Fishbowl Review: A Two-Person Team From India Made One of 2026's Most Personal Games
A two-person studio from Goa, India made Fishbowl, a visual novel about grief, isolation, and growing up. It launches today on Steam and PS5 for $9.99.
April 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Been gaming since the PS1 days. I have opinions and I'm not afraid to share them. If a game respects my time, I'll respect it back.
A 21-year-old woman moves to a new city for her first real job. Her grandmother just died. She lives alone in a small apartment, trying to figure out how to be an adult while drowning in grief. Then a magical talking fish from her childhood appears and becomes her unlikely companion. That is Fishbowl, and it launches today.
Developed by imissmyfriends.studio, a two-person team based in Goa, India, Fishbowl is a visual novel about becoming an adult and seeing your childhood in a new light. Published by Wholesome Games Presents, the same label behind Minami Lane and Is This Seat Taken?, it arrives on Steam and PlayStation 5 for $9.99.
What Fishbowl Gets Right
The game translates depression into mechanics. You control Alo's daily routine: dragging her out of bed, forcing her into the shower, scrounging up meals, tidying the apartment. These mundane tasks carry weight because the game understands that when you are grieving, even brushing your teeth can feel impossible.
Early reviews praise the balance between storytelling and gamification. Mini-games and interactive moments punctuate the narrative without feeling like filler. The pixel art creates an intimate atmosphere, and the choices you make over the course of a month shape Alo's journey of self-discovery.
The magical fish works as a narrative device because it represents something from Alo's past. Her grandmother raised her. The fish connects her to that loss while also pulling her forward. It is not just whimsy for the sake of whimsy.
Where Reviews Diverge
Not every critic loved it. Some found the gameplay repetitive, noting that the daily routine loop wears thin before the story concludes. Others felt the handling of depression, while well-intentioned, occasionally missed the mark.
Polygon called it a game that "turns social isolation into wisdom" while acknowledging that some emotional revelations feel overwritten. IGN India praised how the life-sim rhythm captures the paralysing weight of grief. Comicbook described it as "charming and heartfelt." Reviews are mixed but lean positive, with most critics acknowledging that the game does something meaningful even when its execution falters.
Why It Matters
Fishbowl comes from a two-person studio in India, a region that rarely gets spotlight in the indie games conversation. The developers at imissmyfriends.studio made something deeply personal about grief, isolation, and the messy process of growing up. Wholesome Games Presents gave them a platform.
At $9.99, Fishbowl costs less than lunch. It takes a few hours to complete. The story it tells is specific to Alo but the feelings it explores are universal. Anyone who has lost someone they love, moved somewhere new, or struggled to take care of themselves will recognize pieces of this game.
Launch Details
Release date: April 2, 2026 (available now)
Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5
Price: $9.99 USD with regional pricing
Developer: imissmyfriends.studio
Publisher: Wholesome Games Presents
Steam Deck verified from day one. If you have been looking for a quiet, emotional game to play on a weekend, Fishbowl is worth your attention.