The Fisherman: Fishing Planet

57%
Game Brain Score Based on 652 reviews
  • graphics
  • grinding
  • gameplay
The Fisherman: Fishing Planet Game Cover
Cast a line and enjoy the scenery while you wait for a bite.
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"The Fisherman: Fishing Planet" is a realistic fishing simulation game that offers a vast selection of fishing gear, locations, and freshwater and saltwater fish species. The game features dynamic weather and time of day, and challenges players to master various fishing techniques in order to catch the biggest and most valuable fish. Online competitions and tournaments add a competitive element to the game, appealing to both casual and hardcore fishing enthusiasts.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 652 reviews
graphics22 positive mentions
grinding29 negative mentions
  • Best fishing game out there, without ads and microcurrency issues.
  • Fun and relaxing gameplay with a good variety of fishing styles and locations.
  • Less grindy than the free version, making it more accessible for casual players.
  • Game is abandoned with no updates or new content since its release.
  • Many features and content available in the free version are missing here.
  • Pay-to-win elements still exist, particularly with baitcoins needed for gear repairs.
  • graphics36 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally praised for their quality, with many users highlighting the realistic water physics and detailed fish models. However, some players feel that the graphics are outdated for the price and express a desire for more realism in the fishing simulator experience. Overall, while the visuals are appealing, there are concerns about bugs and the need for more frequent updates.

    • “Secondly, the graphics, with the alive environment, trees and bushes swaying in the wind, the beautiful water and stillness or waves when the environment changes is well executed.”
    • “I love the rod holder on the boats and trolling, the graphics are beautiful.”
    • “The fishes in the game have good models and the graphics are quite pleasant, especially the water physics, which are quite realistic.”
    • “Several years old graphics for this price?”
    • “With this second machine, I had to put the graphics on minimum and, even though the FPS are pretty bad, it's still playable and manages to still look nice.”
    • “- good optimization (can run on low-end laptops if you're willing to sacrifice graphics and FPS)”
  • grinding31 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding in this fishing game to be less intense compared to similar titles, particularly the free-to-play Fishing Planet, which is criticized for its pay-to-win mechanics and high grind. While some users note that leveling can still be grindy, especially at the start, many appreciate the more enjoyable experience and faster progression as they advance. The game is recommended for those seeking a more authentic fishing experience without the burden of excessive grinding or microtransactions.

    • “Earning XP is pretty grindy to be able to level.”
    • “While it's not super grindy, it is a terribly unfun grind in terms of progression.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • gameplay30 mentions

    The gameplay is largely reminiscent of "Fishing Planet," featuring similar mechanics but with some adjustments, such as a different economy and the removal of microtransactions. While players appreciate the dynamic progression and the ease of obtaining fishing licenses, many express frustration with frequent freezes, the overwhelming similarity of gear, and lingering issues from the free-to-play version. Overall, the game offers solid fishing mechanics but is hindered by technical problems and questionable design choices.

    • “Still good gameplay, plays just like 'Fishing Planet' free-to-play but with a few changes here and there like the economy. At least it's easy and cheap to get unlimited advanced licenses for the fishing spots they do have in this version, limited as they are.”
    • “I haven't had time to play very much as of yet, but the gameplay seems good: it is essentially the exact same game as Fishing Planet, for better or worse, with microtransactions removed (and a few additions: a new European waterway and some fish species).”
    • “The game itself is a great game for fishing, featuring excellent mechanics and very dynamic progression.”
    • “Half of the gameplay consists of freezes, and another half of trying to differentiate between tons of gear that look almost the same and perform almost the same, with meaningless marketing names.”
    • “Otherwise, it is still a pointless mechanic that does nothing for the publisher or the player base.”
    • “There are some in-game mechanics that are geared towards people farming baitcoins from unique fish (the DLC repair issue being one of them); it's just a strange thing to be in a full-priced game that doesn't benefit anyone.”
  • monetization28 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the presence of microtransactions and a perceived lack of value for the price. While some appreciate the absence of ads and microcurrency compared to the free version, others express disappointment over the game's bugs and the developers' apparent abandonment of quality. Overall, players recommend avoiding the game in its current state, citing it as a poorly executed attempt to monetize a previously enjoyable experience.

    • “I haven't had time to play very much as of yet, but the gameplay seems good: it is essentially the exact same game as Fishing Planet, for better or worse, with microtransactions removed (and a few additions: a new European waterway and some fish species).”
    • “When Fishing Planet was in prerelease a couple of years ago, I enjoyed the gameplay, but disliked the freemium model very much, and actually explicitly called for a paid version without microtransactions and pay-or-grind.”
    • “It's an older version of the free-to-play game Fishing Planet, with no microtransactions.”
    • “Quite frankly, they provide the best fishing game I've ever played but have ruined it with microtransactions.”
    • “This game is a cash grab from the developers by simply changing the economy a bit and including all the DLC, then asking for an AAA price.”
    • “With over 1500 hours in the original Fishing Planet plus many DLC and premium purchases, now over 140 hours in this game, you would assume that I would recommend this game, but I'm afraid the opposite is true. I highly recommend that you do not buy this game in its current state as it is full of bugs which the devs seem unwilling or unable to fix; in fact, it would seem that the devs just threw this game out as a quick cash grab and have all but abandoned it.”
  • stability18 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent glitches, lags, and micro-freezes that disrupt gameplay. While some users have experienced minimal issues, others express significant disappointment, particularly with visual glitches and the overall performance. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a notable concern, impacting the experience for a substantial number of players.

    • “Honestly very disappointed, I've played the free version of this and there's more content there than the paid version, not to mention the frequent glitches and lack of ability to get the amount of baitcoins to buy the upgrade packs.”
    • “Half of the gameplay consists of freezes, and another half of trying to differentiate between tons of gear looking almost the same, and performing almost the same, with meaningless marketing names.”
    • “Wzgame is ok but a buggy mess; the devs are the worst.”
  • story14 mentions

    The game's story is primarily driven by a series of missions that introduce players to various lakes, fish, and gear, but players have reported significant bugs that can hinder progress. While the narrative structure offers a wealth of content, many feel that the reliance on leveling and in-game currency to unlock gear detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the lack of regular updates has led to player dissatisfaction, with some feeling abandoned by the developers.

    • “Lots of missions to introduce you to new lakes, fish, gear, etc.”
    • “I'm stuck on a mission right now that wants me to use the motor boat.”
    • “---{story}---”
    • “I encountered a bug in Czech that permanently bricked all missions for that lake.”
    • “I have more than 1000 hours in, I found the game to struggle at the start, but after you get to level 10+ the game does get better. However, like most people, you get playing for a while, jumping maps is just silly. You need to fill the nets and make cash. Don't always do the missions if it is not what you want or like. I have found the game also doesn't get enough updates, so the 150 level 50 people I know that no longer play, do so because they refuse to update the game at regular intervals. And no, I do not call an event an update. So Bigben, a discontent customer never normally wants to return. Perhaps you might want to think about that as you leave the premium holder left for dead for the free-to-play version. What a great game maker. The gameplay is okay, the graphics are fairly nice, but taking into account many bugs and issues, if I had known what I know now, I would have never bought this game.”
    • “I'm stuck on a mission right now that wants me to use the motorboat.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is well-optimized, allowing it to run on low-end laptops, provided players are willing to compromise on graphics quality and frame rates.

    • “Good optimization allows the game to run on low-end laptops if you're willing to sacrifice graphics and FPS.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy The Fisherman: Fishing Planet

Play time

201hMedian play time
137hAverage play time
9-265hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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