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MINTROCKET has announced Bancho the Chef, a cooking simulation and adventure game prequel to DAVE THE DIVER, which follows a young Bancho as he travels across Asia to learn from master chefs. It will be available for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. A release date was not announced.

“Bancho has long been a fan-favorite character in DAVE THE DIVER, and as a somewhat mysterious personality and highly skilled chef, we knew he was deserving of his own fully realized backstory,” said MINTROCKET head Jaeho Hwang in a press release. “This game is special to our team for many reasons, but most of all, we are thrilled to bring another adventure into the world that our fans love so much.”

Here are the first details, via MINTROCKET:

About

Bancho the Chef is an all-new adventure follows the enigmatic Bancho through his early formative years as an aspiring cook, traveling across Asia to study regional cuisines, refine his craft, and ultimately become the master chef fans know and love. Blending cooking simulation with light RPG progression, Bancho the Chef invites players to step into Bancho’s shoes as he hones his skills through hands-on culinary mastery, ingredient discovery, and restaurant management. Players will journey through vibrant locations such as Japan, Korea, and China, learning authentic dishes, building reputation, and unlocking new techniques through a dynamic gameplay loop that combines story-driven missions with the craft of cooking. At its core, this brand-new experience delivers a satisfying progression system where learning ingredients, serving customers, and completing challenges in each region all contribute to Bancho’s growth. As players expand their culinary expertise, they’ll unlock new recipes, attract more customers, and earn the approval of local masters to advance to new regions, all while uncovering Bancho’s personal journey and connections to the world of DAVE THE DIVER.

Key Features

Cooking Sim Meets RPG Progression – Experience a unique genre mash-up where cooking mechanics, time management, minigames, and strategic restaurant operations are paired with character growth and narrative progression.

Culinary Journey Across Asia – Travel through diverse regions including Japan, Korea, and China, learning authentic recipes and techniques inspired by real life local cuisine.

Dynamic Gameplay Loop – Balance missions, mini-games, exploration, and practice as you progress through regions and master a diverse array of recipes.

Earn Your Local Reputation – Fulfill requests from regional locals by serving the dishes they want, and raise the restaurant’s reputation in each community you visit.

Expanded World and Side Activities – Engage in additional content such as fishing, VIP missions, and more, adding variety to Bancho’s journey.

A Story-Driven Origin Tale – Discover Bancho’s backstory and his connection to the DAVE THE DIVER universe in an all-new narrative-rich adventure which takes place years before the events of Dave The Diver.

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

So, Dave the Diver is a fun game where you are a guy named Dave who catches fish for a sushi restaurant and explores the ocean and nothing weird happens.

That being said.

There are so many other things I could have mentioned to be options for this poll. Not an ad, I just ADORE this insane little game. My top game of 2023 so far for sure.

You ever just get absolutely hooked on a game that it becomes your life for a little while. Like when you're not playing the game you're daydreaming with excitement about playing the game... This was me with Dave the Diver. So I created this cool Slate Serving board and some additional things to round out a little touch of Bancho Sushi life for the real world.

Check out the Bancho Sushi inspired Serving Set (Slate Serving Board + Slate Coaster + Bamboo Spatula) on Etsy.

DAVE THE DIVER marine adventure game developer is working on new platforms such as Linux with Windows PC. Due to the underwater adventure seekers of developer MINTROCKET. Working to make its way onto Steam. MINTROCKET has unveiled its first unique gaming experience with DAVE THE DIVER. Due to release into Early Access later this year. Combining adventure, a little RPG, and splash of tycoon gaming. DAVE THE DIVER plunges players into an oceanic adventure set in a mysterious marine cavern. As they explore the depths of the ocean with Dave, you can uncover the secrets behind the big Blue Hole. Thanks to a recent reply via the Steam Discussions, Linux is indeed an option.

We will keep working on new platforms. Please be patient with us!

Since DAVE THE DIVER is developed via Unity 3D, a Linux port is VERY possible. And even though this is not a full out confirmation. It certainly does imply that MINTROCKET are working in expanding platforms. Rightly so, the gameplay is quite interesting. Check out the trailer below.

DAVE THE DIVER | First trailer

DAVE THE DIVER will be showcased during Steam Next Fest, which takes place from June 13-20. Doing so along with its first ever Demo, letting players get their hands on the game ahead of its early access launch. Which is currently live on Steam. Playable on Linux via Proton.

Variety of gameplay including:

Deep-sea Exploration – DAVE THE DIVER players will dive into a beautiful sea full of numerous fish species. Including giant creatures whose ecology and topography are constantly changing.

Restaurant Management – After the ascent, players can make and sell special sushi dishes. Along with the fresh ingredients they’ve caught. While unning a restaurant and earning money allows players to take their exploration even deeper.

Avoiding Lurking Danger – An unknown creature awaits players in the giant blue hole. While making it important to upgrade equipment along the way in order to keep up defenses.

MINTROCKET has released single-player adventure RPG DAVE THE DIVER – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for Switch 2 via Nintendo eShop. It is available at a launch discount price of $11.99 until November 13, after which it will cost $19.99. Users who own the Switch version can upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition via a free upgrade pack.

The Switch 2 version of DAVE THE DIVER offers higher resolution and improved frame rates over the Switch version. No other changes were made to the content of the game.

MINTROCKET has announced DAVE THE DIVER x Like a Dragon series collaboration downloadable content “Ichiban’s Holiday.” It will launch in April.

The teaser text reads: “Kasuga Ichiban… in the Blue Hole?! Ichiban and bartender of the ‘Survive Bar’ visit the Blue Hole for a relaxing holiday… But trouble always seems to find Ichiban. Join Ichiban and the Blue Hole crew for a wild ride!”

DAVE THE DIVER is available now for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam. It is also available as part of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog.

Watch the downloadable content announcement trailer below.

DLC “Ichiban’s Holiday” Announce Trailer