Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways Slot Review
Big Bass is arguably Pragmatic Play’s most successful slot franchise, and for good reason. The series has expanded across nearly 20 titles with players consistently returning for the proven formula of fishing-themed excitement combined with engaging bonus mechanics. Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways represents the evolution of this beloved series, bringing Pragmatic Play’s popular Megaways mechanic to the franchise for the first time. Released in August 2023 through the Reel Kingdom development studio, this title positions itself as the deluxe version of the Big Bass experience. If you’ve enjoyed previous Big Bass games or appreciate high-volatility slots with multiple feature layers, this Megaways variant delivers substantial depth alongside familiar charm.
Base Game & Features
The game operates on a 6-reel grid with up to 147,456 ways to win thanks to the licensed Megaways mechanic from Big Time Gaming. The dynamic reel system includes three additional sliding reels positioned above the main grid, each capable of spinning independently from right to left. These sliding reels can be randomly locked or unlocked on each spin, with only unlocked reels participating in winning combinations. The top sliding reel contains exclusively wild symbols and blanks, whilst the remaining two reels display high or low-paying symbols. This complex reel configuration creates opportunities for substantial winning combinations and frequent cascading rewards.
Winning symbols are removed through a cascading mechanic, with new symbols dropping from above to fill empty positions. This tumble system continues until no additional wins form, creating extended win sequences from a single spin. The base game features both high-paying and low-paying symbols: Float, Fishing Rod, Dragonfly, Tackle Box, and Fish represent premium symbols, whilst Ace through Ten fill the regular symbol roster. Wild symbols substitute for all symbols except Scatters, Fisherman symbols, and Coin Money symbols, maintaining strategic importance throughout gameplay. Winning combinations require three or more matching symbols landing from left to right on consecutive reels.
The hit frequency averages around 20%, meaning players typically encounter a winning spin approximately every 5 spins. This consistent winning interval maintains engagement during base game play, though the high volatility classification means individual win values vary dramatically based on triggering conditions and multiplier combinations.
Fish Money Symbols
Fish symbols carry special cash values ranging from 2x to 5,000x the bet, but these values remain inactive during standard base game play. In the base game, Fish symbols function as regular-paying symbols and participate in standard win formations before being removed through cascade mechanics. This dual-purpose design creates anticipation for the Free Spins feature, where Fish Money values become fully active and contribute substantially to winning potential. The distinction between base game and bonus mode Fish symbols adds strategic depth to understanding the game’s feature progression.
Mystery Symbols
Lantern symbols land randomly during both base game and Free Spins, functioning as mystery symbols that reveal matching high or low-paying symbols at the conclusion of each spin. During the Free Spins feature, mystery symbols gain additional functionality by randomly transforming into alternative symbols, introducing an extra layer of unpredictability and win potential. This mechanic ensures that free spins sessions feel dynamic and reward players with varied symbol combinations rather than predictable patterns.
Hold & Spin Feature
The Hold & Spin feature triggers when three or more Bronze Coin symbols land anywhere on the reels. Upon activation, all other high and low-paying symbols are removed from play, leaving only Coin Money symbols active. The feature awards three initial respins, with each new Coin symbol landing resetting the respin counter back to three. All Coin values are accumulated and added to the total win throughout the feature duration. Diamond symbols appearing during Hold & Spin awards random multipliers between 50x and 2,000x the bet, providing explosive potential for substantial payouts.
A protective guarantee ensures that if the Hold & Spin feature concludes with a total win below 20x the bet and no remaining respins available, an additional 3 respins are automatically awarded to maintain minimum payout expectations. This safety mechanism prevents frustrating outcomes whilst maintaining the feature’s inherent volatility. The combination of coin accumulation, respin resets, and multiplier symbols creates memorable moments during Hold & Spin sessions, whether outcomes prove generous or lean towards the minimum guarantee.
Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways Free Spins
Free Spins trigger when three, four, five, or six Scatter symbols land anywhere on the game grid, awarding 10, 15, 20, and 25 free spins respectively. The feature immediately transforms the game experience through Fish Money symbols becoming fully active with their cash values now contributing to all winning combinations. Fisherman symbols begin appearing during free spins, collecting all Fish Money values accumulated during the round. This collection mechanic forms the core progression system for the feature.
Every four Fisherman symbols collected triggers a retrigger event, granting an additional 10 free spins and applying a multiplier to all subsequently collected Fish Money. The multiplier progression escalates dramatically: the first retrigger applies a 2x multiplier, the second applies 3x, the third applies 10x, and all subsequent retriggerers apply an additional 10x with no upper limit. This unlimited multiplication potential creates genuine excitement during extended free spins sessions and generates the game’s headline 20,000x maximum win potential.
A special dynamite animation triggers randomly whenever only Fisherman symbols occupy the reels with no other winning symbols present. When activated, this animation causes Fish Money symbols to appear in random positions, providing fresh winning opportunities and additional collection chances. On average, free spins trigger approximately every 319 spins during base game play, creating balanced excitement without excessive bonus droughts. The dynamite mechanic ensures that even potentially slow free spins rounds can suddenly accelerate with unexpected Fish Money appearances.
Bonus Buy & Ante Bet
Players outside the United Kingdom can access bonus purchase options through the Bonus Buy feature. The Hold & Spin feature can be directly purchased for 120x the current bet amount, whilst the Free Spins feature can be purchased for 100x the bet. This immediate access mechanism appeals to players seeking guaranteed feature engagement without waiting for natural trigger events during base game play. The bonus buy costs reflect the relative volatility and potential of each feature. For UK players, bonus buy features remain unavailable due to regulatory restrictions imposed by the UK Gambling Commission, which limits direct feature purchases to licensed casinos operating under strict compliance standards.
Our Honest Verdict
Reel Kingdom have delivered a compelling evolution of the Big Bass franchise by combining the proven Hold & Spin mechanics with Big Time Gaming’s dynamic Megaways system. Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways achieves genuine distinction within the increasingly crowded Big Bass portfolio through this mechanical fusion. The 20,000x maximum win cap genuinely ranks amongst the highest potential payouts in the series, backed by multiple routes to substantial wins through both the Hold & Spin and Free Spins features.
The game excels in complexity and feature richness. Fish Money symbols, mystery symbols, sliding reels with independent locking mechanics, cascading wins, unlimited multiplier progression during free spins, and dynamite animations combine to create a layered experience that rewards player engagement and understanding of feature interactions. This depth appeals strongly to experienced players comfortable navigating multifaceted bonus mechanics and those who appreciate high-volatility gameplay. The 96.70% RTP (best version) supports longer play sessions across a broad player base, though most casinos offer the 95.69% or 94.62% RTP variants.
Players seeking consistent smaller wins from base game play should assess this title carefully. The high volatility classification means extended dry spells between bonus features and larger wins remain entirely normal. Base game hit frequency sits around 20%, which is reasonable, but the average feature trigger of approximately every 319 spins means patience is required between significant win events. The bonus buy options (120x and 100x for respective features) provide paths to immediate engagement for those unwilling to wait for natural triggers, though these costs remain substantial.
Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways positions itself as the deluxe instalment of a franchise that has already proven its market appeal. It shows genuine quality in execution with professional attention to mechanical balance and feature interaction. The licensing from both the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority through developer Reel Kingdom ensures regulatory compliance and fair gameplay. For players already invested in the Big Bass series or those seeking high-volatility Megaways variants with multiple feature layers, this title delivers substance alongside familiarity. It remains precisely targeted for its intended audience, even if broader appeal to casual players may be more limited than simpler alternatives.
Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways FAQs
The default RTP is 96.70%, representing the best version offered by Pragmatic Play. However, the game includes two alternative RTP versions: 95.69% (standard) and 94.62% (lower). Most online casinos provide the 95.69% or 94.62% versions to players rather than the best-rate 96.70%, so check your specific casino’s game information to confirm the exact RTP available on your chosen platform.
The maximum win potential reaches 20,000x the stake. This represents the highest maximum win across the Big Bass series to date. The 20,000x cap has been verified as achievable by real players—a Portuguese player won €8,000 (20,000x on a €0.40 bet) in August 2023, confirming the genuine potential of this payout.
Yes, free spins trigger when three, four, five, or six Scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels, awarding 10, 15, 20, or 25 free spins respectively. During free spins, Fish Money symbols become fully active with cash values, Fisherman symbols collect these values, and every fourth Fisherman collected retriggerers additional 10 spins with multipliers (2x, 3x, 10x, then +10x without limit). This unlimited multiplier progression creates the pathway to the game’s 20,000x maximum win.
Yes, Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways is fully compatible with mobile devices. The game utilises HTML5 technology with responsive design, providing seamless gameplay across iOS, Android, tablets, and desktop browsers. No download is required—simply access the game through your mobile browser at your chosen casino and enjoy the full Megaways experience on any screen size.
Yes, a bonus buy feature is available for players outside the United Kingdom. The Hold & Spin feature can be purchased for 120x the current bet, whilst the Free Spins feature can be purchased for 100x the bet. UK players do not have access to bonus buy options due to UK Gambling Commission regulations that restrict feature purchases at licensed UK casinos. Check your casino’s specific game information to confirm bonus buy availability in your jurisdiction.
The game carries a high volatility rating (5 out of 5), meaning wins come less frequently but can reach substantially larger values when they do land. The hit frequency sits around 20%, with winning spins occurring approximately every 5 spins on average. Between bonus features, players should expect extended sequences of smaller or nil wins. This volatility profile suits experienced players comfortable weathering dry spells in pursuit of significant bonus payouts and multiplier-driven wins.
The game combines multiple mechanical features: the Megaways system (147,456 ways to win), Hold & Spin bonus (3+ Coin symbols, up to 2,000x diamonds), Free Spins with unlimited multipliers (2x, 3x, 10x, +10x), Fish Money symbols (2x-5,000x values in bonus), mystery Lanterns, cascading wins, sliding reels with independent locking mechanics, and dynamite animations that trigger Fish Money during free spins. This feature-rich design creates substantial gameplay depth for experienced players.
Yes, Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways is regulated through Reel Kingdom, the developer studio licensed by both the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). The game is distributed through Pragmatic Play’s regulated framework, ensuring fair gameplay, secure transactions, and strict compliance with international gambling regulations. This dual-licensing structure provides strong protection for UK and international players.
