The closest games to Webfishing are Palia for fishing in a shared online town, Sky: Children of the Light for a gentle social hangout, and Stardew Valley for fishing with friends on a shared farm. If you mostly loved being a cat with a rod, try Cat Goes Fishing. We checked every game on October 29, 2026.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palia | Webfishing fans who want more to do between catches | Open-ended | PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Sky: Children of the Light | Players who loved meeting nice strangers more than the fishing | Open-ended | PC, iOS, Android, Switch, PS4, PS5 |
| Stardew Valley | A group of friends who want a long, shared project | About 53.5 hours for the main story, with no real end (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, mobile |
| Coral Island | Fans who want tropical water and lots of sea life | About 56.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Fae Farm | Small groups who like magic and bright colors | About 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Dinkum | Friends who want a sandbox island with an Australian twist | About 31.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC |
| Disney Dreamlight Valley | Disney fans who want fishing and decorating | About 66 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Cat Goes Fishing | Players who loved the cat and the fishing, and do not need the chat | About 13 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC |
| A Short Sail | Players who want to fish as a cat, alone or with friends online | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
Webfishing came out of nowhere in October 2024. A solo developer made a small, cheap game about cats and dogs fishing at a lake, and more than 20,000 people were soon playing it at the same time. The appeal is easy to name:
- Cute animal avatars. You are a cartoon cat or dog in silly clothes.
- Easy fishing. About 100 creatures to catch, a journal to fill, and upgrades that come quickly.
- Chat and lobbies. You host a lobby, friends join, and you type nonsense at each other.
- Toys. A real guitar, chalk to draw with, and a punch button.
- Low stakes. Nothing can hurt you, and there is nothing to win.
No other game hits all five. So below, we sorted the picks by which part of Webfishing you love most. Lengths come from HowLongToBeat, and Steam Deck status comes from each Steam page, checked on 29 October 2026. Webfishing itself is open-ended and shows Steam Deck: Playable.
Our picks
- Closest overall: Palia
- Best for chatting with kind strangers: Sky: Children of the Light
- Best fishing with friends: Stardew Valley
- Best ocean fishing and diving: Coral Island
- Best solo cat fishing: Cat Goes Fishing
- Our own game: A Short Sail (in development, with fishing, lobbies, chat and your own animal online)
Online worlds to hang out in
These are the closest to the Webfishing feeling: a shared place, other players around you, and fishing as one of the things to do.
Palia
Who it is for: Webfishing fans who want more to do between catches.
Palia is a free-to-play life sim MMO. You fish, cook, garden, hunt bugs and build a home in a cozy fantasy town, and other players are there with you. Fishing is a full skill with its own rods and bait. Seasons add quests and community events.
The downside: it is much bigger and has more goals than Webfishing, so it is less “just chill.” It is online only, and it sells cosmetics. You play a person, not an animal.
Developer: Singularity 6 | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: open-ended | Price: free to play | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Sky: Children of the Light
Who it is for: players who loved meeting nice strangers more than the fishing.
You fly through soft, glowing realms with other players. You hold hands to guide each other, light candles and help with puzzles. Chat with strangers happens in set places, such as benches. Built-in translation lets you talk with players worldwide.
The downside: there is no fishing. It is free to play with paid items, and the Steam version is still listed as Early Access. Your avatar is a small caped child of light, not an animal.
Developer: thatgamecompany | Year: 2024 (Steam) | Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, Switch, PS4, PS5 | Length: open-ended | Price: free to play | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Co-op life sims with good fishing
Here you fish with friends in a private world, as in a Webfishing lobby, but with a farm or town to grow between catches. More picks are in our cozy multiplayer games guide.
Stardew Valley
Who it is for: a group of friends who want a long, shared project.
Stardew’s fishing is famous: a little bar you keep on the fish as it darts up and down. You can fish rivers, lakes and the sea, and find rare fish by season and weather. The Steam page says you can invite 1 to 7 friends online.
The downside: the fishing minigame is hard at first, and some players find it stressful. The mines have monsters. You play a person.
Developer: ConcernedApe | Year: 2016 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, mobile | Length: about 53.5 hours for the main story, with no real end (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Coral Island
Who it is for: fans who want tropical water and lots of sea life.
You farm, fish and dive on a sunny island, and help clean up the coral reef. The Steam page lists multiplayer farming with up to 3 friends. It is bright and relaxed.
The downside: it is a big, long game with many systems. The mines have creatures to fight.
Developer: Stairway Games | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 56.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Fae Farm
Who it is for: small groups who like magic and bright colors.
You farm, fish, cook and decorate on an enchanted island. Up to four players can play together, online or locally. The fishing is simple and quick.
The downside: online play needs a Phoenix Labs account for each player. The dungeons have creatures you fight.
Developer: Phoenix Labs | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Dinkum
Who it is for: friends who want a sandbox island with an Australian twist.
You arrive on an outback-style island and build a town. You farm, fish, mine and forage, and you can play solo or with friends. It left Early Access in 2025.
The downside: it is a survival life sim, so some animals are dangerous and you hunt. It takes many hours to grow the town.
Developer: James Bendon | Year: 2025 (full release) | Platforms: PC | Length: about 31.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Who it is for: Disney fans who want fishing and decorating.
You restore a valley with Disney and Pixar characters, and fish, cook and decorate as you go. Through the Valley Visit Station you can connect with up to three other players, join their valley and trade.
The downside: multiplayer is visiting, not a full shared world. It is a paid game with an optional shop. On Steam, Valve has not rated it for Steam Deck yet.
Developer: Gameloft | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 66 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: not tested | Steam page
Fishing as a cat, on your own
Cat Goes Fishing
Who it is for: players who loved the cat and the fishing, and do not need the chat.
You are a cat with a basic rod on a little island. You catch fish, buy better rods and boats, and work your way out to deeper water. Each fish behaves in its own way, so you learn to catch it.
The downside: it is single-player and simple to look at. The fishing loop does not change much over time.
Developer: Cat5Games | Year: 2015 | Platforms: PC | Length: about 13 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Want more fishing on your own? See our cozy fishing games and cozy cat games.
A Short Sail
Who it is for: players who want to fish as a cat, alone or with friends online.
It fits this topic more than most of our posts do, so here is what it has, plainly.
You are a little tabby cat with a sailboat. You fish by day and by night, and different fish bite in different waters and at different hours. A few are rare shiny ones. You deliver mail and make friends across the islands. Online, you can host a lobby, or join one by its code or from a list of public lobbies. You chat, ride along in a friend’s boat and play flag tag, and you pick your own animal. You can also find instruments and play music.
It is a bigger adventure than Webfishing, with islands to sail between and a story to follow alone. The sea battles are single-player only. It comes out in Q1 2027, and you can play the free demo in your browser now. We also wrote a full A Short Sail vs Webfishing comparison.
Developer: Yos Riady | Platforms: PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | Length: not shared yet | Free demo at play.ashortsail.com | Play the demo
Watch out
- Public lobbies: in any game with open lobbies, you may meet rude players. Play with friends in a private lobby when you can.
- Free to play: Palia and Sky are free, but they sell items. Agree on a budget first, especially for kids.
- Bigger games: most picks here are much longer and busier than Webfishing. If you want the same ten-minute chill, Sky or a private Webfishing lobby is still best.
Our own game
We make A Short Sail.
Related guides
- Cozy multiplayer games
- Cozy fishing games
- Cozy cat games
- Cozy games where you play as an animal
- A Short Sail vs Webfishing
- Games like Rift Fishing
Questions
What is the closest game to Webfishing?
Palia is the closest in feel: a free online world where you fish, chat and potter with other players. It is bigger and has more goals than Webfishing.
Who made Webfishing?
Webfishing is made by a solo developer who goes by lamedeveloper on Steam. It came out on Steam on October 11, 2024.
Is Webfishing free?
No. Webfishing is a paid game on Steam. Palia and Sky: Children of the Light are free-to-play alternatives.
Can you play as an animal in Webfishing?
Yes. You play a cartoon cat or dog, and you can change its colors, face, clothes and accessories.
Does Webfishing have voice chat?
No. Chat is text only. You can mute or hide other players, and hosts can kick or ban.
