The research progresses on river patterns of the tail reach for inflow rivers at home and abroad are reviewed and summarized. Various methods for determining the scope of the tail reach for inflow rivers are stated and the plane shape characteristics and evolution characteristics of the tail reach are analyzed. The similarities and differences of river patterns between inflow and fluvial rivers are then compared and the formation of river patterns and the key factors that control the transformation of river patterns of the tail reach are further discussed. Aiming at the shortcomings of the current research, it is pointed out that future research can be strengthened in the aspects of river pattern characteristics, mechanisms of river pattern formation and quantification of the influencing factors of river pattern transformation.