Dave the Diver is one of my favorite games to come out of the last few years, and though it's been on Nintendo Switch and other handheld consoles for some time, I always wondered about the potential for a mobile version. As an action-adventure game that blends genres seamlessly with management of your pal's sushi restaurant, I think of all the joy that a pocket Bancho could give me, regaling me with tales of his sushi dreams. Well, I won't have to wait much longer, as Dave the Diver is officially coming to mobile in 2026.
The mobile version will first release in China, since Dave the Diver's developer, Mintrocket, is working with the Chinese mobile game company XD to bring the iOS and Android versions to life. After that, the rest of the world will get their hands on it, though it's unclear right now exactly when. Don't worry - you won't be waiting too long, as Mintrocket assures us that we will definitely get to play it in 2026.
If you haven't played Dave the Diver already, the game follows the titular character as he scuba-dives down to catch fish and sharks for the sushi restaurant he helps run nearby. As you dive, you start to realize that not all is as it seems in the deep sea, as there are strange happenings, including bosses who reveal treasure, mysterious caverns filled with cave art, and even a mysterious society of mermaid people - though to say more would be a spoiler.
On the surface, you then present your catches for the day to Bancho, the sushi master who dreams up his recipes and runs that restaurant like the navy. Serve customers, pick out today's menu, and decorate your diner with the profits - plus, you eventually unlock the ability to cultivate and breed your own fish. If this doesn't sell the game to you, I truly don't know what will.
The mobile version promises something special. Mintrocket says, "Dave the Diver on mobile won't be a simple port. Instead, the game will be fully optimized and redesigned to perform seamlessly on mobile." Exciting stuff, and one of the new features that I think looks particularly cool is the use of motion controls to pour tea while serving customers at the sushi restaurant. Hopefully, the experience will be as smooth as the developer suggests.
There's something for everyone, even if Dave the Diver mobile doesn't appeal to you. Those who play on other platforms, like the Nintendo Switch, will have the opportunity to grab the previously announced 'In the Jungle' DLC soon. You can join Dave in new area Utara, which offers ten hours of new content in the "largest story expansion yet", freshwater lake diving, a new restaurant, new weapons, and new minigames, alongside a rejig to some of the diving and restaurant mechanics from the main area. There's still no word on an exact release date, but we're sure something will crop up imminently.