The Best Fishing Games Of All Time, Ranked

At face value, fishing might not be the electrifying sport most people are clamoring for. It's no secret that sports like football and basketball have more extensive fan bases. This is why few AAA fishing games exist, and fishing is mainly used as a small feature in video games. That's not to say fishing can't be a rousing hobby that translates well into video games.

Fishing appeared in some of the earliest video games, yet some series' fishing mechanics haven't changed a bit. Fishing in games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Final Fantasy XV adds more depth to the overall package, providing players with a relaxing yet realistic experience that can serve as a welcome distraction from the main questline.

Updated August 7, 2024, by Tom Bowen: Though there are plenty of big AAA games that include basic fishing mechanics, few, if any, can compare to a title that's been designed entirely around the sport. These realistic fishing games can be incredibly enjoyable when they're done well and can also be a great way for players to learn about the intricacies of real-world fishing as they play. For those who've had enough of CoD and now find themselves looking for the reel deal, these excellent fishing games are a great plaice to start.

20 Sea of Thieves

Fishing is a Great Way to Rank Up in Sea of Thieves

Starting out as a lackluster pirate adventure, Sea of Thieves has evolved into so much more. According to seaofthieves.com, "Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll rank up with The Hunter’s Call" - and rank up players have.

Compared to the various swashbuckling adventures that populate the game, fishing provides an incredibly relaxing way to pass the time. It also has benefits such as providing food, although catches will need to be cooked before players can tuck into their bounty.

19 Fishing Resort

Fishing Resort is Great for Younger Players

Naturally, since the game was released on the Nintendo Wii, Fishing Resort utilizes motion controls. There are 216 fish species contained in this game, making it one of the most comprehensive fishing games ever released. They all look fairly realistic too, which may surprise some considering the game's cartoonish art style.

Since fishing is the main component of the title, and it's not only a side feature, Fishing Resort is quite polished. The largest fish in the game is Dunkleosteus, a prehistoric fish that is extremely rare. Even with a 39-hour completion time, few players have caught the magnificent creature.

18 Far Cry 6

Far Cry 6 has an Expansive Fishing Mini-Game

It took a while for fishing to come to the Far Cry franchise, with the first game to feature the mechanic being Far Cry 5 in 2018. Given that wild animals and hunting have played an important role in the series since its second installment a decade prior, this may come as a surprise to some. Either way though, it's definitely a case of better late than never.

The fishing mechanics in Far Cry 5 are pretty good, but the ones found in the game's 2021 sequel are even better. There is a wide array of fish for players to catch and even an upgrade system that can be accessed through the game's fishing hut. Upgrading the hut will reward players with additional pieces of the fishing outfit too, which can be used to make fishing that little bit easier.

17 The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Fishing Feels Like Part of the Adventure in Link’s Awakening

Found in the Northern section of Mabe Village is a subtle feature that must be experienced. 2019's The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remake contains a fishing mini-game that expands upon the one found in the original Game Boy title by adding fish types and more polished gameplay mechanics.

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There are fish like the Runt, Lunker, and Cheep Cheep that make the catch incredibly satisfying. Also, there is the overarching goal of catching the prize of the pond, Ol' Baron. Those who are able to catch Ol' Baron will be handsomely rewarded with at least 90 Rupees.

16 Ark: Survival Evolved

Players will Have to Fish to Survive in Ark: Survival Evolved

The action-adventure survival game Ark: Survival Evolved takes fishing to a whole new level with a fishing net. This item was added as part of the Expansion Pack Genesis: Part 1 and is just one of many big improvements that have been made to the game since its somewhat underwhelming launch.

A fishing net might not be for everyone, which is why the game's devs have incorporated other options. Ark: Survival Evolved includes a fishing rod, which yields different sizes and types of fish depending on the bait used. Expect to catch Sabertooth Salmon and Piranhas when fishing in-game; some players might also find rare treasures.

15 Pokemon Sword & Shield

Pokemon Games Allow Players to Fish for Certain Water-Type Pokemon

They might not have the most advanced fishing mechanics, but Pokemon Sword & Shield arguably have the best fishing in the mainline Pokemon series. Fishing in the eighth-generation games is as straightforward as finding a black circle and then casting the rod's line into the water.

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Players won't find a massive bass, however, but instead an assortment of Pokemon with different sizes and appearances. Fishing has hardly changed since the franchise's earlier generations though, so some may feel that the time has come for Pokemon to follow other AAA video games and incorporate more advanced fishing mechanics in future entries. Sadly, Scarlet & Violet somehow manage to feel like a backward step in this regard.

14 World of Warcraft

Fishing in WoW Can be a Great Way to Relax Between Missions and Raids

If someone is in the mood for relaxing fishing and doesn't want to get into the sport's complexities, World of Warcraft is a must-play. The game's subscription structure might put certain people off, but those who are already subscribed to the game should definitely give fishing a try if they haven't already.

Although numerous water bodies make fishing fantastic, it might be time for this MMORPG to switch to a free-to-play model. Subscribers, however, play the game regularly, relishing the opportunity to go fishing. It's just one of many activities that players can partake in and a great way to unwind after a challenging mission or raid.

13 Tales of Arise

Fishing Ties in Well with Cooking in Tales of Arise

In recent years, it's become popular for developers to throw in as many different mechanics as possible in order to present the illusion of choice. In reality, though, all that players are really being offered is a series of half-baked ideas that contribute very little to the overall experience. Many modern games include lazy fishing mechanics as a result, but Tales of Arise isn't one of them.

The game features 44 different types of fish spread across 12 different locations, with each one responding differently to certain lures as well as the way that players jiggle them. Upon catching the fish, players can either sell them for money or use them to cook up a wide array of meals that provide stat boosts and other perks for a set amount of time. Finding all 44 types of fish in Tales of Arise really isn't too much of a chore and the fishing part can be quite relaxing too.

12 Stardew Valley

Fishing in Stardew Valley is Simple but Satisfying

Stardew Valley's stellar fishing is attributed to the types of fish and its relaxing nature. Certain fish appear during the off-season, yet fishing in the game is a year-round sport. To catch fish in Stardew Valley, press the Use Tool button and gauge the meter for distance.

Despite having layers of depth, Stardew Valley can lack immersion as the 16-bit graphics are on par with a Super Nintendo game. Resembling a retro simulation game, Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is the setting for highly relaxing fishing.

11 The Sims 4

Players Can Make a Career Out of Fishing in The Sims 4

The Sims 4 is another game that shoehorns in a lot of different ideas and mechanics, with fishing just one of the numerous activities that players can do to earn a little extra scratch. Again, there's very little depth to the actual fishing part and not too much player interaction required either, but it does offer something that very few other games with fishing mechanics do: customizability.

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Players can create their own bodies of water, deciding what types of fish will be in them and how many there will be. They can also improve their Sims' fishing skills to unlock more valuable fish later on, thus rewarding them more and more for their hard work over time. Certain elements are oversimplified quite a bit more than some might like, but this does help to make the mechanic a lot more accessible.