In a gaming landscape often dominated by serious shooters and sprawling RPGs, it’s refreshing when a quirky indie title captures the community’s imagination. How to Fish, developed by Dazed Games, has done just that, becoming a sudden indie sensation on Steam. Released on August 20, 2026, the game has already amassed over 1 million players and more than 12,000 user reviews with a ‘Very Positive’ rating, according to a review from Gamingonlinux.
The premise is delightfully absurd: you’re on a boating trip that ends with you crashing into a small island, destroying your boat. Stranded, you must work your way back up by learning how to fish. But this isn’t your grandfather’s fishing sim—it’s an open-world co-op game where you’ll use knives, guns, and explosives to catch fish, all rendered with funny physics and ridiculous-looking characters. GamingOnLinux awarded the game a 4 out of 5, calling it ‘Great.’
Chaotic Co-Op Fishing with a Twist
The core loop is simple: fish, survive, and progress from island to island. Once you’ve cleared an island, you hop back in your boat to find another, repeating the cycle. But the game throws plenty of curveballs. Bigger fish literally fight back, and there’s a Piranha boss that rapidly flops around while spewing out smaller Piranhas. The first boss fight is notably tough, especially when you’re armed only with basic weapons like the Knife and Knuckle Dusters—GamingOnLinux notes it took them ‘a good few attempts’ to succeed.
The co-op mechanics add to the hilarity. If a player goes down during a boss fight, a teammate can run over and slap them in the face a few times to revive them. And if that’s not funny enough, a Seagull might swoop down and pick up the body of your downed friend, adding an unexpected layer of chaos.
Progression, Skins, and Steam Deck Performance
Beyond the core fishing and combat, How to Fish offers a progression system that rewards persistence. Rarer colored fish—which look a bit weird—can be inserted into a slot machine to earn various skins for your weapons and tools. This adds a collectible element that encourages players to hunt for those special catches.
For Linux gamers, the news is positive. GamingOnLinux tested the game on a SteamOS Steam Machine with Proton 11, and it performed brilliantly. The only criticism noted was the UI for controller support, which can be difficult to navigate in menus and makes changing sensitivity a bit of a chore. Still, that’s a minor blemish on an otherwise polished experience.
A Sudden Indie Hit Worth Your Time
The rapid rise of How to Fish is a testament to the appeal of well-executed, chaotic co-op games. With its unique blend of fishing, combat, and slapstick humor, it’s easy to see why players have flocked to it. The game’s success on Steam, both in terms of player count and positive reviews, suggests that Dazed Games has tapped into a desire for something different.
If you’re looking for a game to play with friends that will have you laughing out loud, How to Fish is well worth a look. It’s available now on Steam for Windows, and with Proton support, Linux players can join in on the fun too. Just be prepared for some tough boss fights and the occasional seagull stealing your buddy’s body.
