Co-op fishing game 'How to Fish' by Swedish indie developer Dazed Games has surpassed 1 million copies sold in just two days after launch.

The developers expressed their gratitude via a Steam announcement, celebrating welcoming 1 million players. 'How to Fish' launched on August 20 and surpassed 1 million cumulative sales on August 22.

Player counts also surged rapidly. Peak concurrent players rose from around 18,000 on launch day to 268,101 on August 23, making it the fourth most-played game on Steam at the time.

Foreign media outlets cited the low barrier to entry, intuitive gameplay, and physics-based emergent situations ideal for video sharing as the main drivers of its success. Originally priced at $7.99, the game was offered at a launch discount of $4.95, lowering the barrier for a co-op game that requires multiple friends to buy in.

The fact that the game's core appeal can be conveyed in short clips also fueled word of mouth. Players can launch caught fish into the air and shoot them with guns or brawl with friends against sharks. Unexpected movements and blunders caused by physics effects create unique situations every playthrough, making them ideal for sharing via short-form videos or livestreams.

It also features a progression structure that doesn't rely solely on simple humor. Players catch and sell fish, use the earnings to upgrade fishing gear and weapons, tackle quests and bosses, and move on to new islands. It also includes replayable elements such as collecting rare fish, trick shooting, and gambling with fish.

In an analysis of Steam user reviews by GameStar, recurring positive feedback highlighted the simple gameplay, humor, and how easy it is to enjoy casually with friends. Currently, 94% of Steam user reviews are positive.

Expressing their gratitude for the success, the development team stated that they plan to continue adding content and addressing bug fixes.