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What Is Don't Sleep With The Fishes?
Don't Sleep With The Fishes is a point-and-click survival horror game by DopplerGhost where you play as a ship captain stranded at sea after a mysterious attack damages your vessel. You must scavenge items, manage scarce resources, choose a shipmate companion, and survive randomized night events that threaten your survival. Each day brings difficult choices - fish for food, repair your boat, chat with your crew, or explore for crucial supplies. When night falls, dangerous events like Giant Squid attacks, Whirlpools, and mysterious Sirens can end your run. The game features multiple endings including Rescue, True Ending, Pay Debt, and Ghost Ship routes. Play Don't Sleep With The Fishes online on Scritchy Scratchy - no download needed.
How to Play Don't Sleep With The Fishes
Scavenge the Ship
Use WASD to move around the damaged vessel during the scavenging phase.
Press E or click to pick up items and toss them into your lifeboat.
You have limited time before the ship sinks completely.
Collect essential supplies like food, repair materials, and counter items for night events.
Every item counts choose wisely what to save as you evacuate.
Manage Your Resources
During daytime, spend your limited energy on activities:
fish for food using bait, eat to restore health, repair boat damage with supplies, or chat with your shipmate to build relationship.
Balancing food, energy, and boat integrity is key to survival.
Running out of energy ends your day then night events strike.
Plan your activities carefully each morning.
Survive Night Events
When night falls, random events occur:
Giant Squid attacks (use Anchor), Whirlpools (use Anchor), Eerie Melody/Sirens (use Duct Tape), Eyes watching (stay awake), and Hope events (use Flashlight or Flare Gun for rescue).
Having the right counter item or staying awake can mean the difference between survival and death.
Each night is a test of your preparation.
Don't Sleep With The Fishes FAQs
To achieve the Rescue ending, you need to signal passing aircraft or ships during Hope events or Other People events. Keep your Flare Gun and Flashlight for these moments - they're the only items that trigger rescue. Hope events show distant planes or ships. When you see them, immediately use your Flashlight or Flare Gun to signal your location. Without these items, rescue is impossible.
Each shipmate has unique strengths: Laurel can craft special items from junk you collect during scavenging, which becomes invaluable for long runs. Frederik provides steady companionship and has unique dialogue. Row offers dynamic support options. Captain Whiskers (a cat) provides unexpected benefits. Choose based on your playstyle - if you scavenge lots of junk, Laurel is most valuable. All companions can be at risk during Eyes events, so protect them.
Boat destruction occurs through accumulated damage from night events like Whirlpool and Giant Squid attacks, or from leak events if unaddressed. Each Whirlpool damages the boat, and Giant Squid can severely damage or destroy it. Use Anchor to counter these events. Duct Tape can repair minor leaks. If boat condition reaches zero, your run ends. Monitor boat integrity carefully, especially after difficult nights.
Long-term survival requires: stockpiling 10+ Bait before day 20, having a Fishing Rod for sustainable food, keeping Anchor for Whirlpool/Giant Squid events, and maintaining boat condition with repairs. After day 35, fish catch rates drop significantly without Bait. Laurel's crafting becomes essential for converting junk to useful items. Plan your day activities around maintaining resources - fishing, eating, repairing, and chatting with shipmates.
Endings include: Rescue (signal with Flare Gun/Flashlight during Hope events), True Ending (specific item combinations including Heart of the Sea, requires meeting certain conditions), Pay Debt (defeated by Giant Squid after accumulating debt), Ghost Ship (mysterious circumstances, full details discovered through gameplay), and various failure states. Each ending requires specific choices, items, and survival strategies. Multiple playthroughs recommended to discover all routes.
During scavenging, you have limited time before the ship sinks. Use WASD to move around the vessel, press E or click to pick up items, and toss them into your lifeboat. Not all items are equally valuable - prioritize Anchor, Flare Gun, Flashlight, Duct Tape, Bait, and repair materials. Your lifeboat has limited capacity. Sometimes you must choose between crucial items. Each new game randomizes item locations, encouraging exploration.
Night events include: Giant Squid (use Anchor or face severe boat damage), Whirlpool (use Anchor to survive), Eerie Melody/Sirens (use Duct Tape, avoid Flashlight/Spyglass), Eyes watching (stay awake to protect shipmate), Hope events (signal with Flashlight/Flare Gun for rescue), Seagull (shoo away or accept food drain), and Other People events (signal for rescue chance). Being unprepared for these events is the most common cause of run failure. Build a versatile item inventory.
Yes! Don't Sleep With The Fishes launched on Steam in June 2026 after successful itch.io release. The Steam version (1.1.2) includes improved rescue mechanics, optional Duct Tape repairs, completion tracking, and optimized performance. You can wishlist it on Steam or purchase directly. The browser version on Scritchy Scratchy lets you play instantly without waiting for downloads.
Yes, Don't Sleep With The Fishes contains jump scares, flashing lights, and loud noises as noted on the official game page. The horror elements are part of the survival atmosphere. The game is inspired by psychological horror and survival management games. Players are warned in advance about these elements. The horror is balanced with engaging resource management and strategic gameplay.
Average session length is about one hour according to official game information. However, dedicated players report 30+ hours across multiple runs to discover all endings and secrets. Early runs typically end around days 10-30 as you learn mechanics. Experienced players can survive to day 70+ with optimal strategies. Each run offers new randomized events and item placements, making replayability high.
Don't Sleep With The Fishes Pro Tips
Prioritize Anchor & Rescue Items
The Anchor is your most important survival item - it counters both Whirlpool and Giant Squid events that can destroy your boat. Always search for Anchor during scavenging. Flare Gun and Flashlight are crucial for the Rescue ending - save them for Hope or Other People events when you spot passing aircraft or ships. These items make the difference between death at sea and dramatic rescue.
Never leave the ship without at least one counter item for night survival.
Master the Fishing Economy
Bait and Fishing Rod are essential for long-term survival. Bait increases your catch rate significantly, while the Fishing Rod provides sustainable food generation over time. Without these items, you'll struggle to maintain food supplies past day 30-35. The fishing minigame becomes increasingly difficult as days progress without proper equipment. Laurel can also create items from junk, so don't ignore worthless-looking loot.
Stockpile at least 10 bait before day 20 to ensure food security.
Know Your Night Event Counters
Study the counter system: Anchor beats Whirlpool and Giant Squid, Duct Tape counters Eerie Melody and leaks, Flashlight/Flare Gun trigger rescue during Hope events, and staying awake protects against Eyes events. Seagull events require shooing them away or accepting food drain. Understanding what counters each threat is essential for survival past day 50.
Keep a mental note of which counters you have before each night falls.
Why Play Don't Sleep With The Fishes?
Tense Survival Decisions
Every choice matters in Don't Sleep With The Fishes. Should you risk one more scavenging run or escape now? Do you share food with your shipmate or save it? The constant pressure of dwindling resources and approaching night creates thrilling tension.
No Download Required
Play Don't Sleep With The Fishes instantly on Scritchy Scratchy in your browser. Experience this acclaimed survival horror game without installations or sign-ups. The game runs smoothly as an HTML5 experience.
Replayability & Secrets
With multiple endings, randomized night events, and different shipmate paths, no two runs are alike. Discover hidden items, secret conversations, and unlock all possible outcomes. Players report 30+ hours of engaging gameplay across multiple attempts.
Inspired by 60 Seconds!
Fans of 60 Seconds! and atmospheric survival games will love Don't Sleep With The Fishes. The combination of point-and-click exploration, resource management, and narrative events creates a uniquely compelling experience that stands on its own.
Play Don't Sleep With The Fishes Online - No Download Needed
Enjoy Don't Sleep With The Fishes directly in your browser on Scritchy Scratchy without any downloads or installations. This acclaimed survival horror game by DopplerGhost runs seamlessly as an HTML5 experience. Simply open the game and start your survival journey at sea. The scavenging phase uses WASD movement and mouse clicks for intuitive gameplay. Progress saves automatically during your session. Experience the tension of rapid scavenging, the strategy of resource management, and the terror of nightly sea threats. The game is optimized for instant play - no plugins, no sign-ups, just survival horror in your browser. Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on itch.io with 67+ ratings.
Recommended Games
Scale The Depths is another engaging survival game on Scritchy Scratchy. Like Don't Sleep With The Fishes, it offers challenging gameplay, atmospheric visuals, and meaningful decisions. Both games share a love for tension-filled survival mechanics and exploration.
Don't Sleep With The Fishes Features
Multiple Endings & Routes
Don't Sleep With The Fishes features several distinct endings based on your choices and items collected. Achieve Rescue ending by signaling passing aircraft or ships with Flare Gun or Flashlight during Hope events. Discover the True Ending through specific item combinations. Face the Pay Debt route when Giant Squid defeats you. Become part of the Ghost Ship ending through mysterious circumstances. Each playthrough offers new possibilities.
4 Unique Shipmate Companions
Choose from four distinct crew members each with unique abilities: Laurel can craft special items from junk you collect, Frederik is a steady presence with his pipe, Row offers dynamic support options, and Captain Whiskers (a cat) provides unexpected benefits. Your shipmate's safety matters - protect them during dangerous events like the Eyes. Building relationships through daily conversations affects your survival chances.
Essential Items & Crafting
Collect and use crucial survival items: Anchor counters Whirlpool and Giant Squid attacks, Flare Gun and Flashlight enable rescue during Hope events, Duct Tape repairs leaks and counters Eerie Melody, Bait improves fishing success, Fishing Rod creates sustainable food source, and Heart of the Sea may unlock True Ending paths. Laurel can transform collected junk into useful items, making scavenging worthwhile.