Slot Overview: Big Bass Bonanza by Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play’s Big Bass Bonanza has made an almighty splash in the world of online slot games and it’s easy to see why.
This is intended to be an unbiased, full and thorough review of the game encompassing both it's base mechanics and gameplay as a whole. Below, we’ll go over the RTP, volatility, and bonus games, providing you with all you need to know to decide if this fishing trip is going to be for you.
We will also share our personal experiences and observations of playing the Big Bass Bonanza slot, examining both its upsides and downsides. It serves to offer the players with just an unbiased opinion, so the new players and even the professional veterans will give the game a shot to play for free.
This game has given rise to many sequels and evolutions that all expand upon the basic gameplay loop that put the original on the map.
This comprehensive review will cover all the angles of the game and explain why the Big Bass Bonanza slot is one of the most in-demand slot games available.
Big Bass Bonanza Details, RTP, Payout & Volatility
Let’s begin with breaking down the numbers that make Big Bass Bonanza—well—big.
Loud and Proud When it Comes to RTP Player retention is critical for many people and, Big Bass Bonanza offers a well-placed 96.71%. This is to say that in theory, for every £100 staked the game will return £96.71 over time. But remember, this is a theoretical number, and each session can be dramatically different!
The volatility is high, and you may go for a long time without a win, but the wins will be big. In comparison, low-volatility slots will pay more often, but at a lower value.
The biggest draw is the max regular win, with possibility to win 2,100 times your stake. It’s a huge betting spread that begins at £0.10 and tops out at £250 per spin. This suits the casual punter who likes to play the minimum, as well as high rollers who want to gamble for the large dough.
5x3 common reel layout and 10 fixed lines for the game.
It would be best if you used these key stats to control your bankroll and manage your expectations when you play Big Bass Bonanza. Understanding the high volatility is crucial; be prepared for potentially extended streaks without wins and change your bet value accordingly.
Theme, Audio & Symbols
The game’s payline structure is fairly simple. You win through landing similar symbols on adjacent reels, from the first reel on the left.
On screenshot X, the fisherman symbol is the highest paying symbol where five of them on a payline will give you the best return. The tackle box, dragonfly, fishing rod, and the fish are the other high-value symbols. The 10, J, Q, K, and A are the low-value symbols.
Although many contemporary slots come with all ways pays systems, Big Bass Bonanza retains its traditional payline structure where symbol positions on the reels matter. It will be critical to understand the paytable as well as the value of the symbols to win.
More importantly, keep your eye on the money symbols, which are the fish symbols containing cash amounts attached on them. These can help skyrocket your wins during the free spins bonus, especially if they work together with the fisherman wild.
This structure, combined with the high volatility, will make the game entertaining and potentially lucrative.
Bonus Features
Big Bass Bonanza – This is a fisherman’s paradise, and you’re buying cut of the action! It also has an underwater scene with swaying seaweed, bubbles, and other underwater elements in the background.
Dominating the color hues of blues and greens this one creates calm and peace. Overall, the symbols are nicely decorated and easy to distinguish, including many objects related to fishing, such as fishing rods, boxes of bait, dragonflies and, of course, plenty of fish.
The music accompanying it fits the theme perfectly – a bubbly, happy-go-lucky sounding tune that hums away in the background. The sound effects are nicely mixed in as well, and further contributes to the immersive experience.
The reels moving, fish symbols splashing, and victory jingle when exactly three of the fish symbols have been collected create a delightful game soundscape.
Animations are smooth and slick, and especially regarding the free spins where the fisherman wild symbol will actually collect the values of the fish symbols.
Its blend of sights and sounds adds up to a solid and entertaining game that players will want to give another shot. The look of the game is basic but efficient and it adds to the game’s universal appeal.
Mobile Experience
I found the tonal continuity really nice in terms of my testing.
Graphics are not cutting edge but have a bright and cheerful appeal which suits the game's light-hearted feel well.
I did see the transitions of the base game to the bonus rounds are seamless, keeping me in the game world.
The general look of things is a big part of why the game works. As one can even see from screenshot Y, every little thing, from a small bubble in the background to the detailed depiction of fishing gear, adds up to a type eye candy we are constantly looking for.
The symbols must also be distinct so that players can see clearly at a glance the winning combinations, even when fast video graphics are fighting for their attention.
The jaunty, upbeat music never got too repetitive, which just added another level of pleasure to every spin.
Pros & Cons
An insider look: why Big Bass Bonanza is so popular
There’s one big reason Big Bass Bonanza is such a hit, and it’s all about our bonus games – free spins, with thousands of ways to win.
This feature is unlocked when you land three or more scatters (the hooked bass) on any position on the reels. Three, four or five scatters will earn you 10, 15 or 20 free spins.
The fisherman wild appears during free spins. This icon is stacked meaning it will only be in play on reels 2, 3, 4 and 5 when the bonus feature is active and will act as all symbols apart from the scatter. But most of all, the fisherman wild collects all cash amounts listed on any fish symbols that appear during the triggering spin. This is where it gets exciting for the possibility of big wins.
Every wild fisherman that lands is also added to a meter at the top of the reels. Gathering four fisherman wilds renews the free spins; and adds 10 extra free spins -plus a multiplier that it's applied to all the other fish symbol collection. The 1st retriggers 2x, the 2nd 3x and the 3rd 10x.
The Retriggers are important part of the free spins feature and they can bank players a lot of money.
Our Verdict
I think the free spins is very exciting.
In my testing play, the free-spins was hit every 100 – 150 spins or so, which is about right for a high variance slot. Wanting to get those scatters is partly what the appeal is.
The free spins feature has never disappointed and a few fisherman wilds have hit during a single spin that has led to big, thrilling wins.
I also got lucky once playing at Pink Casino for example and ended up re-triggering the free spins twice to have the 3x multiplier in play. This eventually resulted in a handful of wins which raised my total balance quite a bit.
That said, not all free spins rounds are created equally. At times, I’d activate the feature only to win only a paltry sum.
This is the reality of high-volatility slot – the big wins are there, but so is the chance of leaving with next to nothing.
Play Responsibly
Big Bass Bonanza Casino Not all jurisdictions gain access to a regular bonus buy option with Big Bass Bonanza, but be aware it might be available at the discretion of a few casinos depending on their local laws.
The lack of this feature is not a huge loss though, as the free games come thick and fast often enough to keep you entertained and your balance in check. It is always exciting to see when these scatter symbols appear on the screen.
It is also important to point out that you won’t find cascading wins or tumbling reels in Big Bass Bonanza. It is missing however the slots meta-games and challenges present in other slots, which are often greeted with a sigh of relief!
Attention has been taken away from the fisherman wild and the fish symbol collecting feature which gives you a very interesting game to play. Pragmatic Play has simply honed in on a single base bonus feature, instead of flooding this thing with a dozen other mechanics.
