Ice Lakes: what it is
Ice Lakes is an ice fishing simulator with a sandbox approach to wintertime fishing. You get 23 open world maps covering river, pond and lake locations in different environments, and 35 fish species to target. The fish behave according to a fish AI and swarm system, so each species reacts to the conditions around it. Season (fall, winter, spring), time of day, weather and the bottom topology of a spot all change how fish act. Finding the right depth and reading the depth maps of a location takes patience, and matching your gear to the conditions matters as much as knowing the spot. Rod and jig physics mean fish respond to what you do with the rod, and you can move the rod to lure a fish toward the bait.
Playing with a group
Every map works in single player and multiplayer, with online PvP and LAN support for up to 32 players. Dedicated servers are available in an alpha version. There are 18 competition modes and 18 tournaments, plus a Battle Royale mode, so a group can pick a structured contest or just fish the same lake at their own pace. Character customization and extensive statistics about everything let you track how you perform, and online leaderboards are there to compare results. Fish fights make each catch a contest between you and the fish rather than a simple timer.
Before you start
Gear choice is the core loop: dozens of jigs, rods, augers, baits and lures are on offer, and the right combination depends on the species, season, weather and daytime conditions. Learning a map's depth and bottom structure is part of the game, so expect some searching before the catches come. The game runs with or without a VR system, so VR support is optional. Free content updates after release add more maps, game modes, fish species and equipment.