How to Fish on PC: Getting Started

If you're jumping into How to Fish, the breakout indie online co-op game developed by Dazed Games, you'll quickly find that catching sea life involves a lot more than a standard rod and reel. Released on Steam on August 20, 2026, the game strands players on a small island after a boating accident, forcing you to work your way back up by mastering open-world fishing with knives, guns, and explosives.

Quick Facts

  • Release Date: August 20, 2026
  • Developer: Dazed Games
  • Platform: PC (Steam), verified running on SteamOS via Proton 11
  • Milestones: Surpassed 1 million players and over 12,000 Very Positive user reviews on Steam

Survival and Fishing Mechanics

After your boat crashes into an island, your primary objective is to catch fish, earn money, and upgrade your equipment. The gameplay loop splits into two distinct styles depending on your target:

  • Small Fish: Catch smaller fish to eat and earn money to fund your progression.
  • Big Fish and Bosses: Larger sea creatures fight back aggressively. You'll need to use weapons like knives, knuckle dusters, guns, and dynamite to take them down.

Co-Op Mechanics and Reviving Friends

Playing in online co-op introduces chaotic physics and specific mechanics you'll need to master during tough boss encounters, such as the rapid-fire Piranha boss:

  • The Slap Revive: When a teammate falls during a boss fight, a surviving player can run over, pick them up, and slap them in the face a few times to revive them.
  • Seagull Interference: Downed player bodies can be swooped up and carried away by seagulls, adding an extra layer of urgency to revivals.

Upgrading Weapons and Tools

As you progress through the open-world environment, you can catch rarer colored fish with unusual appearances. Taking these rare catches to the in-game slot machine allows you to unlock various cosmetic skins for your weapons and tools, giving you clear milestones to work toward between island boat trips.

PC and Steam Machine Performance

Tested on the SteamOS Steam Machine with Proton 11, How to Fish performs brilliantly overall. However, players using controllers should note that the user interface can make it difficult to identify what you are selecting in menus, and sensitivity adjustments currently require extra care.