How to Fish Difficulty: Easy vs Hard Mode
Switch difficulty any time from the main menu or in-game (patch 1.0.9). The exact official numbers, and one naming trap.
The official numbers
| Setting | Creature health | Creature damage |
|---|---|---|
| Default / Normal | Launch balance | Launch balance |
| Easy | -25% | -50% |
| Hard | +25% | +25% |
Patch 1.0.9 (August 24, 2026) added easy and hard modes. The developer's exact wording: Easy mode “all creatures have 25% less health and does 50% less damage”; Hard mode “all creatures have 25% more health and does 25% more damage.” You can change difficulty in the main menu and in-game.
Who each mode fits
- Easy halves creature damage — a real safety margin for solo runs and for players fighting the Pufferfish or late islands with low-tier gear.
- Hard keeps the intended threat for groups that find bosses trivial; it does not change drop rules in any announced way.
- Default remains the launch balance; nothing in the notes says difficulty affects rewards.
Achievement naming trap
The achievement literally called Easy (“Kill a boss within 10 seconds”) is a speed challenge, not the difficulty setting. There is no announced achievement that requires a specific difficulty mode.
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
Does How to Fish have an easy mode?
Yes — patch 1.0.9 added Easy (-25% creature health, -50% damage) and Hard (+25% health, +25% damage), selectable in the main menu or in-game.
Can you switch difficulty mid-game?
Yes, from the main menu and from inside the game.
Does difficulty affect achievements?
No difficulty-locked achievements have been announced.