Martin JørgensenDownload Fishing Planet for free on Steam
Do you miss the calm of standing by still water with a rod in hand, as the line sails through the air with a soothing whistle? Or are you simply curious about fishing but not sure where to start?
Then Fishing Planet is a great choice—either as a budget-friendly substitute for pricey gear or as an introduction to the great outdoors.
Whether you want to cast under a tree by yourself and enjoy nature, or compete with your best friend to land the biggest catch, this free-to-play game offers plenty of options.
Choose your favorite fishing style — pick the tackle that fits you best
Just like in real life, Fishing Planet lets you decide how you want to catch fish. Prefer a float (also called a bobber), a spinner that flashes as you retrieve, or a bottom bouncer? You can do all of that.
You can also switch between different kinds of bait. You start with dry bread; later you learn how to dig worms out of compost and use them as bait. You can also buy manufactured products like boilies or pellets in various flavors. All these choices affect which species you can catch and how successful you’ll be.
Keep fishing as the world turns
A dynamic game needs a dynamic world. Fishing Planet plays out in a parallel to our own, with day/night cycles and changing weather. The in-game menus show detailed forecasts for the next few days, giving you a better idea of which fish to target at different locations.
This adds a strategic layer to an otherwise relaxing experience and helps keep the game fun for many more hours than it would be without these systems.
The menus show details such as time of day, air and water temperature, wind direction, and wind strength.
There are also seasonal and region-specific weather patterns that can dramatically change your approach to fishing.
You can reel in far more than a simple salmon
Fishing Planet has steadily expanded its roster of fish you can catch. Of course you’ll find familiar species like salmon and trout, but also more exotic types such as piranhas.
There are seasonal fish too, such as the ‘Blue Foolish Goby,’ a bright blue fish wearing a red Santa hat. Around Halloween the game also features spooky baits and zombie-like fish to catch.
You can catch more than 150 different species in Fishing Planet, so get that line in the water.
Critique of the character creation menu
Although the fishing itself is a lot of fun, some parts of the game could use an upgrade, or at least a bit of polish.
Ironically, one such area is the very first thing you see when you open the game. You create your avatar by choosing from a list of preset faces, hairstyles, and pants.
If you play as a male character, the process is fine and you can get a decent result. If you play as a female character, however, I can’t promise it won’t be a frustrating experience.
Animations for female characters are downright goofy and unrealistic; they move like intoxicated robots. Sometimes hair floats away from the head while moving, and torsos occasionally clip through clothing, which can break immersion when you’re standing next to someone like that during a tournament.
If you’re in an area without other players, it’s not a big issue, since you play from a first-person view and only see your hands and rod.
Other relaxing games to try
If you enjoy strategy games, try Stratego. Many of us played Stratego in school, battling in two armies where each piece has a specific role. The digital version captures that feeling—without needing to gather 39 other friends first.
Free Spider Solitaire 2020 is a legendary card game, now modernized for the digital world. You can choose from different modes that make it fun to replay. With virtually endless card combinations, you won’t experience the exact same game twice.
If you want a relaxing game that also involves animals, try life as a zookeeper in Zoo Tycoon 2. The game features many different animals to care for and enclosures to build—more than 100 in total, from tigers and giraffes to polar bears and crocodiles.
Conclusion
Fishing Planet is a free-to-play fishing simulator set in locations around the world. You can choose from a wide range of gear and bait types to match your target species.
The character creator is weak, but for most players this won’t be a big problem, since the game is played from a first-person perspective. And you don’t necessarily need a deep character creator in a game about catching fish with a rod and reel.
If you want to relax and enjoy the feeling of the outdoors without stepping outside, Fishing Planet is a solid solution.
The game supports online multiplayer, so you can fish with others or join competitions to catch the biggest fish, the most fish, or a specific species that demands the right setup and conditions.
Download Fishing Planet
