Sandbox 'friendslop' game How to Fish has become the latest indie darling, amassing platinum sales in a matter of days.
With $70 and even $100 games crowding the market, consumers are turning to low-cost indie games to play. These smaller-scale games have led to a shift in PC gaming popularity as Steam users look to novel, cheap, and quick experiences to have with online friends. How to Fish is the latest indie game to ride the million-seller wave of so-called 'friendslop' games, a term invented to describe this new irreverent multiplayer genre.
"1 million fishermen in 2 days? We hit 1 million fishermen! Thank you all. Yes, we'll be adding more content and fixing bugs," the developers at Swedish How to Fish studio Dazed Games, Carl-Vilhelm Johansson and Melvin Olsson, said in a recent update post.
How to Fish joins other platinum-selling indies of 2026, including games like Windrose, Meccha Chameleon, and Slay the Spire 2, all of which sold 1 million copies or more in less than a week's time. The comparatively low cost of $5 caters to the PC gaming market, which favors highly-discounted titles in a wider digital ecosystem, rewarding developers and publishers with a high volume of game purchases.
The game also had previously been the #1 top-selling game on Steam when it released, moving to #2 following the launch of Aliens Fireteam Elite, and How to Fish is also included in bundles with other multiplayer friend-oriented indies at a discounted rate. How to Fish moves up to $7.99 in a couple of days and this price differential--an immediate discount at launch--may have been a powerful persuasive tool for adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Open a question for an answer from TweakTown's coverage of this news, or ask your own below.
How much did How to Fish cost at launch and when did its price change?
How long did it take How to Fish to reach 1 million sales?
What platforms or storefronts did How to Fish top (for example Steam rankings) upon release?
Is How to Fish being bundled with other multiplayer indie games and at a discount?
Have a question about this content not listed here? Ask below and TweakBot will answer it.
-
