"Nice day for Fishing " Review - When the Side Quest Becomes the Main Quest.
For years, fishing in RPGs has been treated as a side activity—an optional minigame nestled between epic battles and dramatic story arcs. For some it is a peaceful distraction, a way to unwind while the world around you burns. For others it is a tedious activity that they like to avoid like the plaque, after all the world around us burns!
“This isn’t just a game about catching fish. It’s a game about becoming an unlikely hero when no one else shows up.”
But what if fishing WAS the epic quest? What if the fate of the world hinged not on swordplay or spells, but on a trusty fishing rod, a well-placed cast, and a bucket full of bait? Nice Day for Fishing dares to dip their feet in the water to find out how to bring this concept into a compelling game that simulations honors its YouTube roots.
This isn’t just a game about catching fish. It’s a game about becoming a unlikely hero when no one else shows up. A game where your fishing rod is your weapon, your boat your noble steed, and your goal is nothing less than saving the world... one epic fish battle at a time. t's a nice day for fishing, A'int it? Huh HA!
What the Game Is About
Set in the whimsical world of Azerim, Nice Day for Fishing blends classic RPG elements with over-the-top fishing mechanics to create an experience that’s as bizarre as it is unique. Players step into the fishing boots of a humble NPC, Baelin. If you think that sounds familiar then you are correct, Baelin is a background character from Viva La Dirt League's, Epic NPC Man lore. In Nice Day For Fishin, named after his one line in the fictional ( I guess now real) videogame world, Baelin finds himself unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight when the world of Azerim is left hero-less. All the players from the world have been disconnected and with no warriors or mages to rise to the challenge, it’s up to the lone local fisherman, with the help of some friends to protect the realm.
You’ll journey across a charming variety of regions, from the tree-lined trails of Honeywood Forest to the vast Azerim coast, uncovering legendary fish, dredging up ancient loot, rebuilding towns, and unlocking powerful spells, all in pursuit of becoming a fishing legend.
Fishing in Nice Day for Fishing isn’t a side quest. It is the quest.
The VLDL Connection: From YouTube to the Reel Deal
The game is developed in collaboration with Viva La Dirt League (VLDL), the New Zealand-based comedy troupe known for their viral sketch series like Epic NPC Man and Baelin’s Route. Fans of the channel will instantly recognize the humor, characters, and storytelling style that VLDL brings to the table. This isn’t just a licensed skin slapped on a generic fishing sim, instead "Nice Day for Fishing" is full of lore and feels like a playable extension of the Epic universe.
Throughout the game you’ll meet familiar faces, take on hilariously unconventional, and sometimes dragging, quests, and experience moments that echo the troupe’s signature blend of satire and sincerity. Whether you're a long-time VLDL fan or totally new to their work, the game’s tone hits a sweet spot: part parody, part tribute, and 100% original. Do not forget to skip dialog and accept the quest!
Gameplay – More Than Just Fishing
Let me start off with something that should be obvious, if you do not enjoy fishing game mechanics and are not familiar with VLDL ( if the latter go check out their YT channel now) this game might not be for you. This game is all about fishing and that included all your battles, boss fights, etc. with that out of the way, lets get into it.
At its core, Nice Day for Fishing is a side scrolling fishing RPG built around a creative battle loop. Fishing plays out like a mini-RPG combat sequence—players choose bait, wait for a strike, and then enter a two-phase battle where they attack and defend against fish.
Attacking is done by pressing one face button, which you can either hold down or mash as fast as you can, but I found little difference and mashing will cause your thumb/fingers to fatigue pretty quickly. At some point the fish will start pulling back , triggering the defend phase, big letters on screen will let you know to stop attacking and now you have to wait for the fish attack and timely hit another face button to block or parry. The timing of this, is actually more generous than you think but that is not really clear during the introduction to the mechanic. You basically have to hit the button as late as possible and then hold it down.
If you miss in timing you will still block but not parry. Not a bad comfort price. Either of the two will reduce or completely eliminate damage. And can also cause damage or status effects such as stun. It is a simple mechanic , it is effective but I cannot lie, it can become a little cumbersome especially in the beginning. Luckily there is more to add some variation. The fish and other creatures have varied behaviors, health meters, and sometimes of them inflict status effects in return. You will not be able to take on every fish right away as they will be too strong for you or out of reach. Throughout the game you learn spells and acquire items that enhance combat. These offer support like like healing or add additional offensive options. Level up and increased stats make your adventure easier and allow you to challenge bigger fish and access more difficult areas.
You’ll dredge up ancient loot, rebuild towns, and unlock powerful spells—all in pursuit of becoming a fishing legend.
Bosses add another layer, breaking the two-phase format and requiring constant focus—parrying, blocking, and casting spells in real-time. You will definite need to upgrade gear to make headway, which brings a fairly satisfying sense of progression. The progression, just like the water ebb's and flows and instead of a continuously rising difficulty, encounters are spaced out by lighter fishing tasks that contribute resources, spell unlocks, and gear crafting materials.
Expect to back track, a lot. Quest leads to quest, leads to sub quest moving around back and forth between the different areas. Movement between these areas like Honeywood and the coast is brisk, with quests flowing in a mostly linear fashion.
Though most of your game is spend fishing from a boat or dock, there are some light platforming moments which mostly serve to get to different areas. There is no Mario style enemy elimination or difficult scaling of high up areas. These areas are deadly mines, vast oceans and a sprawling forest.
Despite its accessible approach, the game till gives room for those who want to bring some more tactical thinking experimentation. The use of spells , potions and their timing is needed to get the best results in the toughest fights and some discipline in spell use and inventory management becomes key to survival and success. Most players will quickly adapt thanks to integrated tutorials during the opening quests. The game supports keyboard and controller support and while gamepad support is well-optimized and intuitive the keyboard controls can feel stiff and imprecise. especially after unlocking the magnet hook, which opens new layers of interaction with the world.
Presentation
As I mentioned in the beginning, "Nice Day for Fishing" is set in the world of Epic NPC Man, a long-running sketch series by Viva La Dirt League. The game’s plot sees Baelin, an NPC known for saying only “It’s a nice day for fishing, ain’t it?”, suddenly taking on the mantle of hero after the adventurers disappear. Though still limited to his one iconic line, Baelin becomes the player’s mostly silent protagonist. Think of him as the Groot of Honeywood. Throughout the adventure he is supported by a cast of other known characters such as the Bodger the black smith, Baradun the wizard, the unlikely and always arguing power couple Fred & Freda and of course EPIC NPC man himself : Greg the garlic farmer. Some gags from the series continue here such as the garlic obsession's of Greg, the missing hammer of Badger and more.
"It lovingly pokes fun at RPG tropes while still delivering a full and satisfying adventure."
The story is lighthearted, easy to follow, and peppered with meta jokes/ commentary that works for anyone that has played RPG's before but will especially land well for fans of the VLDL YouTube series.
Still, the game is very approachable for new players as well, as the game guides you you into its world and mechanics through the early missions. Restoring the town of Honeywood becomes an ongoing side goal, with new shops, spells, and vendors appearing as you complete quests and unlock areas.
Visually, the game is build with crisp, expressive pixel art. Characters are instantly recognizable even in their sprite form, and locations like Honeywood, glimmering caves, and coral-rich coastlines are vibrant and distinct. Animations are clean and smooth, with special attention given to fishing effects and combat feedback.
In terms of UI and interface there is minimal clutter on screen, with only three main tabs Inventory, Map, and Quests keeping everything clean and organized. I
The audio and sfx in the game is a mixed bag of retro sounds and modern music and actual opening lines for the characters. The soundtrack is gentle and thematic, leaning into medieval-fantasy ambiance, to downright epic and bombastic in some other areas. I was really impressed with how much effort seems to have been put into them. However, instead of full voice acting, approached NPC's will say their known one-liners and then “speak” using sped-up typewriter gibberish much like games such as Animal Crossing. With longer story expositions the effect can at times become a little overbearing for some, but audio settings only allow you to adjust music and sound effects globally, so turning down the chatter means also silencing fun voice clips like Greg's "Hello adventures" or Baradun’s dramatic “PORTAL AWAYYY!”. me a background noise, but for some people this might be a possible issue,
In terms of settings and accessibility features, there is not too much available. There’s no control remapping, no subtitle adjustments, and limited audio controls. You can also not adjust them on the fly in game, but instead have to go back to the main menu. a few quality-of-life additions, like better audio sliders or text size options, etc. would go a long way.
There is brilliance in its simplicity, and like a onion, or is that a garlic?, you end up peeling more and more layers to reveal new surprises.
Parental View
The official ESRB advisory rating for this game is T for Teen. They site some blood, fantasy violence , language and suggestive themes. Though I can see that, with the added pixel art I do not entirely agree and would personally rate this more a E10+ if anything. The game plays it mostly safe and there really is nothing I felt was outrageous for children to see or play. That said it is not a kids targeted game so as always know what your kids play.
Final Thoughts
Nice Day for Fishing may have started as a side joke in a YouTube skit, but it ends up making a genuine mark in the indie RPG space. It’s a game that dares to turn a minor background character with one line of dialogue into the unlikely center of a compelling adventure, armed not with swords or sorcery, but a fishing rod and a silent sense of purpose. That gamble pays off. It’s not just fun, it is charming, well-crafted, and surprisingly deep where it could have been a cheap cash in.
While the core fishing mechanic can feel a bit repetitive early on, the game smartly builds out its variety through unlockable spells, creative exploration mechanics, and Metroidvania-inspired progression. The boss battles add much-needed spikes in intensity, and the use of spells and gear gives combat some welcomed complexity. With enough gear, upgrades, and evolving fish behavior, the loop stays engaging even hours in.
For VLDL fans, this game is a love letter. The writing, the characters, and even the voice clips are perfectly tuned to their brand of humor and storytelling. For newcomers, it still works as a lighthearted fantasy tale with satisfying mechanics, cozy visuals, and plenty of clever writing. It lovingly pokes fun at RPG tropes while still delivering a full and satisfying adventure. The fact that this is the first major game from a YouTube comedy troupe is impressive enough. That they partnered with Team17 veterans in quirky, polished indie titles is the icing on the cake.
This is a bold first outing for VLDL, taking what could have been a parody minigame and instead crafting a heartfelt, side-scrolling RPG with real charm and staying power. It’s proof that sometimes, the best adventures start with a simple cast of a line and the words, “It’s a nice day for fishing, ain’t it?”
