Step into the paws of Doctor Shiberson – a shiba inu cartographer with endless curiosity and no intention of believing in talking fish. Fish & Hike launches into Early Access on June 4, 2026, inviting players into the serene and mysterious Eight Lakes Valley
June 4th, Cracow, Poland. Available globally on Steam, Fish & Hike is a cozy adventure game in which players take on the role of Doctor Shiberson – a renowned shiba inu cartographer – arriving in the picturesque Eight Lakes Valley for a well-deserved holiday. What begins as a peaceful trip full of fishing, hiking, and sketching shorelines quickly reveals something far more extraordinary.
Get the game from Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4143100/Fish__Hike/) for $6.99 with a 10% discount to celebrate the release.
With eight lakes, fifteen caves, four distinct biomes, charming animal NPCs, and a cartoonish art style that radiates warmth and humour, Fish & Hike is an Early Access adventure for players of all ages.
About Fish & Hike
Fish & Hike is a cozy adventure-fishing game set in the breathtaking Eight Lakes Valley. Players explore a world of four distinct biomes – from sunny lakeside meadows and forest trails to muddy swamps and subterranean caves – as Doctor Shiberson pieces together the mystery of a forgotten civilisation, catches legendary talking fish, and discovers that a peaceful holiday can sometimes become the expedition of a lifetime.
Fishing
Fishing sits at the heart of the game. Players will sail out and choose their fishing spots based on special highlights visible upon the surface of the water – and cast their lines. Each catch triggers a minigame: a circular active gauge must be managed carefully, with the challenge scaling on the fish’s strength and temperament. Rod power, reel speed, and line durability all affect the fishing experience, making gear upgrades feel impactful to the gameplay.
Different species of fish appear at different times of day and in different locations – dawn may favour one catch, while midnight favours another. Players will consult the in-game Fish Atlas to plan their trips. And occasionally, a legendary Golden Fish may rise from the depths – though not as a trophy, but as an NPC with quests and knowledge on hidden artifacts of the Valley.
Hiking
Part of the game also unfolds on land across four biomes:
- A lush lakeside meadow
- A muddy swamp,
- A desert oasis
- A subterranean cave system
Each location is filled with its own creatures, ingredients, and secrets. Players will gather crafting materials, uncover hidden treasures, solve puzzles, and discover the history of the ancient Pueblo civilization.
Combat
Some biomes may be home to creatures itching for a fight, but still, Fish & Hike’s combat is a casual and playful experience, lacking graphic violence and remaining stress-free throughout the entire game. Players may choose from six weapons (from a simple Stick to the legendary Sword of Destiny), and face off against three enemy archetypes:
- Melee
- Ranged
- Flying
There are also stackable stat bonuses available to everyone via rings, crafted potions, and food from Perchville.
Crafting, Economy, and Perchville
Resources from fishing (including salvaged trash and rare dredged artifacts), hiking, and combat feed into a crafting system producing bait, potions, and equipment. A recycling machine converts junk into base materials. The Beaver’s shop in Perchville handles boat and rod upgrades; the Bear shopkeeper stocks food and recipes. Reputation – earned through quests, trophy catches, and cleaning up pollution – unlocks new NPC interactions and story content for the players to experience.
Environmental Mission
Clean water means more fish. Players will be able to fish out lake trash, clean litter on land, and process waste at the recycling machine for in-game rewards. Environmental stewardship directly builds Reputation in Perchville, unlocking new quests and storylines. The health of the valley is in the player’s hands.
Main Quest & Progression
The overarching goal is to catch four legendary Golden Fish – each a talking NPC who reveals the location of an ancient Pueblo artifact hidden somewhere in the valley. Placing these artifacts in the slots of the hilltop Temple of Obelisks restores it across four visible stages, ultimately summoning the Fish King – the true ruler of all the lakes – for a memorable endgame encounter.
Fish & Hike comes with an exciting set of features:
- Arcade fishing minigame with gear-dependent difficulty, time-of-day mechanics, and species-specific bait
- Four legendary Golden Fish NPCs who speak, give quests, and guide players to ancient hidden treasures
- 8 lakes, 15 caves, and 4 distinct biomes to explore across the Eight Lakes Valley
- Dual gameplay across water (fishing, boating, salvaging) and land (hiking, traversal, exploration)
- Casual PEGI 7 combat: 6 weapons, 3 enemy archetypes, and stackable stat bonuses
- Crafting system: bait, potions, and weapons from dozens of foraged and salvaged resources
- Eco mission: fish out lake trash and clean up the valley to improve the environment and boost reputation
- Perchville hub town that grows with the player’s reputation and quest completion
- Dynamic time-of-day system (Morning, Day, Evening, Night) affecting fish spawns and NPC schedules
- In-game Fish Atlas documenting the habits and lore of every species
- Unique 3D visual style with hand-drawn UI elements and warm, humorous tone
- Full main storyline available from Early Access launch – all biomes and fish accessible from day one
Early Access
Fish & Hike launches into Early Access on June 4, 2026, with the full main storyline and all four biomes playable from day one. The team plans to spend several months gathering player feedback and expanding the game, with a v1.0 release targeted for later in 2026.
Planned additions during Early Access include:
- Capybaras
- Expanded side activities and additional content
- Full character progression system and item statistics
- Racing levels
- Pollution system
- Shrines tied to collected artifacts
Player feedback gathered through Discord and the Steam forums will directly shape balance, content priorities, and the game’s final form.
About Frozen Way
Frozen Way is a game development studio and publisher based in Cracow, Poland. You may know them from co-creating House Flipper along with its Pets DLC, Farm DLC, Dine Out DLC, and House Flipper Party Furniture Pack, as well as developing and releasing House Flipper VR and House Flipper Remastered Collection. They have also co-released Builder Simulator and Chornobyl Liquidators. Currently, the team is working on Honeycomb: The World Beyond and Farmbotic.
Frozen Way is a group of passionate and friendly developers who see game development as both a lifestyle and philosophy. There’s nothing more rewarding for them than seeing their creations bring joy to the community. After all, we’re all nerds at heart, aren’t we?
About Sleepwalking Potatoes
An indie game development studio founded by 2 friends. They are responsible for games like Hidden Cat Outlaws, Catch a Duck and SPORTAL. Mysterious forces can sometimes lead Sleepwalking Potatoes to amazing places! The power of unrestrained human imagination and the belief that there are still hundreds of extraordinary game ideas to discover is what leads them every day! Making games and prototypes since 2015 and expanding their team in 2022, together they have nearly 20 years of experience in game development and have created over a dozen games, from small puzzle/logic games to AA productions.
