New Zealand Fishing Adventure Star Catcher Hands-On at BitSummit PUNCH
At BitSummit PUNCH, held in Kyoto from May 22 to 24, 2026, the NZ CODE booth featured a playable demo of Star Catcher, a fishing adventure from New Zealand studio Still Rain. The game blends fishing with a cosmic fantasy setting: players control a creature called a Faro, designed with dolphin and rabbit influences, and fish for wandering souls to release them back to their world via a central location called the Beyond. Art director Claralise Nel said the concept started from combining fishing and space, and the team wanted to make something unique since few games focus purely on fishing. The demo showed simple controls: hold R2 to cast, wait for a soul to bite, then press X to trigger a constellation-tracing mini-game. Beyond fishing, the game includes a charge jump for long-distance movement and a wire-action mechanic using fishing gear. The field has scattered ruins and over 20 islands to explore. Online co-op for up to four players is planned, with future ship-riding with friends. Fifteen soul types are currently designed, inspired by human memories and emotions, with plans to add more. Catching souls advances the story, and NPCs offer quests and lore.