If you skip the fishing, you’re missing out.
Let’s be real. Video game fishing experiences often don’t get the respect they deserve.
Some people hear the words “fishing game” and immediately check out. They mistakenly feel fishing is nothing but slow, boring, cast-and-wait mechanics. But anyone who’s spent enough time digital fishing knows these games can hit different.
From ultra-relaxing mountain escapes to high-stakes PVP fishing, fishing in video games is one of the best-kept secrets in gaming.
It’s time to stop sleeping on the cast.
The Most Ridiculous Fishing Game Moment
One of the most intense and ridiculous moments I’ve ever had in a fishing game happened in Red Dead Redemption 2 Online.
It was midday on the plains when my good friend and fellow outlaw Grimm dragged a deer to meet me back at camp. We were hunting, cooking and stacking gold before venturing into the deep woods.
As the sun started to set, we broke camp and headed north. With the last rays of sunlight, we found a pool of catfish deep in the mountains – absolute monsters. The kind of fish that make you question if you’re playing a western or Monster Hunter.
Wrangling one of these beasts was a battle to write home about. When I finally landed one, it was bigger than myself & we had to make a call:
Keep the three-star deer carcass or replace it with the fish?
You already know the answer.
That catfish was displayed on our ride to the butcher like a damn trophy.
The Best Video Game Fishing Ever (It’s Not a Fishing Game)
Somehow, the best fishing games aren’t even fishing games.
Sea of Thieves, Red Dead Redemption 2, Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing – they all deliver better, more rewarding fishing mechanics than dedicated fishing sims.
How? Because they make fishing feel like it matters.
- Sea of Thieves: You’re in an open world full of danger & fishing is the only thing that might stop you from being boarded.
- Stardew Valley: Fishing is peaceful, rewarding, and damn fun. The icing on a tranquil farming town cake.
- Red Dead Redemption 2: Immersion at its finest. You use different bait, different lures, and decide whether to cook, eat, or sell your fish – oh, and try not to get shot.
I have yet to meet a fishing sim that can capture this magic.
Ever Lost Track of Time Playing a Fishing Game?
Back in the day, on the original Animal Crossing for GameCube, I had one simple goal: catch the legendary Coelacanth.
That day, it was supposed to be a quick session. I figured I’d fish for a bit, pull in a few catches, then move on.
But that’s the lie we tell ourselves.
What started as a quick fishing trip turned into a full evening spent on the beach. Running back and forth, staring at shadows in the water, cursing the sky every time another sea bass flopped out of the water.
The Coelacanth only shows up in the rain, so I was hyper-focused making the most of the bad weather. Before I knew it, hours had passed, music shifted to the late-night tunes, and I’d completely forgotten about my other goals. Forget chatting with villagers, and paying off my debt, I was on the hunt.
IRL, the clock was well past midnight. I saved my game, sat back, and realized I’d done absolutely nothing. To this day, I have not caught that damn fish.
But honestly? It was perfect.
That’s the kind of immersion Animal Crossing fishing delivers.
When you’re in that focus zone? Especially baked, chillin, and not checking your phone every five minutes?
It hits like meditation. Total flow state.
The Best Fishing Mechanics in Any Game
If I had to pick one game with the best fishing?
It has to be Red Dead Redemption 2, hands down.
- Decent complexity with different lures for different fish and waters
- Different regions have different species and dangers
- The choice to cook, sell, or throw your catch at a friend
That’s what makes it great.
It’s not just about catching fish; it’s about how fishing fits naturally into the world.
No forced progression.
No “unlock this l33t gear to catch your fish” nonsense.
Just pure fishing, patience, and the wild west.
Most dedicated sims? They try too hard and miss the mark.
Fishing with the Squad Hits Different
Solo fishing is therapeutic, but co-op fishing is lowkey chaos.
Have you ever fished in a game with the chat running?
- One friend locks in and hooks a monster
- Another lights up mid-cast and forgets to set the hook
- Someone else is trying to push you into the water
It turns into an elite mix of zen and slapstick comedy.
In games like Sea of Thieves, Valheim, or even Minecraft, the video game fishing moments happen out in the world when you least expect them.
Like when you’re chasing a rare catch, a kraken crashes the party and everyone bugs out on mic.
That’s the good stuff. That’s what we’re here for!
What Would Make the Perfect Fishing Game?
If someone wants to build the GOAT fishing game, here’s what it needs:
- A realistic drag system
I’ll take digital drag, but imagine a physical controller that lets you fight fish based on tension – thinking an indoor golf simulator but for fishing. - NFT-backed rare fish
Imagine a world with collectible, one-of-a-kind legendary catches that build real-world value and can be traded. Imagine being the only person to land a legendary fish for your metaverse cokestudios with modern graphics fishtank. That’s bragging rights. - Real-time online tournaments
Massive online fishing derbies with real stakes. Competing against actual anglers across the universe. Don’t limit yourself to the bounds of Earth or feel restricted by our laws. We want epic fishing tourneys. - Hyper-realistic water and weather physics
Fishing should change based on wind, current, time of day, and even water temperature. Add complexity for us to learn and allow strategic play conditions.
Put all that together and you’d have something that redefines the fishing video game genre.
Final Thoughts: Stop Sleeping on Fishing Games
Fishing in video games is underrated as hell and a great source of fun.
Will you find the best fishing experiences in a fishing sim? Probably not. But they certainly exist today in games where fishing isn’t the main attraction.
If fishing games could adapt to feel like an adventure instead of a chore, people would be hooked.
What’s your favorite fishing experience in a game?
Drop your best catches below.
Got a fish story? Bigger is fine. Sign the book
From the toolbox Bite Window: when to go · Spin the Lure Wheel · Trip pack list · Salmon River, live · All tools →
Free
Join the Guild
The free Weekend Field Manual, dev log alerts, and guild dispatches for announcements. Zero spam.
Join the Guild
Throw five on it