| RTP | 96.7% | Reels | 6 |
| Volatility | High | Rows | 3 |
| Min bet | C$0.20 | Max bet | C$100 |
| Max win | 46.656x | Paylines | |
| Wild Symbol | Yes | Scatter Symbol | Yes |
| Bonus Game | Yes | Progressive Jackpot | Yes |
| Free Spins | Yes | Autoplay | Yes |
In 2021, Pragmatic Play released the Big Bass Bonanza Megaways slot. This is the sequel to the developer’s legendary series, which has garnered a huge fan base. The new version offers a few changes, but they will radically transform your gaming experience. It features more paylines, cascading reels, and an improved free spins round.
I want to make it clear from the outset that this game is aimed at fans of the series and will appeal more to high rollers. However, even beginners can implement their strategies and reap the rewards. By correctly applying the strategies and taking advantage of all the features of the Big Bass Bonanza Megaways slot machine, this game can become a real gem. Let’s get down to business.
As is fitting for the series, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways features an iconic fishing theme. You’ll find the familiar fisherman, fish, and fishing gear. Compared to previous versions, the game has received a slight graphical upgrade, without any major changes. The graphics remain high-quality, the background is animated, and the visual effects for wins and the bonus round are still present. This is a modern video slot with superb 3D graphics.
The sound design has also remained unchanged. You can hear the dynamic sounds of the background and the game board, which makes long gaming sessions less boring and keeps the player engaged.
Having tested the mobile version, I can confirm that the graphic quality remains consistent across all versions. Even on a smaller screen, all controls remain accessible and the graphics are high quality.
The main difference between the Big Bass Bonanza Megaways slot machine and other games in the series lies in the Megaways system. The game grid consists of 6 reels, each of which can display a random number of symbols between 2 and 6. There is also a top horizontal reel, positioned above reels 2, 3, 4, and 5. Depending on the number of symbols on the reel, you activate a unique number of paylines each time. A maximum of 46,656 ways to win are possible.
A winning combination consists of 3 to 6 identical symbols on an active payline. Winnings can only be collected from left to right, starting with the leftmost reel. At the start of the game, you can choose a bet from $0.20 to $100 per spin. The higher the bet, the bigger the winnings, but the greater the risk.
The most valuable symbol is the floating one. It offers multipliers from x2 to x50 and can trigger wins with just two symbols on a payline. Next come the fishing rod, butterfly, tackle box, and fish, which award multipliers ranging from x0.2 to x7.5. Card symbols are low-paying, offering small wins ranging from x0.1 to x1.75.
I want to emphasize that the maximum winning potential is revealed during the bonus round. Here, as in the base game, fish offering high payouts appear, but during the free spins, you can catch them and receive an instant win. We’ll come back to that.
As with other games in the series, the biggest wins await you during free spins. But there are also other features, which I’ll now introduce to you.
The Wild symbol is only present on the extra horizontal reel, above reels 2, 3, 4 and 5. However, this does not prevent it from significantly increasing the frequency of winning combinations and winning big.
Each time, winning symbols are removed from the game board and replaced with new ones. This allows for more wins in a single spin. This is a key advantage for beginners, who can start with a small bankroll but, thanks to the cascading effect, stay in the game longer and wait for the bonus round to be triggered.
Collecting 3, 4, 5, or 6 Scatter symbols on the game board triggers the bonus round, awarding 10, 15, 20, or 25 free spins respectively. You can also obtain additional free spins for every 4 Fishermen symbols collected, with an extra multiplier. For every set of 4 Fisherman symbols, you will receive 10 free spins, and the multiplier will be multiplied by 2, 3, and 10.
The key feature is that the Fisherman acts as a collector, gathering fish of varying values. Any fish appearing on the reels with the Fisherman present will be collected. The fish’s value is random, ranging from 2 to 4,000 times your stake. This is where you can win the biggest prizes.
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways features high volatility, ideal for experienced and high rollers, but not recommended for beginners. Despite a low payout frequency, wins can be substantial. This slot is particularly well-suited to players with significant bankrolls, as it allows them to wait for the bonus round to activate, thus offering maximum wins, additional multipliers, and a large number of spins.
The return to player (RTP) is 96.70%, a very high rate for a high-volatility game. Longer playing sessions will be more profitable.
The Big Bass Bonanza Megaways slot machine is aimed at experienced players and fully exploits its potential thanks to its bonus game. Unfortunately, the developer hasn’t included a bonus purchase option, which would have greatly simplified things for high rollers. However, if you manage to activate the bonus game during the base game, you’re guaranteed to win big. On the other hand, beginners with a small bankroll will find it much harder to fully exploit the game’s potential.