When I look back at my favorite indies of the last couple of years, it’s impossible for Dredge not to drift right to the front of my mind. If you’re a lover of fishing minigames, Eldritch horrors, or both, it’s a must-play. Now, thanks to Epic Games’ festive generosity, Dredge is free to keep, but only if you’re super speedy.

Starting out as a cozy, serene fishing sim, your initial goal in Dredge is to land some fish that you can sell at the local village to make repairs to your humble boat. However, you will quickly realize that fishing at night is absolutely not advised in this horror game. When the sun goes down, the gently lapping waves and picturesque backdrops transform into a genuinely spooky environment that becomes a hunting ground for some sinister sea monsters.

As a result, you must ensure that you don’t overstay your welcome out on the waves and end each day in the sanctuary of a harbor. Dredge’s world design (and the prospect of finding new species of fish) entices you to explore and venture out into uncharted waters. However, without the right upgrades, your boat may not be able to make it to the more farflung reaches.

Not only are the scares and exploration on point, but the actual fishing in Dredge is super enjoyable. Filling out your compendium with all the species, and some of their corrupted, mutated variants, is super satisfying, and slotting your daily haul into a grid-based inventory system is like a recurring puzzle.

I can’t sing Dredge’s praises highly enough, and right now you can get it for free over on the Epic Games Store. You’ve got to be quick, though – this offer lasts for just 24 hours and ends on Wednesday, December 25 at 8am PT/ 11am ET/ 4pm GMT/ 5pm CET. You can grab this excellent freebie right here.

Alongside Dredge, check out some of the best indie games and best single player games around.

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