Big Bass Bonanza vs. Fishin’ Frenzy: Key Stats
| Big Bass Bonanza | Fishin’ Frenzy | |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | Reel Kingdom / Pragmatic Play | Reel Time Gaming / Blueprint Gaming |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2014 |
| RTP | 96.71%* | 96.12% |
| Volatility | High | High |
| Maximum Win | 2,100x | 250,000x |
| Layout | 5×3 | 5×3 |
| Paylines | 10 | 10 |
| Main Feature | Fishermen Wild cash collect and Free Spins progression trail | Fishermen Wild cash collection |
| Series Size | 35+ | 25+ |
At first glance, these two games look like they’re fishing from the same pond. Both use the classic 5×3 layout with 10 fixed paylines, both revolve around fishermen reeling in cash values from fish, and both put their biggest prizes behind the Free Spins feature.
But if you cast your line a little deeper, you’ll find there are some pretty big differences between the two fishy franchise.
Originality: Who Started It?
Before Big Bass Bonanza was even a drop in the ocean, there was Fishin’ Frenzy.
The original was developed by Reel Time Gaming for land-based casinos before it went online, adapted by Blueprint Gaming in 2014.
It pioneered the simple gameplay and layout: a 5×3 grid, 10 paylines, and Free Spins round where the rugged Fisherman collected the cash values attached to the fish on the reels.
Then 2020 rolled round, with Reel Kingdom releasing Big Bass Bonanza. It essentially used the blueprint that Fishin’ Frenzy laid out: Fishermen Wild, cash values, Free Spins, and the cash collection mechanic, with a twist in the Free Spins round.
🏆 Winner: Fishin’ Frenzy
Fishin’ Frenzy came first and pioneered the whole fishing genre, deserving kudos for starting the whole trend in the first place.
Gameplay: Which Is More Fun?
At their core, both games play very similarly. You’re dealing with classic 5×3 reels and 10 paylines, which doesn’t require a degree in slotology to understand.
The original Fishin’ Frenzy has a slightly cleaner gameplay loop: you spin the reels, hope for the bonus, and watch the Fisherman reel in those fish cash values.
Big Bass Bonanza levels things up slightly with an increasing win multiplier, giving Free Spins a sense of momentum and progression. For every four Fishermen collected, 10 additional spins are awarded, with a possible 10x multiplier available.
The best game comes down to what you’re looking for.
Want a straightforward fishing slot where you know exactly what you’re getting? Fishin’ Frenzy.
Want the same basic concept with a little more happening during the bonus? Big Bass Bonanza.
🏆 Winner: Big Bass Bonanza
We’re giving this one to Big Bass as the progressive multiplier and trail system gives the bonus a little extra something.
Bonus Features: Which Is More Entertaining?
The fishermen in both games aren’t just there to look pretty, they have one very important job: collect those fish.
In Fishin’ Frenzy, the Fisherman appears during Free Spins and collects the cash values attached to fish symbols on the screen. The bigger the fish, the bigger the potential catch.
Big Bass Bonanza follows a similar formula but adds its escalating multiplier system, with a possible 10x for reaching the end of the progression trail.
So while the two games clearly share the same DNA, Big Bass gives you more of a reason to keep watching those Fishermen land.
🏆 Winner: Big Bass Bonanza
It’s a close one since both games share the same idea, but the multiplier progression once again gives Big Bass the edge.
RTP: Which Slot Gives You More?
If you’re comparing the standard versions, Big Bass Bonanza has the higher RTP at 96.71%, compared with 96.12% for Fishin’ Frenzy.
That’s only a difference of 0.59, so it’s hardly enough to make or break your decision on its own.
RTP is a long-term theoretical figure rather than a guarantee of what you’ll get back from an individual session, after all.
One crucial thing to remember is that both games are available in multiple RTP configurations, so the exact figure can depend on the version chosen by the casino. You can check this in the game’s information panel.
🏆 Winner: Big Bass Bonanza
On pure numbers (based on the default configuration), Big Bass Bonanza wins this round by a small margin.
Maximum Win: Which Has the Bigger Potential Catch?
The number all players have their eyes set on: the maximum win waiting on the other end of the line.
The original Big Bass Bonanza tops out at a modest 2,100x maximum win, coming through its Free Spins collection mechanic and 10x multiplier.
Fishin’ Frenzy, meanwhile, is listed as having a possible 250,000x maximum win.
On paper, achieving this is probably easier said than done but the numbers don’t lie, and bigger is definitely better in this case.
🏆 Winner: Fishin’ Frenzy
With a massive maximum win potential, Fishin’ Frenzy shows that this old dog can learn a few new tricks.
Graphics and Theme: Which Looks Better?
Both games are pretty easy on the eyes, but both clearly cater to slightly different audiences.
If you take Fishin’ Frenzy at face value, it looks very old-school and nostalgic, channeling classic British fruit machine energy, with the crystal-blue waters, cheerful fisherman, and retro-looking symbols.
It’s exactly the kind of slot you’d expect to see at a pub while you’re chowing down on some Walkers Cheese and Onion, pint in hand.
Meanwhile, Big Bass Bonanza looks like it was made for next-gen players, with more polished visuals, crisp animations, and 3D rendering to fit in with the modern era.
🏆 Winner: Fishin’ Frenzy and Big Bass Bonanza
Both games look great in their own right and fit different moods, making it impossible to choose between the two.
Series: Which Has The Better Franchise?
Just like schools of fish, both games have branched out what beyond their OG titles.
This is where Big Bass Bonanza really takes the bait, spawning a whole host of seasonal sequels, sports spin-offs, and evolutions of the original formula. This includes the likes of Big Bass Halloween, Big Bass Day at the Races, Big Bass Christmas Bash, Big Bass Blast, Big Bass Vegas Double Down Deluxe, and that’s not even half of them!
If our maths is correct, there’s nearly 50 Big Bass games floating around now with a new release nearly every month, courtesy of Reel Kingdom. Each game returns to the same formula with new ways of dressing it up.
In comparison, Fishin’ Frenzy franchise flounders a little bit here. While there are over 20 games in the series, including Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways, Fishin’ Frenzy The Big Catch 2 and Fishin’ Frenzy Lure ‘Em In, as well as progressive Jackpot King variants, the pace and memorability of these titles isn’t as big, funnily enough, as Big Bass Bonanza.
🏆 Winner: Big Bass Bonanza
Over the years, Big Bass and Reel Kingdom have become a whole fishing empire conglomerate.
Big Bass Bonanza vs. Fishin’ Frenzy: Final Score Summary
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Originality | 🎣 Fishin’ Frenzy |
| General Gameplay | 🐟 Big Bass Bonanza |
| Entertainment & Bonus | 🐟 Big Bass Bonanza |
| RTP | 🐟 Big Bass Bonanza |
| Maximum Win | 🎣 Fishin’ Frenzy |
| Graphics & Theme | 🎣 Fishin’ Frenzy & 🐟 Big Bass Bonanza |
| Franchise | 🐟 Big Bass Bonanza |
Final Score: Big Bass Bonanza 5 – 3 Fishin’ Frenzy
So… Which Is Better?
Even though we’ve done this whole in-depth comparison of both games, the “best” fishing slot for you comes down to what ticks your boxes and tickles your pickle.
In our eyes, Big Bass Bonanza easily cinched the win, simply due to the fact it’s become one of the biggest names in the fishing slots space. It also earns points due to the sheer innovation and heart that goes into the franchise with a twist on the formula each time, even if it does feel like beating a dead bass at this point with the number of releases flooding the industry.
But Fishin’ Frenzy deserves plenty of credit, too. It arrived first, kept the formula incredibly accessible, and helped establish the fishing-slot blueprint that countless games would go on to follow. It proves that simple is sometimes best, and has withstood the test of time over ten years later.
Can’t decide which is better out of Fishin’ Frenzy and Big Bass Bonanza? Why not play both and make up your own mind?
Both games (and their numerous spinoffs) are available to try for free in demo mode right here on Fruity Slots, with our full slot reviews also giving you a closer look at the gameplay, features, RTP and maximum wins before you decide which one is your catch of the day.
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