NETfishing is a free-to-play indie casual game built around multiplayer fishing in a compact, scrappy world. Players explore regions, cast lines, reel in catches, and manage a growing set of tools while progressing through local systems that support group play.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on movement and fishing across six distinct regions: Village, Pond, River, Lake, Marsh, and Coast. Camera-relative controls allow walking, sprinting, sneaking, and jumping, with support for both mouse and controller input. Safe respawn points and water recovery mechanics keep exploration steady.
Fishing involves casting and reeling with systems for catch barriers and chase pressure. Available species include Bluegill, Bass, and Carp, each tracked by individual weight, rarity, and favorite status. A Fish Finder supply aids location, while a physical shop handles upgrades to reel speed and barrier power.
Inventory management uses a cooler for storage, a bag, a logbook for records, and a nine-slot hotbar. Persistent local progression saves settings and upgrades, including cooler capacity increases. Supplies such as coffee, energy drinks, and snacks support extended sessions, and a Pelican handles quick selling at convenience points.
Game Modes
NETfishing emphasizes multiplayer foundations rather than distinct named modes at this stage. The current pre-alpha focuses on shared world exploration and economy elements that support group fishing and progression. Host-authoritative systems handle fishing and economy flows across freshwater and saltwater habitats.
Development prioritizes core movement, inventory, shop interactions, and persistent player data over finished competitive or cooperative structures. Multiplayer remains the central direction, though the build tests foundational ideas with potential for future expansion.
Progression and Tools
Local saves track upgrades and settings across sessions. The logbook records catches, while the shop provides targeted improvements to fishing performance and storage. Supplies replenish energy and focus during longer outings in the growing set of regions.
Economy elements are still forming, with selling tied to the Pelican system and fish values based on rarity and weight. This setup encourages repeated exploration without complex faction or seasonal layers at present.
Current State
The game runs in public pre-alpha on Windows and Linux via downloadable archives. Built in Godot, it includes keyboard and mouse controls with options for controller camera support. Features like sneaking, jumping, and hotbar selection are active, alongside shop access near designated points.
Multiplayer elements form the backbone, yet the release tests single-player viability of the fishing loop and inventory systems. Updates occur through versioned builds, with notes on balance and compatibility changes.
Is It Worth Playing?
NETfishing suits players seeking an early look at a casual multiplayer fishing experience with straightforward movement and catch mechanics. The pre-alpha delivers a functional loop of exploration, casting, and upgrading without polished content depth or named modes.
Those interested in influencing development through feedback on bugs, balance, or features may find value in the public build. Persistent progression and supply management provide repeatable sessions, though the world and economy continue to take shape.
Availability centers on direct downloads from the official site and itch.io. The focus remains on foundational multiplayer elements, making it a fit for casual fishing enthusiasts open to iterative testing rather than a complete release.
