Cast n Chill Review (PC)

Idle clicking games are a lot like yeast extract — you either love them or you hate them. On the one hand, I can see why you wouldn’t enjoy them; they’re vague and they’re vacant—dormant, even, as well as inactive enough that you often fail to recall why you installed them in the first place. But on the other hand, I can also see why so many of us tend to flock to them, especially after exhausting our talents in something a lot more mechanically overwhelming, like a DLC for Elden Ring, for example. Like a bite-sized therapy session for the worn soul, idle games can, and often do evoke an interest in how our brains work. Take Cast n Chill, yet another desktop-based fishing game that bases its entire existence on inactivity. Is it better than therapy? Probably not, no. Though, to be fair, it comes pretty darn close.

It wouldn’t take much for me to summarize Cast n Chill in a few minutes, given that it doesn’t necessarily have a lot to say outside of its opening spiel. But there are tiny details—8-bit intricacies that make it flourish in a way that makes even a concept as generic as an idle clicking fishing game both look and feel special. First and foremost, it touts an elegant art style that’s incredibly easy to drink in. It’s no renaissance painting I’ll admit, but saddled next to a lot of other one-note fishing games, I have to say that it stands out as one of the more memorable titles of the bunch, with backdrops ranging from sun-kissed canyons to enchanting woodlands adding all of the right touches to the composition. And there’s more, too. Stick with us a while longer and we’ll divulge the details.

A Real Catch

Catch n Chill operates with two modes: active, which allows you the flexibility of choosing as and when to cast your bait and snag a fish; and inactive, which grants you the freedom to tend to other chores whilst the game continues to farm fish and do all of the work on your behalf. Regardless of the choice you make, the purpose of the game is still one and the same: catch fish, earn a passive income, and then use said income to purchase better fishing equipment and unlock even rarer species. Granted, there aren’t a huge amount of fish to add to your catalog; in fact, the game settles for somewhere in the vicinity of fifty-plus species, with each one belonging to one of three distinct rarities, be it common, rare, and legendary. Yet, even with fishing being at the forefront, it isn’t the focal point of the game.

Of course, checking on your progress and filling out your curated list is still the aim of the game. It’s also a very simple objective, given that you don’t need to do a great deal of manual work in order to capitalize on your “skills” or gains. To that end, you could argue that there isn’t a huge amount of replay value here; truth be told, you could see all there is to see and do all there is to do in a couple of relatively short sessions. Yet, that doesn’t necessarily dampen the experience, and it’s mainly thanks to the paintings and stunning 8-bit imagery that it brings to the table. Gameplay-wise, there isn’t a lot going on. But then, what can you expect from an idle clicking game?

Idle Waters

All in all, you’re essentially looking at a handful of hours’ worth of work here, seeing as there are roughly eight areas on the map to visit with each one housing its own species and fluctuating chance of finding a rare fish to add to your collection. Sure enough, you could pour a little more into it if you’re so willingly inclined to scrub the bottom of the seabed to exhume all that idles at the bottom. As for whether or not it’s worth sticking around for, well, that’s a question that’ll receive varying answers depending on who‘s addressing it.

Plainly speaking, if you’re looking for an immersive fishing sim with authentic gameplay, then you might be in for a shock with how little Cast n Chill has to offer. If, however, you’re content with the idea of plugging into a beautiful setting and simply bathing in its vast array of landscape paintings and lo-fi features, then this’ll surely give you something to think about the next time you’re doom scrolling in search of a simple idle game with palpable components.

Verdict

Cast n Chill is the breath of fresh air that I both crave and cherish, similar to a fisherman with an undying love of harmonic living and therapeutic pleasures for pastimes. Aside from it being one of the most visually appealing 8-bit idle clicking games on the current market, Cast n Chill also captures the essence of a world that’s both audibly and wonderfully accessible, with the two naturally pairing together to formulate an incredibly relaxing experience with all of the heart and soul of a well-orchestrated independent game.

Of course, Cast n Chill gives just as much as it takes, and so, if you don’t make an effort to reap what you sow, then chances are you won’t be able to enjoy a lot of what the game has to offer on the side. Even then, the inclusion of an inactive mode ensures that you never really miss out on the game’s primary features regardless — and that’s great, truly. Granted, it does take some of the fun out of the experience, especially if you’re looking for a hands-on journey to help flesh out that aquarium of yours, so to speak. But, with the option to alternate between the two modes, even that’s something we can’t really fault.

If it’s a simple pleasure that you’re after, then it’s a simple pleasure you shall receive. Does Cast n Chill hold a candle against the likes of Call of the Wild: The Angler? Absolutely not, no. That said, if you’re happy to substitute realism for 8-bit simplicity, and not to mention in-depth fishing mechanics for a slightly less complicated UI, then you ought to enjoy casting your line over this pocket-sized pond.