How to Fish Game — Overview, 8-Player Co-op, and Guides

How to Fish is a Windows fishing-combat comedy about catching and selling fish, buying weapons and gear, completing island quests, and fighting oversized bosses. The Steam store originally described one-to-four-player co-op; official Patch 1.0.4 expanded lobbies to eight players. No console, Mac, or mobile release was officially listed when checked September 10, 2026.

This page covers Dazed Games' 2026 PC game—not general fishing advice or similarly named fishing modes in other games. That exact naming matters because the title is otherwise highly ambiguous in search.

How many players can play How to Fish?

The current patched build supports online lobbies of up to eight players. Steam's store description still says one to four, but Patch 1.0.4 explicitly raised the lobby limit to eight. The same patch addressed a black-screen join failure, and Patch 1.0.5 added private invite-only lobbies plus an in-game session-type setting that takes effect after a restart.

That eight-player figure applies to the updated Windows version, not an announced console port. The game also supports solo play. Steam lists online co-op but does not list local split-screen.

What you do in the game

The opening premise is simple: a boating accident leaves the group on an island with no useful gear. Catch fish, defeat them, sell the result, and spend the money on rods, firearms, melee weapons, explosives, and other equipment. Quests and bosses provide the coordinates or items needed to reach later islands.

The official store also lists rare fish variants, trick-shot rewards, gambling, achievements, full controller support, and save-anytime support. The tone is deliberately absurd and action-heavy. It is a poor match for someone expecting realistic casting, lure selection, or a quiet simulation.

Choose the answer you need

• Finish the game: complete island and boss walkthrough.
• Beat Island 2: Giant Piranha route, fight, Skeleton hand-in, and Island 3 unlock.
• Beat the first boss: Spider Crab dodge, dizzy cue, and punish window.
• Move or recover progress: Windows and Proton save locations, backup steps, and Cloud status.
• Check another platform: current PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, Mac, and mobile status.
• Decide whether to buy: evidence-based review and current Steam player-review analysis.
• Unlock two unusual achievements: boat-flight and dynamite-seagull conditions.
• Check the newest changes: Patch 1.0.12 Steam Cloud migration, Piranha and Tuna changes, voice-chat, FPS, radio, and final-boss fixes.

Current price and player response

The US Steam storefront showed a regular price of $7.99 with no active discount when checked September 10. Regional prices and later sales can differ.

The dated all-language, all-purchase-type Steam snapshot contained 58,485 positive and 3,029 negative reviews out of 61,514 total on September 13, or 95.1% positive by direct calculation. That is one platform aggregate, not a Player Guidebook score. The player-review analysis explains the population and its limits; the multi-source buying review compares Steam with independent media experience and explains who is most likely to enjoy the game.

Current patch status

Patch 1.0.12 adds Steam Cloud. Existing saves require one launch-and-normal-exit cycle on the PC that already holds them before they upload. It also rebalances the Piranha, slightly nerfs the Tuna, limits item velocity, updates MetaVoice, preserves the player's FPS cap when joining, preloads radio music, and fixes explosives failing to damage the final boss's tail. See the task-based patch summary before relying on pre-1.0.12 combat or troubleshooting advice.

Patch 1.0.4 expanded lobbies to eight players, made the final-island route easier to see, adjusted the Pufferfish and Whale fights, and addressed several join and display problems. Patch 1.0.5 added private invite-only lobbies and session-type controls. Patch 1.0.6 changed crash behavior so a crash no longer writes a new server or local save; the game still autosaves every minute and saves from the Save, Main Menu, and Quit buttons.

Those changes matter if an older launch-day guide says the maximum is four players, shows a public-only lobby flow, or assumes a crash always writes the latest state.

Who is it for?

How to Fish fits a group that wants a short, chaotic progression game where fishing quickly turns into weapons, boss fights, boats, and physical comedy. It also supports solo play. Players looking for a realistic fishing model, a long campaign, or a fully settled technical experience should read the current review and patch notes before buying.

Sources & evidenceOpen the references used for this page

• How to Fish on Steam
• Read How to Fish player reviews on Steam
• PC Gamer hands-on co-op feature
• Gaming.net PC review — 8.5/10
• SoulsGamer review — 8.5/10
• Developer launch announcement
• Official Patch 1.0.4 — eight-player lobbies and progression fixes
• Official Patch 1.0.5 — private lobbies and session settings
• Official Patch 1.0.6 — save and crash behavior
• Official Patch 1.0.10 — ground-item persistence
• Official Patch 1.0.11 — compatibility, controls, and save checks
• Official Patch 1.0.12 — Steam Cloud, balance, and current fixes
• Dazed Games official YouTube channel
• How to Fish official release-date trailer
• Dazed Games official Discord
• Current How to Fish discussions