I’m one of those weirdos Stardew Valley WHO loves fishing.
Fishing is notoriously one of the hardest parts of fishing Stardew Valley. It’s not really intuitive to pick up and even if you do get good at it, it relies so much on reaction speed and timing that it sometimes throws a wrench into the otherwise chill game. But to me, fishing in the Stardew Valley community is unfairly maligned.
Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s counterintuitive and a lot of your success is left to chance. But that’s exactly why I love it Stardew Valley so many fish. You get an adrenaline rush, coupled with the element of surprise, because you are never really sure what you are going to fish out of the water.
I’ve always loved fishing in video games because a lot of it is random, and that sweet, sweet anticipation does a lot for my neurons. Some people don’t like this and have actively worked to get rid of it Star Dew, but it’s actually one of my favorite elements of any fishing minigame. In fact, I find it boring when I know what I’m looking for. And Stardew Valley‘s fishing system is complicated; Even armed with guides open in one tab showing movement patterns, time of day and weather information for each fish, I’m not entirely sure what I’ll be fishing.
Image: ConcernedApe via Polygon
Unlike games like Animal crossing or Fire emblem: three houses (yes, there was a fishing mini-game!), where fishing could be some timing elements, Stardew Valley raises the bar. Press the buttons in time – fast, but not at fast – is difficult enough, but the fact that it varies from fish to fish makes the challenge even greater.
The moment you get a bite, all that matters is the battle between me and this little pixel fish; humans versus (digital) nature. I act on pure instinct and make sure my reflexes are sharp so I can take home that coveted catch. In this little pixel world, I stare out over the water with my fishing rod in hand, determined to bring back a prize. The sensory experience is unparalleled: the small float, the moving fish, the frantic sound effects – it immediately puts my brain into master angler mode.
Stardew Valley fishing is not for everyone. It’s hard, and even though I enjoy it, I’m still not very good at it. It’s incredibly frustrating to scour the waters for that last catch for your community center bundle (for me it was the sturgeon). But on the other hand, much of the game’s joy comes from the mechanics that force you to take your time, whether you’re waiting for the crops to be harvested, descending the mines, or chopping down hardwoods. Working on your farm is fun and every mechanic finds a different way to express that. It just so happens that fishing gets my brain pumping in the best way.