New World delivers one of the most realistic fishing games visually and mechanically but is essentially a fishing mini-game that replicates real fishing as best it can given we're using either a kb+m or controller. But who wants to wrangle their keyboard/controller to haul a "fish" in, in a video game... not me. I think without going into it too much that's what most fishing people want out of a video game a "vibe." Just look at Dredge where you don't really have to do much if at all. New World opts for more of a World of Warcraft approach with its instantaneous and therefore more satisfying way of fishing. Importantly you can still vibe out though given the mechanics are simple enough.
Wow while also being quick and instantaneous in hauling in fish is much easier than New World you simply click the mouse button when the bite has occurred and you caught a fish granted you have to wait around 7to 17 seconds for the bite occur give or take. WoW relies on pleasant settings and much like New World rng in pulling in a desirable haul but along side this WoW also has excellent achievements, mostly... which help reinforce ones desire to fish.
And then we have a game like Intergalactic Fishing which turns the act of fishing into an art, each lake is a puzzle to be solved: do I have the correct lure? Am I fishing at the right time of day? Am I fishing in the right location? etc. Does it take itself too seriously? In the sense that IRL fishing is nowhere near as much of a puzzle to be solved? Yes, it does. Is this the best fishing game on the market hands down? Also yes.
I feel like this is a developer that has set out to make a video game they wanted to see within the confines of the video game medium while at the same time not restricted by the confines of the genre of fishing or the confines of IRL fishing as a sport. It's intelligent design and there's a lot to be learned here concerning that.
Intergalactic Fishing is a love letter to the act of fishing where as the two other mmorpg's I've mentioned have more implemented fishing as another activity to keep you in the game. I recommend trying them all see which ones suit but I'll always have a soft spot for IF.