videogamescritic
← all games
Call of the Wild: The Angler™

Call of the Wild: The Angler™

Expansive Worlds · released Aug 31, 2022

AdventureCasualSimulationSports

The Angler is an open world fishing game that can be played solo or with friends. Discover and catch a wide variety of unique fish species, from common to rare, on your journey to become a master angler.

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗
70
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence▲ +10 since launch

launched at 59, updates lifted it to 70

anchored at patch: “Important Development Update” (1y ago)

59%
At launch
64%
Steam all-time
63%
Press
41%
Player sentiment
85%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)–637
All-time Steam reviews64%631000
Metacritic user ratings––0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)85%78775
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jan 14, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 775 total reviews in window · weighted 174.5 up / 31.3 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (7)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 40
    Hu3brHu3br
    trust 75Sep 6, 2022

    “Call of the Wild: The Angler has beautiful vistas, a huge map and a big variety of rods to choose from, but its mix of rather simplistic and obtuse fishing, along with some serious visual issues, turns the game from an “essential fishing game for fans” to a “wait until it gets better”. Expansive Worlds has a great track record of improving things over time, so it might be worth a look in 2023 or beyond.”

    read full review ↗
  • 35
    Merlin'in KazanıMerlin'in Kazanı
    trust 68Sep 3, 2022

    “However, if you want a well-developed and smooth gaming experience, I say stay away from this game for at least a few more months.”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    Sports Gamers OnlineSports Gamers Online
    trust 59Aug 30, 2022

    “Like real fishing, Call of the Wild: The Angler is a game that can be absolutely maddening yet gratifying at the same time. The game has fun fishing gameplay and what’s there is nice, there’s just not a lot of depth for those looking for a deep and fun fishing experience.”

    read full review ↗
  • 40
    Saving ContentSaving Content
    trust 58Aug 30, 2022

    “If you’re anything like me and play video games to relax and get absorbed into a different world for even a few minutes, I’m afraid Call of the Wild: The Angler is likely not the game for you. If you enjoy games that have wildlife and fishing and look really good to, Red Dead Redemption 2 (online or off) holds up very well. As does Final Fantasy XV and Sea of Thieves! In a year or so when Call of the Wild: The Angler has received more updates with content and bug fixes I can see it being a great game. The game is technically playable, but I would hesitate to call it an enjoyable experience.”

    read full review ↗
  • 88
    Gaming NexusGaming Nexus
    trust 55Aug 30, 2022

    “Fishing game, open world adventure, gorgeous nature simulator, whatever bar you want to set for Call of the Wild: The Angler, it succeeds at meeting your criteria. Quiet but never boring, graphically beautiful, and with rich and entertaining fishing mechanics, The Angler is one of those rare games that creates a class all its own. You have never played a game like this, and it is likely rare that you have played one this good at accomplishing what it sets out to do. Highly recommended, even for those that might not think they would like fishing games.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    ShacknewsShacknews
    trust 53Aug 30, 2022

    “The Angler has a lot of soul. Every time I log in and see the (approximate) time and weather, I know exactly what spot I want to go to and what fish I’m looking for. I get excited when the conditions are just right to target that pike, and I know just the spot. The pull is there to keep me coming back. Even though it’s rough around the edges and somewhat feature-bare, you’re going to find your own spot that you don’t tell anyone about. Your own little slice of Golden Ridge heaven where you hope to one day land your Diamond.”

    read full review ↗
  • 82
    Gert Lush GamingGert Lush Gaming
    trust 40Sep 15, 2023

    “Call of the Wild Angler is a relaxing and fun game that gets the balance between simulation and arcade action just right as it allows players to play how they want and keep it accessible. It offers three types of fishing - float, lure spinning, and jighead spinning - making it an engaging experience for fishing enthusiasts.”

    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. Important Development Update
    Jan 14, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  2. Patch 2.1.1 is live!
    Nov 28, 2024
  3. Patch 2.1.0
    Nov 13, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  4. Hotfix 2.0.2
    Nov 5, 2024
  5. Hotfix 2.0.1
    Oct 31, 2024
  6. The Japan Reserve is out now
    Oct 29, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  7. Hotfix 1.9.6
    Oct 23, 2024
  8. Patch 1.9.0
    Sep 25, 2024
  9. Hotfix 1.8.7 is live
    Sep 10, 2024
  10. Hotfix 1.8.6 is live now!
    Aug 30, 2024
  11. 2 Year Anniversary Update
    Aug 27, 2024
  12. Patch 1.8.1 is live!
    Aug 13, 2024
  13. Patch 1.7.5 is Out Now!
    Jul 16, 2024
  14. The LakePal Bait Boat & Patch 1.7.0 are Out Now!
    Jun 18, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  15. The LakePal Bait Boat & Patch 1.7.0 | June 18th
    Jun 12, 2024
  16. Patch 1.6.7 is Live!
    May 15, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  17. Hotfix 1.6.4 is live!
    Apr 15, 2024
  18. Hotfix 1.6.3 is Live!
    Apr 5, 2024
  19. Hotfix 1.6.2 is live!
    Mar 28, 2024
  20. South Africa Reserve & Patch 1.6.1 | Out Now!
    Mar 26, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  21. Developer Update: March 1st, 2024
    Mar 1, 2024
  22. Small Fix 1.5.7 is Live!
    Feb 21, 2024
  23. Hotfix 1.5.6 is Live!
    Feb 13, 2024
  24. Patch 1.5.5 is Live!
    Feb 8, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  25. Hotfix 1.5.1 is live!
    Dec 7, 2023
  26. Winter Update - Out Now!
    Dec 5, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  27. Hotfix 1.4.2 is Live!
    Nov 3, 2023
  28. OUT NOW! | Spain Reserve & Patch 1.4.0
    Oct 31, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  29. Patch 1.3.2 is live!
    Oct 5, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  30. Hotfix 1.3.1 | Progression and Stability Fixes
    Aug 18, 2023
  31. The Evolution Update is now live!
    Aug 16, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  32. Introducing The Angler Community Tracker
    May 3, 2023
  33. Game Update 1.2.7 is live!
    Apr 12, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  34. Patch 1.2.6 is now live!
    Mar 13, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  35. Hotfix 1.2.5 | Performance and Stability Improvements
    Mar 1, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  36. Major Patch 1.2.4 is now available!
    Feb 23, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  37. Patch notes | Patch 1.2.3
    Feb 2, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  38. Hotfix 1.2.2 | Save Data Fix
    Jan 25, 2023
  39. Patch Notes | Patch 1.2.1
    Jan 19, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  40. OUT NOW | NORWAY RESERVE & LEGENDS UPDATE
    Dec 15, 2022significant · resets scoring window

…and 11 earlier patch announcements.