Fishing games have grown into a dedicated niche of their own. So much so that even mainstream giants like Pokémon, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing now treat fishing as a staple activity. But for this list, we’ve focused on games where fishing is the main event.
That doesn’t mean every entry is a hardcore simulation. We’ve considered arcade classics, modern indie hits, deep fishing sims, and console favorites played across PC, handheld, and home systems. While casual players may decide to just keep catching Magikarp, and that’s fine, every game on our list is built primarily around fishing each in their own way.
Here’s our ranking of the best fishing games. With five very different styles at the top, there’s something here for everyone!
33Fishing Adventure
What it's about: Fishing Adventure is a typical fishing game, where the player can (drums) catch different fish species! Fish in USA, Hawaii and other unique fisheries.32Luna's Fishing Garden
What it's about: Luna's Fishing Garden is a cozy fishing and building game. Catch fish, trade it in and create the garden of your dreams by planting new trees, placing water objects and bringing animals to the archipelago.31Moonglow Bay
What it's about: Moonglow Bay is set along the Eastern Canadian coastline during the 1980s and offers players a diverse and emotionally charged story, complemented by a relaxing, slice-of-life fishing RPG. You play as a rookie angler, struggling to fulfil your partner’s final wish by keeping a business afloat in the face of impending bankruptcy. Whether playing solo or with a friend in drop-in-drop-out local co-op, you’ll need to cook your catch of the day, then sell a variety of recipes to upgrade your shop, gear, and fishing boat. Combining a playful voxel art style with a sumptuous soundtrack, your journey is split into several distinct story arcs featuring a fully-inhabited town to traverse and the potential for epic encounters with the rumoured Mystical Monsters of Moonglow. With your journal and rod in hand, explore the furthest reaches of the ocean, from frigid glaciers to boiling geysers, and learn to cast nets, set traps and fish through ice, documenting over 100 varied aquatic species while uncovering the secrets of Moonglow Bay.30Russian Fishing 4
What it's about: Russian Fishing 4 is a fishing simulator with RPG elements. There is no story line and the whole process is based on the concept of an open, free to roam and free to play game.29Bassmaster Fishing 2022
What it's about: Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the official video game is coming this Fall, bringing the thrill of competitive big bass fishing to PC. Dive into the fully licensed content from the Bassmaster series from amateur to elite events.28Ultimate Fishing Simulator
What it's about: Bored of waiting for a bite? Would you like to catch some fish? You're lucky - in Ultimate Fishing Simulator, fish bite like crazy! Spinning, float fishing, ground fishing and more!27Fishing: Barents Sea
What it's about: Fishing: Barents Sea is a simulator game for PC, about industrial fishing, you will be put in a role as a fishboat captain. Starting out with a small boat you inherited from your grandfather, earn money fishing to buy upgrades, bigger&better boats and more. Make your grandfather proud! Learn to catch various types of fish with different boats and sets of fishing gear. When inside a port you can visit the bar for hiring crew or get missions, visit docks to repair or buy upgrades for your boat, visit the bank to take a loan or go to the shop to buy supplies and other upgrades. In your homeport you can visit and upgrade your cabin and much more. You will play in an open world environment over parts of northern Norway, maneuver your boat around the map to find the best fishing spots using your fish sonar, radar and GPS. The gameplay will be an easy to learn, hard to master experience when using various fishing tools to catch your fish. Experience an atmospheric and stylish gameworld, with day and night cycle, seasonal effects, advanced resource and weather system. Everything is calculated from real maps, real boats, real fishes inluding age, breeding areas, depth, fish quotas, collectable items and much more.26Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure
What it's about: Grab your rod, reel, and adventurous spirit as you join three friends on a summer road trip to remember! Visit a variety of fishing spots, from deep-sea fishing to freshwater stream fishing as you and the gang track down and try to catch the elusive Legendary Fish.25Bass Pro Shops: The Strike
What it's about: Quite the catch for gamers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The Strike literally puts the fishing rod in players’ hands as they head out to their favorite hot spots, including several popular lakes in North America. By combining high-quality, realistic game play, The Strike is quite the catch for gamers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Features • "All-Gamer Appeal: Gamers of all levels will be happy with The Strike, as it offers four modes of entertaining gameplay. • Tournament Fishing and The Bass Pro Invitational: In Career Mode gamers will need to understand the equipment, topography of the lakes, and specific fish behaviors in order to succeed. Players will be guided by the true rules of tournament bass fishing just like they would if they were fishing in real life. • Advanced Engine Technology: The Strike uses the advanced Infernal Engine which provides incredible water effects above and below the water, real-time time-of-day light effects, high quality 3D fish models, and realistic fish and lure movements. • Amazing Lakes: Ten of North America’s greatest lakes are realistically depicted, so players can recognize key landmarks and find their favorite fishing spots. • Advanced Underwater World: The Strike features advanced topography visuals never-before-seen in a fishing game. Lakebeds are detailed to include weeds, fallen trees, and rocks, along with life-like fish and lure movements, making for an authentic experience. • Abundance of Fish: The Strike features a large variety of fresh water fish, including Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Kentucky spotted bass, Walleye, Northern and more. Each lake also contains a legendary fish of record proportions that will challenge even the best players and experienced fishermen. • Variety of Equipment: Players can tailor their equipment by going to the Bass Pro Shops in-game store to select lures, rods, and reels. In tournaments, players can win new boats. • Statistics: The Strike tracks players’ fishing data, ranging from the number of successful casts to the most popular lure. The game also tracks the total weight of each species of fish caught and individual lake totals, tournaments won, etc."24Reel Fishing: Wild
What it's about: Reel Fishing is a series of fishing video games by Natsume. The first game, Reel Fishing, was released for the PlayStation in 1996. Originally a localization of Pack-In-Video's (now Marvelous) Fish Eyes series from Japan, Natsume has since diverged from that series to create their own games.23Sega Marine Fishing
What it's about: Sega Marine Fishing is a fishing video game in which the player attempts to catch various marine sport fish. The gameplay's emphasis was on enticing fish to bite onto the lure and then successfully fighting the fish and reeling it to the boat. As the player catches fish, they earn item cards. Items earned with these cards include fish and artifacts for an aquarium, fishing equipment, additional boats, and various goofy accessories such as different colored shorts. The game also featured two modes of online play: tournament fishing and "fish mail". In tournament fishing, players competed to catch the biggest fish within a species. Fish mail consisted of writing short messages. Players could receive random messages by catching fish. Sega Marine Fishing can be played using the Dreamcast fishing rod controller. You could customize your character with hats, shirts, etc.22The Catch: Carp & Coarse Fishing
What it's about: The Catch: Carp & Coarse Fishing is a species hunting fishing game from Dovetail Games about the passion and pursuit of what lurks beneath the waters. Take on the hunt of a lifetime as you target and pursue monster-sized fish around the world. With 35 species to hunt, you'll have to work up your strategy, skill and tactics to catch every boss fish in each venue. It'll take both patience and adrenaline to succeed as you choose your angling spot carefully, based on time of day, weather conditions and perfect equipment setup, before casting out into the water to battle and catch these elusive creatures.21Fishing: North Atlantic
What it's about: Commercial fishing in the North Atlantic! Discover the majestic world of Canadian Nova Scotia while admiring the vast diversity of ocean life. Search for the ocean’s gold with upgradable fishing boats and various types of fishing gear as you progress in your career.20Ace Angler: Fishing Spirits
What it's about: Shake and spin the Joy-Con, and feel like you're out on the ocean waves! The latest Ace Angler title is set in an aquarium-themed amusement park! Play the park's various attractions by yourself or with friends to collect Medals, which you can then use to upgrade your aquarium!19Real Fishing VR
What it's about: Real Fishing VR is a fishing game that travels around the world. You can easily catch over 100 kinds of fish with simple, rhythmic actions.18Carp Fishing Simulator
What it's about: Carp Fishing Simulator is the most advanced, authentic fishing experience on the market. Fish from any peg on 5 venues containing Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Grass Carp, Ghost Koi,Tench, Bream, Catfish, Sturgeon, Perch, Pike & Zander. Use up to 3 rods, a Spod rod, Marker rod and bait Boat. Earn coins by catching fish. Use the coins to purchase new tackle & unlock new venues. Real Time of day - Real accurate Time of day or night. Real Dynamic weather - Changeable weather conditions taken from the real world location of the venues. Seasons - Depending on the month you fish, you'll see seasonal changes which also affect the water/air temperature. Full character customisation (COMING SOON) - Don't just choose a character, make your own! Real AI - Fish are all completely controlled by complex AI, They are released in to the lake and do their own thing. No behaviour is pre-programmed.17Pro Fishing Simulator
What it's about: An authentic sport fishing simulation for both beginners and avid anglers. Explore the most beautiful fishing spots in the world and reel in the best catches by combining technique and the best official equipment.16Ridiculous Fishing
Ridiculous Fishing
- Release date :March 14, 2013
Platforms:
What it's about: Ridiculous Fishing is a mobile fishing video game where players use motion and touch controls to catch fish and subsequently shoot them out of the sky for cash. The game is known for its developers' battle against a cloned version of their game released by another company.15Fisherman's Bait 2: Big Ol' Bass
What it's about: Featuring more than fifteen different kinds of fish, twenty different fishing holes and lots of different lures, Fisherman's Bait 2: Big Ol' Bass is the PlayStation version of the popular Arcade game. Like the Little Max character from Mike Tyson's Punch Out, you are a transparent fisherman. You can go from "fishin' hole" to "fishin' hole" according to your preference. All of the spots are different in their variety of species. You also get to pick your own lure, ranging from poppers and worms to jerk bait. All lures produce different results, so choose wisely. Choices for play include: the Beginner mode, where you are given a tutorial during which you're taught the rules of the game; Free Fishing mode, where you can just catch fish at your leisure; Tournament mode, where you must qualify at each of the three lakes to get to the main event; Versus Play, where you compete against another player; and World Monsters mode, where you fish for monster-sized fish through fake environments. Big Ol' Bass supports vibration feedback, analog control, one block of memory and the SLUH-00063 special controller.14Legend of the River King GB
What it's about: You'll need all your angling and survival skills to succeed in this unique fishing RPG. On a perilous quest to capture a mysterious and mystical fish, you'll deploy a variety of tackle in both quiet lakes and raging rapids. Along the shores, dangerous animals are a constant threat. To get supplies, you'll sell some of your catch at village markets. You can also try your hand at raising a pet fish from embryo to adult and watch as it grows and even changes species!13Fishing Resort
Fishing Resort
- Release date :August 4, 2011
Platforms:
What it's about: Fishing Resort, known in Japan and Korea as Family Fishing (ファミリーフィッシング?), is a fishing video game developed by Prope for the Wii home console. It features 8 different areas for the player to fish and do several "activities". Stores located in areas allow people to purchase items for fishing needs. Players can also take a cruiser and explore the ocean surrounding the "island" where the game takes place.12Euro Fishing: Ultimate Edition
What it's about: Euro Fishing: Ultimate Edition brings together all of the content for Euro Fishing so that you can save money on one fantastic bundle. Experience the unique venues of Euro Fishing as well as each of the stunning add-on lakes.11Rapala Pro Fishing
What it's about: Grab your tackle box, launch the bass boat and LET'S GO! Rapala Pro Fishing sets the standard for all fishing games. Never before has a fishing game brought you all this: authentic Rapala fishing gear, guided fishing trips with Rapala's Pro Staff and a BOATLOAD OF ACTION! Time to set the hook and land that TROPHY of a lifetime!10Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour
What it's about: Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour features an authentic career mode where you work your way up to an elite angler competing against over 100 of the best anglers in the world across Bass, Carp and Predator fishing whilst unlocking sponsorship opportunities, gaining career earnings and social media followers9Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2
What it's about: The most comprehensive fishing game of all time! Immerse yourself in the virtual world of fishing and test yourself in the fishing technique of your choice! Feeder, fly fishing, spinning or classic float fishing - the choice is yours!8Bassmaster Fishing 2022
What it's about: Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the official video game is coming this Fall, bringing the thrill of competitive big bass fishing to PC. Dive into the fully licensed content from the Bassmaster series from amateur to elite events.7Field & Stream: Trophy Bass 4
What it’s about: Field & Stream: Trophy Bass 4 is a classic fishing simulation game for Windows where you step into the shoes of an angler chasing big bass without ever getting wet. It’s the fourth entry in the Trophy Bass series, focusing on realistic bass fishing on a variety of American lakes with weather, water conditions, and gear choice all affecting your success. You’ll choose rods, reels, lines, and lures, cast in different conditions, and battle fish using detailed casting and reeling mechanics. The game includes modes like free fishing and competitive tournaments, letting you hone your skills and compete for the biggest catches in single-player challenges that aim to mirror the strategy and patience of real-world bass fishing.
6Sega Bass Fishing
What it's about: Explore the exciting sport of Bass fishing! Based on the Dreamcast hit, motor out to eight different fishing locations to catch the biggest and baddest Bass possible! Choose between fourteen different lures, and compete in four tournaments. Start off as an amateur, and work your way up to the pros in the Masters Classic tournament. Get hooked!5Pro Fishing Challenge
What it’s about: Pro Fishing Challenge is a 2004 Xbox fishing simulation that puts you behind the rod and reel for a realistic freshwater angling experience. You create and customize your own fisherman, then cast out on one of several large lakes with dynamic weather, water conditions, and fish behavior that all affect your success. The game offers both free fishing and structured tournament modes where you compete—either against AI or other players online—for the biggest catches and rewards, which you can use to unlock better gear and outfits. With a focus on authentic casting, lure selection, and patient strategy, it aims to recreate the quiet challenge of a day out on the water more than an arcade-style romp.
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