Games Like Derby Creek

Derby Creek is a cozy fly fishing roguelike set on a handcrafted, pixel art creek in the Colorado Rockies. Play as an old timer with a battered tackle box, a journal full of catches, and a lifetime spent reading these waters. The catch? You bring the gear and technique. The fish decide what's good. At its core, Derby Creek is a tribute to fly fishing. Every Fly follows a real pattern, and every rig uses techniques anglers know. As you fish, your Catch Journal fills with watercolor entries for each species you land. Patient anglers go home with stories and memories of past adventures.

The Catch Journal

Each fish in Derby Creek gets its own watercolor entry in the Catch Journal. When you catch something new, the page fills in. Until then, it stays blank. The journal records the size of the fish, the depth where you caught it, the time of day, and the fly you used. Over time, it becomes a record of your most memorable runs.

The Tackle Box

Your Tackle Box drives every run. Each item you equip can affect your fly, casting, score, luck, jigging, reeling, and more. Stack Split Shot Weights with Thingamabobbers. Combine Hemostats with French Leaders. Try adding Snake Oil, Pool Noodle Chunks, or even an old Bank Receipt to see what new combinations and flies you can create.

Some items come directly from real fly fishing. Others are the sort of things an old timer might keep in his pocket, just in case they come in handy.

The Catch

Cast where you think the fish might be. Move your fly through the water to find the right depth. Trout stay deep when the sun is high. Bass rise in the evening shade. Honey Holes appear in open water but disappear quickly.

When a fish bites, the fight begins. The line tightens, and the rod bends. Some fish come in easily, while others run until your reel is empty. If you land one smoothly, you've earned a Perfect Catch.

Tackle items, flies, skills, species, and the world itself all shape the catch. They deepen the challenge, reward skill, and give you new ways to outsmart the fish… or be outsmarted by them.

Key Features