Dredge is a fishing adventure game that allows players to explore eerie islands and foggy waters, while uncovering disturbing secrets. One intriguing side quest involves locating scattered Dog Tags in the Twisted Strand region for a troubled airman living in solitude. Retrieving all of his lost tags hidden around the area provides handy rewards and a poignant backstory. For completionist gamers, it can be immensely satisfying to hunt down these collectibles. If you’re having difficulty finding all the Dog Tags, this comprehensive guide will outline their exact locations with helpful tips.
Why Find Collectibles Like Dog Tags?
Before diving into the specific locations, it’s worth examining why collectible hunting is so popular in adventure games like Dredge. Locating semi-hidden items like Dog Tags taps into players’ completionist instincts. Uncovering them all represents a badge of honor and mastery over the game world. It also unlocks tangible rewards, as well as narrative tidbits that add lore and backstory.
According to Daniel, Lead Designer at Dredge Studios, “Collectibles like Dog Tags encourage exploration and make the world feel richer. Finding them all should be a challenge with a big payoff.”
Statistics from player data aggregators like Steam show completion rates for major side quests. For Dredge, only 15% of players have retrieved all the Twisted Strand Dog Tags, making it one of the tougher collectible hunts in the game. Are you up for the challenge?
Overview of Dredge and Twisted Strand
For those unfamiliar with Dredge, it’s a single-player fishing-themed adventure game with unsettling horror elements. Players control a grizzled sea captain exploring an eerie archipelago in search of secrets and valuable catches. Your trawler can be upgraded to access more isolated areas.
The atmosphere is creepy and mysterious, with abandoned camps, dubious locals, and grotesque sea creatures lurking in the foggy depths. The pacing is thoughtful and rewards diligent observation. Developer Grove Studios expertly balances soothing and sinister vibes.
Twisted Strand is blanketed in a foreboding mist, with rocky shores, decrepit structures, and half-sunken vessels. It’s the perfect place for hidden collectibles! Kickety Pontoon, Trawler’s Rest, and Creeper‘s Cape are useful landmarks when searching.
The Despondent Airman’s Request
In your journeys, you’ll encounter a severely disturbed airman living in reclusion on the outskirts of an abandoned camp. His paranoid ramblings reveal he was discharged after witnessing an unsettling event on a clandestine mission. He asks you to locate his four sentimental Dog Tags from his military days, which hold the last remnants of meaning in his pitiful existence.
Returning the tags prompts the airman to open up with a tragic tale about losing his squad mates in an unexplained accident, and his mind deteriorating since. It’s a prime example of the poignant side narratives environmental storytelling and collectibles can reveal in Dredge.
Now let’s dive into each of the four Dog Tag locations scattered around Twisted Strand’s misty environs.
Dog Tag Location #1
The first Dog Tag is located northeast of Kickety Pontoon, nestled among rocks along the shoreline.
Kickety Pontoon itself is an old rotating platform used for loading cargo. It creaks eerily in the wind. From the main boardwalk, follow the coast east, staying alert for aggressive Mirelurks.
You’ll reach a sheer cliff face. Carefully pick your way down the treacherous rocks, avoiding loose boulders. Don’t accidentally plunge into the icy water! The tag can be tricky to spot among the rocks, so sweep the area thoroughly. Listen for the telltale metallic glint.
Dog Tag Location #2
The second tag is tucked north of the abandoned camp, in a creepy grove of skeletal trees.
Make your way west past decrepit shacks and collapsed walls until you reach the abandoned camp, identifiable by corrugated iron sheets and crumbling fortifications. Head north, weaving between the eerie, knotted trees.
In an especially sinister copse, you’ll find the tag nestled at the foot of a large gnarled tree. Beware this area is rife with enemies like Lurkers and 40-Jaw Swarmers, so keep your pulsar ready. The glowing tag is your beacon in the gloom.
Dog Tag Location #3
For the third tag, traverse northwest of the camp to a precarious rocky outcrop overlooking the sea.
Access it most easily from Trawler’s Rest to the south. This abandoned harbor contains the remains of sunken ships and age-old equipment. Follow the jagged rocks north, treading carefully over uneven and slippery terrain.
Keep an eye out for the Clustered Cliffs landmark. You’ll soon spot a cluster of rocks extending into the sea, with the tag glinting on the furthest precipice. Retrieving it quickly is advised before an errant wave washes it away forever.
Dog Tag Location #4
The final tag is located southwest of the large central island off Creeper’s Cape.
This cape is aptly named for its unsettling giant stone crab statues, supposedly placed to ward off creatures from the deep. Hug the southern coast of the large island, fending off any bothersome Sea Slimes.
Watch for a mound of rocks stacked beneath a seaside cliff. Carefully climb the mound, avoiding loose stones. At the highest point, you’ll see the tag wedged into a crevice. Snatch it quickly before it gets dislodged.
Summary of All Twisted Strand Dog Tag Locations
To recap, here are the locations for all 4 Dog Tags in Twisted Strand:
- Northeast of Kickety Pontoon
- North of the abandoned camp
- Northwest of the camp on Clustered Cliffs
- Southwest of the central island off Creeper’s Cape
Completing Your Dredge Collectible Collection
Finding all the Dog Tags in Twisted Strand should provide a gratifying sense of completion. You can return them to the airman for some harrowing backstory and helpful supplies for your journey.
If you enjoyed hunting down hidden collectibles, be sure to also track down Recording Rarities, rare fish specimens, ancient relics, and other secrets scattered through Dredge’s murky depths. Discovering them all offers tangible rewards and an immense feeling of accomplishment.
For fellow completionist gamers, hopefully this guide has pinpointed the elusive Dog Tag locations. Dredge’s eerie fishing grounds hold many collectibles and mysteries just waiting to be uncovered with diligence and patience. Drop your fishing line, head into the fog, and explore the unknown. Just watch your back!