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Stardew Valley has the strongest fishing minigame in this ranking, because its catch asks you to track a moving fish and manage a bar rather than press a button when a bobber dips. Ocarina of Time and Link’s Awakening follow, since both make the fish itself the challenge. The list below ranks ten fishing activities embedded in larger games, using five criteria that separate a satisfying fishing loop from a bare wait-and-press interaction.
“Best” here is editorial judgment applied to those criteria, not a measured result. No comparative statistic or consensus poll establishes a definitive top ten, so treat the order as a reasoned recommendation.
How the ranking works
Every entry was judged on five questions:
- Player agency during the catch. Does the player do anything once a fish is on the line, such as tracking, managing tension or executing a sequence, or does the game resolve the catch automatically?
- Visibility and bait or lure control. Can the player see fish or shadows, choose a spot, or select a lure? Visible fish and bait control give the player target selection, which makes fishing feel different from a hidden wait-for-bite system.
- Challenge and learnability. Is the skill easy to pick up but worth mastering?
- Progression, collection, or rewards. Do catches lead somewhere, through equipment, collections, currency, or unlocks?
- Fit with mood and larger systems. Does fishing suit the game’s tone, and does it connect to the rest of the game?
The first two questions draw on a published taxonomy of fishing minigames from Game Developer, which breaks the activity into three phases: approach or lure, bite, and catch. It separates hidden approaches from visible ones, and automatic catches from button-mashing and threshold fights. The catch phase changes the experience more than any other, so it carries the most weight here.
The ten at a glance
| Rank | Game | Visible approach or lure | Catch demand | Tie to the wider game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stardew Valley | Not stated | Track a moving fish icon inside a controllable bar; fish move in several behaviors (current community wiki) | Casting distance, bait, bobbers, fish length records, fishing shop (developer’s 2013 update) |
| 2 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Visible fish; player moves bait to attract one (Game Developer) | Threshold fight as the fish tries to escape (Game Developer) | Not stated |
| 3 | The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Side view; the battle with fish, not locating a spot, is the focus (Nintendo’s published description) | Fish battle; HD Rumble signals nibbles, bites and line tension on Switch (ESPN, March 2025) | Not stated |
| 4 | Final Fantasy XV | Broad choice of baits, rods, reels and lines (ESPN, 2025) | Not stated | Spin-off Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV adds bounties, tournaments and equipment customization (Square Enix) |
| 5 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Basic input (ESPN, March 2025) | Basic input (ESPN, March 2025) | Collection, museum displays, selling, decorating, quarterly competitions (ESPN, March 2025) |
| 6 | Genshin Impact | Spot finding and species-matched bait (ESPN, March 2025) | Catch gauge (ESPN, March 2025) | Weapons and aquarium displays (ESPN, March 2025) |
| 7 | Sea of Thieves | Varied fish and bait (ESPN, March 2025) | Not stated | Cooking after a catch supports survival in battles (ESPN, March 2025) |
| 8 | Yakuza 6: The Song of Life | Not applicable; activity is spearfishing | Played like an on-rails shooter (ESPN, March 2025) | Not stated |
| 9 | Kirby and the Forgotten Land | Not stated | Not stated | Earns in-game cash; two-player competitive mode (ESPN, March 2025) |
| 10 | A Short Hike | Riverbanks and lakeshore (Nintendo, June 8, 2021) | Not stated | Optional break from exploration (Nintendo, June 8, 2021) |
The ranked list
1. Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley’s catch is the clearest example of fishing treated as a skill rather than a timer. In a September 5, 2013 development update, ConcernedApe described the catch as a “Fish-catching ‘minigame’ that requires a little bit of skill to succeed at, as well as provide more purpose for fishing equipment.” That second clause is the key to its ranking. The equipment you buy changes the catch, not just the number of fish you bring home. Casting distance, bait and bobbers all matter, and the fishing shop sits in the progression loop. The current community wiki describes tracking a moving fish icon inside a bar you control, with several fish movement behaviors, so harder fish demand different responses. It scores highest on agency and progression at once.
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2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Game Developer classifies Ocarina of Time’s fishing as a visible lure followed by a threshold fight. You move bait to attract a fish, then manage a fish that tries to escape. The two-step structure gives it more control than a bite-and-press system, and it makes the approach part of the skill. It ranks second because the lure is visible and the fight is active, though the wider game connection is less clear than in the top entry.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Nintendo’s published description of the feature emphasizes the battle with fish over finding a fishing spot, and uses a side view to put the struggle on screen. ESPN’s March 2025 roundup adds that the Switch version uses HD Rumble for nibbles, bites and line tension. That detail is ESPN’s report, not a Nintendo statement. Even so, it shows how a catch can be communicated through touch as well as sight, which is why it ranks above titles where the catch is more automatic.
Rank #2
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4. Final Fantasy XV
The fishing in Final Fantasy XV gives the most gear variety in this list. ESPN describes a wide range of baits, rods, reels and lines, which turns equipment choice into a real decision. ESPN also reports 100 fish species to collect. That figure has not been confirmed against a primary source in this review, so treat it as a reported number rather than a settled game fact. Square Enix’s official page covers the PlayStation VR spin-off Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV, which adds story mode, free fishing, bounties, tournaments and equipment customization. The spin-off is a separate product and is not the original minigame.
5. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
ESPN describes the input as basic, and that is the point. Its ranking depends on what fishing feeds. Catches support a collection, museum displays, selling, decorating and quarterly competitions. A simple action gains weight because it touches so many other systems. It is a better example of integration than of catch-phase challenge, which is why it sits in the middle.
Rank #3
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6. Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact asks you to find a spot, match bait to the species you want, and manage a catch gauge, according to ESPN. The rewards reach outside the activity, including weapons and aquarium displays. Because Genshin Impact is a live-service game, reward details can change with updates, so check the current version before relying on specific items.
7. Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves offers varied fish and bait, and ESPN notes that cooking a catch supports survival during battles. That link between fishing and combat survival is unusual, and it gives the activity a practical purpose beyond collection. The catch itself is less developed than the bait and food systems around it.
Rank #4
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8. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Yakuza 6 is not rod fishing. ESPN describes its fishing activity as spearfishing, played like an on-rails shooter. It earns a place because it proves the category is wider than rods and bobbers, and because its action differs sharply from the other entries. Its catch is more physical than strategic, which keeps it lower in the order.
9. Kirby and the Forgotten Land
ESPN notes that fishing in Kirby and the Forgotten Land earns in-game cash and includes a two-player competitive mode. The fishing here is valued for its social and economic role rather than the depth of the catch. It ranks ninth because the competition adds replay value, while the catch itself is not described in enough detail to rank higher.
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Nintendo says players can fish along riverbanks or by the lakeshore during the hike. Nintendo’s June 8, 2021 roundup frames fishing in the game as a way to step away from the main activity, and its wording is “But sometimes, it’s nice to step away from the main narrative.” That tone is why A Short Hike is here. Its fishing is low-pressure, with less agency during the catch than the entries above it, but it suits the game’s exploration mood well.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Also considered
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Game Developer describes visible fish shadows, lure aiming and timing. It is a historical contrast to New Horizons, but it was left out to keep the list to one entry per series.
- Hades. Nintendo says fishing unlocks through the House Contractor and takes place inside the Underworld, a useful contrast to open-world fishing.
- Terraria. Nintendo describes fishing across bodies of liquid, including honey and lava, for fish, crafting materials and Angler quests.
- Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove. Nintendo says players can fish in pits for useful items. Game Developer groups its catch with simple press-on-bite examples, which kept it out of the top ten.
- Pokémon. Game Developer uses it as an example of a simple rod, bite indicator and button-press catch. A specific entry would need to be named before it could be assessed.
Where to play Stardew Valley
Nintendo lists Stardew Valley as a Nintendo Switch game, which makes the Switch the clearest platform for readers who want to try the top pick. This article did not verify current retailer stock, physical edition formats or pricing, so check the storefront listing before buying.
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