Controls
Reel is played with two Quest controllers. This page uses the default setup, with the rod in your right hand. In the game, your rod hand holds the rod and your free hand (the other one) turns the reel and uses tools. If you play left-handed, everything mirrors; see Left-handed play.
Getting around
Section titled “Getting around”- Move with your arms. Like Gorilla Tag, you walk and climb by pushing your hands against the ground, walls and decks. There is no thumbstick walking.
- Turn with the right thumbstick. Push it left or right to snap-turn. If you are pointing at a menu panel, the stick scrolls the panel instead.
- Your body hangs low. Your view sits close to the ground, so it’s natural to sit on the floor to relax, fish or use a shop. Counters, buttons and tables in the harbor are placed so you can reach them sitting down.
Grabbing
Section titled “Grabbing”- Squeeze grip to grab things: fish, eggs, chests, your boat when it’s a pet, levers, the boat’s wheel and reins, and the reel’s handle.
- Some chunky objects, like chests and the egg opener, also respond to the trigger.
- Anything you can grab gets an outline when your hand is close enough, and the controller ticks.
- A grab only counts if you start squeezing near the object; arriving with your hand already squeezed does nothing.
- To throw something, let go with a flick. A slow release just drops it or keeps hold, depending on the object.
You can change how hard you need to squeeze in Settings › GRIP.
The captain’s log
Section titled “The captain’s log”Press the menu button (☰) on your left controller to open or close the captain’s log. It holds your inventory, quests, the Captain’s Pass, your lobby, the catch booklet and settings.
The menu never freezes the game: your boat, rod and hands keep working while it’s open.
Pressing buttons and pointing
Section titled “Pressing buttons and pointing”- Poke a button with your index fingertip. Most panels, shop stands and the lobby station keyboard work this way.
- Point at a menu panel or a board that’s out of reach with a free hand, and a pointer appears. Pull the trigger and let go to press. The pointer only presses buttons; it never grabs.
Fishing
Section titled “Fishing”| What | How |
|---|---|
| Take out or put away your rod | Press A |
| Cast | Hold grip and trigger on your rod hand, swing the rod forward, and let go of the trigger |
| Set the hook when a fish bites | With grip held, lift the rod sharply or squeeze the trigger |
| Reel | Keep holding the rod, grip the reel handle with your free hand and turn it in circles |
| Keep a landed catch | Press A |
| Put a held fish back in its bowl | Press A |
A faster swing casts farther. The trigger never reels: only turning the handle does. Don’t press A during a fight, because putting the rod away loses the fish.
See Fishing and Fish fights for how the fishing itself works.
Left-handed play
Section titled “Left-handed play”Reel is fully playable left-handed, as a mirror image of right-handed play.
- Until you choose, the first rod button you press decides your rod hand: A puts the rod in your right hand, X in your left.
- You can switch any time in Settings › ROD HAND.
- With the rod in your left hand, the reel is mirrored so its handle is on the right side, and X does everything A does above.
- Tools and held fish use your free hand, whichever that is.
The setting is saved on your headset.
Steering your boat
Section titled “Steering your boat”Choose a steering style in Settings › STEER:
- Reins / wheel (the default). On the starter Dinghy, grip the wheel to steer and slide the throttle lever to set your speed; pull it all the way back to stop. On creature boats, grip both reins: pull one back to turn that way, pull both back to slow down, and relax them to cruise.
- Point to steer. Point your rod-hand controller where you want to go and hold its trigger.
- Thumbstick. The left stick steers: left and right to turn, forward to speed up, back to slow down.
See Boats and riding for more.
Swimming
Section titled “Swimming”- Jump into the water, then pull your arms back in strokes to swim. Your rod is put away when you go in.
- To get out, climb onto a deck, dock or ladder with your hands, or push both hands down hard near the surface to leap out.
- You can only stay in the water for a limited time. A ring counts down the last seconds, then the view fades to black and you’re returned to the harbor.
- Compass: put your free hand at your hip and squeeze grip to take it out. Press A (or X) or squeeze at your hip again to put it away.
- Spyglass: raise your free hand to your eye and squeeze grip. Let go to fold it away.
Both are bought upgrades; see The Compass and the Spyglass.
Useful settings
Section titled “Useful settings”Settings in the captain’s log also cover music, sound and haptics volume, your player colour, a comfort vignette at high speed, personal space, fishing hints and your microphone.