What Could Open-World Fishing Games Do Better?

Fishing games are huge right now. Games like Call of the Wild: Angler are taking off and you also have titles like Dredge which are generating a lot of buzz. Taking the concept of fishing and putting it into an open-world environment was certainly a wise move, and although the games themselves are getting bigger and far more complex, there are still a lot of things that could be improved.

Respecting the Art of Fishing

Games that aren’t realistic, can still be fun, especially when it comes to fishing. Games like Fishing Frenzy are huge hits because they contain exciting graphics of different fish species and aquatic-themed bonuses. They are also downright fun to play. You also have the option to bet on different reels, which helps to replicate the luck factor of reeling in a big fish. With that being said, open-world fishing games have to go way more in depth to create the same experience for fans, and right now, they’re lacking some essential features.

Open-world fishing games like COTW: The Angler allow you to venture out and travel to different lakes, with the option of catching different species of fish in each. You can also upgrade your equipment, meaning you’re more likely to get a catch. With that being said, adding a skill tree that allowed the player to perfect a particular style of fishing, a trophy room where they could display their prize watches, or even shops to buy specialist equipment at, rather than just digital fronts, would all be welcome. Some games have been added in boats, like Fishing: North Atlantic and this is great, but they’re still very limited. 

To make the games more immersive and more adventure-focused, adding in the cost of boat maintenance, along with upgrades for deep-ocean fishing would be welcome. These are all possibilities in the real world of fishing, so adding them into digital representations would be the best way to elevate the experience.

Keeping it Fun

Of course, with serious upgrades like the ones mentioned d above, it’s important to balance fun elements. In regards to open-world adventure fishing games, adding a scoreboard where people can display their record catch, along with the largest fish of the month would keep people engaged. People could also pay in-game currency to visit particular fishing spots, like in real life.

Elements like this would help to make the experience more immersive and it would also play a much bigger part in emphasizing the risk-reward factor. Sometimes people spend hours at popular lakes and don’t catch a thing, and other times, they reel in the biggest catch of their career. That’s part of what makes fishing fun, and in a way, fishing games aren’t capitalizing on this as much as they could be. Although fishing games are getting bigger and better, there’s still a lot that could be done to extend their playability, and make them more fun in general to a bigger audience, rather than targeting niche sports fans who may play for a few hours a night.

In conclusion, fishing games are more advanced than ever. There’s no denying that, but with that being said, there’s a long way to go, and the future is bright, with the right kind of investment.