It’s time to seize some bait and head all the way down to the water as we try the very best Wii fishing video games!

As Wii Sports confirmed so efficiently, the Wii Remote was a flexible controller that could possibly be used to simulate a variety of various pastimes. 

Developers typically tied themselves in knots when making an attempt to shoehorn movement controls into video games the place they weren’t wanted, or didn’t make sense.

But, there have been just a few genres the place waggling the Wii Remote like an individual possessed was the one logical plan.

Fishing is certainly a kind of genres; casting the road after which reeling in a fish had not often felt as immersive because it had previous to the invention of the Wii Remote…

Though in fact, peripherals for particular video games such because the Dreamcast Fishing Controller did an awesome job of replicating the pastime.

Consequently, there have been an enormous variety of fishing video games on the Wii. Even compilation title Wii Play from our record of the greatest Nintendo Wii video games featured a Fishing mini-game.

Some strove for simulation, whereas others have been much less occupied with replicating actual fishing and went a bit loopy.

Which have been the very best ones although?

Let’s discover out, as we try the very best Wii fishing video games! 

10. Shimano Extreme Fishing (2009)

Kicking off our record with a kind of titles that’s a bit loopy, Shimano Extreme Fishing goes past the fishing rod to supply some unconventional strategies of catching aquatic life.

That consists of utilizing a bow and even a spear; with the latter, Shimano Extreme Fishing even helps you to go diving too.

Excitingly, this could additionally result in you being chased by sharks!

Shimano Extreme Fishing gives as much as 4 participant multiplayer, and it does have a bit extra selection than many different video games on this record. 

It’s only a disgrace that the gameplay is a bit missing, with awkward controls that actually hamper the expertise. 

However, that barely leftfield focus – on extra than simply normal fishing – undoubtedly earns it a spot on the very best Wii fishing video games record!

9. Rapala Tournament Fishing (2006)

Just as Shimano is an actual world model and due to this fact lets you use real gear in its sport, so too is Rapala.

And they’ve quite a few video games featured on this record.

Rapala Tournament Fishing was the primary fishing sport to reach on the Wii. Sadly, regardless of its enormous scope, with 20 tournaments to participate in throughout 500,000 acres of water, it’s a bit missing within the gameplay division.

It additionally has unresponsive controls that actually hamper the expertise.

The number of fish can be fairly small, with simply over 20 varieties of fish obtainable to catch in-game.

It’s a real disgrace, as a result of there’s a lot to discover right here. It’s a superb first effort for a Wii fishing sport, however there was so a lot better to return!

8. Bass Pro Shops: The Strike (2009)

With a customized rod and reel controller, Bass Pro Shops: The Strike (one more fishing sport with licensed in-game gear), actually appears to make all the precise strikes earlier than you begin taking part in.

It’s a disgrace that the visuals are terrible and the sport’s construction is a little bit irritating. But gameplay-wise, the precise fishing motion may be very satisfying.

Especially should you use the controller that initially got here with the sport!

Naturally, in a sport carrying the title of an precise fishing gear retailer, the vary of various equipment you’ll be able to acquire and use is actually spectacular too.

It’s not fairly sufficient to push Bass Pro Shops: The Strike additional in direction of the highest of the very best Wii fishing video games record although. The competitors is actually fierce on Nintendo’s traditional console!

Interestingly, Bass Pro Shops: The Strike – Championship Edition carries on the sequence on the Switch. You can check out that title on our record of the greatest looking video games for Nintendo Switch!

7. Rapala: We Fish (2009)

The three video games we’ve seen to this point have all been primarily based on realism and have additionally been licensed affairs with real fishing gear prominently featured all through.

Despite being branded as a Rapala sport – and initially being packaged with a Rapala rod and reel controller attachment – Rapala: We Fish forgets all about realism and goals for cartoony, vibrant and caricatured motion all through.

It’s a breath of recent air; the murky, muddy visuals that always plague Wii fishing titles are nowhere to be seen. Instead, there’s a charmingly exaggerated look to only about every part within the sport.

Players can use their customized Miis as in-game characters, which don’t look misplaced with the sport’s normal aesthetic. There’s even the choice for 4 participant simultaneous multiplayer too.

There’s even kart-style minigames to participate in, full with energy ups. I assume that’s in case fishing, with over 50 properly designed aquatic creatures to catch, will get a little bit uninteresting.

The normal points with awkward controls can rear their head at occasions, however this is a superb title – significantly for youthful players or these gamers who don’t thoughts a little bit of enjoyable being injected into their digital angling motion.

6. Reel Fishing: Angler’s Dream (2009)

What’s this? A Wii fishing sport with no licensed, branded gear? 

Yet that lack of an official fishing trade license hasn’t harmed Reel Fishing: Angler’s Dream. 

Which is to be anticipated, because the Reel Fishing sequence have a ‘reely’ lengthy historical past.

Starting in 1996 on the PS1, the titles have even survived to the current day. The most up-to-date entry within the Reel Fishing sequence is Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure, which appeared on the Switch in 2019!

Reel Fishing: Angler’s Dream actually is a superb instance of those video games although, making prime use of the Wii’s movement controls.

Not solely does it permit gamers to catch a big number of fish in loads of completely different environments (with catching the Legendary Fish being your final aim!), it additionally offers gamers the chance to boost fish of their very personal aquariums.

Reel Fishing: Angler’s Dream additionally helps 4 participant native multiplayer. It’s a wonderful sport and one properly deserving of its place on the very best Wii fishing video games record.

5. Fishing Master World Tour (2009)

Hudson Soft have an extended historical past of wonderful video video games – Bomberman and Adventure Island being only a few examples of their oldest and most well-known titles. So, it’s maybe no shock to see certainly one of their video games on the very best Wii fishing video games record.

Fishing Master World Tour is the sequel to 2007 title Fishing Master. 

It’s one other arcade-style sport that’s designed for accessibility and enjoyable, fairly than simulation. Packed filled with quests, the sport boasts a number of fish to catch and even boss battles towards significantly powerful aquatic creatures!

The controls are simple to know and properly applied. Plus, the visuals are interesting and vibrant too.

You may even select an animal companion – a canine or cat – to accompany you in your fishing journeys.

It even has a considerably academic ingredient regardless of the cartoony aesthetic; whenever you catch a fish, actual world details on it are added to the in-game journal.

Fishing Master World Tour undoubtedly has that Hudson Soft magic and greater than deserves its spot on the very best Wii fishing video games record! 

4. Big Catch Bass Fishing 2 (2009)

Also generally known as ‘Hooked! Again: Real Motion Fishing’, Big Catch Bass Fishing 2 is nearly the one full fishing sport on Wii to utilize Motion Plus.

This is stunning, as a result of Wii Motion Plus added 1:1 motion to the Wii Remote, giving an enormous diploma of accuracy with the controller. So utilizing it in fishing video games looks like a no brainer.

For no matter motive, it was extremely not often utilised, nonetheless.

Big Catch Bass Fishing 2 is one other fishing sport that leans in direction of simulation, which you’d in all probability count on given its Motion Plus help.

It was additionally one other sport which could possibly be bought with a fishing rod and reel attachment, in case the Motion Plus enhancements to the sport’s controls simply weren’t fairly actual sufficient for you!

3. Sega Bass Fishing (2008)

Originally an arcade sport launched in 1997, Sega Bass Fishing was first ported to Sega’s ill-fated however much-loved Dreamcast console again in 1999. 

Sometimes generally known as Get Bass, it was accompanied by the sensible Dreamcast Fishing Controller. It’s a fondly remembered, distinctive expertise to today.

This Wii model expands upon the unique and consists of content material created particularly for this port, with 4 modes of play and 7 completely new levels.

Of course, for true nostalgia functions, 4 traditional levels from the arcade – together with 4 levels from the Dreamcast model – are additionally included.

Though it appears to be extra of a simulation in a visible sense, the arcade heritage of Sega Bass Fishing is clear in its accessibility and usually sooner paced nature compared to different fishing titles.

It’s a wonderful sport and undoubtedly deserves its spot within the prime three of the very best Wii fishing video games!

2. Rapala’s Fishing Frenzy (2008)

The third Rapala-branded sport on the record (although there’s a number of extra that didn’t fairly make this prime 10 – and also you’ll even discover one on our greatest PS4 fishing video games record!) can be our alternative for the very best of the bunch – and really almost the very best Wii fishing sport total.

Though the controls have a little bit of a steep studying curve in Rapala’s Fishing Frenzy, it’s price persevering with. 

That’s as a result of the Wii distant controls are completely on level right here. Though they take some getting used to as a result of their subtlety and complexity, they’re completely one of many strongest factors of the sport and genuinely make Rapala’s Fishing Frenzy one of many easiest fishing video games on the Wii.

Visually, nonetheless, it’s nothing to jot down residence about. And it’s odd that the cartoony fashion on the field is totally completely different to the extra critical and grounded in-game visuals.

But when the gameplay works so properly, it’s one thing we right here at Retro Dodo received’t penalise a sport for.

In case you wanted one other fishing rod and reel attachment on your Wiimote and nunchuck, Rapala’s Fishing Frenzy would have had you coated in that respect too because it got here bundled with one. 

1. Fishing Resort (2011)

Developed by a workforce headed up by none apart from Sonic the Hedgehog creator Yuji Naka, Fishing Resort sadly by no means noticed a launch in PAL areas.

Which is a crying disgrace, as a result of this Motion Plus title (the one different fishing sport that helps the improved Wii Remote) is genuinely wonderful.

Fishing Resort sees gamers arrive at an idyllic island on their trip, they usually’re free to fish from wherever they select. 

This implies that they will discover the mountains and go ice fishing or hunt down tropical fish within the ocean across the island amongst many different areas which are obtainable.

There’s an incredible 200+ fish to gather and greater than 20 mini-games – for as much as 4 gamers – to compete in.

Though it’s considerably tough to pay money for lately, Fishing Resort is properly price monitoring down if in case you have an NTSC-capable Wii console.

It’s all wrapped up in charmingly designed visuals and brilliantly applied, Motion Plus-powered controls.

For us right here at Retro Dodo, Fishing Resort is a transparent alternative for the perfect Wii fishing sport and the plain decide for the highest of the very best Wii fishing video games record!

Which is your favorite fishing sport for the Will? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Jason – who lives within the UK – has had a lifelong curiosity in video video games, which all began when he found Space Invaders within the early 80s. The first sport he ever accomplished was Wonder Boy in Monster Land on the Sega Master System – which stays certainly one of his proudest gaming achievements. Jason is a passionate author – and has been writing about gaming because the late 90s. He at present runs popular culture weblog midlifegamergeek.com, which he updates each day (and has written greater than 700 articles on the weblog alone!).

Outside of video video games, Jason is a eager tabletop gamer, movie buff and comedian e book fan.