Big Bass Bonanza: A Week With The Calmest Game On My Phone

I didn't expect much from Big Bass Bonanza. It looked like another cheerful little tap game, and honestly that's exactly what it is. What I didn't expect was how often I'd reach for it over the course of a week.

The appeal is the low stakes. You tap, fish drift by, the water ripples, and nothing about it demands your attention. After a stretch of tense tower defence sessions, that calm was genuinely welcome. It became my palate cleanser between heavier games.

Controls are barely worth explaining: taps and the occasional swipe. Big Bass Bonanza isn't trying to challenge you, and it's better for it. The animations have a bit of charm, and the sound is soft enough that I could leave it on without getting annoyed.

My advice if you try it: don't come in looking for depth. Treat it like a fidget toy you keep on your phone. Play it in a queue, on a break, or while your brain needs a minute off. On those terms it's lovely.

It won't be anyone's game of the year, but it earned a permanent spot on my home screen. Sometimes that's all a game needs to do.