This article was produced in collaboration with Valnet Inc's sponsor, Dear Villagers.
February’s Steam Next Fest featured a number of new release announcements for players to get excited about, but few as harrowing as the trailer for Dive or Die: Children of Rain. Developed by an indie team of just two Parisians, this 2D Lovecraftian underwater roguelite tasks players with taking a very deadly gamble into the depths of the Abyssal Pool, every single day, in the hopes of maintaining a slim chance of survival from impending doom.
Scheduled for a Q2 release this year, Dive or Die: Children of Rain drenches players in a terrifying Lovecraftian world, where the threat of Black Rain, which turns those exposed to it insane, constantly niggles in the back of your mind. You must face the unknown horrors below in a bid to delay the return of the Rainmaker and its civilization-ending floods.
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Dive or Die Blends Lovecraftian Lore With Horror & Time Pressure
With the help of your guide, Jack, players are tasked with managing humanity’s last refuge and chance of survival, all while tackling Eldritch horrors in the Abyssal pool, in search of invaluable resources. The stakes are high with every dive, as you struggle to balance oxygen levels, sanity, and ward off the advances of unknown creatures, while the 40-day countdown to the Rainmaker’s arrival continues to tick over.
The game is split into two distinct components, both of which feel like their own separate gaming experiences. The most significant of these is diving, which accounts for around 70-80% of gameplay. This involves players plunging into the depths, collecting as much loot as they can, while their oxygen tank permits it, and avoiding the terrifying flora and fauna below. Death is everywhere in this game, adding a risk vs reward component. Is it worth risking everything you have for those extra materials?
The second component of the game is base management, as you attempt to build up a safe haven from the nightmare beyond its boundaries. As new villagers arrive, either to replace fallen comrades or as new additions to a growing settlement, players will be able to assign them tasks, in a bid to keep everyone alive and safe. Difficult decisions need to be made for the greater good, which adds to the pressure of success.
Dive or Die: Children of Rain is Now Live On Steam
To add a sweetener to this anything-but-sweet game, you won’t need to anticipate this game for months on end before its release. In fact, the game is almost ready to be dropped, so players will only need to wait until the second quarter of the year to get their hands on it.
Players intrigued by indie action thrillers can now wishlist Dive or Die: Children of Rain on the game’s official Steam page, or find out more information on the project via the game’s official site.