FISH

I didn't expect to spend a rainy evening glued to a game where the protagonist is literally a gun-toting fish, but here we are. FISH, from solo dev dmcaguy, leans hard into a fever-dream aesthetic and old-school run-&-gun design: fast movement, heavy-hitting guns and bosses that will make you swear in befuddled delight. If you like chaotic side-scrollers that don't pretend to be polite, FISH feels like a candy-coated punch to the face—equal parts addictive and absurd. The Early Access launch (22 Jun, 2026) shows a promising core loop, even if a few spikes and rough edges remind you it’s a work in progress.

Shooting Through the Abyss

FISH plays like a compact, aggressive run-&-gun: you dash, aim, swap weapons and try not to become fish food. The core loop is delightfully simple—enter a level, blast through waves of oddball enemies, face a boss room, then spend your hard-earned money on guns for the next run. Movement feels snappy and weighty at the same time; there's a real sense of momentum when you chain jumps and blasts, which makes even dying feel like a small, teachable sin. Levels are built around tight arenas and corridors, encouraging quick reactions and learning enemy patterns rather than endless farming. Expect to alternate between ranged chaos and close-quarters scrambles where your positioning matters more than raw DPS.

Weird Weapons and Fishy Perks

What makes FISH stand out is its personality: goofy weapon design (miniguns, AK-style spray, melee options), small but meaningful unlocks, and an endless mode that acts as a laboratory for combos. Money between levels gives a light rogue-lite feel without forcing permadeath—buying new weapons becomes a delicious tiny-economy loop where choices actually impact your style. There’s also rudimentary customization and toggles mentioned by the community, making loadouts feel personal; I enjoyed swapping a sword-and-shield setup into a bullet-hose weapon for variety. Bosses are a highlight: theatrical, often screen-filling and sometimes maddeningly cramped, which is both a thrill and occasionally a design misstep. The endless mode introduces blessings and curses; when it works it’s a great risk/reward rollercoaster, but some curse combos can feel unfairly punishing in the current build.

A Visual and Sonic Belly Flop

Visually, FISH is a committed weirdo: a mix of dreamcore, weirdcore and meme-soaked humor that either makes you grin or squint in confusion. The artstyle is unique—imperfect in a charming way—with striking silhouettes that help readability most of the time, though busy foregrounds can occasionally hide small enemies. Audio is punchy: guns have weight, explosions thud satisfyingly, and the soundtrack toys with frantic, arcade-esque cues that match the gameplay tempo. Technically the game runs well on modest hardware (I tested on Windows), but early access teething issues are present: occasional camera oddities, fullscreen toggling annoyances on level load and a few parry-timing quirks reported by players. The UI is straightforward but could use clearer boss HP readouts and more accessibility options like reduced screen shake, which players have asked for loudly—and sensibly.

FISH is a blunt, brilliant little mess—a game that leans into its weirdness and delivers genuinely fun run-&-gun combat. The Early Access build shows strong bones: addictive loops, satisfying weapon feel and a personality most studios would kill for. However, expect some rough patches—difficulty balance, a few technical quirks and UI polish need attention. If you enjoy arcade chaos, quirky art and aren’t put off by Early Access bumps, FISH is worth diving into on Windows; just don’t be surprised if a boss makes you curse like a sailor (or a very offended fish).