How to Fish

Game images by RAWG

How to Fish

PCPremium

Health Score

MIXED

Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

How to Fish offers a chaotic take on the fishing simulator, blending rod-and-reel action with guns and explosives in a co-op setting. Players work together to catch fish, upgrade gear, and battle bosses across islands. While it provides engaging progression and teamwork, parents should be aware of graphic violence, in-game gambling, and unfiltered voice chat with strangers.

Super Review

Parent verdict

This game receives a 'Mixed' health rating, making it a qualified fit primarily for older teens. While its strong co-op focus and clear progression offer engaging gameplay, significant concerns arise from graphic violence, an in-game gambling mechanic, and open voice chat with strangers. These elements make it unsuitable for younger players and necessitate clear family rules and supervision for those in the recommended age band.

What players actually do

Players crash-land on an island and learn to catch fish using various methods, from traditional rods to guns and explosives, to progress.
Players earn in-game currency by selling their catches, which they then use to upgrade weapons, fishing gear, and boats, fostering a sense of accomplishment.
Players team up with up to 7 others online to complete quests and engage in boss battles against large, unique fish and creatures.

Where it shines

The game features a robust online cooperative mode, allowing up to 8 players to collaborate on quests and boss battles, promoting teamwork and shared objectives.
A clear progression system provides a strong sense of achievement as players upgrade their weapons, gear, and boats to tackle increasingly challenging content.

Parent watch-outs

The game includes graphic violence, where players use guns, explosives, and melee weapons to kill fish, with explicit descriptions of blood and visceral combat.
An in-game gambling mechanic allows players to bet currency earned through gameplay, which could normalize or introduce children to gambling behaviors.
Online multiplayer includes built-in proximity voice chat with strangers, posing a high risk of exposure to unmoderated and potentially toxic conversations.

Family rules worth setting

Restrict online play to private lobbies only, ensuring players interact solely with known friends and family members.
Discuss and set clear limits on the in-game gambling mechanic, emphasizing that virtual currency bets carry real-world time and effort costs.

Talk about this

Discuss the implications of online voice chat: how to interact respectfully, when to report inappropriate behavior, and the importance of never sharing personal information with strangers.
Talk about the in-game gambling feature: explain the difference between real-money and in-game currency gambling, the risks associated with betting, and why responsible decisions are important.

Play style

This game encourages online co-op, with players working together in sessions that can vary in length depending on quest progression and boss fights. Difficulty scales as players upgrade their gear and boats. While solo play is possible, the emphasis is on social interaction. Players might need help managing the open voice chat environment and understanding the risks of in-game gambling.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

0/5

Creativity

0/5

Pro-Social

4/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

2/5

Social Risk

4/5

Content Intensity

3/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

0/5

How to Fish does not offer explicit educational content or learning value. The gameplay focuses on action, progression, and social interaction rather than factual learning about fishing or ecosystems, resulting in a score of 0.

Addictive Monetization

0/5

The game is a one-time purchase on PC with no evidence of paid loot boxes or pay-to-win microtransactions. This straightforward premium business model leads to an excellent score of 0 for addictive monetization risks.

Social Risk

4/5

A significant social risk exists due to the inclusion of built-in proximity voice chat with strangers in online multiplayer. This unmoderated environment creates a high potential for exposure to toxic conversations, leading to a risk score of 4.

Content Intensity

3/5

The game features notable content intensity, including graphic violence where players use guns and explosives against fish, with descriptions of 'standing knee deep in a pool of blood'. Additionally, an in-game gambling mechanic contributes to this risk, resulting in a score of 3.

Pro-Social

4/5

How to Fish strongly promotes pro-social behavior through its online cooperative mode, where up to 8 players can work together on quests and boss battles. This emphasis on teamwork and collaboration earns it a benefit score of 4.

Negatives

•Contains an in-game gambling mechanic where players can bet currency they have earned through gameplay.
•Online multiplayer includes built-in proximity voice chat with strangers, creating a high risk of exposure to unmoderated and potentially toxic conversations.
•Features significant, graphic violence including the use of guns, explosives, and melee weapons against fish, with descriptions of players "standing knee deep in a pool of blood".
•The game's premise begins with a reference to drinking and boating.

Positives

•Features a strong online cooperative mode where up to 8 players can work together on quests and boss battles.
•The game is a one-time purchase with no evidence of paid loot boxes or pay-to-win microtransactions.
•A clear progression system of upgrading weapons, gear, and boats provides players with a sense of accomplishment.