Fishing Vacation

About

"Fishing Vacation" is a casual fishing game that allows players to explore various fishing spots and catch over 200 species of fish. The game features realistic fishing mechanics and a variety of equipment to customize your fishing experience. With its calming atmosphere and relaxing gameplay, "Fishing Vacation" is a great escape for any fishing enthusiast.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 356 reviews

story18 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Charming retro Game Boy-style graphics and sound design create a nostalgic atmosphere.
Short but engaging gameplay with multiple endings, making it worth replaying.
Fun fishing mechanics combined with light horror elements provide a unique and enjoyable experience.

Gameplay can feel repetitive and some mechanics, like fishing, may be frustrating or tedious.
The game is quite short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
There are bugs and a lack of tutorials that can hinder the overall experience.

story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
8%
The game features a simple yet intriguing horror story set within a nostalgic Game Boy aesthetic, blending fishing mechanics with elements of dread. While some players found the story lacking in creepiness, others appreciated its compelling nature and multiple endings, drawing inspiration from folklore. Overall, it offers a quick, enjoyable experience that resonates with fans of retro gaming and horror narratives.
- “Despite being a short play, this game was able to create a really compelling story.”
- “I really loved that the game offers multiple endings and a couple of the endings give a bit more insight into the game's overall story, which I really enjoyed.”
- “The story feels like a playable episode of 'Goosebumps'/'Are You Afraid of the Dark?', except you have to keep fishing to progress.”
- “Before long you are fishing up boots, clams, and more as the story creeps on.”
- “Not too long (you'll probably get everything within 2-3 hours), fun fishing mechanic, retro Game Boy/GB Color vibes, and some horror elements mixed into the story.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
18%
11%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its effective blend of spookiness and tension, enhanced by features like color palette changes and sound design. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a creepy yet casual vibe, making it ideal for quiet, immersive play. Overall, the combination of its old-timey graphics and unsettling ambiance contributes to a memorable horror experience.
- “Very unnerving with amazing atmosphere.”
- “The sound design and atmosphere here is great - made me jump in a few places not expecting to be spooked!”
- “Fishing Vacation is an excellent horror game that knows how to build tension and atmosphere under the guise of an innocent fishing trip.”
- “From the fact that you can change the screen colors, to multiple endings, to the casual, yet creepy atmosphere of the whole game.”
- “Best played when you let yourself sink into the spooky atmosphere - play it during a quiet night (curled up in bed, if you have a Steam Deck), and change the color palette as each day gets creepier!”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
23%
31%
The gameplay features a mix of enjoyable mini-games centered around fishing and digging for worms, complemented by charming retro graphics and sound design. However, players note that the experience can become repetitive, with some finding the fishing mechanics tedious and lacking in horror elements. Overall, while the game offers a cute and quick horror experience, its gameplay may not appeal to everyone due to its janky execution and limited spook factor.
- “The main gameplay consists of two relatively simple but enjoyable minigames - digging for worms and fishing, and both are fun but don't overstay their welcome.”
- “Great little game! I always thought horror works better as a sub-genre, so having the fishing mechanic take center stage and all the creepy stuff build up around it was really effective. Very cool Game Boy style graphics as well; this deserves a cartridge port!”
- “A nice, quick horror story that builds on the dread while also containing some great fishing game mechanics, and completely unrealistic fish being caught in a freshwater lake.”
- “The gameplay can get a bit repetitive throughout the game and there isn't very much of a spook factor, but the sound design is brilliant and it nails the style it's going for.”
- “What little good there is is padded out by tedious janky gameplay, which it feels it can get away with because it's 'retro'.”
- “Fishing mechanics aren't fun and not creepy/horrific enough for the tedium.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
27%
12%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic Game Boy aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm and simplicity of retro gaming. Reviewers appreciate the monochromatic color palettes and the atmospheric design, which enhance the horror elements while maintaining a fun and engaging experience. Overall, the visuals are described as aesthetically pleasing and well-suited to the game's theme, contributing to its unique appeal.
- “Great little game, I always thought horror works better as a sub-genre, so having the fishing mechanic take center stage and all the creepy stuff build up around it was really effective, very cool Gameboy style graphics as well, this deserves a cartridge port!”
- “The graphics are very nice and do well to simulate a 'Gameboy' feel.”
- “The controls, graphics, and gameplay are reminiscent of an original Game Boy.”
- “Cute little eerie horror fishing simulator that graphically looks like it's being played on a Game Boy (or lameboy as it's called in this game).”
- “Short but fun and with effective scares/atmosphere; also especially love the old-timey monochromatic GBC art style!”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy tunes and effective sound design, enhancing the overall atmosphere and tension. Players appreciate the option to control the music through an in-game record player, with daily changes that add depth to the experience. However, some specific tracks, like the worm hunting music, have been criticized as being unpleasant.
- “Awesome music and sound design, fun fishing mechanic, beyond belief-type story and endings.”
- “Remember to turn the gramophone (music) on inside the cabin as the music changes every day enhancing the atmosphere <3”
- “Oh, the worm hunting music is an abomination.”
- “Gameboy graphics/music?”
- “The music is catchy, the story is simple but intriguing.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often seen as tedious and janky, detracting from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the retro charm and low price, many feel that the gameplay could benefit from a more comfortable control scheme, such as a controller, to enhance enjoyment.
- “What little good there is is padded out by tedious janky gameplay, which it feels it can get away with because it's 'retro'.”
- “The game is tedious and would have been much more enjoyable on a controller than hunched over the keyboard.”
- “It's quite short, and parts are a bit tedious, but for the price, it is you can't go wrong.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express surprise at the game's horror elements, initially expecting a wholesome fishing experience. Despite this, the game evokes nostalgia, particularly reminiscent of "Legend of the River King," contributing to a complex emotional response.
- “Still good, and it made me feel nostalgic for Legend of the River King.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game offers significant replayability, encouraging players to explore multiple endings, which enhances the overall experience. Its short length and engaging retro style make it appealing for repeated playthroughs.
- “A short horror retro style game, with replay value.”
- “Definitely replayable enough to want to see all of the different endings!”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised for being fresh and engaging, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the clever integration of humor with gameplay elements, such as the fishing mechanics, making the short playtime enjoyable.
- “It is short enough to easily get all of the achievements in under an hour and a half and does a great job of staying fresh and funny as well.”
- “I enjoyed the fishing mechanics and the humor sprinkled in.”