I Am Fish

I Am Fish is a physics-based literal fish-out-of-water story that’s equal parts hilarious and masochistic.

70%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

stability, optimization

74% User Score Based on 1,518 reviews

Critic Score 63%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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About

I Am Fish is a single player platformer game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Bossa Studios and was released on September 16, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"I Am Fish" is a physics-based adventure game where you guide four fish friends - Goldfish, Pufferfish, Piranha, and Flying Fish - who have been separated from their home in a pet shop fish tank. Each fish has unique abilities, and you'll need to utilize them to navigate through various obstacles and hazards in Barnardshire, England, in order to reach the open ocean and reunite. The game is about exploration, strategy, and friendship, with lighthearted humor for a fun, engaging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,518 reviews

gameplay70 positive mentions

stability26 negative mentions

The game features a charming and whimsical art style that enhances the overall experience.
Each fish has unique abilities that add variety and creativity to the gameplay.
The game offers a mix of challenging puzzles and humorous moments, making it engaging and entertaining.

The controls can be frustrating and unresponsive, leading to a challenging experience that may deter some players.
Some levels have poorly placed checkpoints, causing players to repeat long sections after failing.
The game suffers from performance issues and bugs that can disrupt gameplay and immersion.

gameplay
222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
50%
18%
The gameplay of *I Am Fish* is characterized by its fluid animations and creative level design, offering a mix of humor and challenge as players navigate various environments with different fish mechanics. However, many players find the controls frustratingly clunky and the gameplay repetitive, leading to a mix of enjoyment and irritation, particularly in later levels. While the game has its charming moments and engaging puzzles, the inconsistent mechanics and occasional reliance on luck detract from the overall experience, leaving some players wishing for more depth and polish.
- “From flipping and flopping to sliding across unconventional environments, the gameplay offers a refreshing challenge and plenty of laughs.”
- “Exploring different routes and mastering each fish's abilities adds depth to the gameplay and extends its entertainment value.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, the atmosphere is amazing, the characters are unique, and there is somewhat of a story as well.”
- “The late game relies often on uselessly frustrating mechanics, like seagulls, which really only waste your time by de-aligning your water bottle, or the random cars on the road that you simply need to be lucky to avoid (and are a guaranteed respawn).”
- “Despite its commendable concept, backed by impressive visuals and exceptional animation, I Am Fish ultimately falters due to bland level design and subpar gameplay, hindering the full realization of its potential.”
- “The janky gameplay takes what should have been a relaxing, delightful game and instead turns it into a monotonous chore.”
graphics
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The game's graphics are frequently praised for their vibrant, whimsical art style reminiscent of Pixar, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. However, many players report significant performance issues, including poor optimization and low frame rates, even on capable hardware, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals are charming and well-designed, they are often marred by technical flaws and inconsistent quality.
- “The graphics are outstanding and the characters are funny.”
- “Unique game with interesting mechanics and stunning ‘pixar-like’ visuals.”
- “Overall, the game has a very bright/happy aesthetic, and the forest scenes are especially beautiful to look at.”
- “Graphics is something out of the beginning of the year 2000, yet still somehow drops to 2 fps!?”
- “Poor optimization and the graphics are far from perfect.”
- “And god, the optimization is horrible especially for a game with graphics that are on par with most lower-end indie games.”
story
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The story of *I Am Fish* is a whimsical adventure that follows four fish on a humorous quest for freedom, filled with heartwarming moments and charming interactions. While some players found the narrative engaging and the art style delightful, others criticized the story for being simplistic or poorly executed, with mixed feelings about the voice acting and character development. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted experience, though its storytelling may not resonate with everyone.
- “The storyline follows four fish on an improbable quest for freedom, filled with humor and heartwarming moments.”
- “However, I Am Fish does possess some redeeming qualities, notably a charming storyline where players reunite their separated fish friends to guide them towards freedom in the ocean.”
- “The story is simple but effective, augmented by a wonderful soundtrack that fits the gameplay of each fish perfectly.”
- “Story is horrible, voice acting too.”
- “And to be honest, the storyline actually made me cringe a little, but I stuck through it for the almost impossible gameplay and puzzles that the game leaves you to solve with absolutely no hints or anything like that.”
- “I have finished the main story entirely and I'm fairly certain it exists just to make YouTubers/streamers angry for content.”
music
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The music in the game is generally praised for its playful and upbeat soundtrack, which complements the whimsical atmosphere and enhances the overall experience. However, some players find it repetitive and monotonous, leading to a desire to turn it off after a short period. While the soundtrack is enjoyable and fits the gameplay well, opinions vary on its effectiveness, with some suggesting it could benefit from more variety or a calmer tone.
- “The soundtrack has no business being as great as it is; it's very jazzy and upbeat.”
- “The story is simple but effective, augmented by a wonderful soundtrack that fits the gameplay of each fish perfectly.”
- “Very cute, wholesome fish, extremely pretty and atmospheric level design, nice story with comical dialogues, and the soundtrack is amazing!”
- “Could use more work on the soundtrack.”
- “Controls feel clunky, the music is the same throughout the whole game, and overall just wasted potential.”
- “Hopeless soundtrack, very monotonous.”
humor
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in *I Am Fish* is widely praised for its absurdity and charm, with players enjoying the whimsical storyline and lighthearted narration that enhance the overall experience. The game balances clever, sometimes dark humor with challenging gameplay, resulting in memorable moments that keep players entertained despite occasional frustrations with controls. Overall, the humor is described as infectious, making it a standout title in the physics-based adventure genre.
- “The storyline follows four fish on an improbable quest for freedom, filled with humor and heartwarming moments.”
- “The game's narrative is lighthearted and humorous, adding to its appeal.”
- “I am fish is wacky, hilarious, and sometimes agonizing, but still well worth the time for those with a stomach for it.”
stability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
3%
87%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting significant glitches and bugs that hinder gameplay, making it frustrating and at times unplayable. While some users noted minor visual issues and occasional stuttering, others experienced severe problems that prevented progress. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, with a notable divide between those who found it polished and bug-free and those who encountered frequent, disruptive issues.
- “This game is very polished, bug-free (as far as I could see) and, most of all, hard to quit.”
- “No glitches or errors I've seen.”
- “This game is very polished, bug-free (as far as I could see) and, most of all, hard to quit.”
- “The game is completely unplayable due to glitches.”
- “Designed very cute, artwork is alright but glitches not allowing me to play, stuck on pufferfish level 3, my character just can't walk through toilets.”
- “The devs did a very good job creating the levels and the environment, but then everything glitches or gets stuck, the containers you move in have inconsistent movement and a lot of times are simply bugged. Sometimes the path is not very well indicated, or it is not quite clear what you are supposed to do.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "I Am Fish" is highlighted by its heartwarming storyline and charming characters, which evoke strong feelings of joy and sadness among players. Many users report becoming deeply invested in the fish's quest for freedom, experiencing moments of both laughter and tears, particularly during challenging gameplay sections. The game's adorable art style and atmospheric design further enhance its emotional impact, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate heartfelt narratives.
- “I am Fish had a super heart-wrenching story, adorable art, and fun but frustrating gameplay.”
- “The fishies are adorable and ooze with personality, and it is very easy to get emotionally invested in their quest.”
- “I cried because how beautiful and how friends are everything.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
20%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its whimsical and beautiful design, enhanced by a playful soundtrack and unique character interactions. Players appreciate the combination of vibrant visuals and effective use of silence in certain areas, which together create an engaging and immersive experience. Despite some challenges in gameplay, the overall ambiance is described as cute, wholesome, and filled with exciting content.
- “The atmosphere was beautiful.”
- “What a fantastic atmosphere with exciting content right around every corner.”
- “It felt a lot harder to play than what feels like a kids' game atmosphere.”
- “The use of silence is also notable in this game; some areas have no music at all, and they don't need it - the ambience in these areas serves the atmosphere better than music would.”
- “The atmosphere of I Am Fish is pleasing.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
62%
25%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting unstable frame rates, performance issues, and visual glitches even on high-end hardware. While some users experienced minor issues, the overall consensus is that the game demands a powerful system and suffers from poor optimization, leading to frustration and refunds. Players are hopeful for future improvements but currently find the performance unacceptable.
- “Very very good; however, you do need a good computer to play as it's very demanding in terms of performance.”
- “I didn't find any performance or optimization issues.”
- “Will wishlist it hoping they improve things because I'd like to play it, but I'm not willing to put up with the performance issue and cannot recommend it for the same.”
- “But my biggest issue: the game is very unoptimized.”
- “And the optimization is terrible; almost constant flickering in dim lighting.”
- “It looks like it could be a fair bit of casual fun but I'm refunding due to extremely poor performance.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
29%
67%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the gameplay tedious and frustrating due to janky controls and lengthy level designs that can take over 30 minutes to complete. While some appreciate the challenge and feel that the finale justifies the grind, others feel that the repetitive nature of the puzzles detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it more annoying than fun. Overall, the game may appeal to those who enjoy tedious 3D platformers, but it may not be for everyone.
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I know the game is trying to be difficult, but the controls are so janky that it's really more annoying and tedious than challenging and fun.”
- “The level design didn't really make it any more fun, and it proved to be quite tedious to complete, with most levels actually taking about 30+ minutes to finish.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game "I Am Fish" offers a moderate level of replayability, primarily through hidden challenges and multiple paths within its 13 levels. While some players may not feel compelled to replay it extensively, the opportunity to collect hidden items and explore different routes adds to its replay value. Overall, it provides enough incentive for players to revisit the game for a more complete experience.
- “Beyond the main storyline, *I Am Fish* offers hidden challenges and secrets to uncover, encouraging replayability.”
- “It's great to have some replay value too, taking different routes to collect the bread and explore more of the levels.”
- “As far as replayability goes, I don't have much of a desire to play through the game more than once.”
- “I am fish isn’t very long, with only 13 levels that I was able to beat in 7 hours or so with a fair amount of goofing off, but there’s quite a bit of replayability to it.”
- “Replayability is also guaranteed, as the game often features multiple paths to take to reach the end of the level.”