How to Fish: release date, gameplay, bosses and everything we know about the Steam hit
How to Fish is a physics-based co-op fishing game developed by Dazed Games and released on Steam on 20th August 2026. The game sold 1 million copies within two days of launch, according to a statement from the developer on Steam. It has since become one of the platform's most played titles, peaking at 268,101 concurrent players as recorded by SteamDB. The game is currently labelled "Very Positive" based on nearly 12,000 user reviews.
Release date and price How to Fish launched on 20th August 2026. At launch, it was offered at a 38 percent discount, bringing the price to £3.96 / $4.95. The discount was scheduled to end on 27th August 2026, after which the standard price would be $7.99. No further price changes or sales have been confirmed beyond that date.
Platforms The game is available on PC via Steam. No other platforms have been announced or confirmed by the developer.
Gameplay overview How to Fish is a relaxing fishing game for up to four players. The core loop involves catching and selling fish to upgrade a boat so the player can return home. Players can use a variety of weapons to kill their catches, including brass knuckles, knives, shotguns, SMGs and dynamite. A creature's value is increased by a killscore multiplier, which is based on any impressive trickshots performed while killing it. The game also allows players to gamble some of their earned in-game money. As players earn more money, they travel to islands with progressively harder catches.
Boss encounters The game features several boss encounters that require specific preparation. The Spider Crab is the first major boss. To summon it, players must complete the sailor's tutorial quest, then buy a Fishing Rod for $3, feed the sailor clams or fish, purchase a melee weapon (the knife costs $45, brass knuckles $24), buy the sailor a beer for $12, and use the empty can as bait. The Spider Crab can kill the player in three to four hits from its claws. After attacking, the crab is temporarily dazed, allowing the player to hit it. Eating seafood before the fight to top off health and hunger is recommended, and clams can be used for quick healing during the fight. The player can also buy a radar for $10 after the fight.
The Pufferfish is a later boss that represents a significant difficulty increase. To obtain its bait, players must speak to a swimmer in yellow floaties on the third island. The swimmer asks for help slaying a fish and will provide Carrot Bait in exchange for an endangered creature. To catch an endangered creature, players need a new Fishing Rod ($3) and a Standard Lure ($15). Fish must be examined with the F key before selling to identify endangered creatures. The Pufferfish is difficult to defeat with a shotgun; the SMG ($650) with bullet upgrades is recommended. Players should keep moving, use trees as cover, avoid the Pufferfish's purple poison (which deals lethal damage quickly), and can try luring the boss around the merchant's shop, where it sometimes gets stuck when larger.
Post-launch support The developer announced on Steam that two patches had already been rolled out following release to fix bugs and make balance changes. In the same post that announced the 1 million sales milestone, Dazed Games stated: "Yes, we'll be adding more content! Yes, we'll be fixing bugs!" No specific details about future content updates have been shared.
What is still unknown Several details about How to Fish remain unconfirmed. The developer has not announced any plans for console releases, and no information about future content updates beyond the general promise of "more content" has been provided. The full number of islands, bosses, or weapons in the game has not been officially listed. The game's long-term roadmap, if any, has not been shared. The developer has not commented on whether the game will receive any paid DLC or expansions. No information about a physical release has been announced.