How to Beat How to Fish in Under One Hour: Bean Achievement Guide

How to Beat How to Fish in Under One Hour: Bean Achievement Guide

The Bean achievement in How to Fish is a real test of skill. It requires you to beat the entire game and defeat the final boss in less than 60 minutes. That’s a tall order for a game that typically takes five to six hours to complete at a relaxed pace. If you’re aiming for that 100% completion, you’ll need a tight strategy and zero wasted time.

This guide breaks down every island, every purchase, and every boss fight you’ll need to master. Playing solo is recommended for this run, as coordinating with friends can slow you down, but it’s not strictly necessary. Let’s get to it.

Lighthouse (Island 1)

Your starting point. Every second counts here.

• Get the Knife immediately. Skip everything else in the area.
• Buy the Beer for $12.
• 360 around every creature you encounter. This gives you a 1.5x credit multiplier, which adds up fast.
• Keep the $3 you start with as savings. Don’t spend it yet.
• Use the Dry Beer Can to lure the Spider Crab boss. Stay close to it to save time.
• When it charges, move aside. It will be dizzy. Hit it from the back.
• Defeat the Spider Crab and grab the boat keys. Head to the next island.

Forest (Island 1)

We’re keeping purchases minimal here. Focus on what you need to kill the Giant Piranha.

• Buy the Pistol. It’s cheap and effective.
• Get the extra inventory slot. You’ll need the space.
• Find the leeches to get the bait that kills the Giant Piranha.
• Shoot the smaller Piranhas and eat them to restore health. Don’t waste resources.
• Keep circling the boss and shoot whenever a window opens. Patience is key.

Desert (Island 2)

This island is about speed and efficiency. You need to get to the next boss fast.

• Get the SMG. It’s a significant damage upgrade.
• Upgrade the Bullets completely. More damage means faster kills.
• Get the extended mag for the SMG. Reloading is a time sink.
• When fishing, get as many modifiers as possible for extra credits.
• Ignore the Grill. It’s a distraction.
• Catch a Seahorse or a Needlefish as quickly as possible. This gives you the bait to kill the Pufferfish and move on.

Rocks (Island 3)

The Albatross fight is the major bottleneck here. If you can’t kill it quickly, the whole run is over.

• Buy the Compensator for the SMG ($6000). It reduces recoil significantly.
• Purchase a few Dynamite to catch multiple fish cheaply and quickly.
• Purchase the Professional Boss Lure to catch the Tuna.
• Spread the Tuna to lure the Albatross.
• Stay near the weapon shack. You’ll need it for cover.
• Go inside the shack when the Albatross does its poop attack. It’s the only safe spot.
• Kill the Albatross quickly. This is non-negotiable. If you struggle here, you won’t finish under an hour.
• Take the meat to the next island.

Volcano (Island 4)

The final showdown. You need to be fully prepared.

• First, cook the Albatross meat chunks in the lava to sell for more profits.
• Get the suppressor for the SMG.
• Get a Scientific Lure.
• Get as many bullet upgrades for the SMG as possible to maximize damage.
• Use Dynamite to catch five fish for the bait to catch the Bowhead Whale.
• When fighting the Bowhead Whale and its Mutated version, only carry weapons and healing items. Healing items are absolutely necessary to survive the fight.

If you’re playing with friends, the final fight becomes significantly easier. But for a solo speedrun, this is your best path to that Bean achievement.

Why This Matters

The Bean achievement isn’t just a trophy — it’s a testament to how well you know How to Fish. It forces you to abandon the game’s relaxed exploration in favor of pure efficiency. You’ll skip entire areas, ignore side content, and optimize every single interaction. For players who love min-maxing, this is the ultimate challenge.

If you’re not going for the achievement, don’t rush. The game is a delightful co-op experience best enjoyed slowly with friends. But if you’re after that 100% completion, this guide gives you the exact path you need to beat the clock.

Now go get that Bean.