In The Jungle is a substantial expansion for the million-selling game Dave The Diver, one so large and varied that Mintrocket (Nexon) could have sold it as a standalone game. What adventures await the charming diver in the jungle?
The 'In The Jungle' expansion sees Dave (The Diver) venture onto dry land for the first time, exploring a new jungle biome and freshwater environments teeming with new species of fish, ingredients, friends and foes, and embarking on a host of new adventures alongside his familiar crew of Bancho, Cobra, Dr Bacon and more. Leaving the Blue Hole behind, he and his crew travel to the jungle to investigate a mysterious phenomenon reported in the village of Utara. It all starts with a stranded prehistoric animal being washed up on a lake shore and then exploding. They must find out what is going on there, and in the process clean up the pollution and address the wishes of the villagers.
The DLC is accessible after completing the base game. However, players have the option of starting straight from the In The Jungle DLC without completing the base game first.
Instead of the salty ocean, players dive into a vast freshwater lake, which offers an entirely new ecosystem comprising unfamiliar freshwater fish, new dangers and boss battles. Chef Bancho has also switched things up, swapping raw seafood dishes for grilled freshwater delicacies at his new restaurant, Bancho Grill. This part of In The Jungle mirrors the gameplay of the main game, since underwater fishing works almost exactly the same way. Fortunately, Dave no longer needs to carry multiple weapons as he has the Jungle Gun: a transformable rifle that can be modified into a shotgun, sniper rifle or net launcher as required during combat. Other special weapons are also unlocked as the game progresses. The body of water is deeper than it first appears, inviting exploration and hiding a number of secrets, both big and small. Incidentally, the gameplay at the Bancho Grill is now more complex. Players no longer just walk along behind a counter, but also serve tables scattered throughout the room and complete other objectives and mini-games. And, of course, there are some great cutscenes again.
Dave The Diver - In The Jungle © Mintrocket
Away from the dives, things are quite different and much more varied in the jungle village, even if it does rely on a few tropes here and there. Outside the lake and grill area, Dave can move around the village freely, interacting with all the villagers. There is also a friendship system whereby giving gifts, serving food and doing favours boosts reputation, unlocking new quests, rewards and guests at the grill. This is reminiscent of Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing. On top of that, there’s a wealth of side quests and activities, ranging from collecting butterflies and bug battles à la Pokémon, to fishing, farming (with mutating fruit) and gathering resources. Players can even explore an ancient temple complex. Here, the game transforms into a simple but enjoyable—albeit repetitive—dungeon crawler featuring turn-based combat with upgrades, special attacks and boss battles. All in all, in The Jungle launches with around 10 hours of new story and content, although it isn't quite as in-depth as the main game.
Dave The Diver - In The Jungle © Mintrocket
Daytime operates in real time, which changes the pace of the game. Unlike the main game, the village of Utara runs on a real-time schedule. This detracts slightly from the cozy atmosphere, since you sometimes have to be in a specific place at a specific time. On the other hand, this mechanic makes the village feel more realistic and lively.
Dave The Diver - In The Jungle © Mintrocket
Just like the main game, Dave The Diver – In The Jungle was developed by Mintrocket. Mintrocket was launched in 2022 as a sub-brand of Nexon, adopting a game development approach that prioritises speed and creativity. Their first game, Dave The Diver, was released in October 2022 in Early Access, followed by the launch of the full version in 2023. In September 2024, the Mintrocket studio was formally established as a corporation and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexon Korea. This new structure enables faster decision-making and simplified business procedures, reflecting an approach to developing highly engaging small-scale games for global audiences — a contrast to Nexon's established expertise in large-scale games.
Mintrocket is also working on Bancho the Chef, which was announced at the Sony State of Play on 2 June. This RPG-meets-cooking simulator is set in the Dave The Diver universe. Players will follow Bancho through his early years of culinary exploration, trekking across various regions of Asia to master their cuisines and hone their craft alongside renowned master chefs. In each area, players will find master chefs and work in their restaurants, cooking to serve customers. New ingredients can be collected in each region through a variety of mini-games and events. These ingredients open up opportunities to create new dishes. In addition, Mintrocket has unveiled Godzilla Defense Force: X for Mobile, an upcoming project led by the studio's own Jaeho Hwang. The game is based on its predecessor, which was released seven years ago and amassed a community of over ten million players. It will now be developed from scratch with the full support of the studio. Godzilla Defense Force: X is a strategy management game spanning 70 years of Godzilla history. Players must defend cities worldwide from Kaiju using various bases and weapons. They can battle and eventually summon various Kaiju from the franchise's rich history since 1954 to fight alongside them. On the subject of mobile games, Mintrocket has confirmed that Dave The Diver will launch on the App Store and Google Play in August.
"This expansion has been a long time in the making, and our team is excited to welcome our players back into the world, this time with a freshwater twist. The jungle gave us so much creative room to play with, and we can't wait for players to discover everything we've hidden in there." - Jaeho Hwang, Head of Studio and Game Director, Mintrocket.
Dave The Diver - In the Jungle was released on 18 June 2026 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox and Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 for around €10. Additionally, Silver Lining Direct announced that physical editions for the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 will be available later this year. The Dave The Diver Complete Edition includes all released DLC (including In the Jungle) on one disc/cartridge. There is also a Collector's Edition which includes a Bancho Sushi Restaurant acrylic standee.
Dave The Diver - In The Jungle is a prime example of an expansion; it could easily have worked as a standalone game, titled Dave the Diver 1.5. The content is entertaining and varied, and it builds superbly on the main game. It's simply great!
To coincide with the launch, Mintrocket has released a live-action short film based on the events of In the Jungle. The film was made in collaboration with The Asylum, the creators of Sharknado and Meth Gator, and was directed by Anthony C. Ferrante.
