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.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 80 | 36 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 89 | 93 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 79 | 4 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 12 reviews sampled · 9 total reviews in window · weighted 6.7 up / 1.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (18)
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.
- 80
“Fishbowl was well worth the wait, a narrative experience that is painful both in its relevance in a time of prevailing loneliness that still ripples out from the COVID-19 pandemic and in its honest and vulnerable exploration of grief. At the time of playing, I ran into a crashing issue that dampened the game's emotional final chapter, but a few hiccups along the way don't diminish the shine of imissmyfriends.studio's debut. It is an easy recommendation for those gamers among us who aren't afraid to get a little weepy and to let games remind us of the good and bad of our lives.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“There is so much trauma in this game that it sometimes feels a little unfocused. There’s enough for me to deal with in Alo’s challenges to think about side characters’ LGBTQ+ issues, funding problems to continue teaching deprived children, and finding new passions after retirement (to name just a few). It was overwhelming, and I think I lost track of where I needed Alo to be in her life. All this being said, Fishbowl is a very effective game. It got me emotional (no tears) on a couple of occasions, and that’s not easy to do. The narrative is where these games thrive or die, though, and this one certainly resonated with me. It transported me back to 2020, living in isolation, trying to find a new passion or reigniting an old one. But it was also… a lot. I’m not going to say you’re going to have a fun time with this game, but you will feel something.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Fishbowl is a heartfelt and intimate slice-of-life adventure that tackles mental health, grief, and everyday routines with warmth, charm, and a strong sense of empathy. Its cozy pixel art, likable characters, clever minigames, and touching atmosphere make it easy to connect with, even if some of its core mechanics could have explored the weight of repetition and daily struggle with more depth.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“Fishbowl is an extremely well-executed pixel art narrative about a child facing loss and adulthood in the worst conditions possible. You journey along her story, overcoming the grief one memory at a time, all the while handling your daily life, job, and remorse. Unfortunately, the pacing feels too slow for things to open up, and once they do, it proceeds to get even slower to reach the end. But for the quality, writing, and depth the game has to offer at a perfectly priced price tag, this is definitely a must-play for any story enjoyer.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Fishbowl is more than just a cozy game; it’s an emotional experience about what it truly means to be human. It’s about missing people, starting over, learning how to live with pain, and finding comfort in the small rituals that keep us grounded. It’s a story where family, culture, and love intertwine across generations, reminding us that growth often starts in grief. Beautifully written, artfully designed, and emotionally honest, this game took me apart piece by piece, then handed me back to myself a little more whole than before. It’s introspective, woman-centered, full of life, and completely unafraid to let you feel everything. If you’ve ever needed a gentle nudge to call your family, forgive yourself, or simply take a deep breath and keep going, Fishbowl might just be that reminder.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Fishbowl is a heartfelt story about dealing with many different life changes and traumas at once, all while finding a way forward.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“In the end the game stands out for its heartfelt and thoughtful portrayal of grief and loss delivering a quiet emotional journey that connects with players on a genuine level Had its gameplay and overall pacing been more refined it would have undoubtedly ranked among the biggest surprises of the year.”
read full review ↗ - 99
“Fishbowl is an exceptional title. It features a powerful story, believable characters, and realistic problems. Above all, however, it has the ability to emotionally resonate and make players reflect on their own lives.”
read full review ↗ - 90
- 60
“Fishbowl has a pretty solid foundation and a great art style, but unfortunately, due to its handling of the subject matter and the repetitive, tedious gameplay, it doesn’t live up to its potential. It’s a sweet game, with great art and some fun music, but Fishbowl struggled to connect with me.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Fishbowl is a game that you need to accept with open arms and an open mind. A game that attempts, and at often times succeeds, in making you empathetic to Alo’s emotional state and perhaps even make you reflect in yours. They do this through their great usage of simple gameplay mechanics, art direction, sound, and music. It’ll make you happy. It’ll make you sad. It’s a game that you need to be ready for in order to fully appreciate, if you’ll let it.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Fishbowl is a profoundly affecting narrative experience that transforms the monotony of isolation into a beautiful journey of self-discovery. While the gameplay loop is quite simple, the excellent writing, empathetic portrayal of grief, and wholesome character arcs make this healing journey unforgettable.”
read full review ↗
video games are good
Couch Soup
JsemGamer
Gameffine
A Gaming Network
Siliconera
Just Play it
SomGeek
ComicBook.com
MonsterVine
Gamer Social Club
IGN…and 6 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Fishbowl Demo Patch NotesMay 20, 2024