How to Fish Reaches 35,000 Concurrent Players and Runs at 60 FPS on Steam Deck

How to Fish has quickly attracted attention on Steam, reaching more than 35,000 concurrent players shortly after launch while also showing strong performance on Steam Deck.

The low cost cooperative fishing game mixes a simple fishing loop with deliberately chaotic combat. Instead of simply catching fish and selling them, you can use weapons such as knives, brass knuckles, and guns to finish off your catch before turning it in for money.

The method used to kill a creature can also affect its value, giving you a reason to experiment with different weapons and approaches. Larger catches can require more effort, which gives the game an obvious cooperative angle when playing with friends.

Despite its unusual concept, early Steam Deck testing suggests the game is lightweight enough to run comfortably on Valve's handheld without major compromises.

Steam Deck Performance Is Strong at Default Settings

How to Fish reportedly defaults to its highest graphics quality on Steam Deck and can maintain around 60 FPS or higher during early gameplay.

Power consumption also remains relatively modest. Testing showed battery drain staying below approximately 16 watts while running at 60 FPS, suggesting there is some performance headroom available if later areas become more demanding.

These figures come from early testing rather than a complete playthrough, so performance could change in more complicated environments, on larger islands, or during scenes with more creatures and players.

Still, the early results suggest there is room to lower settings or cap the frame rate if heavier sections appear later. Even under a more demanding workload, the game is expected to remain comfortably playable on the handheld.

Its Steam Deck Rating Comes With One Minor Warning

How to Fish currently carries a Playable rating for Steam Deck rather than full Verified status.

The reported reason is small in game text. Early testing did not uncover any text that caused a significant problem, although smaller interface elements may become more noticeable in later sections.

No major controller, performance, or compatibility problems were highlighted during the initial testing period, making the game a relatively straightforward option if you primarily play on Steam Deck.

That matters because the game's design appears well suited to portable multiplayer sessions. Fishing is simple and predictable, since putting your rod in the water will produce a catch, while the combat that follows introduces the unpredictable part of the experience.

Players can then work together against larger creatures, experiment with different weapons, and try to increase the sale value of their catches.

How to Fish Has Found a Large Audience Quickly

The game's early player count is notable for a small multiplayer release. More than 35,000 people were reportedly playing concurrently only about a day after launch.

Its concept fits into the recent wave of inexpensive cooperative games built around simple mechanics and unpredictable group interactions. How to Fish approaches that formula with a fishing simulator foundation, then adds weapons and increasingly unusual ways to deal with whatever comes out of the water.

You can also play alone, although the design appears particularly suited to groups, especially when larger fish require several players to deal with them efficiently.

How to Fish is currently discounted to $4.95 until August 27. Combined with its strong early Steam Deck performance and relatively low hardware demands, it could be an accessible option if you want a cheap cooperative game that works well on a handheld without extensive settings changes.