DAVE THE DIVER is trading ocean depths for dense jungle canopy. MINTROCKET dropped a live-action trailer this week for the upcoming In the Jungle DLC, and it does exactly what you'd expect from a game that built its entire personality on absurd charm: real actors, oversized animals, and Dave looking completely out of his depth on dry land.
The DLC launches on June 18, which at this point is just days away.
New Utara Lake biome
What the trailer actually shows
The live-action footage follows Dave and his crew squaring off against a giant crocodilian that has been terrorizing a jungle village. The wildlife in the area has apparently gone berserk, and that sets up the DLC's central conflict. It's played completely straight-faced, which makes it funnier.
Beyond the trailer's theatrical setup, there's a proper gameplay preview baked in. The new Utara Lake biome features mangrove trees and tropical fish species you won't find in the Blue Hole. Sunken ruins sit below the surface alongside new enemy types, including one creature with jaws that make the croc look tame, and a fish that spins into a devastating attack. You'll want to keep your distance from that one.
The In the Jungle DLC can be wishlisted on Steam right now under the title "DAVE THE DIVER: In the Jungle Content Pack."
Land activities go well beyond fishing
Here's the thing about In the Jungle: the surface content looks just as packed as the underwater sections. The trailer reveals a photography mechanic, a drumming rhythm minigame, and a chase sequence involving a massive boar that gives serious "wrong turn in the safari" energy.
There's also a small green creature that bears more than a passing resemblance to Om Nom from Cut the Rope, which is either a coincidence or a very deliberate wink at mobile gaming nostalgia. Either way, it fits right into DAVE THE DIVER's habit of sneaking unexpected references into its world.
The DLC also adds time management and relationship-building systems, borrowing from the same loop that made games like Stardew Valley so compulsive. Managing your day between diving, cooking, and now jungle exploration sounds like it could stretch the already generous runtime of the base game considerably.
Jungle rhythm minigame
Why this DLC matters for returning players
DAVE THE DIVER launched as one of the most pleasant surprises in recent memory, a game that looked like a small indie but played like something with far more ambition behind it. The Godzilla and Dredge crossover DLCs that followed kept the game in conversation well past its initial release window, and In the Jungle looks like it's aiming for that same effect.
Swapping the underwater setting for a jungle biome is a genuine structural shift, not just a reskin. New enemy behaviors, new surface mechanics, and a fresh location mean returning players aren't just getting more of the same Blue Hole loop.
For anyone who hasn't touched the base game yet, this is a reasonable moment to finally jump in. The DAVE THE DIVER guide collection has everything you need to get up to speed before June 18.
If you want a broader look at what else is worth playing right now, the full gaming guides hub is a good place to start while the countdown to launch ticks down.
