The Yakuza franchise is widely regarded for its terrific set of mini-games. One of these minigames is the fishing minigame, first introduced in Yakuza 3 before being included in subsequent entries. While you can capture boring stuff like tuna or garbage, it's always fun to drag up a squid or shark on a casual Sunday afternoon.

Sega Bass Fishing is a long-running fishing simulation game franchise, first starting as an arcade game back in 1997. While the fishing rod controls were later ported over to standard console controls, Sega Bass Fishing remains a nostalgic memory for many arcade goers whose parents wouldn't let them play House of the Dead and opted for a more wholesome experience. Jokes aside, this arcade franchise has a lot of depth.

Bass Hunter 64 is yet another fishing sim game, this time released for the N64. For fishing game enthusiasts growing up during the 90s in America, this was one of the best games you could play. All the core mechanics you'd find in later fishing sims is here, complete with then-revolutionary 3D graphics.

While Americans got Bass Hunter 64, Japan got Nushi Tsuri 64. This game, also for the N64, is a role playing game that puts you in a small town where you primarily fish. It's much like a Harvest Moon game crossed with Pokemon where you socialize with your fellow townspeople and, on occasion, encounter some creatures in the wild. However, fishing is the primary focus of this game.

Wii Fishing Resort is yet another in the long line of Wii titles where you take your Miis and go on a cool adventure. In this case, a resort where you can fish all over. The gameplay uses the Wii Motion Controls in a way that simulates the fishing experience. Several games on the console would attempt something similar, but while they aimed for realism, Wii Fishing Resort aims for fun.

Stardew Valley isn't just a fishing game, but fishing plays a huge role in the story. Stardew Valley is a farming simulation game that focuses on you raising crops and collecting special items, all while interacting with your town. There are several fishing events, as well as certain fish that can only be found during certain times of day or seasons. It's a surprisingly deep system for what ultimately feels like a subquest.

Hooked! Real Motion Fishing is one of those games that several kids got from their grandmothers during Christmas time. It's essentially Shuffleware, but surprisingly good shuffleware despite its generic cover. This is in part due to it being develoed by Arc System Works, who would later go on to develop EVO-tier fighting games like Dragon Ball FighterZ. It's a surprisingly well-made game, despite all appearances.

Animal Crossing doesn't have the most complex fishing system, but it does have some of the most addictive fishing. What Animal Crossing trades in depth, it adds in collectability. It's a game that allows you to collect tons of items in the water. While it might not be hard or as intuitive to fish as it is in other games, it's still a relaxing, validating experience when you find something good under the current.

The majority of people who play games have played Pokemon at least once, making the fishing rod the most widely used fishing utensil in video game history. Several Pokemon can only be captured through fishing, be it in ponds or the wide open ocean. Fishing only triggers a Pokemon battle, making it more a means to capture Pokemon you can't capture anywhere else. Most often, you'll just catch a Tentacool or Horsea. Sometimes, you might find a Gyarados.

The Fisherman: Fishing Planet is a more modern example of a fishing game that amps up the experience with incredible graphics and atmosphere. The core of every fishing simulation game is always the same. What makes the games noteworthy is the polish around it. Fishing Planet polishes up the core experience by making it BEAUTIFUL to behold.