Dave the Diver – In the Jungle DLC Review

Dave has finally left the Blue Hole behind and somehow ended up in a DLC that feels suspiciously like a sequel wearing a $9.99 price tag. In the Jungle isn’t a small add‑on or a themed side dish; it’s a full‑course expansion that reshapes how you explore, how you cook, how you fight, and even how you move around the world. It’s bigger, stranger, warmer, and occasionally weirder than anything Mintrocket has done with the game so far.

And yes, it’s still very, very Dave.

The setup is classic Diver chaos: a prehistoric creature washes up near the remote jungle village of Utara, and Dave’s crew is immediately roped into investigating. What follows is a surprisingly cinematic arrival sequence that sets the tone, this is not a bolt‑on DLC, it’s a continuation of Dave’s story.

Utara Village becomes the beating heart of the expansion. It’s fully explorable in an isometric layout, packed with over 30 new characters, each with their own quirks, jobs, and preferences. The DLC treats the village with respect, Dave and Bancho are guests, not conquerors and the writing leans into community, tradition, and the awkwardness of outsiders trying to fit in.

It’s charming, funny, and unexpectedly cosy.

Utara Lake introduces a brand‑new freshwater ecosystem, and it’s gorgeous. Sunlight filters through the water, crocodiles lurk in the reeds, electric eels coil in the shadows, and giant sturgeon patrol the depths like underwater freight trains.

The diving loop remains as satisfying as ever, but the new Jungle Gun is the real star, a four‑mode combo weapon that lets you switch between netting, sniping, shotgun blasts, and basic rifle fire on the fly. Each mode has its own upgrade tree, making it feel like a proper toolkit rather than a gimmick.

And yes, you can still return to the Blue Hole whenever you want. The DLC never walls you off.

Bancho Sushi’s ocean‑to‑table rhythm gets a jungle‑flavoured remix with Bancho Grill, a new restaurant built around fresh ingredients, smoky flavours, and the delicate art of not offending the village chief.

Running the grill is more involved than the original restaurant. You physically navigate the space, manage tables, craft furniture, and serve villagers who won’t even show up until you’ve earned their trust. It’s a clever twist on the original formula that's familiar enough to feel comfortable, but different enough to feel fresh.

Mintrocket didn’t hold back. The DLC introduces:

• Bug catching

• Beetle battles (yes, Rock‑Paper‑Scissors beetle fights)

• Forest exploration

• Platforming temple sections

• Turn‑based combat

• Furniture crafting

• Lizard hunting

• A whole relationship system

• A new music collection mechanic

• Cameos and easter eggs everywhere

It’s a lot—but it’s paced well. Systems unlock gradually, giving you time to breathe between each new layer of chaos.

Pros

• Feels like a mini‑sequel, not a small DLC — new region, new systems, new story, new restaurant, new characters.

• Utara Village is a standout addition with personality, warmth, and a proper sense of community.

• Freshwater diving is genuinely fresh thanks to new biomes, new fish behaviours, and great creature variety.

• Jungle Gun is a brilliant upgrade — four modes, meaningful progression, and smooth switching mid‑dive.

• Bancho Grill adds depth with table management, furniture crafting, and relationship‑based customer flow.

• Lots of new mechanics (bug catching, beetle battles, forest exploration, temple platforming, turn‑based encounters) that expand the game’s identity.

• Strong visual and audio direction — lush jungle palette, atmospheric temples, and a great soundtrack.

• Boss fights are clever and accessible, with forgiving retry systems that keep frustration low.

• Hours of content for a low price, making it one of the most generous DLCs in recent memory.

Cons

• Turn‑based combat is the weakest new system, breaking the game’s usual rhythm and feeling repetitive.

• One late‑game sequence leans into gross humour that may put off some players.

• The DLC introduces a lot at once, and some players may find the number of systems overwhelming.

• Bancho Grill progression can feel slower due to relationship gating and village‑specific requirements.

• Occasional pacing dips during long jungle treks or multi‑step quest chains.

In the Jungle is the kind of DLC we don’t get anymore, substantial, thoughtful, and bursting with new ideas. It respects the original game, expands its world, and delivers hours of fresh content without losing the charm that made Dave the Diver special.

It’s not perfect, but it’s absolutely worth diving into.

XPN Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (GOLD)

In the Jungle DLC is out now!