EARL'S DAY OFF is a free horror adventure video game wherein you can fish on a seemingly-relaxing lake. Developed by Airdorf and Torple Dook, this 3D retro-inspired fishing game has you playing as an old guy who has to find his lost wedding ring. This game is a demo created for the Fishing Horror Jam 2020. While it’s still in development, the game already has enough of a solid finish to be satisfactory.

Under the waters

EARL'S DAY OFF starts with you as Earl, who’s glad to spend the day fishing just to find the ring he lost. For the controls, you use W, A, S, and D to steer the boat and the mouse for your fishing rod. Hold the left mouse button to charge and aim further from your position, then release it to cast your lure. To reel in your line, click and hold the right mouse button.

At first, you’re fishing normally. You can see the lure going down the bottom of the lake, which helps in figuring out where to cast next since the water’s surface is murky. Earl makes comments about your catch and remarks about what to do next—you’ll eventually move on to the deeper parts of the lake. However, things start to get unsettling when Earl notices there’s something wrong with the fish.

The game is pretty straightforward. You just have to keep fishing around. You also get to map the bottom of the lake and find keys for unlocking the next areas. The main issue here is that it’s difficult to accurately land on a catch the deeper the area is. Fortunately, you can make the lure “dance” by constantly clicking to attract nearby fish or objects if your aim was a bit short.

Take the bait

Overall, EARL'S DAY OFF is a great short horror game that plays on your sense of unease. The retro-looking polygonal graphics and fog effect really adds to the creepy atmosphere. More, Earl’s comments as he progresses through the areas only heighten it. While there are some clipping issues with the water and the lure at times, they’re not enough to detract from the gameplay experience.