Fish ‘Em Up Slot Review
Snowborn Games has carved out a distinctive identity within the iGaming landscape since their founding in 2017, and Fish ‘Em Up exemplifies their approach to blend accessible gameplay with thoughtful feature design. This 5-reel, 3-row fishing-themed slot showcases their characteristic attention to detail, from the split-screen design that divides action above and below water to the mechanics that reward understanding over luck alone. Released in May 2023 as part of their 1UP series, this release targets experienced players who appreciate both visual coherence and genuine feature depth.
Base Game & Features
Fish ‘Em Up operates on a traditional 5×3 grid with 20 fixed paylines, offering bets ranging from 0.20 to 50.00. The foundation of gameplay rests on the Catch Wins and Catch Booster system, which provides genuine differentiation in a crowded catch-and-collect space. This mechanic starts simple but builds complexity through player interaction.
The Catch Booster Mechanic
The Catch Booster multiplier begins at 1x and increases by 1x with each 1UP symbol that lands, reaching a maximum of 10x. Fish symbols display varying values from 0.2x to 50x your bet. When a Collect symbol lands on reel 5, all accumulated Fish values are collected and multiplied by the current Catch Booster level. This creates meaningful progression dynamics—players building towards higher multipliers gain tangible advantage when collections finally occur.
What distinguishes this system from competitor offerings is the multiplier’s persistence across game states. Rather than resetting between spins, the Catch Booster maintains and escalates its value, creating satisfying progression dynamics often absent from other titles. For players accustomed to medium-volatility slots with frequent small wins, Fish ‘Em Up demands adjustment and patience—but those willing to adapt encounter a more rewarding mechanical framework.
Fish ‘Em Up Free Spins & Bonus Features
Fish ‘Em Up combines multiple bonus mechanics that interact intelligently rather than functioning in isolation. Snowborn Games resists the urge to overload the feature set, instead crafting interrelated systems that reward understanding.
Free Spins Feature
Landing 3 scatter symbols (boat icons) on reels 1, 3, and 5 triggers the Free Spins feature, awarding 10 free spins plus a 1.5x bet credit. During the free spins round, the Catch Booster multiplier persists, enabling continued building towards higher multiplier values. Reaching multiplier thresholds of x4, x7, and x10 each grants an additional 5 free spins, extending the round and amplifying winning potential.
This design creates engagement loops where players witness escalating multipliers alongside feature extensions. The free spins feature shows strong earning capability, with professional testing consistently observing significant wins scooped up during bonus rounds. The persistence of the multiplier during free spins creates satisfying progression dynamics that distinguish this offering from static bonus modes.
Hold & Win Bonus Round
The Hold & Win Bonus triggers when a Shell symbol lands on a Fish symbol, beginning with 3 bonus spins. Each spin extends the round by 3 additional spins if any Fish or Prize symbol lands. The feature offers four distinct jackpot tiers:
- Mini Jackpot: 30x your current bet
- Midi Jackpot: 100x your current bet
- Maxi Jackpot: 500x your current bet
- Mega Jackpot: 5,000x your current bet
The 5,000x maximum win, whilst lower than certain Big Bass Bonanza variants, remains genuinely substantial. This maximum payout is achieved through the Mega Jackpot Prize, representing the upper bound of what players can capture during particularly fortunate bonus sequences. The Hold & Win mechanics create retrigger potential that extends spins and accumulates prize symbols toward jackpot captures.
Bonus Buy Feature
Fish ‘Em Up offers a Bonus Buy feature allowing immediate access to the Free Spins round by paying 70x your current stake. This feature is not available in UK-regulated markets, as the UK Gambling Commission restricts adjustable staking mechanics in licensed casinos. Players in the UK and other jurisdictions where such features are prohibited experience the game with standard trigger-only bonus access.
Our Honest Verdict
Fish ‘Em Up Rating: 9/10
Fish ‘Em Up stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Big Bass Bonanza franchise as a premier high-volatility fishing slot. Snowborn Games delivers exceptional quality across multiple dimensions—mechanical depth, visual presentation, and feature design all cohere into a cohesive offering.
The standout positives are substantial. The Catch Booster mechanic provides genuine differentiation, with multiplier persistence across spins and features creating engagement loops that reward understanding. The split-screen visual design divides action above and below water, creating coherence that many developers overlook. Cartoon-style graphics blend seamlessly with the fishing theme, featuring smooth animations and a touch of humorous style that elevates the overall atmosphere. Features alternate with constant payouts, creating engagement rather than extended dry spells.
However, honest assessment requires acknowledging limitations. This is advanced territory, not casual exploration. The game’s high volatility (5/5 rating) with a hit frequency of 27.16% (approximately 1 win per 4 spins) means casual players expecting consistent base game returns will encounter frustration. Extended dry spells between collections are genuine characteristics rather than anomalies. For players accustomed to medium-volatility titles, the mathematical profile demands bankroll discipline and patience.
The 5,000x maximum win cap, whilst substantial, sits lower than some competing fishing offerings. Players specifically chasing extraordinary multipliers will find this constraining, though experienced players recognise 5,000x represents meaningful potential within high-volatility parameters.
Fish ‘Em Up qualifies as a well-executed high-volatility offering that caters precisely to experienced players willing to weather volatility’s demands. Snowborn’s characteristic design philosophy—purposefully crafted rather than formulaic—shines throughout. This is a title that rewards understanding and patience, not one for those seeking quick wins or consistent base game returns.
Fish ‘Em Up FAQs
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The primary RTP of Fish ‘Em Up is 96.11%, though operators can adjust it down to 94.11%, 92.29%, or 86.86% depending on market requirements. The higher 96.11% RTP provides better player returns.
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The maximum win on Fish ‘Em Up is 5,000x your stake. This maximum payout is achieved through the Mega Jackpot Prize in the Hold & Win Bonus feature.
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Fish ‘Em Up has high volatility (rated 5/5), meaning wins are less frequent but potentially substantial. The game has a hit frequency of 27.16%, approximately 1 win per 4 spins.
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Landing 3 Scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 triggers 10 Free Spins, also awarding 1.5x your bet. During Free Spins, each 1UP symbol increases the Catch Booster multiplier, and reaching x4, x7, and x10 awards +5 additional free spins each.
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The Catch Booster is a multiplier mechanic that starts at x1 and increases to x10 with each 1UP symbol that lands. Fish symbols display values of 0.2x to 50x the bet, and when a Collect symbol lands on reel 5, all Fish values are collected and multiplied by the current Catch Booster level.
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The Hold and Win Bonus triggers when a Shell symbol lands on a Fish symbol, starting with 3 bonus spins. If any Fish or Prize symbol lands, the bonus retrigs with +3 additional spins. Mini, Midi, Maxi, and Mega Jackpots award 30x, 100x, 500x, or 5,000x your current bet respectively.
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Yes, Fish ‘Em Up offers a Bonus Buy feature where players can pay 70x their current bet to immediately trigger the Free Spins bonus round. However, this feature is not available to UK players due to UKGC regulations prohibiting adjustable staking features in licensed casinos.
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Fish ‘Em Up is developed by Snowborn Games, a partner of Games Global. It’s a 5-reel, 3-row video slot with 20 paylines featuring a fishing theme with split-screen design (above and below water scenes). Players can bet from 0.20 to 50.00.
