Stardew Valley Creator Shares Changes He’d Make to Fishing

Stardew Valley and the Cursed Fishing Minigame: A Reflection

So, I was thinking about Stardew Valley again. You know, that game everyone’s still obsessed with, despite its quirky little flaws. And it got me pondering about fishing – yeah, fishing of all things. It’s that kind of minigame where you either love the challenge or find yourself wanting to throw your computer out the window. Seriously, I remember the first time I tried it, going, "Is this supposed to be fun or some kind of bizarre punishment?"

The genius behind this world, Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, recently confessed that he’s got a bone to pick with his own game’s fishing bit. Wonder why it took him this long to spill the beans? Apparently, if he could hit the rewind button, he’d mess around with the difficulty curve for the fishing minigame. Yep, it turns out he feels it’s a bit too brutal for fresh-faced farmers.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Stardew Valley’s appeal isn’t just the farming. I mean, exploring the town, chatting with quirky characters, and fishing — if you’re into that sort of thing. But oh boy, fishing here is a gamble. Some love it, some despise it. It’s like olives on pizza. Wait, where was I? Right, Stardew’s fishing. You see, using expensive gear helps, but it’s still a love-hate relationship.

Barone, chatting with PC Gamer, admitted that while he digs the minigame, there are regrets. Especially about how tough it is at the start. He mentioned something about the fishing bar — it should’ve been bigger initially. Makes sense, right? You don’t just dive into fishing like you’re a pro. Anyway, I guess he took some inspiration from Donkey Kong or something, but who knows how that worked out.

Here’s a fun twist, though. ConcernedApe did try to throw rookie fishers a bone. Ever heard of the training rod from Willy’s shop? No? Well, that’s partly the problem. It’s cheaper and makes fishing easier. But — and it’s a big but — it also limits the quality of your catch. Like, you want a decent fish, you gotta pay the price, I guess.

So, in a nutshell, even with its quirks, Barone seems mostly happy with the fishing game. It’s one of those features that breaks the monotony and keeps the game from being all about crops and cows. Curious what other quirky, possibly infuriating minigames might pop up in his next big project, Haunted Chocolatier. Wonder if chocolate fishing is a thing.