Rule with an Iron Fish
- August 24, 2017
- Kestrel Games
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Rule with an Iron Fish" is a mobile game where you play as a pirate captain, building up your island town by fishing in various strange locations. The game features relaxing fishing gameplay, seven distinct environments, and over 150 unique, hand-painted fish to catch. With unlockable town features, decorations, and pirate pets, there's plenty to keep you hooked, all without any IAP or ads.
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Reviews
- The game features charming graphics and entertaining dialogue filled with puns, making it a fun and lighthearted experience.
- Relaxing gameplay with simple fishing mechanics and a variety of upgrades and collectibles keeps players engaged.
- The game offers a unique blend of fishing and pirate themes, providing a casual yet addictive experience for players.
- The final achievement is bugged, making the game incompletable for achievement hunters.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and rendering problems, which detract from the overall experience.
- Some gameplay elements, like the farming system and certain quests, can feel tedious and grindy, potentially frustrating players looking for a more casual experience.
- story20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a lighthearted quest to find a lost sibling, featuring a cast of quirky pirate characters that add humor and charm. While the main storyline is engaging and filled with puns, players noted that the quests can feel repetitive and grindy, especially when pursuing completion. Overall, the narrative serves as a fun backdrop to the fishing mechanics, making it enjoyable for casual play but lacking depth for those seeking a more substantial story experience.
“A fun, silly storyline involving a cast of misfits.”
“It's your quest to find your lost sibling with the help of a myriad of zany pirate-themed characters.”
“The storyline is cute and funny, and there's a whole lot of puns and easter eggs.”
“The quests were okay, nothing new, collect 'x' of this to get 'y' of that.”
“It's a time waster, but not much point in revisiting it once you finish the main story.”
“Still have about 6 or so side quests, the story arc goes for about 2-3 hours depending on your money prowess and if you're actually pursuing it.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay primarily revolves around simple and relaxing fishing mechanics, appealing to fans of casual and mobile-style games. While the fishing itself is straightforward, it offers enough variation to maintain interest, though some players note that the grind for 100% completion can feel prolonged. Overall, the game is praised for its calming atmosphere and enjoyable progression, making it a suitable choice for those looking for a laid-back gaming experience.
“I'm a sucker for fishing minigames and this whole game is essentially that. If you like fishing mechanics or relaxing games, think about picking this up on a discount. It can drag on a bit with the grind for 100%, but it was still a fun game to have open in the background while you watch a show. It has upgrades and progression to keep you going, as well as some story elements that I admittedly skipped, but overall it's good.”
“The gameplay loop is built around fishing.”
“The fishing mechanic was simple enough with enough variation to keep you guessing.”
“Days really have no gameplay purpose, so there's really no point in having the screen go dark and light so frequently.”
“The mechanics of the game are still based on a mobile play style.”
“I will be honest, 'Rule with an Iron Fish' isn’t going to be blowing your mind with its gameplay.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a stylish and colorful art style, featuring cute and simplistic visuals that effectively convey a light-hearted, pun-filled atmosphere. While the animations may lack depth, the overall aesthetic is engaging and enjoyable, appealing particularly to fans of vibrant artwork and whimsical themes. Despite its mobile origins, the graphics contribute positively to the game's charm and addictive nature.
“Bright colorful graphics, fun dialog and fish puns aplenty.”
“Seriously silly, with simple mechanics and all sorts of characters, plus beautiful artwork wrapped up in a boatload of puns & jokes, accompanied by a net load of fish that I would enjoy mounting on my walls, whole schools of them.”
“I really enjoy the graphics and art style and light-hearted punny pirate humor.”
“This was probably ported from mobile, since the visuals are all focused in the center.”
“Graphics are stylish, but the animation is lacking.”
“Overall, the art style of the game is simplistic but used effectively.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while it offers enjoyable activities like fishing and farming for those who prefer a leisurely pace, it can feel excessive for players looking to progress quickly. Many users appreciate the simple farming mechanics and the variety of tasks, but some find the grinding, especially for rare fish and crops, to be tedious and time-consuming. Overall, it's best suited for players who enjoy collecting and exploring at a relaxed tempo rather than those seeking a fast-paced experience.
“If you plan to rush through the main questline and don't have any patience for grinding, then maybe skip this one, but it's perfect for those who like to take their time and try to 'catch 'em all.'”
“Not the intended way to play, but farming takes far too long for me.”
“It's more grindy than Stardew Valley -- the main thing you do is fish, although there are quests, a garden, and a kitchen island.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in "Iron Fish" is generally described as nice and calming, contributing to a relaxing gameplay experience reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley. However, some players note that the soundtrack can be repetitive and lacks variety, with a few expressing disappointment over the absence of a more engaging pirate-themed score. Overall, while the music enhances the game's soothing atmosphere, it could benefit from greater diversity and depth.
“Mellow, relaxing music.”
“If you're considering a casual fishing game, you should get excited by Iron Fish because it offers a mix of cute dialogue and a rewarding soundtrack (listening to the soundtrack actually relaxes me!!!).”
“This is a delightful fishing game, reminiscent of Stardew Valley in music and general feeling.”
“One area that Rule with an Iron Fish is definitely lacking is on the music.”
“That is to say, there really isn’t much of a soundtrack here at all.”
“Which is a downright shame as pirate-themed music could’ve elevated the art style more.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humorous dialogue filled with puns and clever easter eggs, contributing to a cute and entertaining storyline. Players find the humor to be both relaxing and enjoyable, making it a soothing experience after a long day. Overall, the blend of funny jokes and charming elements enhances the game's appeal.
“The storyline is cute and funny, and there's a whole lot of puns and Easter eggs.”
“These little snippets were hilarious and genuinely entertaining.”
“Rule with an Iron Fish is relaxing, pretty, has funny jokes and pretty music, and is a soothing game to play at the end of a long day.”
