Big Bad Bison Slot Review
Big Time Gaming have built a solid reputation in the Megaways space with releases like Bonanza and Danger High Voltage, and Big Bad Bison continues that tradition with a Western-themed take on dynamic reel mechanics. Released in June 2023, this 6×7 slot sits within the developer’s extensive portfolio as a competent offering that delivers on technical execution, though it doesn’t quite reach the innovative heights of BTG’s marquee titles.
Base Game & Features
Big Bad Bison operates on a 6×7 grid with the game’s signature dynamic reel mechanic–symbol counts change on every spin, creating between 64 and 117,649 ways to win. This variability keeps the base game mechanically interesting, though players report the action feels more concentrated in the bonus rounds than the base game itself.
Wild Multipliers
Wild symbols appear on reels 2 through 5 and carry multipliers up to 5x. Multiple wilds in the same winning combination stack their multipliers together, potentially creating significant payouts. However, players frequently note that wild multipliers tend to be modest in frequency, often landing with just a 1x multiplier, which limits their contribution to overall win potential during base gameplay.
Win Exchange Feature
The Win Exchange feature allows players to exchange wins of 25-50x bet or 50x+ stake for a chance at 12 free spins by spinning a wheel. A green segment awards the free spins, whilst a red segment results in losing the exchange value. The feature sits somewhat awkwardly within the game’s volatility curve–it doesn’t trigger frequently enough to become a meaningful strategic element, and its threshold doesn’t quite align with the base game’s natural payout distribution.
Big Bad Bison Free Spins & Bonus Features
The free spins bonus is where Big Bad Bison attempts to justify its 67,640x maximum win potential. Landing 3 or more scatter symbols triggers 12 free spins, with each additional scatter symbol awarding 4 extra spins. The key mechanic here is the Escalating Megaways System, which progressively increases the minimum ways to win with each retrigger during the bonus round.
Escalating Megaways Progression
During free spins, each retrigger increases the guaranteed minimum ways to win in this sequence: 1st retrigger (729 ways) → 2nd (4,096) → 3rd (15,625) → 4th (46,656) → 5th (117,649). After 5 retriggers, the full 117,649 ways to win become locked in. This escalating system is genuinely interesting and adds a sense of progression to the bonus round. However, climbing this ladder proves more difficult than the mechanic initially suggests–reaching the top levels requires careful sequencing of retriggers, and payoffs tend toward the modest side even when the maximum ways are achieved.
Free Spins Retriggers
Landing 2 or more scatter symbols during free spins awards 4 additional spins and triggers the next step in the Megaways progression. During testing, retriggers occurred with reasonable regularity, keeping the bonus round active without feeling excessive. This represents one of the game’s genuine strengths–the retrigger frequency maintains engagement without completely trivialising the free spins experience.
Bonus Buy
A Bonus Buy feature allows players to purchase 12 free spins directly for 50x your stake, skipping the need to land scatters or use the Win Exchange feature. The 50x stake cost is relatively modest compared to other slots, indicating reasonable value. However, the modest cost also reflects the reality of bonus payouts–reaching top Megaways levels frequently delivers disappointing results relative to the theoretical maximum.
Our Honest Verdict
Big Bad Bison is a rock-solid technical product that executes its Megaways formula competently. The 96.58% RTP sits above industry average and represents genuine player-friendly odds. The escalating Megaways system during free spins is an interesting twist on bonus mechanics, and retrigger frequency maintains reasonable engagement throughout the feature rounds.
However, the game falls short of the creative bar Big Time Gaming has set with releases like Bonanza and Danger High Voltage. Base game pacing suffers from a fundamental quietness–too many dead spins punctuate the experience, and the action feels disproportionately concentrated in bonus rounds. The visual presentation disappoints, with static backdrop imagery, fuzzy-edged animal symbols, and recycled royal symbols from earlier BTG titles creating an amateurish impression that undermines the theme’s potential.
Most problematically, there’s a significant gap between the advertised 67,640x maximum win and actual player experiences. Whilst theoretically achievable, bonus payoffs tend to disappoint even when reaching elevated Megaways levels. Players report feast-or-famine gameplay that feels imbalanced–wild multipliers lack consistency, the Win Exchange feature triggers rarely enough to feel meaningful, and climbing the Megaways ladder requires effort that isn’t reliably rewarded with substantial returns.
Big Bad Bison occupies an awkward middle ground in the competitive Megaways market. It’s not innovative enough to justify choosing it over Bonanza, nor does it deliver the base game engagement of Danger High Voltage. For high-volatility specialists willing to weather extended dry spells in pursuit of theoretical max wins, the game remains playable. Casual or low-budget players seeking consistent entertainment will find the feast-or-famine volatility and base game inactivity less inviting. The game functions–but it doesn’t inspire.
- Overall Rating: 6/10 – A competent Megaways offering that delivers technical proficiency and above-average RTP, but lacks the creative innovation and visual polish expected from Big Time Gaming.
Big Bad Bison FAQs
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What is the RTP of Big Bad Bison?
The RTP of Big Bad Bison is 96.58%, which is above average for online slots and is considered player-friendly. This return to player percentage indicates a favourable payout structure for players over extended play. -
What is the maximum win in Big Bad Bison?
The maximum win in Big Bad Bison is 67,640x your stake. The base game max win is 30,395 times the bet, rising to a bonus round max win of 67,640x, achieved through the Megaways mechanic with retriggers during free spins. -
What is the volatility of Big Bad Bison?
Big Bad Bison is an extremely volatile slot game with very high variance (5/5 rating from Big Time Gaming). Players should expect plenty of dead spins and smaller wins between significant payouts. Winnings do not occur as frequently, but tend to be substantial when they do occur. -
How do you trigger free spins in Big Bad Bison?
Free spins are triggered by landing 3 or more scatter symbols, which awards 12 free spins. Each additional scatter symbol awards 4 more spins. During free spins, 2 or more scatters can retrigger additional spins with increased multipliers to ways to win. -
How many ways to win does Big Bad Bison have?
Big Bad Bison has up to 117,649 megaways with a 6×7 reel layout. The number of symbols on each reel changes on every spin, resulting in between 64 and 117,649 ways to win. The minimum ways increase with each free spins retrigger. -
What are the wild symbols in Big Bad Bison?
The wild symbol can replace all symbols except scatters and comes with multipliers up to 5x. Wild symbols appear on reels 2 to 5 only and help complete and improve wins. When multiple wilds are part of the same winning combination, their multipliers stack together. -
Can you buy the bonus in Big Bad Bison?
Yes, Big Bad Bison features a Bonus Buy option that allows you to purchase 12 free spins for 50 times your stake. This allows you to skip directly to the free spins feature without waiting for natural triggers or using the Win Exchange feature. (Available to non-UK players) -
What is the minimum and maximum bet in Big Bad Bison?
The minimum bet in Big Bad Bison is 20p per spin and the maximum bet is £10 per spin. Players can adjust their stake using the bet controls to set their preferred bet amount for each spin.
