I Am Fish

Meet the Most Determined Fish in Gaming

I Am Fish is a physics-based action-adventure game where you control four fish trapped in portable fishbowls, each trying to escape captivity and find their way back to the open ocean. Developed by the same team behind *I Am Bread* (Bossa Studios) and published by Curve Games, this title turns ordinary fish into unlikely heroes on an absurdly challenging journey. The core hook: you steer a bowl or tank through realistic water physics, navigating obstacles like roads, sewers, and industrial machinery, all while keeping your fish alive.

Key Highlights

• Realistic fluid physics – water sloshes, splashes, and spills just like the real thing, making every movement a balancing act.
• Four unique fish with distinct abilities – from a tiny goldfish to a massive pufferfish, each stage changes your control dynamics.
• Open-ended sandbox levels – multiple routes to reach the goal, encouraging creativity and experimentation.
• Stunning aquatic visuals – vibrant environments and fish animations that make you genuinely care about your slippery protagonist.

Who Should Play This?

It's perfect for players who enjoy challenging physics puzzlers with a dose of chaos, like *Human Fall Flat* or *Gang Beasts*, but with a watery twist. Also great for anyone who loves underdog stories and doesn't mind repeated failures for the thrill of success.

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Diving Into the Chaos – A Full Review

You know that feeling when you're trying to carry a full glass of water across a bumpy room, and every tiny stumble makes the water wobble dangerously close to the edge? Now imagine that the glass is your fishbowl, and you're the fish inside, desperately steering your own mobile prison through a backyard, across a busy street, and down a drainpipe. That's *I Am Fish* in a nutshell – and it's as hilariously nerve-wracking as it sounds.

Physics That Feel Alive (and Malevolent)

The standout feature is undeniably the water physics engine. Your bowl isn't just a static container; the water sloshes, tilts, and spills based on your acceleration and terrain. Lean too fast, and your fish flops out, gasping for air. Hit a curb, and half your water splashes away, leaving you a sad trickle. This forces you to treat every movement like you're handling a tray of champagne at a wedding – smooth, deliberate, and slightly paranoid. The learning curve is steep at first; you'll probably flip your fish out within the first ten seconds, but once you get the hang of balancing momentum with cautious steering, it becomes a deeply satisfying dance of chaos control.

Four Fish, Four Flavors of Trouble

The game breaks its campaign into four stories, each starring a different fish. The goldfish in a small bowl is your tutorial – tight turning, but easy to spill. Later you control a tropical fish in a tall tank (more water capacity, but top-heavy), a pufferfish in a round globe that rolls unpredictably, and finally a massive fish in a giant tank with a tractor wheel mechanic. Each fish feels genuinely distinct, forcing you to unlearn and relearn strategies. The pufferfish stage is particularly memorable: its body expands and contracts when you hit obstacles, making it bounce around like a beach ball. This variety keeps the game fresh and prevents the physics from feeling gimmicky.

Visuals and Sound That Pull You Under

The art style is charmingly cartoonish but detailed – you can see fish scales glisten, bubbles rise, and the reflection of the outside world distort through the glass. The sound design is where the magic happens: the watery swoosh as you accelerate, the terrifying splat when you fall, and the triumphant splash as you finally reach the ocean. The interface is minimal – no cluttered HUD, just a clear view of your bowl and a subtle progress bar. Performance on Windows is smooth even on mid-range hardware, though you might notice frame drops during particularly chaotic water splashes in larger levels.

What Sets It Apart From Other Action-Adventure Games

Most action-adventure games give you a humanoid hero who can jump, climb, and fight. *I Am Fish* hands you a helpless fish in a fragile bowl – you can't jump or attack; you can only roll and pray. This limitation turns mundane obstacles (a garden hose, a flight of stairs) into epic boss fights. Unlike *Untitled Goose Game* or *Goat Simulator*, where chaos is the goal, here chaos is the obstacle you must tame. It's also far more linear in story progression, but each level is a sandbox of physics possibilities – you can brute-force through a fence by ramming it repeatedly, or carefully find a ramp to jump over it. No two playthroughs look exactly the same.

Recommendation: A Must-Try for Physics Geeks and Patience Seekers

I'd recommend *I Am Fish* to anyone who enjoyed the masochistic charm of *Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy* or the whimsical frustration of *Human Fall Flat*. It's not for casual players who want to breeze through levels – the difficulty spikes can be brutal, especially in later stages. Use a controller if possible; keyboard controls work, but analog sticks give you much finer control over tilt. Play in short bursts to avoid rage-quitting, and celebrate every tiny victory (like crossing a street without spilling a drop). It's a gem that deserves more attention for its technical ambition and heartfelt absurdity.

Final verdict: A wonderfully weird physics sandbox that turns fish into unlikely heroes. If you have a sense of humor about failure, this will keep you hooked for hours.

FAQ

How do I start playing I Am Fish?

Launch the game and select 'New Game' from the main menu. You'll begin as Goldfish in the pet shop. Follow the on-screen prompts to learn basic controls. Progress is saved automatically at checkpoints, so you can pick up where you left off.

What are the basic controls for moving my fish?

Use the left joystick to swim or roll, and the right joystick to aim. Tap the 'Jump' button to leap out of water or 'Puff' for Pufferfish. Each fish has unique moves—check the pause menu > Controls for a full guide.

How does the checkpoint system work?

When you reach a checkpoint, the game saves automatically. If your fish runs out of air, falls too far, or dies, you respawn at the last checkpoint. This allows you to retry tricky sections without losing all progress.

What are the unique abilities of each fish?

Goldfish swims fast. Pufferfish inflates into a ball to roll on land. Piranha bites through obstacles. Flying Fish glides through the air. Master each ability to overcome different environments—from roads to rooftops.

How do I progress through levels and unlock new ones?

Complete each level by reaching the ocean or a designated exit. Each fish has a set of levels; finish all of a fish's levels to unlock the next fish. Check the map screen (World > Select Fish) to see your progress.

What are makeshift water carriers and how do I use them?

Throughout the game, you'll ride in jars, mop buckets, pint glasses, and more. Each carrier handles differently—for example, a wheeled bucket tips easily. Use your fish's movements to steer the carrier without breaking it or spilling water.