Buying Guide

Dave the Diver Platforms
PC, Switch 2, Steam Deck, PS5 & more — which version is best?

Dave the Diver is available on 8 platforms — from PC and Steam Deck to Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox. But performance, price, and features vary. We tested every version to help you pick.

PC (Steam)

$19.9960fps+ on modern hardware

The definitive way to play. Best graphics, best performance, first to get patches. If you have a PC, this is the platform.

Pros

  • +Best performance — uncapped framerate
  • +Keyboard/mouse or controller support
  • +First to get updates and hotfixes
  • +Steam Workshop mod potential
  • +Cloud saves via Steam Cloud

Cons

  • −Requires a gaming PC or decent laptop
  • −No physical edition available

Nintendo Switch 2

$19.9960fps docked / 40fps handheld

The Switch 2 version is a massive upgrade over the original Switch. 60fps docked, gyro controls, and the sushi bar touchscreen feel like they were designed for this console. Highly recommended for portable play.

Pros

  • +Native Switch 2 port with enhanced visuals
  • +60fps in docked mode — much smoother than Switch 1
  • +Full touchscreen support for sushi bar
  • +Physical cartridge available in limited markets
  • +Gyro aiming for harpoon (optional)

Cons

  • −Slightly lower resolution than PC in handheld mode
  • −Physical copies harder to find outside JP/NA

Nintendo Switch

$19.9930fps (both docked and handheld)

Still a good experience on Switch 1. The 30fps is stable and the pixel art style ages gracefully. If Switch 2 isn't an option, the original Switch handles this game well.

Pros

  • +Perfect fit for the gameplay loop — dive a bit, serve a bit
  • +Full touchscreen support for sushi bar
  • +Physical edition available in most regions
  • +Solid 30fps with rare dips

Cons

  • −30fps cap — noticeably less smooth than PC/Switch 2
  • −Slightly longer load times between dives and restaurant
  • −Lower resolution textures in some areas

Steam Deck

$19.99 (Steam)40-60fps, medium settings

Steam Deck Verified with great performance. Suspend/resume is a killer feature for this game — do a quick dive, suspend, pick up later. The ideal portable experience if you already own a Steam Deck.

Pros

  • +Steam Deck Verified — works out of the box
  • +40-60fps on medium settings
  • +Full controller support pre-configured
  • +Seamless cloud save sync with PC
  • +Suspend/resume fits the bite-sized gameplay loop

Cons

  • −Fan can get loud during extended play
  • −Battery life ~3 hours — bring a charger for long sessions

PlayStation 4

$19.9930fps

Solid last-gen port. 30fps is stable, load times are manageable. If you only have a PS4 and want to play Dave the Diver, this gets the job done.

Pros

  • +Smooth 30fps with no drops
  • +DualShock 4 controller works great
  • +Full trophy support

Cons

  • −Slightly longer load times vs PS5
  • −No PS4 Pro enhancements
  • −No gyro aiming

PlayStation 5

$19.9960fps

The best console experience. 60fps at 4K, DualSense haptics add real immersion, and the SSD makes load times disappear. Tied with PC for the best way to play on a big screen.

Pros

  • +Smooth 60fps at 4K
  • +Near-instant load times via SSD
  • +DualSense haptic feedback (harpoon tension, fish struggle)
  • +Full trophy support
  • +Activity Cards — jump straight into a dive

Cons

  • −No physical edition (digital only)

Xbox One / Series X|S

$19.9930fps (X1) / 60fps (Series X|S)

On Series X|S, this is nearly identical to the PS5 experience. Quick Resume makes it perfect for short sessions. Xbox Play Anywhere is a nice bonus if you also play on PC.

Pros

  • +60fps on Series X|S
  • +Quick Resume on Series X|S
  • +Xbox Play Anywhere (buy once, play on console + PC)
  • +Full achievement support

Cons

  • −30fps cap on Xbox One
  • −No physical edition

macOS

$19.99 (Steam)40-60fps on Apple Silicon

Apple Silicon Macs run this beautifully. If you have an M1 or later, it's a great portable option. Intel Mac owners should temper expectations.

Pros

  • +Native Apple Silicon support (M1 and later)
  • +Solid 40-60fps on M-series chips
  • +Intel Macs supported but lower performance
  • +Cross-save with Steam Cloud

Cons

  • −Intel Macs may struggle — 30fps average
  • −No Mac App Store version (Steam only)

Price Comparison

PlatformPricePhysicalCross-save
PC (Steam)$19.99NoSteam Cloud
Switch 2$19.99LimitedNo
Switch$19.99YesNo
Steam Deck$19.99NoSteam Cloud
PS5$19.99NoPS+ Cloud
PS4$19.99NoPS+ Cloud
Xbox Series X|S$19.99NoXbox Cloud
Xbox One$19.99NoXbox Cloud
macOS$19.99NoSteam Cloud

Final Verdict

Best overall
PC (Steam)— Uncapped framerate, first to get updates, Steam Workshop potential.
Best portable
Steam Deck / Switch 2— Deck has suspend/resume and cloud sync. Switch 2 has 60fps docked + gyro.
Best console
PlayStation 5— 4K 60fps, DualSense haptics, instant loading. The living room champion.
Budget pick
Xbox One / PS4— Still $19.99, stable 30fps. Perfectly playable on last-gen hardware.

Pick Your Platform

Available on Steam, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, and more. All versions are $19.99.

Buy on Steam