Fishbowl – An Uplifting Tale of Grief, Hope, and Self-Discovery

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” – C.S. Lewis

Overview

Fishbowl is an endearing and intimate slice-of-life narrative adventure about grief, dreams, hope and self-discovery. It follows 21-year-old Alo as she navigates big life changes and rediscovers memories from her past.

Narrative

While the game does not explicitly mention it, it is clear that Fishbowl is set during the pandemic or a similar time of isolation. It sees players taking on the role of Alo, a young woman who is starting her first job in a brand new city, whilst also mourning the recent death of her grandmother. The narrative focuses on her struggle with grief and her abandoned dreams, as well as the dreams of the people close to her.

As she explores items left by her Grandmother, she also rediscovers lost memories that prompt self-reflection and increased connection with her loved ones. There are several NPCs within the game, all very believable, with distinct personalities, pasts, and a set of strengths and weaknesses, making Alo’s relationship with each of them feel very real and worthwhile.

Fishbowl’s narrative is slow-paced but emotive. The relatable slice-of-life aspects of the game emphasise the poignancy of the more standout or impactful moments in Alo’s life and help foster a meaningful connection between the player and the protagonist.

Gameplay

Players are tasked with fulfilling Alo’s daily tasks and experiencing her everyday life, 24 hours at a time. Tasks include staying fed and hydrated, housework, watering plants, personal hygiene, and working from home as a video editor, which entails a fun minigame. There is also a handheld console containing a game called Ecocat that can be played, introducing a second minigame.

Alo has a sort of contentment meter, and this will fill up as tasks are completed. Some tasks will deplete the meter, such as failed attempts to work toward a childhood dream, or doomescrolling. The meter will also dictate which dialogue options are available to the player when engaging in work discussions or phone calls.

After receiving a number of parcels from her mother, filled with the possessions of her late grandmother, Alo unpacks a little each day. One of the items is a magical wind-up fish called Paplet, who becomes her companion in a bowl, helping her to unravel her past as the remaining items trigger suppressed or forgotten memories. As well as jumping into the rekindled memories, players will also experience Alo’s distressing dreams that reflect her self-doubt and worries.

Fishbowl spans a month of Alo’s life, meaning that the daily tasks can become a bit repetitive, though this feels intentional to some extent, mirroring the monotony of life in isolation. This also depends slightly on the level of completion each day, as once the contentment meter is full, there is little tangible incentive to do additional tasks. However, some will award achievements or lead to small discoveries, such as hidden coins or experiences.

Styling

Fishbowl uses delightful 2D pixel art with an impressive level of detail and cosy lighting. A cool colour palette is favoured, with blue and purple tones being particularly prominent. The bulk of the game is displayed in a top-down format, though events such as phone calls deviate from this. Memory sections are somewhat muted, with lower saturation giving them a hazy feel, and dream sequences are monochromatic with a muted purple tone, giving them a distinct aesthetic compared to the rest of the game.

The game’s lo-fi soundtrack is very mellow, helping to create a relaxing atmosphere while sitting in the background comfortably. There is not a huge amount of variety, and the music can feel a little repetitive if playing for longer sessions; however, this reflects aspects of the gameplay and is an emphatic reflection of the day-to-day tasks that the protagonist must undertake.

Summary

Fishbowl is a uniquely captivating and powerful game; its casual gameplay works in tandem with the narrative to pack an emotional punch, and the stylised pixel graphics represent it all beautifully. Certain aspects have a very relatable and familiar feel to them, which increases the player’s immersion in the experience and, in turn, their connection with the honest and emotive narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed playing my part in Alo’s journey of self-discovery

Looking for more sentimental pixel art game titles? You may also enjoy these reviews:
A Walk With Yiayia – A Space for the Unbound – To the Moon

Did you like this article? Consider supporting Indie Hive through Patreon! Patrons receive an early access article on Sundays!