History Main / FishingMinigame

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening'', for the GameBoy, was the first in the series to feature a fishing minigame.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' had a really fancy one (pictured), which is generally considered superior to many actual fishing games.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' was going to have a fishing minigame, but it was dropped during development. The Nintendo3DS remake would later bring it back.

* The Nintendo3DS's built in ''AR Games'' include two fishing games- one where you have two minutes to earn as many points as you can from catching fish, and one where you have infinite time and can catch as many as you want without worrying about points.

* ''AnimalCrossing'', all versions. Some people on the AXA board would go so far as to say that fishing for coelacanths on rainy nights, along with [[VendorTrash selling the fish]] and spending the money on furniture, is the main game in AC and everything else is the side-quest. One member there claims to have bought a 1.4 million bell mansion after five to seven nights of fishing, compared to the more typical two months of growing fruit. Of course, there are NoCartoonFish, but there are cartoon frogs and octopodes. Along with regular frogs and octopodes. One can be your friendly neighbors, and the other you feed alive to a fat walrus for wallpaper. Frog and Octopus neighbors may ask you to catch a fish for them (to eat), to which you can respond by giving them a frog or octopus you fished out of the water. They have no problem eating it.

Fishing minigames are often [[LuckBasedMission Luck based missions]], much to players' annoyance. Especially when fish [[FishingForSole aren't the only thing you can catch]].

* ''{{FATE}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Torchlight}}'' have fishing games based on reaction time. The fish can be used to temporarily or permanently turn your pet into a [[PetMonstrosity more powerful creature]], or they contain [[RandomlyDrops artifacts]] or [[SocketedEquipment gems]] (sometimes [[FridgeLogic much larger than the fish]]).

* The ''{{Suikoden}}'' series has fishing minigames, that double as ways to collect special items and armor (or worthless junk like old shoes.) Of particular note is ''SuikodenV'', where it takes the form of a competition between [[TheHero the Prince]], Subala, [[BumblingDad Logg]] and Lun. Notably, it doesn't really matter if you win or lose the contest; you keep everything you caught regardless.

* All ''HarvestMoon'' games feature this trope as a fairly enjoyable but not particularly essential side activity. Occasionally fishing may trigger rewards or bonuses in the game. In ''The Island that Grows with You'' (a.k.a. ''Island of Happiness''), catching and shipping 50 fish is the only way to get a certain character to move in.

* ''LEGOIsland 2'' has a fishing minigame too.

* Most ''BreathOfFire'' games have a fishing minigame. In the third one, the game [[BrokenBridge requires you to actually fish for a plot-related event]] and the [=PSP=] port unlocks special content using the fishing minigame; the fourth actually got its fishing minigame turned into a Japanese smartphone game spinoff.

* ''{{Solatorobo}}'' has a mostly optional fishing minigame (you only have to do it three times during the course of the story, but you can come back and do it whenever you want) but you're not really fishing for... fish. You're fishing for ''giant hermit crabs'' which wear ''battleships'' as shells. With a harpoon the size of your MiniMecha. Capturing them nets you points based on junk salvaged from the battleship; the points can be exchanged for [[AmplifierArtifact Power Crystals]] and [[AutoRevive rare parts]] for the Dahak.
* ''VideoGame/{{NieR}}'' has one, and it can be quite frustrating, partly because the [[TutorialFailure in-game explanation is wrong.]]

* ''{{Chantelise}}'' starts providing fishing poles to the pair of protagonists about midway through the game. Immediately upon receiving her pole, the swordswoman's older sister Chante comments on the newly obsessed look in Elise's eyes and how clearly [[LampshadeHanging they'll be doing a ''lot'' of this from now on]]. While poles are available, it's impossible to buy bait or lures anywhere, leaning to another funny moment when the instructor says she just needs to find something small and sparkly with feathers or something. Chante (who is currently a fairy) retorts that they couldn't possibly be expected to find anything like that anywhere, and notices Elise has that creepy look again... and is looking at ''her'' now... and this is going exactly where it sounds like. Fortunately, Chante is very good at surviving close encounters with fish.

* ''{{Skylanders}} SWAP Force'' has a fishing minigame. It's first introduced in an early level, where you must capture piranhas to make a river safe. It pops up in a few main and side areas after that, and a fishing hole gets added to [[TheHub Woodburrow]] so you can play it any time you like.

** So does ''Runescape'', but it has fishing-based minigame too.

* In the PC RPG game ''Arx Fatalis'' you can combine a pole and string to make fishing rod and catch fish to cook and eat from most any water area.

* Many ''[[SonicAdventureSeries Sonic Adventure]]'' players found Big the Cat's fishing-based story [[ScrappyMechanic annoying]]. It was shorter than the other modes and had little relevance to the plot.

* In ''UltimaUnderworld'', this is a convenient way to get food, as a body of water on nearly every level has fish in it. This is fortunate, as your player character needs food not just to heal damage but for food.

* ''{{Terraria}}'' eventually added various types of fishing rod to craft or otherwise obtain, along with various sources of bait required to fish with. The types of catches available depend on when and where you're fishing, what rod you use, what bait you use, and any equipped items that add to your fishing ability. Additionally, an Angler NPC offers [[FetchQuest Fetch Quests]] where certain rare fish are exchanged for useful items. Other catches include [[FishingForSole the usual junk]], crates with random goodies inside, fish you can make various potions or food from, fish you can use as bait for more fishing, and even [[ShamuFu fish you wield as weapons or tools]]. Additionally, a new aquatic boss can be summomned by fishing under the right conditions.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' required the player to catch and feed fish to the character's sick Cid. Feeding him slow fish would kill him rapidly. Moderately speedy fish would also kill him, just more slowly. The only way to save Cid is by a steady diet of fast fish. However, whether he lives or dies makes no difference to the plot, except for character development for Celes. If he dies, however, Celes is DrivenToSuicide via a LeapOfFaith over Cid's death.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' required the player to catch and feed fish to the character's sick adoptive grandfather. Feeding him slow fish would kill him rapidly. Moderately speedy fish would also kill him, just more slowly. The only way to save Cid is by a steady diet of fast fish. However, whether he lives or dies makes no difference to the plot. If he dies, however, the character is DrivenToSuicide via a LeapOfFaith over her lousy luck at fishing.

* Fishing rods are used for two purposes in ''{{Minecraft}}''. One is to pull mobs; the other is to fish. All bodies of water, even ones you make yourself, contain fish; you fish by throwing out your line and waiting for the bobber to go down. Once you have fishing rods, water, and a suitable supply of sticks and string to replace your rods, your food problems are solved. Version 1.7.2 ("The Update that Changed the World", released October 25, 2013) greatly expanded fishing by adding in multiple types of fish as well as making it so that the player can fish up treasures (such as enchanted items) or junk (like a pair of leather boots).

* ChoroQ has one, [[RecycledInSpace WITH CARS!!]]
* ''MagiciansQuestMysteriousTimes'' also lets you go fishing. Rather than sell the fish, though, you give them to a magical book so he can turn them into useful items.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' has one too, and is even more elaborate than the one in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]].'' You also get a regular fishing rod without a reel as an item, and have to use it in order to complete a certain quest.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask [[VideoGameRemake 3D]]'' brings back fishing after its absence in the original games.

* ''FinalFantasy Fables: ChocobosDungeon'' allows you to catch fish. Your storage increases each time you bring a species to the fat chocobo who holds your items for the first time; any others are VendorTrash.

* ''{{Persona 4}}'' has a fishing minigame that seems entirely luck-based at first, but once you [[GuideDangIt figure it out]], it becomes slightly skill-based, if tediously mashing the square button can be considered a skill. It can net you rare items and is required for [[spoiler: maxing out the Hermit s-link.]]

* Fishing makes up a MiniGame for most of the ''BreathOfFire'' games. At one point, if you get a strong enough rod, you can actually snag treasure chests, or even fish-creatures named Manillos, who sell you stuff... and usually [[YourMoneyIsNoGoodHere charge you fish]].

* Fishing makes up a MiniGame for most of the ''BreathOfFire'' games. At one point, if you get a strong enough rod, you can actually snag treasure chests, or even fish-creatures named Manillos, who sell you stuff.

* ''[[TheSims The Sims 2: Seasons]]'' includes Fishing as an activity your sims can perform, along with a skill badge that (somehow) affects the quality of fish you catch. The Sims 3 is supposed to have fishing in it as well. This is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-level high level]], so no mini-game.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening'', for the GameBoy, was the first to feature a fishing minigame.

** So did ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', even more elaborate than the one in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]].'' You also get a regular fishing rod without a reel as an item, and have to use it in order to complete a certain quest.
*** Fortunately, it does not become a ScrappyMechanic. However, in the [[ScrappyLevel Water Temple]], you can catch skull fish, which the game makes you throw back.
** And ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'', too.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}'', you can fish ''anywhere'' there's water. Even a puddle.
** It's not really that hard (and there's no actual penalty to losing) but the later instances become so finely balanced that fishing up that last Silver Key can take upwards of ten minutes. Needless to say, these are the most annoying ten minutes of the entire game, and lots of players used an exploit to avoid having to fish up the last few keys.
** [[LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading Let's not be forgetting the loading screens before and after.]]

* ''AnimalCrossing'', all versions. Some people on the AXA board would go so far as to say that fishing for coelacanths on rainy nights, along with [[VendorTrash selling the fish]] and spending the money on furniture, is the main game in AC and everything else is the side-quest. One member there claims to have bought a 1.4 million bell mansion after five to seven nights of fishing, compared to the more typical two months of growing fruit. Of course, there are NoCartoonFish.
** While there are no cartoon fish, there are cartoon frogs and octopodes. Along with regular frogs and octopodes. One can be your friendly neighbors, and the other you feed alive to a fat walrus for wallpaper.
** Frog and Octopus neighbors may ask you to catch a fish for them (to eat), to which you can respond by giving them a frog or octopus you fished out of the water. They have no problem eating it.

* The ''{{Suikoden}}'' series has fishing minigames, that double as ways to collect special items and armor (or worthless junk like old shoes.) Of particular note is ''SuikodenV'', where it takes the form of a competition between [[TheHero the Prince]], Subala, [[BumblingDad Logg]] and Lun. Notably, it doesn't really matter if you win or lose the contest; you keep everything you caught regardless. It's mainly an excuse for {{TrashTalk}}ing (though the Prince doesn't participate, [[HeroicMime for obvious reasons]]...)
* ''{{Okami}}'' had a few, most notably when trying to catch a fish that ate the Moon. Technically, it only ate the moon's ''reflection.'' Which is... well, a lot weirder, actually.

* Some in the ''VideoGame/MarioParty'' games.

** This is the entire point of the ''River King'' series, which is the sister series to ''Harvest Moon''.

* ''VideoGame/TheAmazonTrail'' had a fishing minigame, but it made sense. You're on a boat. On a river. You need food. How else are you going to get it? As does later versions of ''VideoGame/TheOregonTrail''.

* ''BanjoKazooie: Grunty's Revenge'' has a fishing minigame... sort of. The mini-game pops up several times with several different "skins," and while it is indeed about fishing in some of them, in its first version, it's about... catching ''sheep.''
* ''VideoGame/DeadlyPremonition''.

* ''{{Chantelise}}'' starts providing fishing poles to the pair of protagonists about midway through the game. Immediately upon receiving her pole, the swordswoman's older sister Chante comments on the newly obsessed look in Elise's eyes and how clearly [[LampshadeHanging they'll be doing a ''lot'' of this from now on]].
** While poles are available, it's impossible to buy bait or lures anywhere, leaning to another funny moment when the instructor says she just needs to find something small and sparkly with feathers or something. Chante (who is currently a fairy) retorts that they couldn't possibly be expected to find anything like that anywhere... and notices Elise has that creepy look again... and is looking at ''her'' now... and this is going exactly where it sounds like. Fortunately, Chante is very good at surviving close encounters with fish.

** The 1.8 patch for Rift added a new Fishing skill and a companion Survival skill. You can make cakes with some of the fish. Don't necessarily think about that too hard.
** [[VGCats HOW i MIN 4 fish?]]

* Many ''[[SonicAdventureSeries Sonic Adventure]]'' players found Big the Cat's fishing-based story [[ScrappyMechanic annoying]]. It was shorter than the other modes and had little relevance to the plot. Also, you played as a [[TheDitz very stupid character]].
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' allows you to fish at specific spots, and you don't even have to bring a fishing rod. As long as you have bait, your character will [[HammerSpace produce a rod]] and cast the line. Apart from there being fish you can have cooked to eat later, there are types of fish you can use to mine ore and sharpen your weapon.
** In the 3rd game you can use fishing as a method to get the Gobul out of the water. The beast measures almost 19 meters from nose to tail.

* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' there are certain watery areas where you can kill fish and put them in your inventory, where they can be used as healing items.
** You can also hop back in the motorboat and catch a few more with your harpoons.

* Both ''MySims'' have it in a few places. Despite one being purely Mini Games, and the other a bunch of {{Fetch Quest}}s with a few item-gathering Mini Games.

* ''DeadlyPremonition''.

* ''NieR'' has one, and it can be quite frustrating, partly because the [[TutorialFailure in-game explanation is wrong.]]

* Fishing rods are used for two purposes in ''{{Minecraft}}''. One is to pull mobs; the other is to fish. All bodies of water, even ones you make yourself, contain fish; you fish by throwing out your line and waiting for the bobber to go down. Once you have fishing rods, water, and a suitable supply of sticks and string to replace your rods, your food problems are solved.

* ''TheAmazonTrail'' had a fishing minigame, but it made sense. You're on a boat. On a river. You need food. How else are you going to get it? As does later versions of ''OregonTrail''.

* ''{{Chantelise}}'' starts providing fishing poles to the pair of protagonists about midway through the game. Immediately upon receiving her pole, the swordswoman's older sister Chante comments on the newly obsessed look in Elise's eyes and how clearly [[LampShadeHanging they'll be doing a ''lot'' of this from now on]].

* ''DeadHeadFred'' has one, plus you have to go find and gather your own giant mutant worms in another minigame to use as bait (or put through a special grinder to make healing and buff drinks). This involves sneaking up on a worm's location and pulling it out of the ground without pulling it apart.