Trawl (2016)

Developer: Daniel Gallagher, Nathan Gallardo
Publisher: House of Wire
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Casual, Indie, RPG, Simulation
Rating: 3.3 of 5, 38 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 29 minutes
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

You sit at the helm of a small boat, performing quiet, deliberate tasks as you explore the sea's calm, mysterious depths at your own pace.

first personrelaxingdiscoverylow-keyatmosphericmeditativecontemplativeslow-paced

What players say

Players call Trawl more a writing exercise than a game: you catch items in a net, then type stories about them on a typewriter. The atmosphere is praised, but most agree the gameplay loop quickly becomes repetitive and there is no narrative arc. Opinions are split on whether it is worth the price, with several saying it needs more content or a story to feel complete.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.