I never thought a fishing sim could be this fun, but How to Fish proves me wrong with its ridiculous physics, killer spider crabs, and classic co-op chaos

I opened my eyes to find myself in a pool of blood, my friends reduced to food for seagulls. This was my initiation to the multiplayer fishing sim How to Fish, and I quickly understood why it had captured the attention of bored and violent friendship groups. The game's premise is straightforward: up to four players learn how to fish by buying a basic rod, catching fish and crustaceans, and then beating them to death with bare hands or more lethal weapons.

The loot from these kills can be consumed to replenish health or fed to the solitary fisherman who rewards players with coins for their efforts. These coins can then be used to purchase better fishing tools and supplies, such as a knife or bait like a half-hotdog or an empty beer can. Our first encounter with the game's fiercest opponent, a monstrous spider crab, came about by accident.

After failing to defeat it, we were once again carried away by a seagull. However, we learned from our mistakes and adopted a more tactical approach. One player took on the role of medic, reviving fallen comrades, while another wielded brass knuckles to fight. We managed to bring down the spider crab, but were ultimately unsuccessful.

Despite this setback, we were eager to return to the game and face the challenge once again. The anticipation for future hunts and the potential acquisition of new weapons, like a sniper rifle, only fueled our excitement.