Underplayed Gems

Clawfish (2021)

Clawfish cover
Developer
David Czarnowski
Publisher
davidczar
Platforms
Windows, macOS
Genres
Adventure, Casual, Indie
Rating
4.6 of 5, 629 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 38 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

A gentle, meditative stroll through a quiet seaside arcade, where the player casually plucks colorful fish from claw machines and releases them into the water.

relaxingatmosphericwhimsicalshortslow-pacedexploratoryquirkycasual

What players say

Players describe it as a short, cozy experience that takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete, with no save feature encouraging a single-sitting play. The core mechanic of fishing with claw machines is novel but intentionally janky, recreating real-life frustration. Reviews are split on whether the jank adds charm or annoyance, though most find it endearing.

Screenshots

Clawfish screenshot 1Clawfish screenshot 2Clawfish screenshot 3Clawfish screenshot 4Clawfish screenshot 5

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.