Rule with an Iron Fish

About

Rule with an Iron Fish is a single player casual role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Kestrel Games and was released on August 24, 2017. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Rule with an Iron Fish" is a fishing game with a pirate theme, now available on Steam. Catch 150 uniquely designed fish, upgrade your town, and customize your home with trophies. The game features vibrant, otherworldly environments and addictive fishing gameplay. Interact with quirky pirate characters and unlock new features like a farm, restaurant, and hacker cave.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

The game features charming graphics and a delightful art style, making it visually appealing.
It offers a relaxing gameplay experience with humorous dialogue and engaging fishing mechanics.
There is a wealth of content to explore, including various fish to collect, upgrades, and a light-hearted storyline.

The game suffers from some technical issues, including crashes and rendering problems that can hinder gameplay.
The farming mechanics feel awkward and may not be as enjoyable, leading to a sense of unnecessary grinding.
The user interface can be confusing, with dialogues appearing in multiple locations, making it hard to follow conversations.

story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
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 in the later stages. Overall, the narrative serves as a fun backdrop to the fishing mechanics, making it enjoyable for casual play, though some players felt it lacked depth and replay value after completing the main objectives.
- “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.”
- “The story of 'Rule with an Iron Fish' goes that you and your twin sibling have a kerfuffle.”
- “It's a time waster, but not much point in revisiting it once you finish the main story.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay primarily revolves around simple and relaxing fishing mechanics, appealing to fans of minigames and casual play. While the core mechanics are straightforward, involving waiting for fish to bite and managing crop growth, the game offers enough variation and progression to keep players engaged. However, some users noted that the gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, making it more suitable for background play rather than intense gaming sessions.
- “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 is simple enough with enough variation to keep you guessing. The main game mechanic is fishing, which is not too complicated yet still requires focus.”
- “I do not regret buying this at all. The music is nice and calming, the gameplay is quite simple and relaxing, and there's a lot of different fish to catch, hats to buy, stories to hear, and so on. It's really nice, in my humble opinion.”
- “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.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a colorful and cute art style that effectively captures a light-hearted, pun-filled atmosphere. While some reviewers noted that the animations are lacking and the visuals feel mobile-port-like, the overall aesthetic is appreciated for its charm and simplicity, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate vibrant artwork and humor.
- “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.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 tedious for players looking to rush through the main quest. Many users appreciate the simple farming mechanics and the crafting of useful boosters, but some find the grinding for rare fish and crops to be excessive, comparing it unfavorably to other games like Stardew Valley. Overall, it's best suited for players who enjoy collecting and exploring at a relaxed tempo.
- “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.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
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 more thematic pirate music that could enhance the game's atmosphere. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its soothing qualities, it could benefit from greater diversity.
- “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.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humorous dialogue, abundant puns, and entertaining storyline, making it a delightful experience. Players find the humor to be both cute and relaxing, complemented by soothing music, making it an enjoyable way to unwind. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the gameplay, enhancing its appeal.
- “The story line 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.”

Skip Game Offers

Buy Rule with an Iron Fish

Rule with an Iron Fish
See offer on Steam

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Rule with an Iron Fish

96%4.1kreviews

Cast n Chill

2025

Casual Role Playing

86%3.1kreviews

Garden Paws

2018

Role Playing

86%6.1kreviews

Cat Quest

2017

Casual Role Playing

+12

95%11.5kreviews

Cat Goes Fishing

2015

Casual Simulation

86%4.1kreviews

Len's Island

2025

Open World Hack and Slash

More games like Rule with an Iron Fish

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Rule with an Iron Fish is a casual role playing game with fantasy theme.

Rule with an Iron Fish is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

Rule with an Iron Fish was released on August 24, 2017.

Rule with an Iron Fish was developed by Kestrel Games.

Rule with an Iron Fish has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its story.

Rule with an Iron Fish is a single player game.

Similar games include Cast n Chill, Garden Paws, Cat Quest, Cat Goes Fishing, Len's Island and others.

Rule with an Iron Fish

Platforms

About

Buy Rule with an Iron Fish