Picture this: the world is ending. Zombies roam the streets, resources are scarce, and humanity’s hope is hanging by a thread. Yet, amidst the chaos, you stumble upon a serene pond. What do you do? If the game you’re playing has its priorities straight, you whip out a fishing rod and start angling for some pixelated trout. Because let’s be honest: every game, no matter how grim, needs a fishing minigame.
From RPGs to first-person shooters, fishing is the great equalizer. It’s the gaming equivalent of a deep breath, a chance to step back and say, “Sure, my character is starving, my squad is wiped, and my inventory is a disaster, but maybe this pond holds a really cool bass.”
Fishing: The Unsung Hero of Gaming
Fishing minigames are like the Swiss Army knife of gaming mechanics. They’re relaxing, rewarding, and just challenging enough to make you forget you’re supposed to be saving the world. Remember The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? Sure, you could spend hours defeating bosses and collecting mystical artifacts, but the real hero of Hyrule was the player who spent days at the fishing pond trying to catch the legendary Hylian Loach.
Even in survival games like The Forest or Minecraft, fishing is a beacon of hope. “The cannibals are at the gates? That’s nice, but I just caught a pufferfish, and I think that’s progress.”
Why Stop at RPGs?
Fishing shouldn’t be limited to fantasy worlds or cozy simulations. It deserves a place in every genre:
- Battle Royales: Imagine landing in Fortnite, avoiding gunfire, and instead heading straight for a fishing hole. Maybe that trout holds legendary loot. Or maybe it’s just dinner. Either way, you’ve already won.
- Horror Games: Fishing in a swamp filled with cursed, glowing water? Sure, there’s a 50% chance the fish will try to eat you, but isn’t that part of the fun?
- Sports Games: Why stop at halftime? Let the players fish for bonuses. A bass might give your team an extra touchdown.
The Apocalypse Needs More Rods
If there’s one setting where fishing is criminally underutilized, it’s the post-apocalypse. Imagine a Fallout game where you can fish in a radioactive lake. Sure, the fish have three eyes and probably glow in the dark, but that’s the kind of immersion gamers want.
In The Last of Us, Ellie and Joel could have bonded over fishing. Forget crafting Molotovs—give me a minigame where I can reel in a mutated catfish to feed the group. It’s wholesome, practical, and makes a better use of my time than listening to yet another tragic backstory.
Fishing Is the Future
Developers, take note: we don’t need more escort missions or collectibles. We need fishing rods. We need legendary fish. We need the satisfaction of seeing a tiny “+1 Fishing Skill” notification pop up, even if the world around us is on fire.
Because at the end of the day, gaming isn’t just about winning or survival—it’s about taking a moment to enjoy the little things. Like the gentle splash of water as you reel in a virtual fish. Or the brief moment of zen before you get ambushed by a zombie horde.
So here’s to fishing: the minigame we didn’t know we needed, but absolutely can’t live without. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to convince my raid group in Destiny 2 that adding a fishing mechanic would solve all of our endgame content woes.