WHEN you are playing a big game, sometimes it’s nice to take a step back and relax with some fishing.
Fishing minigames have become exceedingly popular and you can find them in a number of games, from indies to big-budget titles.
Yakuza’s minigame is a little more involved.
While they don’t have the realism of a game dedicated to fishing, they are usually charming in their own way.
Here are our favourite fishing minigames hidden in popular titles.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Switch)
The finishing minigame in Link’s Awakening can be skipped entirely, but it’s worth doing if you have the time.
Cast your line, wait for a fish to bite, and carefully reel it in while watching out for any sudden changes in direction.
While the gameplay is simple, the 2D perspective makes it interesting, and the HD rumble brings it a layer of depth.
All the fish’s nibbles, bites, and tensions are brought to life through this feature.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Unlike Link’s Awakening, fishing in Animal Crossing is a huge part of the game.
Whether you are trying to fill up the museum or simply want to earn some bells, you’ll have to take part in fishing at some point.
Find a dark spot in the water, cast your line, and time your button press to complete your catch.
You can even set up tanks around your island to display your favourites.
Final Fantasy XV
Many consider this minigame one of the best parts of the game, and there are 100 different kinds of fish to catch.
There is a huge variety of bait, rods, reels, and lines you can use, meaning there’s a lot of strategy in catching them all.
This minigame was so good that Square Enix developed it into its own standalone PSVR game.
Called Monsters of the Deep, it’s easy to lose hours casting your line.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
The Yakuza series is known for its minigames, and the fishing minigames are some of the series’ best.
Yakuza 6 has the best of these, as you can participate in a type of fishing rarely seen in games: spearfishing.
Less like a fishing minigame and more like an on-rails shooter, Kiryu races to spear Onomichi’s dish.
In Yakuza-style, it’s over the top and high-energy and stands out from the other games on this list.
Far Cry 6
Between shooting and assassination attempts, you can relax by doing a spot of fishing.
As you might expect in a game like Far Cry, this is one of the most peaceful parts of the entire game.
Take a break from stopping a corrupt despot from seizing power by catching a barracuda or two.
It’s hard work, and no one will deny you a little time off.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
While there are many things to enjoy about Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the fishing minigame is a delightful detour from the main story.
You can play this one in multiplayer from the town of Waddledee, and fish against a friend to get the biggest fish.
It also helps you earn money which is useful for upgrading all those necessary skills.
The competitive element of this one keeps you coming back, as the biggest fish gets immortalised on the town’s notice board.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is one of the more intense fishing minigames on this list, and one that is difficult to master.
You move a coloured bar in time with the fish you try to capture, and if it spends too much time outside, it’ll be gone for good.
Some fish are rare, and the rarer they are, the faster and more erratically they tend to move.
With the looming deadline of changes in season some of these fishing trips are nail-biting.
Sea of Thieves
While Sea of Thieves puts an emphasis on the piracy, you can always forgo that and do a spot of fishing.
As you may expect for a game based on sailing, this minigame is very in-depth and earns some good rewards.
There are plenty of different fish you can catch and cook, and a range of bait that will attract different kinds.
Just be careful someone doesn’t blow you up as you try to reel one in.
Written by Oliver Brandt and Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
