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) | – | 74 | 58 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 83% | 77 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 80% | 74 | 481 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Dec 5, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 481 total reviews in window · weighted 146.5 up / 36.9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (31)
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.
- 75
“Surprisingly deep, occasionally repetitive, and always charming. Nice Day for Fishing proves you don’t need a sword to be a hero, just a good rod and a better hat.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“You don't have to like fishing to enjoy it. So if you're hankerin' for a good catch to get you through the summer heat, Nice Day for Fishing is definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of 16-bit RPGs.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Nice Day For Fishing is a highly addictive pixel-art RPG that will keep you busy for hours. With its charming cast of characters, beautiful world, and satisfying fishing mechanics, it does justice to the franchise that inspires it. Despite some backtracking and repetitive quests, the game does not feel like a tedious chore, thanks to its simplistic approach to humor and straightforward quests. It is rare for a video game to have a perfect balance of humor, solid gameplay, and great design in one package these days, but Nice Day For Fishing manages to do it flawlessly. If you love playing cozy RPGs with solid gameplay mechanics or if you are a fan of games that offer a little twist on known genres, Nice Day For Fishing will be a great title for you to try out. Highly recommended for RPG and fishing game fans.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“FusionPlay brings the world of Epic NPC Man to life in a dissonant gaming experience with a fishing-based combat system and a protagonist who remains calm amid the chaos. It's a solid adventure game with an engaging combat system, although it becomes slightly repetitive and frustrating in the final stages. Otherwise, it achieves its goal of offering a fun, polished experience that stays true to its motto, reminding us that even in the most chaotic situations, it's always a great day to go fishing.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Nice Day for Fishing is a game that, at first glance, looks like a simple fishing arcade game, but beneath the surface hides a surprisingly deep and satisfying experience. Fusionplay has succeeded in creating a unique blend of genres, action-packed fishing, light RPG progression, base-building, and a humorous story, all enriched by the legendary Epic NPC Man license. The game excels at being fun, accessible, and charming. The fishing battles are fast-paced and engaging, the upgrade system motivates you to keep playing, and rebuilding Honeywood gives you a sense of meaningful progress. For fans of Viva La Dirt League, this is a must-play, as the game perfectly captures the essence of Baelin’s character and features plenty of familiar jokes and references. But even for those unfamiliar with VLDL, Nice Day for Fishing offers an original and refreshing departure from classic RPGs. As Baelin himself would say: “Morning! Nice day for fishing, ain’t it!” And in the case of this game, that’s doubly true.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Although it doesn't reach the production values or length of *Dave the Diver*, *Nice Day for Fishing* is a delightful little gaming interlude that doesn’t need to revolutionize the genre to leave its mark. Short, nostalgic, fun, and lovingly crafted, it’s a perfect gift for longtime Viva La Dirt League fans and a great entry point for newcomers. If you're looking for a relaxing, light-hearted, surreal, and heartfelt experience, perhaps to enjoy during your beach vacation, then this is definitely your lucky day for fishing.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“While it took almost the entire Switch generation to arrive, I’m happy there’s finally a decent fishing game on the console… and an RPG at that!”
read full review ↗ - 84
“At the end of the day, Nice Day for Fishing surprised me in the best way. What I expected to be a novelty turned out to be a game I kept coming back to because it struck that rare balance between cozy and engaging. The humor keeps things light, the mechanics have enough bite to keep you hooked, and the presentation ties it all together with charm.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Nice Day For Fishing is much more than just a quirky fan project. It's a charming, funny adventure with an unusual combat system that rewards timing and skill. The clever combination of classic RPG flair, parodic worldbuilding, and challenging fishing duels makes for hours of entertaining gameplay. The fact that all of this is based on one of the most blunt jokes in the Epic NPC Man series makes it even more impressive. Anyone who loves pixel art, indie charm, and a good dose of self-irony, or is simply a fan of the series, will enjoy Nice Day For Fishing.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Nice Day for Fishing combines funny, creative combat with the fun of exploration, all wrapped in a package that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still values your time. Some parts of the game are annoying, like casting spells slowly and doing the same thing over and over, but they’re easy to forget when the game keeps surprising you with secret caves, crazy boss fights, and touching moments from its non-player characters.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“There's a lot to love in Nice Day for Fishing, but it's marred by repetition. By the time you've cast your line a few dozen times or run about the map from end to end to fetch whatever the wizard Baradun needs, the magic fades. What works well in the short NPC Man skits doesn't entirely hold up across the course of a full-length game. Still, even though it might not be the legendary catch you're looking for, Nice Day for Fishing is far from a throwaway, especially so if you're a Viva La Dirt League fan. In short bursts, it's a very enjoyable time. It is indeed a nice day for fishing… but not a nice week.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall I thoroughly have enjoyed my time with Nice Day for Fishing, as I have seen a few of the Skits already I understood what was going on but as some of them I weren't aware of I still found them funny and overall the game as a whole is charming and tongue-in-cheek.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
Pure Nintendo
GamesHedge
La Orden del Pixel
Gaming Professors
STWGames Italia
Nindie Spotlight
Gameffine
TestingBuddies
GamesCreed
Checkpoint Gaming
Game Hype UK…and 19 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Nice Day for Fishing | Birthday Update! 🎂🎉May 20, 2026
- Nice Day for Fishing | Winter Seasonal Event ❄️🎁Dec 15, 2025
- Pre-Winter Patch - Out Now for Nice Day for Fishing!Dec 5, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Seasons, Sails & Scales Free Content Update is OUT NOW | Nice Day for Fishing 🎣Oct 23, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Dev Log 3 | Content Update Launches Tomorrow for Nice Day for Fishing! 🎣Oct 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Dev Log 2 | Content Update | Nice Day for Fishing 🎣Oct 17, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- ❗Update RequiredOct 4, 2025
- Patch 1.1.1 - Out Now for Nice Day for Fishing!Jun 25, 2025
- Patch 1.1.0 - Out Now for Nice Day for Fishing!Jun 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.0.4 - Out Now for Nice Day for Fishing!Jun 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window