The most relaxing fishing games are Cast n Chill, Webfishing and Fishing Paradiso. If you want fishing inside a bigger cozy life, play Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Dredge is excellent too, but it has a spooky, horror side. If you want a boat more than a rod, see our cozy sailing games. Below are 11 games with honest notes on tone, length and downsides.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Short Sail | A short, cozy sail with the island post, fishing and friends | Short | PC, Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
| Cast n Chill | Players who want fishing to calm them down | About 16 to 18 hours | PC, Mac, Switch 2 |
| Webfishing | Friends who want a cozy place to hang out online | Open-ended | PC (Windows) |
| Fishing Paradiso | Players who want a fishing RPG they can finish | About 6 hours | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch |
| Stardew Valley | Players who want fishing as one part of a cozy life | Open-ended | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, mobile |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Switch players who want a gentle daily routine | Open-ended | Switch, Switch 2 |
| Dave the Diver | Players who want fishing with lots of story and surprises | About 23 to 25 hours | PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Moonglow Bay | Players who like fishing plus a warm small-town story | About 19 hours | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Cat Goes Fishing | Players who want something simple and funny | Varies | PC |
| Dredge | Players who like a calm loop with a creepy edge | About 9.5 hours | PC, Mac, Switch, PS, Xbox, mobile |
| Ultimate Fishing Simulator | Players who want real rods and real techniques | Varies | PC |
| Fishing: North Atlantic | Sim fans who want to run a fishing boat as a job | Varies | PC |
Quick picks
- Most relaxing: Cast n Chill
- Best with friends: Webfishing
- Best short fishing game: Fishing Paradiso
- Best fishing inside a bigger game: Stardew Valley
- Best story: Dave the Diver
- Best if you like a little dread: Dredge
- Most realistic: Ultimate Fishing Simulator
- Our own game: A Short Sail (in development)
The list
Cast n Chill
Who it is for: players who want fishing to calm them down.
You drive a little boat through side-scrolling pixel-art waters, catch fish, fill a logbook and buy upgrades. You choose a pet to come along. An idle mode lets the game fish on its own, so it also works on a second screen. It is light on story, and that is the point.
Developer: Wombat Brawler | Year: 2025 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch 2 | Length: about 16 to 18 hours | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Webfishing
Who it is for: friends who want a cozy place to hang out online.
You are a little animal on a shared island. You fish, earn cash, buy cosmetics and chat with other players. The developer calls it a chatroom-focused fishing game. It shines with people around, and the Steam version is Windows only.
Developer: lamedeveloper | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC (Windows) | Length: open-ended | Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive | Steam page
Fishing Paradiso
Who it is for: players who want a fishing RPG they can finish.
You set out to become a master angler in a tropical setting, explore new spots and befriend a cheerful cast. It is light and sunny. The main story is short, but there is more to catch if you want to keep going.
Developer: Odencat | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch | Length: about 6 hours | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Stardew Valley
Who it is for: players who want fishing as one part of a cozy life.
You inherit an old farm and slowly build a life in a small town. Fishing is a full skill with many fish, seasons and secrets. The fishing minigame takes practice at first. It is endless if you let it be.
Developer: ConcernedApe | Year: 2016 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, mobile | Length: open-ended | Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive | Steam page
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Who it is for: Switch players who want a gentle daily routine.
You move to an island and shape it your way. Fishing is simple and relaxing, and fish change with the seasons and time of day. It is not on PC. It works best a little every day, not in long sessions.
Developer: Nintendo EPD | Year: 2020 | Platforms: Switch, Switch 2 | Length: open-ended | Official site
Dave the Diver
Who it is for: players who want fishing with lots of story and surprises.
By day, you dive and spearfish in a changing reef. By night, you run a sushi bar with the fish you caught. It keeps adding new minigames and characters. It is more busy than calm, and restaurant service can get hectic until you hire staff.
Developer: Mintrocket | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 23 to 25 hours | Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive | Steam page
Moonglow Bay
Who it is for: players who like fishing plus a warm small-town story.
You take over a fishing boat after losing your partner, then fish and cook to help a quiet town recover. The idea is lovely. Steam reviews are Mixed, so it is a riskier pick.
Developer: Bunnyhug | Year: 2021 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 19 hours | Steam: Mixed | Steam page
Cat Goes Fishing
Who it is for: players who want something simple and funny.
You start on an island with a basic rod and grow into a radar-wielding master fisher-cat. Each fish behaves differently, and you learn which rod works best. It is plain-looking 2D, but easy to play for a while.
Developer: Cat5Games | Year: 2015 | Platforms: PC | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Dredge
Who it is for: players who like a calm loop with a creepy edge.
You captain a small fishing boat around remote islands and fit your catch into a grid-style hold. The fishing is soothing. But nights bring horror, sea monsters and a dark story, so it is not fully cozy.
Developer: Black Salt Games | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch, PS, Xbox, mobile | Length: about 9.5 hours | Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive | Steam page
Ultimate Fishing Simulator
Who it is for: players who want real rods and real techniques.
A realistic sim with spinning, float fishing and ground fishing in places around the world. Its promise is that fish “bite like crazy,” so there is little waiting. It is a sim, so it has no story and less charm than the games above.
Developer: Ultimate Games S.A., Bit Golem | Year: 2018 | Platforms: PC | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Fishing: North Atlantic
Who it is for: sim fans who want to run a fishing boat as a job.
You fish commercially off Nova Scotia, upgrade boats and gear, and grow a career. It is slow and detailed. Recent Steam reviews are more mixed than the overall Mostly Positive score.
Developer: Misc Games | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC | Steam: Mostly Positive | Steam page
FAQ
What is the most relaxing fishing game? Cast n Chill. It is a calm pixel-art fishing game with an idle mode, so it can even fish for you while you do something else.
Is Dredge a relaxing fishing game? Partly. The fishing loop is calm, but the game has horror elements, sea monsters and a dark story, mostly at night.
What is a good fishing game to play with friends? Webfishing is built for hanging out and chatting while you fish. Stardew Valley also has co-op.
What is the most realistic fishing game? Of the games here, Ultimate Fishing Simulator is the most realistic for rod fishing, and Fishing: North Atlantic for commercial boat fishing.
A note from us
We make A Short Sail, which has fishing by day and night, so we kept it out of the ranked list. It is our pick at the top of this page, clearly marked as our own game.
Questions
What is the most relaxing fishing game?
Cast n Chill. It is a calm pixel-art fishing game with an idle mode, so it can even fish for you while you do something else.
Is Dredge a relaxing fishing game?
Partly. The fishing loop is calm, but the game has horror elements, sea monsters and a dark story, mostly at night.
What is a good fishing game to play with friends?
Webfishing is built for hanging out and chatting while you fish. Stardew Valley also has co-op.
What is the most realistic fishing game?
Of the games here, Ultimate Fishing Simulator is the most realistic for rod fishing, and Fishing: North Atlantic for commercial boat fishing.
