I like this game, but there's a few QOL features that would be nice to see (potentially unlocking another pond, or more achievements in the book).

Ultimately I do think collection games do best when you can also unlock Steam Achievements, and it's a shame this doesn't have any. I know people will say 'it's supposed to be meditative' but if that were truly the case there wouldn't be a book with breeding achievements in-built into the game. Steam Achievements add another layer of end-game purpose, such as trying to achieve all the spotted patterns, or all the black + colour permutation etc. It would add longevity to a relaxing game.

Some aspects of the game are often impossible to solve without guides (i.e. brown fish - which can leave you soft-locked for hours until you figure it out), and I'm not a fan of relaxing / chill / casual games that need guides to actually be completed. It would be great if there was a hint mechanism that people could click on that correspond to certain fish entries in the book, that make potential suggestions on how to find a fish, even if it's in the form of riddles or something. I know this isn't a problem unique to me, the comments in guides and the discussion are filled the people asking the same question/s over and over and over again re: how to find certain colours of fish because it's just not at all intuitive (especially the brown fish).

The game feels like it's still in beta / incomplete.

For me it's been as frustrating at times as it's been relaxing at other times. As someone who has been a long-time player of Zen Koi and Zen Koi II, it is sadly easy to see how a completely free game offers a lot more genuinely relaxing time with the koi in some ways, and while I don't expect this game to mimic that, I do think there are some QOL features that are missing.

Love the colours and the soundtrack, as well as the rain soundtrack which isn't too intrusive and is nice and relaxing. The butterfly animations are pretty, along with the different colours.