Bassmaster 2022 is the most realistic fishing game I’ve ever played. If you want to fish during the colder months, but don’t want to go outside, this is the game for you– so long as you don’t mind a very slow and accurate experience.
Bassmaster 2022
Developer: Dovetail Games
Price: $40
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed,) PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC.
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review.
I fancy myself a bit of a fisherman, as I enjoy hanging out with my dad or brother and just casting out in the summer. I’ve also enjoyed a few fishing games, particularly Sega Bass Fishing on the Dreamcast. So I was down to cover Bassmaster 2022, as I heard it was a particularly deep fishing game. This is quite true, as it’s as close to fishing as you’ll ever get from your living room.
There are a few distinct modes to play in Bassmaster Fishing 2022, depending on what you want to do. There’s a freestyle Venue mode, where you can just choose a location and fish to your heart’s content– a nice break from the tournaments you can partake in or just your daily grind. Then there’s the more structured Career mode, where you participate in a variety of different tournaments with different goals, like catching the most bass or a list of specific different fish. You work your way up the ladder through these different tournaments, starting at the college level, until you’re the best fisherperson in the land. I like the variety available here, in that the objectives aren’t the same for every single tourney, and as I said before, you can always jump back into Venue mode if you need a break.
The gameplay itself is stunningly realistic, as this is definitely the closest thing to fishing on the gaming market. You get to make your own angler, with the possibility of making some truly goofy avatars, which I always appreciate. Then, you jump in your boat and drive to wherever you want to fish. You adjust how far you want to cast, and then let loose. Though you can see your lure underwater, I think that’s a positive despite the lessened realism, as it makes the fishing itself feel just a bit more exciting.
“The DualSense vibration does add a fair bit of immersion to the reeling experience, which seems like a small touch but is still a lot of fun.“
This is a big deal, as a lot of Bassmaster 2022 can be very slow and uneventful. You won’t catch something on every cast, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, you may not catch anything for a good half an hour. Depending on your level of patience, this could understandably be a dealbreaker, as not everyone has the time or willingness to take on the slow fishing process. If you do enjoy this slow burn, it’s quite relaxing, but if you don’t, this isn’t a particularly arcade-y fishing game. The DualSense vibration does add a fair bit of immersion to the reeling experience, which seems like a small touch but is still a lot of fun.
Visually, Bassmaster 2022 looks pretty slick. The fish look just like they do in real life, the venues can be great to look at, and the lighting is quite nice. There are some visual pop-ins while you drive around in your boat, but it’s not really a big deal since it’s only in background areas that you can’t actually visit.
The Final Word
Bassmaster 2022 is the game to buy if you want to fish inside your own home. It’s pretty slow and uneventful at times, but that’s pretty much what fishing really is. If you prefer a more fast-paced arcade experience, this isn’t the game for you, but if you want the true fishing experience in digital form, eat your heart out with Bassmaster Fishing 2022.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
Kevin G.
November 12, 2021 at 6:14 pm
I really want to try this on a PS5 if and when there is one available for me to buy. Have played a few fishing games over the years and during the winter it is just as relaxing as it is during the summer. I don’t think that we will ever see the perfect fishing game, but they do tend to keep finding ways to make them better in some fashion or another.
Immortal Monk
November 22, 2021 at 7:13 pm
Accurate? You ever been fishing? No action on ANY LURE, nor ANY FISH. Bluegill striking crankbaits and rattle baits….crappie eating lures that are 5 times their body length…always getting beat at the tournaments because the JUNK FISH will bite before any bass, even when you’re using the PROTIP lures….it’s a joke of a game. Nothing is realistic besides the water looking good. They can’t even properly name the fish! Oh and the walleye…those ARE DEEP WATER FISH, so why in the actually F are they up in the coves and around the docks? You’ll NEVER catch one there in real life, NEVER.