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A Fisherman's Tale

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation VR, SteamVR, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, PlayStation VR2, Oculus Rift, Meta Quest 2 • 2019

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Quick resume

Bend and twist reality in A Fisherman's Tale, the mind-bending VR puzzle adventure game in which being turned upside down and inside out is not merely a play on words.

Global score

94/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Innovative and creative vr puzzle mechanics
    • Engaging and charming story with good voice acting
    • Immersive and well-designed vr environment
    • Accessible gameplay suitable for vr newcomers
    • High production quality and polish

    Cons

    • Very short game length (~1-2 hours)
    • Limited replay value
    • Some puzzles considered too easy or simplistic
    • Minor control and interaction frustrations
    • Price considered high relative to content by some

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Health. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Continuation, Value.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have freedom to explore, solve puzzles at their own pace, and interact with the environment in VR with minimal forced routines."

    • Competence
      2

      "Puzzles are generally easy to moderate, providing some skill challenge but not highly difficult or complex."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements or player comparison; focus is on solo puzzle solving and story experience."

    • Continuation
      -3

      "Short game length (~1-2 hours) and limited replay value lead to low habitual or long-term engagement."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity
      5

      "Highly original puzzle mechanics involving recursive scale and VR-specific interactions showcase strong creativity."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of dominance or power over others; experience is personal and cooperative-free."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Immersive VR world and story provide a strong escape from reality and evoke wonder and awe."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Encourages players to explore novel VR mechanics and puzzle solutions, fostering experimentation."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Exploration is limited to a small environment but includes discovery of hidden items and story elements."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Minimal character or environment customization; players interact mostly with predefined objects."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Story and setting have whimsical, surreal qualities with imaginative elements beyond realistic scenarios."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

    • Growth
      2

      "Some learning involved in puzzle solving and understanding VR mechanics, but limited complexity."

    • Health
      0

      "Not focused on physical activity or health; VR play involves moderate movement but no exercise emphasis."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention and active puzzle solving; not designed for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual experience."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles; single-player narrative."

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through puzzles and story chapters with some collectible achievements, but no extensive item accumulation."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Generally relaxing and charming atmosphere with gentle puzzles and soothing narration."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Enjoyable visual and auditory design with immersive VR effects that stimulate senses pleasantly."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

    • Story
      4

      "Strong narrative focus with engaging storytelling and voice acting integral to the experience."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Puzzles require some problem solving and planning but are generally straightforward."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some moments of suspense or tension in story and puzzles, but overall calm and gentle experience."

    • Value
      -1

      "Mixed opinions on price vs content; many feel game is short for full price but worth it on sale."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No violence; gameplay centers on puzzle solving and exploration."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable and safe environment."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026