Looking at the current state of online gambling will show you that fish games are making headway. While they have been much more niche in the past, it is more common to see some of the biggest platforms offering them alongside things like slots and poker.
But while their prominence is undeniable, some have suggested that they are going to become the next slots, i.e the next popular online gambling option. But is this true? In this article, we’ll look into what fish games are and what is making them more popular.
What Are Fish Games?
Fish games, at their core, or one of the easiest gambling games to understand. They are essentially games that see players try to shoot and kill virtual fish in a bit to win points and thus, prizes. As gambling expert Sofia Rebuck explains, the goal of fish games is to shoot to win big prizes, and this can be money, free items, and so on.
Fish games work by simply signing up on whatever platform you are using and then paying an amount of money to buy bullets. These bullets are used in a virtual gun that is used to shoot at various fish. Keep in mind that different fish offer different levels of prizes, and some will be easier to kill than others. The fish are also not static as they are swimming all around the screen, and some even swim away from the screen eventually.
Fish games can be done as a single player or multiplayer affair, and they are similar to the sorts of games most of us have played since childhood. Players can upgrade their guns and buy more bullets within the game, while some are completely timed. The goal is to win more money by killing fish than what you have wagered to buy your initial round of bullets, and this makes it even more exciting.
What Makes Them Popular?
The reason fish games are becoming so widespread is that they are easy to play and familiar. Virtually everyone has played some sort of game where the goal is to shoot at a target, whether online or in real life. This means that, unlike poker, there’s not a complex set of rules you have to familiarize yourself with.
Chances are that you already know how to play the game, as you’ve already done so, but without the financial implications. Then there is simply the fun of it. Let’s face it, we as humans love games that have us shooting at colourful objects, and fish swimming across a screen is simply entertaining to engage with.
Overall, fish games are a good balance between strategy-heavy games like poker and those like slots that are based entirely on luck. You don’t have to be a genius to succeed, but you are not entirely at the mercy of luck.
Are They More Popular Than Slots?
Now that we understand more about fish games and why they are popular, it is worth examining whether or not they are the new slots. Currently, slots rank as one of the most popular casino games around the world, both in person and online. And while fish games are popular, they are not dethroning slots just yet. First, there is simply the history. Slots as a casino offering have existed for decades at this point, and even those who have never gambled are familiar with them. Think of the iconic slot games and places like Las Vegas that are burned into pop culture.
Fish games, on the other hand, are relatively newer. And because they are new, it would take quite a while for them to become more popular than slots. Then there is the skill barrier to entry. As much as slots are not as strategy-heavy as something like poker, they do require some skill and hand-eye coordination. Certain people simply don’t enjoy those sorts of games or can’t get into them. Slots, on the other hand, only require pulling a lever and waiting for luck to do the rest. Slots also have the advantage that they can be played online and offline, while fish games are mainly relegated to the online space.
That being said, fish games are becoming widely popular as they are one of the trendiest new games and are carving out a niche of fans. All things considered, we should see fish games remaining one of the top offerings for online gambling soon.