Is there a game like Fishing Planet that runs in a browser?

Yes. The Fishing Lands is a free fishing MMO that runs in any modern browser on PC, Mac or phone. It is less of a simulator than Fishing Planet, but it has a shared world, a player market and 340+ species to collect.

What is a good free alternative to Fishing Planet?

Russian Fishing 4 is the closest free simulator. If you want something lighter that you can play in short sessions, The Fishing Lands is free in the browser with no download.

Is Fishing Planet pay to win?

Not strictly, but progress is much faster with premium gear, licences and membership. Many players look for alternatives because the free grind feels slow.

Games like Fishing Planet: 6 alternatives for 2026

Updated October 2026 · by the crew at The Fishing Lands

Twelve waters to unlock in The Fishing Lands, a free alternative to Fishing Planet

Fishing Planet is one of the most played free fishing simulators around. It has real species, licensed tackle brands and waters across several continents, and it runs on PC and consoles. But it is also a big download, the free grind is slow, and every new lake comes with a licence to buy. If you're looking for something similar, or something that fixes what bugs you, this guide is for you.

Fishing Planet vs The Fishing Lands at a glance

	Fishing Planet	The Fishing Lands
Price	Free to play, paid DLC and premium	Free, optional cosmetics and Angler Pass
Install	Large client download	None, runs in your browser
Style	3D realistic simulator	Pixel art fishing MMO
World	Instanced lakes	One shared world, live chat and market
Fish	Real species	340+ species, including legendary and mythic fish
Session length	Long, sit-down sessions	Works in 5 minute bursts
Multiplayer	Shared lakes, competitions	Crews, duels, tournaments, crew bosses

What Fishing Planet does well

Few free games come close to its realism. Line types, lure depth, retrieval speed and weather all matter, and the waters look great. If you want to learn how real fishing tackle behaves, it's still one of the best places to do it.

Why players look for alternatives

The grind is slow without premium membership or paid gear.
It needs a gaming PC or console and a large download.
Sessions are long. You can't really fish for five minutes on a lunch break.
The social side is thin compared to a real MMO with an economy.

The six alternatives

The Fishing Lands

Browser MMO · Free

Full disclosure: this is our game. One persistent world with 12 waters, a tension-bar fight for every bite, a live player market, crews, bosses and crates with rare rods. It's not a simulator, it's a collection and progression game, and it runs in a browser tab on any device. Try it free.

Best for: Fishing Planet players who want a shared world and short sessions.

Russian Fishing 4

PC · Free-to-play sim

The hardcore option. Deeper tackle setup, real-time days and a strong player community. Expect an even steeper learning curve.

Best for: Players who want even more realism than Fishing Planet.

Call of the Wild: The Angler

PC/PS/Xbox · Paid

A beautiful open-world fishing game with boats, co-op and huge reserves to explore. One-time purchase with optional DLC reserves.

Best for: Open-world explorers.

Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2

PC · Paid

A single-player sim with lots of waters and gear, without the free-to-play grind.

Best for: Solo players who want a relaxed sim.

Webfishing

PC · Paid · Cozy

Not realistic at all, but a fun, cheap multiplayer hangout where fishing is the excuse to chat.

Best for: Hanging out with friends.

Cat Goes Fishing

PC · Cheap · 2D

A simple 2D fishing game with a big fish catalogue and steady upgrades. Perfect if you're tired of sims.

Which one should you pick?

You want the same realism, just free and deeper

Russian Fishing 4.

You want something you can play anywhere, in short sessions

The Fishing Lands. No download, works on your phone, and your progress, trades and crew are always there.

You want to explore beautiful waters at your own pace

Call of the Wild: The Angler.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a game like Fishing Planet that runs in a browser?: Yes. The Fishing Lands is a free fishing MMO that runs in any modern browser on PC, Mac or phone. It is less of a simulator than Fishing Planet, but it has a shared world, a player market and 340+ species to collect.
What is a good free alternative to Fishing Planet?: Russian Fishing 4 is the closest free simulator. If you want something lighter that you can play in short sessions, The Fishing Lands is free in the browser with no download.
Is Fishing Planet pay to win?: Not strictly, but progress is much faster with premium gear, licences and membership. Many players look for alternatives because the free grind feels slow.