Is DREADMOOR a Sequel to DREDGE?

Developed by Dream Dock, DREADMOOR is a horror fishing game that openly acknowledges DREDGE as one of its inspirations. However, the developers say DREADMOOR is intended to take the concept in a different direction, with first-person gameplay, land-based exploration, combat, crafting and a post-apocalyptic setting.

Is DREADMOOR Connected to DREDGE?

Despite surface similarities, DREADMOOR is not an official sequel, spin-off or continuation of DREDGE. The two games are being developed by different studios, with DREDGE created by Black Salt Games and DREADMOOR developed by Dream Dock. There’s also no indication that the games share a fictional universe or that DREADMOOR continues the story of DREDGE.

The confusion is understandable, however. When DREADMOOR was first revealed in April 2025, its trailer featured fishing, strange sea creatures, a boat-based inventory system and other elements that were strongly reminiscent of DREDGE. Dream Dock itself didn’t hide the connection, describing DREADMOOR in its original press material as a first-person DREDGE combined with elements from games including Resident Evil, Metro Exodus, Pacific Drive and Fallout.

Dream Dock has since been more explicit about the distinction between inspiration and direct continuation. In an interview with this writer, the developers thanked the team behind DREDGE and acknowledged that the game had inspired DREADMOOR, but said their project was heading in its own direction.

The studio also argued that many of the underlying mechanics associated with DREDGE existed before Black Salt Games’ title and that DREDGE “became so popular that it basically kicked off its own subgenre – a “DREDGE-like” if you will. And now we’re seeing more and more titles in that space. Maybe we even helped push that trend a bit.”

How Is DREADMOOR Different From DREDGE?

The developers have pointed to several differences intended to give DREADMOOR its own identity. For starters, it’s played from a first-person perspective and allows players to leave their boat and explore locations on foot. It features crafting, consumables, gathering tools and combat, while its story takes place in a flooded, post-apocalyptic world affected by nuclear war and radiation.

This means DREADMOOR is being positioned as a more conventional first-person survival horror adventure than DREDGE. The developers have cited deeper narrative elements, a more linear story, cutscenes, radiation, combat and a larger selection of mechanics as ways the game will differ from its inspiration.

DREADMOOR’s similarities to DREDGE have nevertheless remained a major part of the discussion surrounding the game. Players on Reddit and Steam have pointed to similarities involving the boat, fish, aberrations and inventory systems, while some questioned whether the project was too heavily inspired by Black Salt Games’ title.

Dream Dock has said “We took the early feedback seriously. The reveal trailer showed a very early version of the project, and since then, a lot has changed. In our opinion, for the better. The game became more atmospheric, more immersive, and deeper overall.”

DREADMOOR is currently planned for a Q4 2026 release on PC, with Digital Vortex serving as publisher. Players can see for themselves how DREADMOOR isn’t a sequel to DREDGE through an open playtest between Sept. 10-14 via Steam.