About Fishing: Steam Next Fest 2026 analysis

Quick Take

About Fishing is a surreal "fishing mystery game" developed by The Water Museum. It combines the calm, rhythmic act of fishing with layers of quiet tension, psychological discovery, and Lynchian absurdity. The tone mixes endearing and unsettling elements in a distinctive way.

During the Steam Next Fest June 2026, the demo stood out in roundups for its unique premise and satisfying physics. It offers something genuinely different from typical action or exploration titles.

The game will appeal to players who enjoy atmospheric, thoughtful experiences that start relaxing and slowly reveal something more complex underneath. The developer's encouragement to try other demos during the fest was also noted positively.

What The Demo Shows

The core activity is fishing with excellent, intuitive physics and controls. Catching fish serves as both the relaxing loop and the gateway to uncovering a deeper mystery. The world has a retro PSX/Dreamcast-era visual and audio feel that enhances the comforting-yet-unsettling atmosphere.

Pacing is deliberately slow and meditative. Narrative and environmental storytelling emerge through the act of fishing and the odd encounters that follow. The demo demonstrates strong attention to the physicality of the rod, water, and fish behavior.

Presentation prioritizes vibe over spectacle. Sound design and the contrast between serenity and unease are central to the experience.

Strengths

  • Outstanding fishing physics and controls that feel genuinely satisfying and intuitive.
  • Clever and fresh premise that layers calm mechanics with psychological tension and mystery.
  • Strong, consistent retro-surreal atmosphere (PSX/Dreamcast influence) that supports the tone.
  • Distinctive identity that stands out even among other creative Next Fest demos.

Caveats

  • Deliberate, slow pace (true to real fishing) may frustrate players expecting quicker payoffs or constant action.
  • The experience is heavily mood-driven; those seeking traditional progression or high-energy gameplay may not connect.

YouTube And Community References

Notes the relaxing yet mysterious vibe and unique premise.

Full run during Next Fest highlighting the tone and mechanics.

  • ManlyBadassHero (related coverage) and community discussions – Highlight the calming retro feel alongside the shift into something more unsettling.

Community impressions emphasize the unique mix of relaxation and unease.

Developer Signals

The developer (Kevin of The Water Museum) has been active and candid on X.

  • [@WaterMuseum_, Jun 20 2026]: "I dont even think I’ve got 28 hours put into the game (let alone the demo) and I’m the one making it"
  • [@WaterMuseum_, Jun 19 2026]: "next fest home page is like personalized right theres no way its axctually at the top?" (with image)
  • [@WaterMuseum_, Jun 19 2026]: "By far my favorite demo from Next Fest so far!" (reply)

Posts also link the Steam page and note updates/hotfixes for the demo.

Market And Wishlist Notes

Public market data was limited as of 2026-06-20. Treat any third-party wishlist, owner, revenue, follower, review, or demo-play figures as estimates unless linked in Sources. For this article, we rely on the Steam page, cited videos, and developer posts rather than unsourced numeric claims.

Sources