Big Bass Bonanza Megaways Slot Review: Complete Guide to Reel Kingdom’s Fishing Adventure
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways is a high-volatility fishing slot from Reel Kingdom (Pragmatic Play partner studio) that combines the classic bass fishing theme with the modern Megaways engine, offering up to 46,656 ways to win and a maximum payout of 4,000x your stake.
Game Layout and Gameplay
The game plays on a 6×7 reel set with an additional 4-symbol horizontal reel positioned at the top, creating the 46,656 ways to win. This layout represents a conservative approach to the Megaways mechanic—Reel Kingdom hasn’t pushed the matrix to its full capacity. Bet ranges from $0.20 to $100, making it accessible to both casual players and high rollers.
Visually, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways maintains the same aesthetic as the original Big Bass Bonanza, featuring deep blue ocean waters, shimmying fish, and a relaxing island soundtrack. The upsized game grid is the only major visual difference from its predecessor.
Symbols and Payouts
Low-paying symbols consist of card ranks (10, J, Q, K, A), while high-paying symbols include tackle boxes, dragonflies, fishing rods, and the fishing float—the highest-paying symbol at 50x the stake for six-of-a-kind combinations. Fish symbols are unique: in the base game, they pay up to 1.75x the bet, but during free spins, their values are collected by the fisherman symbol. A wild symbol appears exclusively on the upper four-position reel and substitutes for all symbols except fish and fisherman symbols.
Key Features
Tumbling Reels
After any winning combination, the winning symbols are removed from the reels. Remaining symbols fall into the gaps, and new combinations may form, creating additional wins. This tumbling process continues until no more winning combinations occur, potentially generating multiple payouts from a single spin.
Free Spins Bonus
Landing 3 or more scatter symbols triggers the free spins feature, awarding between 10 and 20 spins. During this round, fish symbols fall to the bottom as new symbols tumble into empty positions, and the fisherman collects fish and monetary values.
Fisherman Collection and Retriggers
Every 4 fisherman symbols collected retriggers the feature, awarding +10 additional free spins and a multiplier applied to fish symbol values:
- First retrigger: 2x multiplier
- Second retrigger: 3x multiplier
- Third retrigger: 10x multiplier
After the third retrigger, no additional retriggering is possible.
Bonus Modifiers
Random Bazooka or Dynamite features may appear during the bonus game, adding extra excitement to the free spins round.
RTP and Volatility
The game features a 96.7% RTP (Return to Player), though this can vary between casinos, ranging from 94.62% to 96.7% depending on customizable RTP settings. Volatility is rated 5 out of 5, indicating high volatility—wins occur less frequently, but when they do land, they can be substantial.
Maximum Win Potential
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways tops out at 4,000x your stake, nearly double the original Big Bass Bonanza but unusually low for a Megaways title. For comparison, Fishin Frenzy Megaways offers up to 10,000x, making Big Bass Bonanza Megaways conservative in terms of win potential for this engine type.
Pros and Cons
Strengths:
- Tumble mechanic combined with up to 46,656 ways to win
- Upgradable free spins with multipliers up to 10x
- Simple, accessible gameplay perfect for beginners
- Familiar theme with proven appeal
Weaknesses:
- 4,000x maximum potential is low for Megaways standards
- Base game can be quiet with extended dry spells
- Customizable RTP ranges require careful casino selection
- Limited innovation compared to other modern Megaways slots
Verdict
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways demonstrates that there’s still life in the fishing slot mechanic. Reel Kingdom successfully adapts the beloved bass fishing experience to the Megaways engine, maintaining the series’ charm while introducing cascading wins and enhanced multipliers. However, the conservative 4,000x maximum payout reflects Pragmatic Play’s cautious approach to win potential. The game appeals most to fans of the original Big Bass Bonanza series and players seeking high-volatility fishing-themed entertainment, though those chasing maximum payouts may find competitors more rewarding.
