Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy Slot Review
Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy is iSoftBet’s innovative take on the fishing slot genre, released on 18th January 2023. This isn’t your typical fishing game – instead of frustrating collect-and-cash mechanics, you’ll find an elegant multiplier system that builds up to x243 during free spins. Fishing-themed slots saturate the market, but iSoftBet’s approach here feels refreshingly different, focusing on persistent reel multipliers rather than gimmicky bonus mechanics.
Our team spent considerable time testing this high volatility slot, and we’re pleased to report that the gameplay experience lives up to its promise. The 5-reel, 3-row grid offers 243 ways to win, with stakes ranging from £0.30 to £300 per spin. The RTP of 95.99% sits slightly below industry average, though it increases to 96.97% with the bonus buy feature (unavailable to UK players due to regulatory restrictions).
What genuinely impressed us was how Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy sidesteps the common frustrations that plague many fishing slots. There are no cash-value fish symbols that tease without paying until the bonus round. The Fisherman scatter won’t vanish at crucial moments after a retrigger. Instead, the game delivers a streamlined experience built around Wild Bass symbols and their increasingly powerful multipliers.
Base Game & Features
The base game unfolds beneath the water’s surface, with an underwater setting featuring seaweed, schools of fish, and fishing tackle rendered in high-quality graphics. The bluegrass fiddle soundtrack provides an upbeat, cheery atmosphere that contrasts nicely with the aquatic theme.
High-paying symbols include the Fish, Seagull, Tacklebox, Float, and Snail Shell, whilst the low-paying symbols feature the standard Ace, King, Queen, and Jack. The game features two wild symbols – the Wild Bass and Wild Boat – alongside the Fisherman scatter symbol that appears on reels 1, 3, and 5.
Reel Multiplier System
The core innovation here is the reel multiplier system. When a Wild Bass lands on any reel, it activates a multiplier for that specific reel. The first Wild Bass on a reel applies an x2 multiplier, whilst each additional Wild Bass on the same reel increases the multiplier by x1. These reel multipliers then multiply together across all active reels, creating potential for significant wins.
In the base game, multipliers can combine up to a maximum of x27. During free spins, this cap extends to an impressive x243. The system is straightforward to understand yet offers genuine excitement as multipliers stack and multiply.
Go Fishin’ Spin
The Go Fishin’ Spin is a randomly triggered base game feature that activates during normal play. When it hits, the game awards reel multipliers that can combine up to the x27 maximum. Our team found this feature added welcome variety to the base game sessions, providing intermittent boosts without requiring scatter symbols.
The feature typically adds 1-3 Wild Bass symbols to the reels, instantly creating multiplier opportunities. Whilst the frequency felt moderate during our testing, the potential for combining multiple reel multipliers made each trigger genuinely exciting.
Bonus Features
Free Spins Bonus
Landing three Fisherman scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5 triggers the Free Spins Bonus, awarding 8 initial spins. This is where Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy truly shines. During free spins, the multiplier mechanics become persistent rather than resetting after each spin.
When a Wild Bass lands on a reel during free spins, it activates an x2 multiplier for that reel if it’s the first time that reel has been activated. If the reel already has an active multiplier, the Wild Bass increases it by x1 instead. These multipliers remain active for the entire duration of the feature.
The mathematics become particularly interesting when multipliers on different reels multiply together. With five reels potentially carrying multipliers, the maximum x243 multiplier represents substantial win potential. Our testing confirmed that whilst hitting the maximum multiplier is rare, reaching x50 or x100 felt achievable during extended bonus rounds.
There’s also a retrigger mechanic: activating multipliers on all five reels awards +5 additional free spins. This “Multiplier Extravaganza” effectively extends the bonus round and provides another opportunity to build towards that maximum multiplier.
Bonus Buy
For players outside the UK, Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy offers a Bonus Buy feature priced at 100x your current bet. Purchasing the bonus instantly triggers the 8 Free Spins round with all the multiplier mechanics described above.
The RTP increases from 95.99% to 96.97% when using the bonus buy – a modest 0.98% increase. This feature is not available to UK players due to regulatory restrictions on bonus buy mechanics.
Slot Quick Verdict
- Overall Verdict: 3.8/5
- Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy is an exciting and capable slot that successfully differentiates itself from traditional fishing games. The innovative reel multiplier system – building from x27 in the base game to x243 in free spins – provides genuine excitement and substantial win potential. With a maximum win of 20,000x to 25,000x your stake, the numbers back up the excitement.
- Our team particularly appreciated how the game avoids common fishing slot frustrations: there are no teasing cash-value symbols that don’t pay until the bonus, and scatters won’t vanish at critical moments after a retrigger. The persistent multiplier mechanics during free spins feel rewarding and transparent.
- That said, this is undeniably a high volatility slot suited to experienced players with patience and adequate bankrolls. The RTP of 95.99% sits slightly below industry average, though competitive within the fishing slot category. Some players felt the game lacked the cosy charm of competitors like Euphoria, despite its high-quality graphics and upbeat soundtrack.
- Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy may disappoint traditional fishing slot enthusiasts seeking classic collect-and-cash mechanics, but it offers a streamlined, multiplier-focused experience that feels refreshingly modern. If you enjoy high volatility slots with innovative mechanics and substantial win potential, this one’s definitely worth reeling in.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the RTP of Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy?
The Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy slot RTP is set to 95.99%. However, the RTP increases to 96.97% if you purchase the bonus round (not available in the UK). -
What is the maximum win on Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy?
The maximum win for Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy is reported as 20,000x to 25,000x your stake, depending on the source. The exact potential depends on the multiplier system reaching its full x243 capacity during the free spins bonus round. -
Does Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy have free spins?
Yes, Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy has a free spins bonus feature. Landing 3 bonus symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 triggers 8 free spins. During free spins, the multipliers above reels are persistent until the feature ends, and the innovative multiplier system can reach up to x243. -
What is the volatility of Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy?
Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy has high volatility, which means wins are less frequent but potentially larger. You can expect fluctuations in your bankroll during longer sessions with this game. -
How does the multiplier system work in Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy?
Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy features an innovative reel multiplier system where landing Wild Bass symbols on reels adds multipliers. The first Wild Bass on a reel applies an x2 multiplier, with each additional Wild Bass increasing that reel’s multiplier by x1. These reel multipliers then multiply together for a maximum of x27 in the base game or x243 during free spins. -
Does Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy have a bonus buy feature?
Yes, Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy features a bonus buy option that allows players to purchase free spins directly for 100x their bet. The bonus buy increases the RTP to 96.97%. However, this feature is not available in the UK due to regional restrictions. -
What is the Go Fishin’ Spin feature in Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy?
The Go Fishin’ Spin is a random base game feature in Hook ‘Em Up Frenzy that activates during normal play. When triggered, it awards reel multipliers that can combine up to x27, providing excitement and win potential without requiring the full free spins bonus round.
