Fishing is worth stopping for when it improves pacing, progression or the game world. These six systems have different goals, so the list is unranked.

Stardew Valley

Fishing beside the water in Stardew Valley.
Stardew ties catches to income, collections and mechanical mastery.ConcernedApe

Stardew Valley makes fishing mechanically demanding and economically useful. Better catches support income and collections, while the moving catch bar gives player skill a visible role.

Get Stardew Valley on Steam.

Red Dead Redemption 2

A river landscape in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Species, bait and location make fishing part of the world rather than a separate menu.Rockstar Games

Red Dead Redemption 2 connects species to water type, region and bait. The deliberate reeling suits the slower parts of the world, making fishing useful when the player wants a break from missions without leaving the setting.

Get Red Dead Redemption 2 on Steam.

Final Fantasy XIV

An official Final Fantasy XIV scene.
Fishing operates as a full gathering job with its own progression and skills.Square Enix

Final Fantasy XIV treats fishing as a complete gathering job. Its skills, equipment and long-term progression give the activity enough depth for players who want mastery rather than a short side interaction.

Get Final Fantasy XIV Online on Steam.

Sea Of Thieves

A crew sailing in Sea of Thieves.
Fishing gives crews a useful low-pressure activity during longer voyages.Rare Ltd / Xbox Game Studios

Sea of Thieves uses fishing as social downtime. Regional species and conditions provide goals, while the slower pace gives a crew something productive to do during travel or conversation.

Get Sea of Thieves on Steam.

Hades

Zagreus moving through the Underworld in Hades.
Rare fishing spots add a brief reward without stalling a run.Supergiant Games

Hades understands that its main loop should not stop for long. Rare fishing spots ask for one quick timing input and provide a reward after the run, changing the pace without weakening it.

Get Hades on Steam.

Dredge

A fishing boat crossing dark water in Dredge.
Dredge connects catches to inventory space, upgrades and risk.Black Salt Games / Team17

Dredge makes every catch part of a larger decision. Fish consume limited cargo space, upgrades change where the boat can work, and staying out too late increases risk. Fishing is the game's economy, route planning and pressure system at once.

Get Dredge on Steam.

Which One Fits?

Choose Stardew Valley for challenge, Red Dead Redemption 2 for atmosphere, Final Fantasy XIV for long-term progression, Sea of Thieves for a crew activity, Hades for brevity or Dredge for a full game built around the catch.