Reviews

Spend the Night: Cast n Chill is a Catch

Jason Dean

18 Jul 2025 — 5 min read

Cast n Chill

Ask anyone who loves fishing, and they will tell you there is nothing better than a day on the lake. But how does a virtual lake compare?

Cast n Chill is a cozy game about fishing. When you start it the first time, not only do you choose your character from a pre-generated list but also your dog companion who will join you in your fishing adventure.

From there you and your pooch jump in a rowboat with a couple of rods and lures to enjoy your favorite hobby. Once you have filled your cooler, you return to shore to sell your catch. Your compensation depends on the type of fish and their size. The money you earn can be used to purchase upgrades: bigger coolers (so you don’t need to return to shore as often), better gear, new lures and even a better boat.

Players start on a small segment of the lake. Tip the owner of Rusty’s Bait & Tackle, and he will tell you what is biting on different parts of the pond. This opens new areas and varieties of fish that you can catch. You can also purchase fishing licenses for different rivers and lakes that will change the species available to catch.

Once you choose a location to drop your line, it is time to catch some fish. A player can see what fish are in the water and find the best spot to cast. Catching different species requires the right lure. Find the right one, and you will get a bite.

Once you have a fish on the line, the noise of the reel is important. You can tell when a fish is trying to make a run by the sound it makes. Quit reeling, otherwise they might escape. When the tension subsides, continue trying to land your fish. Once you haul it in, you can check your size guide, which provides a record of your biggest catches, how many of a species you caught, what type of lure you used and if it is a record.

Some fish are only out at specific times of day. Are you fishing during the afternoon and need it to be evening to catch an elusive fish? You can take a snooze in your boat, changing the time of day. It is worth checking out the lakes and rivers during different times of day to see what changes.

Would you rather be fishing than working? Cast n Chill gets you, and offers an idle mode. Leave the game up in a window while you do other projects around the house, and your character takes to the lake and drops a line while you Google how to fix a sink. Playing in idle mode is fun to watch (and gain a little extra money in-game), but like real fishing it is much better to take to the lake yourself.

Cast n Chill’s 8-bit aesthetic is beautiful. It creates delightful scenery on each fishing hole you visit. Pixelated mountains and fall colors enhance the virtual fishing experience. This design does occasionally make it difficult to determine the different kinds of fish in certain areas.

Cast n Chill is a relaxing game about fishing that is made for people who enjoy the hobby. Those who do not fish will likely fall off this game almost immediately. But for those who do, it provides a unique and delightful experience. I played seven hours of this game, and I plan to continue on with it. It’s perfect to pop on a second monitor while you’re doing something else, and even more fun to actively play.