Le Fisherman Slot Review
Smokey is swapping crime for casting lines, stepping into the lake in his bright orange armbands & yellow wellies. He might claim he is taking a quiet weekend off, but anybody who knows this mischievous French troublemaker is buying that story, right?
Our hunch was right, Smokey is not out there to catch his supper. Word is there is something far more valuable hidden beneath the water, and if anyone can sniff it out, it’s Le Fisherman himself, brought to you by Hacksaw Gaming.
The ‘Le’ series first made its mark within the iGaming industry with Le Bandit, and since then, Hacksaw Gaming has turned it into one of the most entertaining & fast evolving franchises we’ve come across. Each new instalment introduces a fresh twist, whether that be through new features or mechanics.
Although every title has its own unique identity, Le Cowboy was a real turning point for the series, as it became the first entry to add a Gamble Mode, giving players more than one way to unlock the Hidden Bonus.
Adding to all that personality is a set of statistics that will appeal to a wide range of players. Le Fisherman delivers low volatility gameplay, a sizable 15,000x max win potential, & a competitive 96.33% RTP to round out the experience.
This latest adventure marks the 8th chapter in the series, but the real question is what secrets & surprises are waiting to be uncovered beneath the surface this time? Let’s find out…
Base Game & Features
Le Fisherman is a mid-low volatility slot with 6 reels, 5 rows, & a Cluster Pays mechanic. Winning combinations are created when 5-12 matching symbols land on adjacent reels, starting from reel 1.
The Fisherman Hat is the highest-paying symbol, followed by 3 types of bait, Fish, and A, K, Q, J, & 10 card suits. After a spin is complete, each winning cluster awards a fixed payout between 0.1x and 1x your bet.
Other paytable symbols include Wilds, which substitute for all symbols when completing a winning cluster. In addition, FS Scatters are responsible for triggering a Free Spins mode, while Rainbow & Epic Rainbow symbols are unable to land within the same spin.
After a winning cluster has been confirmed on the reels, the Avalanche Feature destroys all winning symbols to allow new ones to take their place from above. This continues until no further winning clusters occur within the same spin.
Golden Squares
After a winning cluster has been removed through the game’s Avalanche Feature, each cell position reveals a Golden Square. As seen in previous instalments of the series, each Golden Square is activated by a special symbol, or in this case, a Rainbow.
Activated Golden Squares reveal additional symbols, including Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Diamond Coins worth between 0.2x and 500x your bet. Additionally, Clovers, Buckets, or Global Buckets may also become visible through this feature.
There are two types of Rainbow symbols available during gameplay, including an Epic Rainbow that reveals Special symbols on all positions on the reels. What each of the Special symbols does at the point of their reveal includes the following:
- Green Clover: Multiplies all revealed Coin, Bucket, & Global Bucket symbols within adjacent cell positions between x2 and x20.
- Golden Clover: Multiplies all revealed Coin, Bucket, & Global Bucket symbols across the entire grid between x2 and x20.
- Bucket: Collects the value of all Coin & Global Bucket symbols within an adjacent 3×3 area, storing their total value. Golden Squares reveal another set of Special symbols after the Bucket symbol has collected the appropriate values.
- Global Bucket: Collects the value of all Coin & Bucket symbols across the reel set, storing their total value. Again, Golden Squares will reveal new Special symbols, potentially repeating the process.
Once all Special symbols have revealed & activated their Modifier, all remaining Coin and Bucket positions will be added together to determine the final payout of the session. At the start of the next spin, all cell positions return to normal.
Le Fisherman: Free Spins
Triggering the On Thin Ice Bonus requires 3 FS Scatters to land in the base game, awarding 10 Free Spins.
This bonus follows the same guidelines as found in the base game, while all Golden Squares remain progressive on the reels until a Rainbow symbol activates them. For every FS Scatter that lands, the Big Catch Bar increases by +1 Step.
When a Rainbow symbol hits, it will transform into a random Special symbol depending on the Level achieved. The Big Catch Bar starts on Level 0, where Rainbow symbols function as normal. After the 5th FS Scatter is collected, a new Big Catch Level is triggered:
- Level 1: Transforms the Rainbow symbol into a Green Clover
- Level 2: Transforms the Rainbow symbol into a Bucket icon
- Level 3: Transforms the Rainbow symbol into a Golden Clover
- Level 4: Guarantees a Rainbow or Epic Rainbow symbol on every spin, transforming itself into a Golden Clover symbol
For every new Level achieved during this mode, an additional +5 Free Spins is awarded.
Slippery When Wet
Alternatively, players can trigger the Slippery When Wet Bonus by landing 4 FS Scatters in the base game, awarding 10 Free Spins.
Again, this mode continues to follow the same mechanics found in the On Thin Ice Bonus, and Golden Squares remain progressive on the reels, even after they’re activated by a Rainbow or Epic Rainbow symbol.
When an Epic Rainbow hits, only the Golden Squares that were on the reels before it appeared will remain active once the session is complete. Additionally, the minimum Coin value is fixed at 1x your bet. For every new Level achieved, an additional +5 Free Spins is awarded.
Smokey Under Water
The final mode, Smokey Under Water, is the game’s Hidden Bonus, triggered when 5 FS Scatters land across the reels, awarding 10 Free Spins. Again, this mode keeps the same mechanics from the Slippery When Wet Bonus, while the Big Catch Bar is fixed at Level 4 for the entire session.
Featurespins & Bonus Buy
Players may purchase any of the following Featurespins & Bonus Buy options:
- Bonushunt Featurespins: Each spin is 5 times more likely to trigger a Free Spins mode for 3x your bet per spin
- Rainbow Trout Featurespins: Each spin guarantees at least 1 winning cluster & a Rainbow/Epic Rainbow symbol on the reels for 50x your bet
- Rainbow Epic Drop Featurespins: Guarantees a single Epic Rainbow symbol on the reels for 500x your bet
- On Thin Ice: Awards 10 Free Spins and progressive Golden Squares for 60x your bet
- Slippery When Wet: Awards 10 Free Spins and progressive Golden Squares, even after activation, for 250x your bet
Le Fisherman has a max win potential of 15,000x your bet. If a single session exceeds this, the player returns to the base game with the qualifying amount. Please note that there is no Bonus Buy option for the Hidden Bonus.
Our Honest Verdict
It was only a matter of time before Hacksaw Gaming dropped its mischievous raccoon into a fishing-themed adventure, and Le Fisherman feels like a natural evolution for the franchise. While the fishing genre has taken a bit of a back seat recently, it remains one of the most popular themes in the industry, making it a fitting home for the evolving ‘Le’ series to cast its line.
From a visual perspective, Le Fisherman is a real catch (pun intended), offering a bold cartoon styling & vibrant colour palette that gives the entire game a lively, polished feel. It is easily one of the strongest-looking entries in the ‘Le’ series to date, while Hacksaw Gaming has clearly had fun pushing the theme, right down to Smokey turning up in a mermaid’s tail and shell bra to mark the occasion.
Le Fisherman continues to build upon the foundations that have made the ‘Le’ series so recognisable, with the iconic Golden Squares & its roster of Special symbols once again sitting at the heart of gameplay. While this feature remains consistent with what fans of the series already know, Le Fisherman adds in several promising twists.
The new Epic Rainbow symbols can land to reveal Special symbols across all reel positions, dramatically increasing their impact when they appear. In addition, Bucket & Global Bucket symbols add another level of volatility and reward, as they allow all Coin values on the grid to be collected, resetting the Golden Squares so that they can reveal an entirely new set of Coin and/or Special symbols.
Although there is no option to purchase or gamble for the Hidden Bonus, it is still present, staying true to Hacksaw Gaming’s signature Free Spins philosophy. The first Free Spins mode, On Thin Ice, is designed to extract even more value from the Golden Squares feature, as they remain progressive on the reels until being activated by a Rainbow/Epic Rainbow symbol.
However, the second Free Spins mode, Slippery When Wet, takes that progression a step further. Golden Squares continue to build as before, but now they stay locked on the reels even after being activated by a Rainbow/Epic Rainbow symbol. The subtle upgrade between modes creates a stronger sense of momentum, with the potential for larger payouts steadily increasing.
All in all, Le Fisherman is a solid entry in the ‘Le’ series, pairing smart feature tweaks with a strong look & realistic shot at the 15,000x max win potential.
*The images found in this slot review are currently from Demo Play. On average, our reviews are written prior to the initial release date and before real play is available.
Le Fisherman FAQs
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What volatility rating does Le Fisherman operate?
Le Fisherman utilises a Low (2/5) volatility score, meaning that the game delivers frequent but smaller payouts rather than big, substantial sums. Players can expect a smooth balance curve & longer play sessions as a result. -
How many Free Spins modes are available in Le Fisherman?
Le Fisherman introduces three distinct Free Spins modes, one of which is a Hidden Bonus, where the highest win potential sits. This Hidden Bonus cannot be selected or purchased through the game’s Bonus Buy tab, meaning it can only be triggered manually during gameplay. -
What is the max win potential of Le Fisherman?
This game offers a generous max win potential of 15,000x your bet. While this figure looks great on paper, the low volatility score makes these top-end results quite rare, meaning gameplay is built around smaller, steadier payouts rather than substantial sums. -
Do higher bets increase the chance of triggering a Free Spins mode?
No, Le Fisherman offers a fair chance for all its players to trigger a Free Spins mode, regardless of their selected bet size. Increasing your bet only raises the value of any wins you may land; it does not make FS Scatters appear more frequent or more obtainable.
