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Ice Fishing Derby 2 vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Ice Fishing Derby 2's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Ice Fishing Derby 2
This App
Fishing Hook
Nemesis
Ultimate Fishing Simulator
Contender
Let's Fish: Fishing Simulator
Contender
Fishing Planet
Peer
Ace Fishing: Wild Catch
Peer
Fishing Break: Catch Rare Fish
New Kid
Fishing and Life
New Kid
Core Identity
DeveloperPishtech LLCMOBIRIXUltimate GamesTen Square GamesFishing Planet LLCCom2uS Corp.Roofdog GamesNexelon
CategoryGamesGamesGamesSimulationGamesGamesGamesGames
PlatformiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroidAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOS
Store Metrics
Rating4.8 / 54.6 / 54.1 / 54.3 / 54.8 / 54.6 / 54.7 / 53.8 / 5
Ratings Count8981,359450723,06918,2344,77112,507830
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateDec 5, 2025Mar 14, 2016Nov 16, 2017Aug 25, 2014Mar 28, 2022Mar 27, 2014Feb 24, 2016May 16, 2019
Last UpdatedJan 28, 2026Dec 8, 2025Dec 8, 2017Apr 16, 2026Oct 20, 2025Mar 26, 2026Mar 4, 2026Apr 7, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentiment-positivemixedpositive-mixed-negative
Score-74/10050/10075/100-65/100-25/100
Praises-
  • Nostalgic Appeal
  • Engaging Gameplay
  • Realistic graphic settings
  • Detailed fish artwork and variety provide a high-quality visual experience for long-term players
-
  • Deeply engaging fishing simulation mechanics provide long-term entertainment value for dedicated players
-
  • Calming audio and visual design provide a relaxing escape from daily stress
Complaints-
  • Intrusive Advertisements
  • In-Game Economy Balance
  • Ad-heavy progression
  • Aggressive pay-to-win mechanics create a significant progression barrier for non-paying players
-
  • Aggressive monetization and pay-to-win mechanics gate progression for players who do not spend
-
  • Aggressive forced ad frequency disrupts the relaxing atmosphere of the core gameplay
Requests---
  • Offline compatibility mode would allow for a more enjoyable experience without constant connectivity
-
  • In-game guides and clearer documentation for complex mechanics like equipment stats
-
  • Clearer tutorial guidance on advanced mechanics like bait usage and inventory management
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Tournament-style gear resets ensure a level playing field for every event[1]
  • Environmental simulation (body heat, weather) increases session depth[1]
  • 3D lake structures provide high-fidelity tactical gameplay[1]
  • Full offline functionality
  • Low storage/data requirements
  • Strong nostalgic brand loyalty
  • Global location variety sustains organic install velocity
  • Tournament system creates a clear competitive retention loop
  • Club Seasons social structure creates community-based switching costs
  • 650+ species collection loop drives long-term retention
-
  • 3D visual fidelity creates an immersive atmosphere that differentiates from hyper-casual competitors
  • Global tournament structure drives daily active habit formation
-
  • ASMR-focused audio design sustains a unique healing brand identity
  • Offline-first architecture expands addressable market to data-constrained segments
Weaknesses
  • No social guild mechanics to drive long-term community retention[3]
  • High barrier to entry for casual players due to tactical complexity[1]
  • Limited species library compared to simulation-platform rivals[3]
  • Aggressive ad frequency (top churn risk)
  • Lack of guided onboarding/tutorials
  • Imbalanced economy (high consumable costs)
  • Ad-heavy progression model drives negative sentiment
  • Lack of precision reeling mechanics limits technical appeal
  • 1★ reviews flag progression as impossible without spending
  • UI density hinders experience on smaller mobile screens
-
  • Premium tier progression is locked behind significant financial investment
  • 0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap indicates poor stability on the majority Android base
-
  • Forced ad frequency contradicts the core relaxing value proposition
  • Pay-to-win bait mechanics create high-churn frustration points
Pricingfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemium
MomentumActiveMaintenanceZombieMaintenanceSteadyMaintenanceIntenseMaintenance
Update Cadence5 versions5 versions, ~61d avg2 versions, ~2924d avg1 versions5 versions5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~30d avg5 versions5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~33d avg

Compare Ice Fishing Derby 2 head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Ice Fishing Derby 2, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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