The algorithm recently recommended a 2D side-scrolling diving indie game to me. It probably noticed I’ve been playing Subnautica 2 lately and figured this was right up my alley. Classic algorithm, haha!
Even though it’s an indie project, the core concepts and gameplay mechanics are incredibly solid. There is a playable demo available right now, with the full release expected sometime in 2026 (though the exact date hasn’t been announced yet). I’ve personally played through the demo, and here are my thoughts.
Used under fair use for commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.
Background Story
It started on a completely ordinary afternoon when black rain suddenly began to fall from the sky.
This wasn’t normal rain. The moment it touched human skin, it caused infection, leading to insanity or death.
The black rain persisted for five long years with no signs of stopping.
It triggered a catastrophic rise in sea levels, completely submerging human civilization, wiping out most of the population, and driving humanity to the brink of extinction.
Then, the true mastermind revealed itself: a colossal, monstrous octopus. It turns out this entire apocalypse was its doing.
To survive, the remaining human survivors have no choice but to dive into the deep ocean. Their goal is to salvage resources left behind by the old world and bring them back to base to keep the final embers of humanity alive.
Core Gameplay
The fundamental gameplay loop centers on diving, gathering resources, returning to base, upgrading or building infrastructure, and then diving back down.
The game blends RPG progression, base building, and resource management into a cohesive experience.
Character Recruitment and Progression
You need to constantly recruit new divers. Each member comes with different stats, such as health, sanity, oxygen capacity, and carry weight, very much like a traditional RPG.
Base Building
The resources you salvage are used to upgrade existing facilities or construct new ones. Every building serves a unique purpose and allows you to assign specific crew members to work there.
Permadeath Mechanic
If a character dies, they are gone for good. Because of this, it is crucial to recruit backup divers ahead of time to keep your operations running if your main squad wipes out.
Story Choices
Random events will pop up during your playthrough that affect the narrative. Your decisions can alter the fate of your crew and potentially the future of all humanity.
Main Buildings (Available in the Demo)
The Diving Deck
This is where you equip your divers and launch your missions. You can outfit your crew with various gear before sending them into the Abyssal Pool to explore.
The Lighthouse
Acting like a tavern in a traditional RPG, new survivors arrive here daily. You can inspect their stats, traits, and maintenance costs before deciding whether to recruit them. It also allows you to send crew members on expeditions, though you must plan carefully, as they might never return.
The Workshop
This is your crafting hub for essential diving supplies. You can craft weapons, backpacks, healing items, and lighting equipment. Proper preparation is vital for survival because the underwater world is incredibly hostile.
The Town Hall
The nerve center of your base, used to manage your entire roster. It features a manual stat-allocation system. When characters level up, you spend points to increase their health, sanity, oxygen, or carry weight, significantly boosting their survival odds.
Keep in mind that even high-level characters can die easily, so extreme caution is always required. You can also dismiss crew members here. Dismissed characters return to the Lighthouse, meaning you can re-hire them later if needed.
As you progress through the game, you can use gathered materials to build additional functional structures like libraries, monuments, and fishing huts.
Exploration and Environment
Do not expect sunny beaches, coral reefs, or colorful schools of fish. Instead, this underwater world is made of submerged urban ruins, floating corpses, and bizarre creatures. The overall atmosphere is mysterious and oppressive, dripping with Lovecraftian cosmic horror.
The game uses a progressive exploration design. The map is divided into multiple distinct zones, and each zone features:
- A unique ecological environment
- Different hostile creatures
- Special rewards
- Giant bosses that look massive, feel incredibly intimidating, and can easily wipe out your team if you make a single misstep
Key Gameplay Tips and Observations
Oxygen is Your Lifeline
Every diver starts with a different oxygen capacity, which can be upgraded over time. Always make sure you save enough oxygen for the trip back.
Health Management
Aggressive creatures lurk in the depths, so keeping your health topped off is absolutely critical.
Unlimited Sprinting (A Standout Feature in the Demo!)
The game includes a dive-boost feature to help you dodge enemies or rush back to safety. Remarkably, it has no stamina limits, meaning you can boost indefinitely. This was a fantastic and welcome surprise for me.
No Minimap Design
The game relies entirely on your ability to memorize paths. When you are deep underwater and running low on oxygen, the lack of a map creates an incredible sense of tension.
The Mysterious Altar Event
During one of my dives, I discovered a strange altar that gave me two choices:
- Do nothing
- Sacrifice your life
After choosing to sacrifice my life, the difficulty of the surrounding enemies seemed to increase. This mechanic definitely left me feeling both surprised and deeply intrigued.
Conclusion
While the overarching framework shares similarities with other survival games, DIVE OR DIE successfully carves out its own identity through its distinct diving mechanics, gripping narrative atmosphere, the constant pressure of permadeath, and genuine strategic depth.
Combined with a polished demo performance and an engaging worldview, this game shows an incredible amount of potential.
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