Most life simulators want you to be a superhero. They want you to run a five-star farm, save the village, or at the very least, have a house that doesn’t look like a laundry basket exploded.
Fishbowl is not that game.
Coming from the tiny but mighty imissmyfriends.studio, this pixel-art indie is basically a “Survival-Horror” game, but the horror isn’t a zombie—it’s the terrifying realization that you haven’t talked to another human in three days and there are no clean spoons left.
The Most Relatable Main Character Ever?
You play as Alo, a 21-year-old video editor living in urban India during the 2020 lockdown. She’s grieving her grandmother, she’s starting a new job from home, and she’s trying very hard not to let the “darkness” (literally a creeping shadow on the screen) swallow her room.
Instead of slaying dragons, your boss battles are:
- The Toothbrushing Mini-game: Because when you’re depressed, even basic hygiene feels like a QTE (Quick Time Event).
- The “Box of Grief”: Every day you unpack a box of your Gran’s stuff. It’s a gorgeous, heart-wrenching scavenger hunt through memories that tells a better story than most $70 AAA titles.
- Video Editing for Rent: You actually have to do your job! The editing mini-game is surprisingly addictive—it’s like a lo-fi rhythm game that pays the bills.
Why You’ll Actually Love Being Sad
I know what you’re thinking: “Why would I play a game about being stuck in an apartment when I just spent two years doing that in real life?”
Because Fishbowl gets the small things right. It captures that specific magic of a late-night phone call with a friend, the comfort of a childhood snack, and the weird way your apartment starts to feel like a living character when you’re alone. It doesn’t give you a “Game Over” for being sad; it just asks you to keep trying.
The “Capsule” Verdict: Should You Hit Download?
Fishbowl isn’t a game you “beat”—it’s a game you feel. It’s a bit long in the middle (much like the actual lockdown was), and the pacing is definitely “slow-burn.” But if you’re a fan of titles like Unpacking or Coffee Talk, this is your next obsession.
The Vibe: Lo-fi beats to cry/organize your life to. The Best Part: The pixel art is top-tier. Every frame looks like a postcard you’d find in a vintage shop. The Warning: It will make you want to call your mom. Immediately.