Whether players use the phrase friendslop or avoid it due to its negative connotation, there’s no denying that games given that label can be incredibly popular. Steam games with simple-yet-addictive mechanics, derpy character models, and humorous interactions designed to cause lighthearted arguments are a proven formula for success. And while few so-called friendslop games will ever reach the incredible heights of Peak, indie developers will surely continue their attempts to create games in that style. And now, one such attempt, How to Fish, is finding instant success with content creators and casual co-op groups alike.
How to Fish released on Thursday, August 20, and despite only being available for a few days at the time of writing, it has already made its way into the Steam top 50. Boasting over 35,000 concurrent players and overwhelmingly positive reviews (95%, to be specific), the game is likely to grow even more popular over the coming weeks. If gamers enjoy Peak’s charming vibe, fishing mechanics in video games, or the quickscoping of older Call of Duty titles — yes, seriously — How to Fish is undoubtedly worth playing with a group of friends.
Per How to Fish’s Steam Page, the game is on sale until August 27 to celebrate its launch. It’s available for $4.95 as opposed to the usual $7.99 base price, which is a 38% discount.
How to Fish Features at a Glance
- FISH either solo or with three other players in co-op.
- BUILD an arsenal of fishing tools after starting with nothing, using money earned from selling catches.
- QUEST and fight bosses like sharks to reach new islands with more creatures to catch.
- COLLECT rare variants of fish, giving players something to grind for.
- HIT TRICKSHOTS and gamble for extra profit.
A 1-4 player physics based fishing simulator. While drinking and boating you suddenly crash into a small island. To work your way back home you have to learn How to Fish.
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How to Fish is All About Humor and ‘Fishing’
It takes one look at an image of How to Fish to immediately get an idea of what developer Dazed Games is going for. The character models look like a cross between Planters’ Mr. Peanut mascot and Rick and Morty characters, being appropriately silly for this kind of game. As players try to guide their silly fishermen home, they’ll need to do a whole lot of fishing. Players will start with nothing and continue gearing up, moving from spears to proper rods to, oddly enough, sniper rifles.
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If landing 360 quickscope trickshots on fish and troublesome seagulls looking to hog all the catches sounds absurd, that’s because it is, and it’s that kind of humor that makes the game tick. It’s present throughout every single action players take inside the game, as well as the Steam page itself, with How to Fish’s developer jokingly throwing gifs at the player in its full description for the game. Players will be able to gamble their hard-earned money from fish sales if they want to risk making a greater profit, which may not be a bad idea since actually getting fish will be no easy task.
Obtaining large sea creatures in How to Fish, from sharks to crabs, is essentially treated like a boss battle. The creatures will have health bars that players whittle down with SMGs and shotguns, and if players make a mistake, they can expect to be tossed into the sky via some hilarious ragdoll physics. Players will go on quests to reach new islands and encounter different kinds of creatures, and for a long-term grind, they’ll also be able to hunt rare variants of every fish. Essentially a version of Pokemon’s shinies, playere who manage to wrangle a bunch of these rare fish will likely feel accomplished, with the hunt for them giving this particular “friendslop” game a ton of replayability.