As in the original release, Legend of the River King 2 is a freeform adventure in which players take on the role of a plucky young fisherman. Lakes, rivers, and ocean shorelines offer over 60 different types of fish for skilled anglers to try to catch. There are also lots of plants and insects to collect, which may be traded with other Legend of the River King 2 players or with players of Harvest Moon 2 (the RPG farming simulation, also by Natsume).
Legend of the River King 2 considers many varied aspects of the fisherman's way of life, including the choice of the proper equipment, the best locations for different types of fish, and even the hungry forest creatures that may come around to investigate the tantalizing smells of a fresh catch. Experience and the availablity of increasingly better equipment lead to more valuable fish, allowing the player to continue to improve his character throughout the game.