Sea Sniffers Brings Cozy Creature Collecting to Steam

Blastmode has announced Sea Sniffers, a single-player Steam game that blends relaxed underwater exploration with creature collecting. Revealed through a short trailer on September 10, the upcoming title places fishing, research, treasure hunting, and lighthearted encounters at the center of its pixel-art world. With more than 100 fish and mythical sea creatures to find, Sea Sniffers is positioned as an aquatic alternative to familiar creature-collection adventures.

What Happened: Sea Sniffers Expands the Creature-Collection Formula

Sea Sniffers follows Kiwi and their pet seal, Momi, as they work for Lumira Labs, a research facility focused on discovering unknown marine species. Players will explore underwater areas, catch fish, and record their finds in a Pokedex-style compendium. The game is listed as a creature collector, cozy title, and Metroidvania, with hand-crafted maps intended to support free exploration.

Fishing appears to be the main way players interact with the wildlife. Unlike Dave the Diver, where caught fish are generally connected to the restaurant business, Sea Sniffers uses its creatures for research. The game also includes treasure-hunting side quests, upgradeable fishing equipment, and boats that should expand the player’s ability to explore the ocean.

Why It Matters: A More Relaxed Take on Aquatic Adventure

Sea Sniffers stands out by combining two recognizable ideas without following Dave the Diver’s restaurant structure. Its collecting system is closer to Pokemon, while its underwater setting and cozy presentation recall the atmosphere of a diving adventure. The result could appeal to players who enjoy cataloguing creatures but want a setting built around fishing and discovery rather than traditional battles.

The game also appears to avoid weapon-focused fishing. Most of its catching mechanics are presented as non-violent, although combat has not been removed entirely. In some situations, players may be forced into cartoon-style fistfights with fish. Defeated fish appear to be knocked out rather than killed, reinforcing the game’s comedic tone.

Catching creatures will have progression value beyond simply completing the collection. Sea Sniffers is expected to award new abilities and upgrades through its fish, giving the research loop a direct effect on exploration.

What to Watch Next: Release Plans and the Studio’s Follow-Up

Blastmode currently plans to launch Sea Sniffers on Steam sometime in 2027. PC is the only confirmed platform so far, so console availability remains unconfirmed. Further details about the release window, the full creature roster, and the purpose of the strange creatures teased in the waters have yet to be established.

The project will be Blastmode’s second official release after Mighty Goose, a co-op run-and-gun game that has received very positive reviews on Steam. That earlier title gives players a way to examine the studio’s work while waiting for Sea Sniffers, but it does not yet reveal how extensive the new game’s exploration or progression systems will be.

Key Features to Watch

• More than 100 collectible fish and mythical sea creatures
• A Pokedex-style compendium for registering discoveries
• Freely explorable underwater areas with hand-crafted maps
• Upgradeable fishing tools and boats
• Treasure-hunting quests and comedic, non-lethal fish combat

Sea Sniffers at a Glance

Expert View

Sea Sniffers has a clear identity because its collecting system supports research and exploration instead of treating creatures as battle assets or cooking ingredients. That distinction could help it find an audience among players who like Pokemon-style completion goals and Dave the Diver’s underwater mood but prefer a gentler loop. The biggest question is whether its upgrades, map design, and teased mysteries can provide enough depth beyond filling the compendium. For now, its 2027 Steam release makes it a promising game to wishlist rather than an immediate alternative.