Dave the Diver is a cozy casual adventure RPG game that has you fishing and exploring the deep-sea by day and managing the hottest sushi restaurant in town by night. When the game launched three years ago, it did so with rave reviews and more than 5.3 million downloads. Today, Mintrocket has done it again with their first major paid expansion DLC, Dave the Diver: In the Jungle.
This lovingly crafted expansion takes the core loop of the beloved original and transplants it into a vibrant new ecosystem. Leaving the Blue Hole behind, Dave and his crew travel to the jungle to investigate a mysterious phenomenon reported in the village of Utara. Beneath the jungle lake awaits a brand-new ecosystem to explore, along with new missions and discoveries.
In the Jungle is charming, packed to the gills with activities, and introduces enough new mechanics—from turn-based combat to life-sim elements—that it feels less like a DLC and more like a Dave the Diver 2. Sure, a few elements overstay their welcome, but the sheer amount of heart and content on offer makes this an easy recommendation for any Dave the Diver fan.
From the Depths Of The Ocean to the Jungle
When we last left our portly, sushi-obsessed hero, he had conquered the mysteries of the Blue Hole. Now, a new call to adventure sends Dave, Bancho, and the crew to the remote Utara Village in the heart of the jungle.
The reason? Prehistoric creatures are mysteriously washing ashore, and the local lake is in a state of crisis.
As always, Dave’s humble willingness to help anyone in need sets the stage for a story that feels both familiar and excitingly new. It’s a classic Dave the Diver mystery: something is deeply wrong with the local ecosystem, and it’s up to you to dive in, investigate, and, of course, cook up a storm in the process.
What immediately sets In the Jungle apart is its setting. The moment you step off the boat, you’ll notice the shift in perspective. The side-scrolling world of the original is swapped for an isometric view, giving you the freedom to explore the village in all directions. This new way of playing allows you to wander through the village, chat with over 30 new characters, and gather resources like herbs and bamboo. It feels like a clever fusion of Dave the Diver’s signature gameplay with the best elements of a cozy life sim.
Diving Into The Green Hole
The diving loop in In The Jungle will feel instantly familiar to Dave the Diver Blue Hole veterans—harpoon fish, manage oxygen and stamina, and haul your catch back before your oxygen runs dry. But Utara Lake’s waters are far more dangerous. Crocodiles, electric eels, and giant sturgeon patrol the depths, forcing you to stay on your toes. Thankfully, Dave’s arsenal gets a powerful upgrade: the Jungle Gun. This versatile tool packs four weapons into one, letting you switch between a sniper rifle, shotgun, net gun, and assault rifle on the fly, depending on what you’re hunting.
But the biggest surprise is the turn-based combat. When you venture into the dense jungle areas, the game switches to a JRPG-style battle system where you control Dave, Cobra, and other companions. You’ll use skills, manage items, and time your attacks to take down giant spiders and other hostile creatures. While some have noted that these battles can become a bit repetitive, especially against damage-sponge bosses, they add a fresh layer of strategy that breaks up the diving loop nicely. Plus, watching Cobra toss sticks of dynamite at a giant snake is never not hilarious.
One of the biggest changes of the game is that we’re not always in our wetsuit. The jungle holds more than just villages and lakes. From mysterious ancient temples to eerie forests, Dave and his crew’s adventure dives deep into both land and sea. It’s even got more new challenges for you to tackle, like a series of ever-more intricate block-pushing puzzles.
Gameplay: Adding Some Cozy Life Sim Elements
Of course, a new location means new ways to play—and the most significant shake-ups happen far from the water. Time works differently here. In the base game, the clock moves forward only when Dave plunges beneath the waves, but in Utara Village, it flows in real-time as you explore.
Central to this new adventure is the concept of community. The villagers of Utara are wary of outsiders at first, and it’s your job to earn their trust through a new affinity system. By completing tasks, giving gifts, and simply talking to them, you’ll build relationships that unlock new quests, new customers for Bancho’s restaurant, and a deeper understanding of their culture.
That means your days are no longer just about diving expeditions. You’ll farm, fish on land, catch bugs, and gather resources like wood and stone. You might even hunt down a lizard or two for a curious villager. There are more than thirty villagers to meet, each with their own quirks and stories—and the locals won’t visit your restaurant until you’ve put in the work to befriend them.
As the developer explains, they wanted to create a “side story” that focused on a completely different experience rather than piling on fan service. The result is a cast of charming, quirky characters who feel like part of a real community. Dave, with his endearing bashfulness and selfless nature, is the perfect bridge between the player and this unfamiliar world. It’s genuinely heartwarming to see the prickliest of villagers eventually warm up to you and offer a gift.
A Familiar but Fresh(water) Restaurant
Naturally, Bancho isn’t far behind. He sets up Bancho Grill, a new open-air restaurant where he serves up a menu of grilled freshwater fish (because you can’t serve sushi with freshwater fish!). The restaurant management is largely familiar but with some new twists. The isometric perspective adds a new layer of challenge as you navigate around tables and chairs, and you’ll have new tasks like managing a skewer grill.
The loop of diving for ingredients and serving them at night remains incredibly satisfying, and the new recipes and dishes add enough variety to keep the loop feeling fresh.
Life Sim Minigames
In the Jungle also has a fair slew of mini-games and side activities that are as addictive as they are unexpected. You can:
- Manage a collection of beetles in a rock-paper-scissors-style battle system.
- Go traditional fishing with a rod and reel.
- Compete in a block-stacking game that’s simple yet surprisingly moreish.
- Test your rhythm in a Guitar Hero-inspired mini-game with a local musician.
- Hunt birds in a mini-game reminiscent of the classic Duck Hunt.
- Explore a mobile app that lets you use the distance you’ve walked and swum to level up a virtual flower—because of course there’s a tamagotchi-style feature tucked in there too.
The Verdict: A Must-Play for Dave The Diver Fans
Dave the Diver: In the Jungle is everything we would want from a DLC and more. It’s a DLC that respects its roots but doesn’t just give us more of the same; it went bold and gave us new territory and mechanics to conquer. It’s a massive, 10+ hour adventure that introduces so much new content it could easily be mistaken for a sequel.
The shift in perspective, the new combat system, the life-sim elements, and the overwhelming charm make it an essential purchase for anyone who enjoyed the base game. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer looking for a casual cozy, engaging diving experience, this trip to the jungle is one you won’t want to miss.
Rating: 4.9/5
Release Date: 18 June 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1|2 and PC via Steam
[Disclaimer: A review code was provided for this article]
