Whether the player is on a fishing boat or standing on a pier, they simply cast a line and wait for a fish to bite. While I loved Stardew Valley’s take on fishing that requires a cursor to stay within a bar, Moonglow Bay’s fishing mechanic feels more authentic. There’s a story and a definite end to the game, and there are even a few “boss fights” in the style of reeling in massive fish, though for me, the appeal of Moonglow Bay’s gameplay is less about the story and more about its open-endedness.Īs expected from a fishing game, it absolutely nails the fishing mechanic. As the food stand grows, the player invests their money into the town, repairing dilapidated buildings and reviving severed connections with the townspeople. To do this, the player controls the main character as they fish and cook to open a food stand. The goal of the game is to rejuvenate the aptly named town of Moonglow Bay, which has fallen into shambles after rumored fishing accidents - one of which took the life of the main character’s partner - have caused the town’s once vibrant fishing industry to crumble. Naturally, then, I was thrilled when Bunnyhug Studios announced Moonglow Bay, a game that finally takes the fishing theme of older games and makes it palatable for people like me, who wouldn’t step within 6 feet of a fishing rod in real life. Not in those rugged, story-absent games like Big Bass Fishing, but through classic cozier games in the vein of Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing or Minecraft. Despite my vegetarianism and general disdain for fishing in real life, I’ve somehow always been in love with the feeling of reeling in a virtual fish in a game.