Overview
Fishing is a minigame activity in Outbound that was unlocked as the fourth stretch goal during the Kickstarter campaign. It allows players to catch fish from bodies of water found throughout the game's biomes. Fishing provides both a relaxing side activity and a source of ingredients for the cooking system.
How Fishing Works
The fishing system is implemented as a minigame, consistent with Outbound's approach to optional recreational activities. Players need to find a suitable fishing spot near a river, lake, or coastal shoreline. Rivers and lakes are marked on the interactive map (added in alpha patch v0.5.8), making it straightforward to locate fishing locations while planning routes.
Minigame difficulty settings were added in alpha patch v0.5.13, confirming that the fishing minigame has adjustable difficulty. This fits the game's philosophy of letting players set their own pace, as the Kotaku preview noted the game has an "only if you want to" approach to every activity.
Fishing Locations
Both confirmed biomes offer fishing opportunities. The Outdoors features rivers and mountain streams, while The Coast offers shoreline and coastal fishing. Different locations may yield different types of fish, encouraging exploration and discovery of new fishing spots as players travel between regions.
Connection to Cooking
Fish caught through the minigame can be used as ingredients in the cooking system. Combined with crops from farming and foraged ingredients, fishing expands the range of recipes available to players. This creates a farm-to-table loop where different food sources feed into a single meal preparation pipeline.
Fishing as a Social Activity
In multiplayer sessions, fishing serves as a shared activity where players can relax together at a waterside camp. Up to four players can fish at the same location, making it one of several group-friendly pastimes alongside kite flying and other mini-games.
Stretch Goal Context
Fishing was the fourth of ten stretch goals achieved during the Kickstarter campaign. The campaign update confirmed the addition of "a fishing minigame" to the game. It sits alongside beekeeping, camping, kite flying, and other activities that expanded the game's recreational content beyond its original scope.
Note: Specific fish species, catch rates, and detailed minigame mechanics have not been publicly documented. This article will be expanded after the full game launches on April 23, 2026.