The Night Fisherman

About

The Night Fisherman is a single player action game with drama and mystery themes. It was developed by de Fault and was released on June 29, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The English Protection Group keep a watchful eye on the Smuggler's Run, a renowned crossing for vessels bound from Calais containing illegal immigrants. When faced with an armed man, his voracious appetite for conversation, and nobody else for miles, can you safely get rid of him? This is a single, film-like scene. You direct the fisherman's actions, as well as directing the camera shots bet…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 174 reviews

story20 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The Night Fisherman features stunning visuals and a unique art style that enhances the atmospheric experience.
The game effectively tackles complex themes such as immigration and moral dilemmas, prompting players to reflect on these issues.
Despite its short length, the narrative is engaging and impactful, creating a tense and immersive experience.

The gameplay is very limited, with choices that feel inconsequential and do not significantly affect the outcome of the story.
Many players feel the game is overly derivative, closely mirroring a famous scene from Inglourious Basterds without adding meaningful originality.
The short runtime may leave some players wanting more depth and development in both the story and character interactions.

story
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
The game's story is a brief, visually striking narrative that draws inspiration from existing works, particularly the "Inglourious Basterds" scene, but lacks originality and meaningful player choice. While some players appreciate the art and the storytelling's emotional impact, many criticize the limited interactivity and the failure to explore its themes in depth, resulting in a narrative that feels both familiar and underdeveloped. Overall, it serves as a short, thought-provoking experience, but leaves players wanting more in terms of engagement and originality.
- “The storytelling in 'The Night Fisherman' is masterfully executed, weaving together elements of suspense, drama, and social commentary.”
- “Beautiful storytelling and amazing artistry.”
- “A really neat story with an interesting ending based on your decision; I'm kind of shocked at what decision led to which ending and excited to check out more of the franchise.”
- “The story is as simple as a fisherman having to deal with an English officer tasked with catching illegal immigrants, which he does from the barrel of a shotgun, and is very ruthless.”
- “The only minor nitpick of mine is that even though the responses are different depending on your choice, the outcome of the story's ending is borderline the same, with very minor differences.”
- “It's clear the message came first, and the gameplay is there to supplement the feeling this story is trying to drive: that being the feeling of hopelessness.”
graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
26%
13%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their stunning and atmospheric art style, featuring a striking color palette and moody lighting that enhance the storytelling. Reviewers highlight the unique and vivid visuals, often comparing them to paintings, which effectively complement the game's themes and emotional depth. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the immersive experience, making it a visually captivating title.
- “Visually, the game is stunning, with its atmospheric art style and moody lighting perfectly complementing the dark, atmospheric setting.”
- “The visual art style is beautiful and the color palette is striking.”
- “The scene is set within a highly stylised seascape consisting of low-poly models and made up of bright colors, dark shadows, and high contrast visuals that are simple but effective.”
- “Even so, a small thumbs up for the art style, having its heart in the right place and paying some attention to the refugee crisis that is still a major issue today.”
- “I really did like the art style, and had I not been a Tarantino buff but unfamiliar with the source material, I would probably have been very impressed.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many users appreciating its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the emotional experience. While some found it effective in building tension, others felt it could be overly directive in conveying emotions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the stronger aspects of the game, complementing the visuals and narrative effectively.
- “I enjoyed being able to control the camera angles as the conversation in the scene proceeds, and the music and sound are well designed and timed.”
- “The environment is further brought to life by the sound of the waves and the subtle but atmospheric orchestral soundtrack that manages to build tension in an unobtrusive way.”
- “A short but moving tale of a night fisherman uniquely told through your choice of cinematic camera angles on the backdrop of a mesmerizing art style and soundtrack.”
- “There's no voice acting, and if it wasn't for the music playing in the background, the game would be dead quiet.”
- “Relatively average art and soundtrack.”
- “And the moment the music came in to try to tell me what emotion I should be feeling, I felt more annoyed than tense.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and striking qualities, blending stunning visuals with moody lighting and a unique art style. Players appreciate the ability to shift camera perspectives, which enhances the experience, while the sound design, including waves and an atmospheric orchestral soundtrack, further enriches the environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both relaxing and intense, effectively complementing the game's narrative focus.
- “Visually, the game is stunning, with its atmospheric art style and moody lighting perfectly complementing the dark, atmospheric setting.”
- “The environment is further brought to life by the sound of the waves and the subtle but atmospheric orchestral soundtrack that manages to build tension in an unobtrusive way.”
- “Everyone will form their own opinion; the game leans much more on atmosphere and narrative than on gameplay and action.”
- “I love the neon-esque sky and the backdrop of the water just makes the atmosphere relaxing; it meshes very well with the intense conversations you have.”
- “+ atmosphere is both light and intense.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The gameplay is generally praised for its amazing elements, but it is noted that the game prioritizes atmosphere and narrative over action. Some players have pointed out flaws in the camera angle switching mechanic, questioning its necessity given the eventual fixes implemented. Overall, while the gameplay has strong points, it may not be the primary focus for all players.
- “Amazing gameplay.”
- “Everyone will form their own opinion; the game leans much more on atmosphere and narrative than on gameplay and action.”
- “In fact, there's even a part where they realize how flawed the mechanic is and instead fix the camera regardless, which makes me wonder why the mechanics are still here.”
- “Last few nitpicks, there's a mechanic where you can switch to different camera angles.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to build tension and deliver a powerful experience in a brief timeframe, leaving a lasting impact on players. However, some critiques point to a lack of character development that hinders deeper emotional engagement, while others feel the game manipulates emotions regarding sensitive topics like the refugee crisis. Overall, it evokes strong feelings, but responses vary on its effectiveness and ethical portrayal.
- “Ten minutes are enough to reach the climax, with tension gradually building up—a well-managed emotional and experiential arc for the player.”
- “For an experience that can be completed in under 10 minutes, The Night Fisherman certainly packs an emotional punch.”
- “I'm struggling to think of another game that made me feel so much in such a short amount of time.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that effective optimization can significantly enhance the overall experience of a game, as demonstrated by the impactful opening scene of ig b*******, where strong acting elevates the narrative and prevents it from feeling shallow or juvenile.