Dave the Diver, released June 28, 2023, by Mintrocket (Nexon subsidiary), became 2023’s cozy indie darling. The game about diving for fish during the day and serving sushi at night sold over 3 million copies in six months.
Gameplay Loop
By day, Dave explores the Blue Hole’s depths, harpoons fish, discovers underwater mysteries, and photographs sea life. By night, he manages a sushi restaurant: serve customers, upgrade menus, hire staff. The loop combined exploration, resource management, and story progression.
Charm Offensive
Dave the Diver’s pixel-art aesthetics, wholesome humor, and chill vibes made it 2023’s comfort game. The game layered complexity gradually—starting simple but revealing farming, cooking competitions, environmental missions, and boss fights.
Despite being published by Nexon (a massive corporation), Dave the Diver competed as an “indie” at award shows, sparking debates about what “indie” means when huge publishers back small teams.