Clawfish

Developer: David Czarnowski | Publisher: davidczar | Release Date: 2021 | Genre: Casual / Arcade / Exploration | Website: n/a | Purchase: Steam

Claw machines are usually designed to make players spend far more money than the prize inside is worth. The claw is suspiciously weak, the toy is wedged beneath three others, and success often feels more dependent on luck than skill. Clawfish takes this familiar arcade frustration and softens it into a short, relaxing game where the prizes are live fish waiting to be released into the ocean.

Clawfish is set at an isolated train station beside the water, where someone has inexplicably installed a small fishing arcade on the dock. There is no elaborate story explaining why the fish are inside the machines or why the station appears deserted. Players simply arrive, collect some tokens, operate the claw machines, and gradually return every fish to the sea. It is an unusual premise, but the peaceful surroundings and low-pressure structure give the experience a surprising amount of charm.

The main objective is to clear three claw machines containing 23 unique fish between them. Players begin by collecting five tokens, which provide five attempts on the machines. More tokens can be obtained as needed, so there is no pressure to land every attempt successfully. This keeps Clawfish from becoming as aggravating as a real arcade crane, although positioning the claw carefully is still important.

Each machine has its own small variation on the controls. Some automatically lower the claw when players release the movement button, while others require a separate input to drop it and another to activate the claw. These differences are minor, but they prevent all three machines from feeling completely identical. The controls are easy to understand, and the glass cabinets provide a clear enough view of the fish silhouettes swimming inside.

The silhouettes are important because players cannot see exactly which fish they are targeting until it has been caught. Successfully dropping one into the collection area reveals a picture of the fish, its name, and a humorous description. These little entries provide much of the game’s personality and make each catch feel more rewarding than simply increasing a counter.

Every fish inside a machine is unique, so there is no need to worry about catching duplicates. This removes one of the more tedious possibilities associated with collection games and ensures that every successful attempt contributes toward completion. Once caught, the fish slides out of the machine and into the ocean rather than being added to a conventional inventory.

Watching the water slowly fill with rescued fish is one of the most satisfying aspects of Clawfish. The creatures swim around the dock afterward, turning the environment into a visible record of the player’s progress. It also makes the objective feel a little more wholesome than winning plush toys from an arcade machine, even if the logistics of how the fish ended up inside remain questionable.

The claw physics are generally forgiving, but catches are not guaranteed. The fish move around their tanks, and the claw must be positioned carefully enough to close around one without merely brushing past it. Some are easier to grab than others, and the limited view through the glass can occasionally make judging how to position the claw slightly awkward. However, failure only costs another easily replaced token, so there is never much reason to become frustrated.

Clawfish includes a little more than merely standing in front of arcade machines. Players can explore the dock at their own pace, speak to a seagull, buy a drink, and take a small rowing boat out onto the water. These activities do not lead to an involved side story or unlock major new systems, but they help make the station feel like a place rather than a menu connecting three machines.

We initially thought an out-of-order claw machine might lead to a side quest or mini-game where it had to be repaired. Unfortunately, it remains nothing more than background decoration. This feels like a missed opportunity, especially since restoring a broken machine would have provided some welcome variety and a reason to explore the surroundings more carefully.

The rowboat is another pleasant but limited diversion. Players can paddle around the nearby water and use it to get to the different claw machines. Like the seagull and the vending area, it exists primarily to enhance the atmosphere rather than deepen the gameplay.

Clawfish was made in Unity, but its presentation avoids the generic appearance sometimes associated with small projects built in the engine. The environment uses a colorful, softly stylized look, with warm lighting and simple low-poly scenery. The dock, train tracks, ocean, and arcade machines create a setting that feels peaceful and slightly dreamlike.

The fish designs are simple but appealing, and their silhouettes give each machine a gentle aquarium-like quality. Seeing the rescued creatures swimming freely outside adds movement and color to the surrounding water. There is not a large amount of environmental detail, but the small scale means the location remains cohesive.

The soundtrack and ambient audio are equally relaxed. Gentle music accompanies the search, while water, birds, and machinery help establish the quiet seaside atmosphere. The audio never becomes intrusive, which is important for a game designed to be completed in one calm sitting.

The claw machines provide the most noticeable sound effects, with mechanical movement and small reward cues accompanying each attempt. Catching a fish produces enough feedback to feel satisfying without turning the peaceful arcade into a noisy casino.

Controls are handled using a keyboard and mouse. General exploration works like a simple first-person game, while interacting with the claw machines brings up their individual control schemes. The machines are uncomplicated enough that players should understand them after one or two attempts.

There can still be a little awkwardness when lining up the claw precisely, particularly when a fish is moving or partially obscured. However, this feels appropriate for a crane-game simulation. Making the controls completely precise would remove much of the anticipation involved in watching the claw descend.

Clawfish is an extremely short game. We caught all 23 fish and earned 100% of the Steam achievements in about thirty minutes. The developer openly presents it as a game intended to be completed in one sitting, so the brevity is not hidden, but players should still understand that there is very little content beyond the three machines and small dock area. Optional activities, like releasing all the fish found in buckets scattered around the area or skipping a stone on the water, can all be completed in no time. 

The short runtime also limits progression and replay value. There are no additional aquariums, randomized fish selections, challenge modes, upgrades, or score systems to encourage another playthrough. Once every fish has been caught, there is little reason to return beyond enjoying the atmosphere again. It should also be noted that the game does not have a save function so the game is intended to be completed in one sitting. 

The lack of duplicates and forgiving token system make completion pleasant, but they also mean experienced players will have very little difficulty. Clawfish is more of a cozy interactive diversion than a demanding arcade game. Anyone looking for complicated claw physics or a lengthy collection system will be disappointed.

Compared to other fishing games, Clawfish has nothing to do with bait, rods, or waiting for something to bite. It is closer to a miniature arcade simulator with a wholesome aquatic theme. Its appeal lies in the novelty of the premise and the gentle satisfaction of emptying each machine rather than mastering a deep fishing system.

Overall, Clawfish is a charming and unusual little game that does exactly what it sets out to do. The three machines each offer a small gameplay variation, the unique fish descriptions are amusing, and watching every catch swim out into the ocean provides a pleasant sense of progress. The colorful visuals and relaxed atmosphere also make it easy to enjoy while it lasts.

Unfortunately, it does not last very long at all. Completing everything in half an hour makes the experience feel more like a compact vignette than a full game. The unused broken machine, limited exploration, and absence of additional activities also leave the impression that the idea could have supported something more substantial.

Clawfish is still easy to recommend to players looking for a short and wholesome way to unwind. It is cute, inexpensive, and refreshingly free of timers, punishment, or unnecessary grinding. Just do not expect the fishing arcade to keep you occupied for an entire afternoon.