics ensure it’s absolutely of the same quality as the base game too, and it made me fall in love with Dave all over again.