Bizarre popularity of a costly-monetized Russian fishing sim on Steam leaves players disgruntled
Fishing for Fun and Frustration: The Strange, Rotten, and Oddly Appealing World of Russian Fishing 4
Ever heard of Russian Fishing 4? This weirdly popular game on Steam has been casting its line since 2018, but it truly started reeling in players when PC Gamer's Wes Fenlon noticed its surge in November 2021. And boy, has it been catching em!
SteamDB's data shows that 21,500 people are currently fishing away in RF4, and just nine days ago, it hit an all-time peak of 25,352 players. Remember, the game is also available directly from the developer, so these numbers only represent part of the fishing community. We're talking about one massive catch of anglers chasing the perfect online fishing experience.
The question is, why has this fishing game become such a hot commodity? Let's reel in the boring, straightforward answer first: RF4 is a genuinely great fishing simulator, with some big caveats. The game offers a delightful sense of tranquility, simple mechanics, and visually appealing aesthetics. One particularly cool feature is the real-time display of other players' catches in the lower left corner, adding a touch of friendly competition to your fishing adventure.
Now that the basics are out of the way, let's dive into the dark, murky waters of RF4's infamous monetization. This game is one of those "free-to-play" rtransitions that'll leave you cursing its name. The progression pace is painfully slow, and the grind is nothing short of brutal. You sell your catches to afford better equipment to catch bigger fish and level up at a snail's pace. The actual fishing is engaging, but the monetization-induced gameplay loop is enough to make any gamer groan.
But there's hope for weary fishermen: RF4 offers a Premium membership tier that supposedly makes the game bearable. Premium grants a 100% bonus for every fish caught, increases the chance of skill improvements, and unlocks essential features for a smoother experience. However, Premium isn't cheap – three days will set you back $3.50, and a month will cost you $15. And if you have $2,000 lying around, you can splurge on a lifetime subscription. Yes, you read that right – TWO GRAND for a fishing game.
Despite its popularity, RF4's Steam reviews mainly sit within the "mixed" category, with two primary themes plaguing negative feedback: the monotonous grind and overbearing monetization or issues from Chinese players. The Chinese players claim they've been erroneously banned for cheating, faced a lack of fish, and accused the developers of greed.
One reviewer, Mage, had this to say: "This game is a complete waste of my time... I don't understand what the cheating programme is, and he never explained it when I consulted the official, he was very arrogant..."
QMX lamented, "I thought it was interesting at first, but now I think this game is a complete waste of my time... Are there any fish in this lake? I stand there all day and never catch any fish. The missions are disgusting and pure torture."
A Russian player, Sanyapyts, provides one of the most peculiar reviews: "After this shit, friends become bastards."
So there you have it – Russian Fishing 4, an oddball contemporary phenomenon. A game that's both enjoyably fishy and infuriatingly greedy, sailing the line of success despite its glaring flaws. This game may not be for everyone, but for those who can stomach the monetization, it's purportedly one of the best fishing simulations on the market. Those with a few extra grand lying around, what do you say? Will you cast your line in Russian Fishing 5's waters?
Rich Stanton
Rich is an experienced games journalist with 15 years under his belt. Starting with Edge magazine, he's worked for a diverse range of outlets, including Ars Technica, Eurogamer, GamesRadar+, Gamespot, the Guardian, IGN, the New Statesman, Polygon, and Vice. He was the editor of Kotaku UK for three years before joining PC Gamer. He's the author of "A Brief History of Video Games," a comprehensive history of the medium, praised by the Midwest Book Review as "a must-read for serious-minded game historians and curious video game connoisseurs alike."
** sources:**[1] Russian Fishing 4 - Peak Concurrent Players[2] Russian Fishing 4 - Overview and Issues[3] Russian Fishing 4 - Anniversary Event Performance[4] Russian Fishing 4 - Recent Gains in Player Count[5] Russian Fishing 4 - Developer Updates and Support
- The surge in popularity of Russian Fishing 4 has been astounding, with the record-breaking number of 25,352 players just nine days ago, highlighted by PC Gamer's Rich Stanton.
- Despite its controversy over monetization, Russian Fishing 4 has garnered a massive following, attracting anglers who seek a unique online fishing experience.
- Social media buzzes with discussions about the game, making Russian Fishing 4 a hot topic in the realm of entertainment and online gaming.
- To win at Russian Fishing 4, it seems that a Premium membership may be essential, offering improvements for a smoother gaming experience and faster progression, despite its significant cost.
