Fishing Planet: A review for those stuck indoors

There is nothing like real fishing; that being said, Fishing Planet is the closest thing to real fishing I have ever seen. I first downloaded it from Steam years ago during the winter months when it seemed like it would be a lifetime before I could head back to the lake. Even after all this time, it is still one of my favorite games to play when it's cold outside.

The object of the game is to catch fish; you do this by using a variety of retrieval techniques, unique lures and bait options, by either walking the bank or getting in your own boat, and across much of the world through immersive 3D environments. There are so many lure and gear options that you won't get bored because of optimization. From crankbaits to live baits, this game has the vast majority of the major bait styles and types.

The game on it's highest graphics setting isn't quite as pretty as The Hunter: Call of the Wild, but it is still plenty impressive enough. The fish have a pretty realistic strike, depending on species and your lure presentation, and although I have never caught 150 fish in one day in the real world, it is nice to bend the rules some for the sake of the game.

It's free to play, though if you want to unlock things early or access all of the countries available to fish in on day one then you'll need to drop some money for in-game items. It is possible to experience the best parts of the game completely free, so if you're bored and wish you were at your favorite fishing hole then give Fishing Planet a try through Steam today.