The "Dave the Diver" "In the Jungle DLC" introduces an expanded friendship system that encourages players to build relationships with the villagers of Utara. It may seem like a secondary activity at first, but raising friendship levels unlocks story progression, increases restaurant profits, and provides valuable rewards throughout the adventure.
Instead of giving random gifts or serving any available meal, players can maximize their progress by learning each villager's favorite gifts and favorite dish ingredients.
This guide covers every confirmed villager preference, explains how the friendship system works, and shares the fastest ways to collect gifts and level up friendships efficiently.
How the Friendship System Works in 'Dave the Diver' In the Jungle
The friendship mechanic revolves around interacting with the 22 villagers living in Utara. Every villager has individual preferences, including a favorite gift and a preferred cooking ingredient.
Giving a villager a random item provides a small friendship increase, but presenting their favorite gift grants a much larger boost. Likewise, serving dishes made with a villager's preferred ingredient at Bancho's Grill results in higher customer tips, making the restaurant more profitable while strengthening relationships.
Friendship levels are also tied to parts of the DLC's story progression, making them an important objective rather than an optional activity.
Villager Favorites Matter To Every Player
Understanding each villager's preferences offers several advantages throughout the DLC.
Benefits include:
- Faster friendship progression
- Larger tips at Bancho's Grill
- More efficient use of gifts and ingredients
- Easier completion of friendship milestones
- Improved story progression
Instead of wasting valuable resources on ineffective gifts, players can focus on collecting the items that produce the greatest rewards.
Complete List of Villager Favorite Dishes and Gifts
Below are all currently confirmed "Dave the Diver" "In the Jungle" villager favorites.
Panutah
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: King Oyster Mushroom
- Favorite Gift: Vintage Wine
Muna
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Electric Eel
- Favorite Gift: Ancient Tablets
Rimbo
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Sockeye Salmon
- Favorite Gift: Black Caiman Tooth
Lathi
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Bamboo Shoot
- Favorite Gift: Pirarucu Scale
Basu
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Piraiba Catfish
- Favorite Gift: Muse Dash Merch
Peneb
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Nile Perch
- Favorite Gift: Sweets
Lipah
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: All Meats
- Favorite Gift: Lizards
Jepun
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Cassava
- Favorite Gift: Tumbler
Uzme
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Giant Snakehead
- Favorite Gift: Coral
Harta
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Giant Freshwater Stingray
- Favorite Gift: Gold Jewelry
Gesang
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Orthoceras
- Favorite Gifts: Comics, Action Figures, Game Consoles
Chandra
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Water Spinach
- Favorite Gift: Pearls
Kinah
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Moonlight Gourami
- Favorite Gifts: Novels, Notebook, Fountain Pen
Meilan
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: To Be Confirmed
- Favorite Gift: Hibiscus
Jaka
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Largemouth Bass
- Favorite Gift: Noise-Canceling Earphones
Bonita
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Black Caiman
- Favorite Gift: Rover Merch
Omila
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: To Be Confirmed
- Favorite Gift: To Be Confirmed
Perak
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: Snake Meat
- Favorite Gift: Sports Balls
Cinta
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: To Be Confirmed
- Favorite Gift: Flute
Eka
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: To Be Confirmed
- Favorite Gifts: Comics, Game Consoles
Saniah
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: To Be Confirmed
- Favorite Gifts: Sweets, Dolls
Bima
- Favorite Dish Ingredient: To Be Confirmed
- Favorite Gifts: Comics, Action Figures, Game Consoles
As additional updates are released, the remaining "To Be Confirmed" preferences may become available.
Shared Gift Preferences Can Save Time
Several villagers enjoy the same categories of gifts, allowing players to maximize efficiency without collecting unique items for everyone.
For example:
- Gesang, Eka, and Bima all appreciate Comics or Game Consoles.
- Peneb and Saniah both accept Sweets.
- Gesang and Bima also share Action Figures as favorite gifts.
Stocking these versatile items allows one shopping trip to benefit multiple friendships.
Best Ways to Get Favorite Villager Gifts
Collecting gifts consistently is one of the easiest ways to increase friendship levels.
Visit Rimbo's Shop Every Day
The most reliable source of gifts is Rimbo's Shop, whose inventory refreshes daily.
Players can regularly purchase:
- Comics
- Action Figures
- Game Consoles
- Sweets
- Household collectibles
- Merchandise
- Everyday gift items
Checking the shop each in-game day helps build a reserve of useful presents before specific villagers request them.
Skipping several shop refreshes may slow friendship progression later in the story when higher relationship levels become mandatory.
Search During Dive Expeditions
Some gifts cannot be purchased consistently and are better obtained while diving.
Items commonly found underwater include:
- Pearls
- Gold Jewelry
- Coral
Complete Side Quests
Villager side quests occasionally reward unique gift items instead of currency or restaurant decorations.
Some friendship milestones also unlock presents that can be regifted to other villagers, creating an efficient chain of relationship progression.
Completing quests early often provides resources that simplify later friendship objectives.
Use Favorite Ingredients to Earn More Tips
Friendship isn't the only reason to memorize villagers' favorite foods.
When villagers dine at Bancho's Grill, preparing dishes using their preferred ingredients increases the tips they leave behind.
Examples include:
- Giant Snakehead for Uzme
- Moonlight Gourami for Kinah
- Sockeye Salmon for Rimbo
- Water Spinach for Chandra
- King Oyster Mushroom for Panutah
Matching meals to customer preferences turns regular dinner service into an effective source of both income and friendship growth.
Best Strategy for Maxing Friendships Quickly
Players looking to reach maximum friendship efficiently should combine several daily routines.
First, check Rimbo's Shop every day to purchase gifts before the inventory rotates.
Second, maintain a mental checklist of underwater collectibles needed during dive expeditions so no opportunities are missed.
Third, prioritize villagers with overlapping gift preferences. Buying one Game Console or Comic can improve relationships with several villagers instead of just one.
Finally, serve favorite ingredients whenever villagers visit Bancho's Grill. This allows players to earn larger tips while simultaneously increasing friendship, making every restaurant shift more rewarding.
Common Friendship Mistakes to Avoid
Many players unintentionally slow their progress by overlooking several key mechanics.
Common mistakes include:
- Giving random gifts instead of favorite items
- Ignoring Rimbo's daily shop refresh
- Selling rare collectibles before checking whether they're favorite gifts
- Forgetting to match dishes with seated villagers
- Delaying side quests that unlock additional rewards
Avoiding these habits makes friendship progression much smoother throughout the DLC.
Build Stronger Friendships and Unlock More Rewards in Utara
Mastering the "Dave the Diver" In the Jungle friendship system makes exploration, restaurant management, and story progression significantly more rewarding.
Learning every villager's favorite gifts, serving dishes made with their preferred ingredients, and keeping Rimbo's Shop stocked with useful presents allows players to strengthen relationships much faster.
You can befriend anyone in the village, but make sure to give them the appropriate gifts to maximize your bond along the way.
