| RTP | 96% | Reels | 5 |
| Volatility | Medium | Rows | 3 |
| Min bet | C$0.10 | Max bet | C$250 |
| Max win | 5000x | Paylines | 10 |
| Wild Symbol | Yes | Scatter Symbol | Yes |
| Bonus Game | Yes | Progressive Jackpot | No |
| Free Spins | Yes | Autoplay | No |
Among the most anticipated new releases of 2025 is the Big Bass & The Gold Ness Monster slot machine from Pragmatic Play. It continues the legacy of the developer’s iconic Big Bass series. Compared to previous versions, its design has been modernized, and a special bonus round is now available. Otherwise, it’s a familiar slot machine with familiar mechanics and strong potential for big wins.
In this analysis, I offer an objective evaluation of this new game, reviewing all its features, weaknesses, and strengths. I will also try to determine the type of player this machine is best suited for and who will get the most out of it. A word of caution: this slot machine is highly volatile. Keep this in mind when developing your betting strategy. But let’s get started. Welcome to this analysis.
Big Bass & The Gold Ness Monster blends the theme of fishing with the myth of the Monster of Lake Ness. The game shares many similarities with recent installments in the series, but its atmosphere is warmer. You still head to the vast lake for a thrilling fishing adventure, but this time, the game takes place in a majestic setting, with an imposing castle as a backdrop, and the main character is a mythical monster. The graphics are high-quality, the number of animations and visual effects is impressive, and the fluidity and speed of the interface are remarkable.
The soundtrack, perfectly in tune with the graphics, enhances the immersion. It’s what allows you to fully enjoy the game and savor every turn of the wheel, even during long sessions.
Let’s talk a bit about the mobile version. It’s perfectly executed, accessible on all screens, retains all the controls, and offers a smooth interface. The graphics are every bit as good as the PC version.
The mechanics for forming winning combinations are classic for this series, and you shouldn’t encounter any difficulties. The Big Bass & The Gold Ness Monster slot machine features a standard 5×3 grid, and wins can be formed on 10 fixed paylines.
A winning combination consists of 3 to 5 identical symbols on a payline. Winnings are calculated from left to right, starting with the leftmost reel. The symbols must be on adjacent reels.
The payout depends on the symbol that makes up the winning combination, as well as the amount of the player’s bet. At the start of the game and before each new spin, you can choose a bet ranging from $0.10 to $250. The “Ante Bet” option allows you to increase the maximum bet up to $375 per spin. This option will delight high rollers.
### Symbols
The symbols are classic for this series. The float, butterfly, fishing rod, tackle box, and fish are high-value symbols. Wins are infrequent, but the potential payouts are significant, ranging from 0.5x to 200x the stake. The card symbols are low-value symbols; they form winning combinations more often, but the payouts remain modest, from 0.2x to 10x the stake.
The Fisherman and the Gold Ness Monster are special symbols. They trigger bonuses and significantly increase potential winnings. We’ll discuss bonuses in the next section of this article.
The bonuses in Big Bass & The Gold Ness Monster are classic for the series, but they also hold a few surprises. Let’s discover together what unlocks the full potential of this slot machine.
The Fisherman, depicted as a king, acts as both a Wild and Collector symbol. This symbol appears only during Bonus Rounds, on all reels. It substitutes for other symbols and increases the frequency of winning combinations. As a Collector, the Fisherman gathers all the fish on the screen and awards a payout equal to the sum of their respective values. The Fisherman also increases the Bonus Round level.
Currency symbols
During the bonus round and the base game, fish may appear on the game board. In the base game, the fish form classic winning combinations and award payouts according to the paytable. During the bonus round, the fisherman can collect the fish and win a significant amount depending on their value. The value of the fish is random and varies from 2x to 5,000x the stake.
If only two Scatter symbols appear on the game board after the reels stop, the Random Hook feature can be activated. The hook sinks to the bottom of the lake and retrieves another Scatter symbol, triggering the bonus round. This feature can also be activated at any time during the bonus round. If the fisherman is not present on the grid, the hook will retrieve him.
To activate the bonus round, you must land 3, 4, or 5 Scatter symbols (Gold Ness Monster) on the grid. You will receive 10, 15, or 20 free spins respectively. You can also activate this bonus round via the buy option.
Before the bonus round begins, you can choose one of 12 cards. Ten of these trigger the Free Spins round, but there are also two Gold Ness Monster cards that activate a special bonus round. I’ll come back to that later.
During the bonus round, you spin the reels and form classic winning combinations without placing a bet. The Fisherman appears, acting as both a Wild and Collector symbol. The Collector feature is the key to big wins. Every 4 Fishermen, the bonus round level increases:
An additional multiplier is indicated on the collector. Once the fisherman has collected all the symbols, the final payout is increased by the corresponding multiplier.
If, during the final spin, the fisherman appears on the reel but no fish are visible, another bonus is triggered. A red flag descends above each reel, and when it rises again, a random series of coin symbols appears. The fisherman collects these symbols, and you win the corresponding prize.
This is a special bonus round, during which only fish of random values and fishermen appear on the game board. This round offers significant payouts and is the main change to the new game, revealing its full potential. The fisherman and level-related features are retained in the bonus round.
You can activate the special bonus round with 10, 15 or 20 free spins using the Gold Ness Monster card or via the purchase option.
The Big Bass & The Gold Ness Monster slot machine has high volatility. This is an important factor to consider. Wins are infrequent, but the potential winnings are high. If you start playing with a substantial budget, your chances of winning are much better. Conversely, if your budget is limited and you don’t plan to activate the real money bonus games, it will be much more difficult to fully exploit the potential of this slot machine.
The payout percentage (RTP) is 98%, which is excellent, not only for this series but for online slots in general. Longer playing sessions will be more profitable.
The Big Bass & The Gold Ness Monster slot machine is a high-quality sequel to the developer’s famous series. Among the new features is the special The Gold Ness Monster bonus round, which significantly increases your chances of hitting the jackpot. If you’re a high roller, I recommend trying the bonus buy option; it could be the key to maximizing your winnings. In short, this slot machine is aimed at players with a substantial budget, while beginners might find it difficult to unlock its full potential.