The Big Catch reels in classic 3D platformer inspiration, launches in 2025

Yesterday’s IGN Live Preshow brought with it some fresh news out of XSEED Games. The publisher announced plans to bring The Big Catch — a “movement-focused 3D platformer inspired by titles from the 5th and 6th generation of consoles” — to PC sometime in 2025.

Developed by Filet Group, The Big Catch initially made its way into the world in the form of a 2022 Kickstarter. The crowdfunding campaign ended up attracting 4,440 backers to the tune of a cool CA$241,747 (about US$175,465) and it’s been in active development ever since. 

Now, in addition to checking out some footage below, you can catch a demo on Steam, called The Big Catch: Tacklebox, as part of the IGN Summer of Gaming event.  

The Big Catch looks the part of a classic 3D platformer — not too far separated from what Penny’s Big Breakaway was attempting — but with some really interesting and fun-looking movement to it. The acrobatic fisherman at the center of it all is Caster. His boss, Chef Leurre, has tasked him with saving The Big Catch restaurant. Thus, he’s off and running (and leaping, and wall-running, and grinding) on a hunt for ingredients that will serve up the perfect menu to attract customers. 

True to the theme, Caster’s main piece of equipment is a fishing rod. He can cast, hook, and reel in objects, opening up plenty of possibilities for interacting with the world. On the surface it sounds like Caster is just here to catch fish, but the story description teases “a dark past, a sinister plot, and ominous otherworldly entities.” 

The Tacklebox demo is a standalone chapter that acts as a prologue to the main game. Players jump into the fishin’ gear of Caster’s rival and co-worker Tackle, taking on his final days of training with deft platforming, surfing, and fishing. As soon as I finish typing this sentence, please believe I’ll be picking up my fishing rod and getting right to work.