Ugliest Catch

Ugliest Catch Slot Review

Nolimit City are known for bringing boldness and experimental mechanics to their game library, and Ugliest Catch stands as a prime example of their willingness to challenge convention. Released in October 2023, this dark-themed fishing slot abandons the bright, cheerful aesthetics of traditional fishing games in favour of a toxic swamp setting filled with mutated creatures. Rather than retreating to familiar ground, Nolimit City leverages its signature mechanics—Enhancer Cells and xWays—to deliver a feature-rich experience that caters specifically to experienced players comfortable with extreme volatility.

Base Game & Features

Ugliest Catch is built on a 5-reel, 3-5 row structure with 243 ways to win. The expandable row count means the game dynamically increases its win potential through a series of locked reel positions called Enhancer Cells. These cells start locked but can be opened during both base game and free spins when scatters land, transforming inactive rows into active playing positions and revealing additional symbols that wouldn’t normally be accessible.

The core mechanic revolves around the xWays system, Nolimit City’s proprietary feature that reveals 2-4 instances of the same symbol dynamically within a single reel position. This mechanic only activates on Enhancer Cells once they’ve been opened, creating genuine expansion opportunities during both regular spins and bonus rounds. When combined with the growing number of active rows, xWays symbols can generate substantial paylines that aren’t visible in standard 5×3 configurations.

Kill N’ Grill Wild Fishing Feature

The Golden Fisherman Wild symbol is where Ugliest Catch truly differentiates itself from the crowded fishing slot genre. When this wild lands in an open Enhancer Cell during base game or free spins, it triggers the Kill N’ Grill Fishing feature—a collection mechanic that hasn’t been a standard element of older fishing slots. This addresses a key limitation of traditional fishing games: the ability to earn rewards from base game play rather than relegating all meaningful wins to bonus rounds.

Each Fisherman Wild collected builds towards the Troll Level progression. Every 4 consecutive Fisherman Wilds advance you to the next tier:

• Troll Level 1 (4 Wilds): x2 multiplier, +2 free spins added

• Troll Level 2 (8 Wilds): x3 multiplier, +2 free spins added

• Troll Level 3 (12 Wilds): x10 multiplier, +2 free spins added

This collection mechanic carries across to free spins, meaning the progression you build in base game carries forward and continues accumulating during bonus rounds. It’s an engagement feature that keeps players invested beyond waiting for scatter triggers.

Fish Trophy Multipliers

The Fish Trophy symbol delivers multiplier awards that escalate dramatically as you unlock more Enhancer Cells. The multiplier values are: x2, x5, x25, x100, x250, x1,000, and x5,000. These trophies only appear on open Enhancer Cells, meaning their availability directly correlates with how many cells you’ve unlocked through scatter collection. Combined with Troll Level multipliers stacked on top, the multiplication potential becomes significant in free spins.

Bonus Features & Free Spins

Ugliest Catch features three distinct free spins tiers, each triggered by landing scatters on the reels. The higher the scatter count, the more generous the bonus award and the greater the number of Enhancer Cells that begin the round already unlocked.

Three Free Spins Tiers

Lunker Free Spins (3 scatters): You’ll receive 8 free spins with 6 Enhancer Cells pre-unlocked, giving you immediate access to Fish Trophy and Big Berta wild symbols.

Hawg Free Spins (4 scatters): This tier awards 9 free spins with 8 Enhancer Cells already open. The additional cells create more opportunities for multiplier stacking and xWays expansion.

Honey Hole Free Spins (5 scatters): The premium tier delivers 10 free spins with all 10 Enhancer Cells unlocked from the start. This means maximum row expansion and the highest frequency of multiplier symbol appearances throughout the bonus round.

All three tiers allow Fisherman Wilds to continue accumulating Troll Level progression, meaning your multiplier stack can grow significantly during the bonus round. Scatters that land during free spins don’t retrigger additional spins—rather, they contribute to Troll Level advancement.

Big Berta Wild Multiplier

The Big Berta wild symbol only appears during free spins on open Enhancer Cells. Unlike standard wilds that merely substitute for missing symbols, Big Berta delivers independent multiplier values: x100, x250, x1,000, and x5,000. These multipliers apply to the entire winning combination that the wild completes, creating potential for substantial single-spin payouts when combined with Troll Level progression multipliers.

The interaction between Big Berta multipliers and Troll Level multipliers is the mechanism through which the 50,000x maximum win is achieved. A Big Berta landing at x5,000 (the highest tier) during Troll Level 3 (x10 multiplier) theoretical multiplication creates the game’s win ceiling.

Bonus Buy & Ante Bet

Ugliest Catch includes a bonus buy feature for players outside the United Kingdom. You can purchase immediate entry into any of the three free spins tiers directly:

• Lunker Spins Bonus Buy: 94x your bet

• Hawg Spins Bonus Buy: 300x your bet

• Honey Hole Spins Bonus Buy: 866x your bet

Additionally, Nolimit City offers the xBet feature, which increases your stake by 75% and improves the probability of triggering the bonus feature naturally. With xBet active, your maximum bet increases from 100 to 175 EUR. UK-based players won’t have access to bonus buy functionality per UKGC regulations, though the xBet feature remains available for enhanced bonus entry odds.

Our Honest Verdict

Rating: 7.5/10

Ugliest Catch stands out as one of the best choices for fishing slot enthusiasts—provided you can accept its deliberately unconventional aesthetic. The game delivers on its mechanical promises: the 50,000x maximum win is genuinely achievable, the Enhancer Cells system creates dynamic gameplay expansion, and the Kill N’ Grill Wild Fishing feature addresses a legitimate gap in traditional fishing slots by making base game play rewarding rather than a waiting period between bonuses.

Where Ugliest Catch demands respect is volatility. The Level 10 volatility rating represents the maximum on Nolimit City’s scale, with a max win hit frequency of just 1 in 20 million spins. This isn’t hyperbole—the game is genuinely brutal for players unaccustomed to extreme variance. You can easily experience 50+ consecutive spins without meaningful wins during base play, even with Enhancer Cells opening up regularly. This positioning makes it a niche product rather than a mainstream release.

The mechanical execution is solid. The three free spins tiers provide structured progression, each feeling meaningfully different from its predecessor. Troll Level progression creates engagement during free spins, and the stacking of multipliers (Troll Level + Big Berta + Fisherman multiplier) generates the spectacle that high-volatility enthusiasts crave. The base RTP of 96.11% is respectable for high-volatility play—above the industry average and generous within its volatility category.

The visual theme won’t appeal to those preferring bright, traditional fishing slots. Nolimit City has deliberately inverted the genre aesthetic, presenting a dark swamp polluted by toxic dumping with mutated creatures that embrace grotesque humour rather than charm. This is either Nolimit City’s signature appeal or a barrier to enjoyment—there’s no middle ground. Fans of the studio’s irreverent style will appreciate the boldness; casual players seeking relaxation will find it off-putting.

The busy screen with multiple symbol types, Enhancer Cell indicators, and Troll Level metres might overwhelm new players, though the feature complexity rewards engagement from those willing to learn the mechanics. Mobile play is seamless with no reported performance issues, making it accessible across devices despite the visual density.

Ugliest Catch isn’t a blockbuster title despite strong features—it’s a niche product designed for Nolimit City’s hardcore fanbase rather than mainstream appeal. If you’re a high-volatility enthusiast comfortable with extended dry spins who appreciates Nolimit City’s uncompromising mechanical design and irreverent humour, this delivers genuine value. If you prefer steady wins and traditional aesthetics, look elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the RTP of Ugliest Catch?

  Ugliest Catch has a base RTP of 96.11%, which operators can adjust to 94.19%, 92.37%, or 87.30% depending on jurisdiction requirements. The 96.11% base rate is above the industry average and considered generous, particularly for a high-volatility release.
• What is the maximum win on Ugliest Catch?

  The maximum win on Ugliest Catch is 50,000x your stake. This ceiling is achieved through combining Big Berta wild multipliers (up to x5,000) with Troll Level x10 multiplier stacking during free spins. The probability of hitting maximum win is approximately 1 in 20 million spins.
• Does Ugliest Catch have free spins?

  Yes, Ugliest Catch features three tiers of free spins. Land 3 scatters for Lunker Free Spins (8 spins with 6 cells unlocked), 4 scatters for Hawg Free Spins (9 spins with 8 cells unlocked), or 5 scatters for Honey Hole Free Spins (10 spins with all 10 cells unlocked). Each tier unlocks progressively more Enhancer Cells for expanded win potential.
• Can I play Ugliest Catch on mobile?

  Yes, Ugliest Catch is fully optimized for both iOS and Android devices. The game is built with HTML5 technology and plays directly through your mobile browser without requiring any app download. You’ll maintain full functionality and responsive controls on smartphones and tablets with just a stable internet connection.
• Does Ugliest Catch have a bonus buy feature?

  Yes, Ugliest Catch offers a bonus buy feature for players outside the UK. You can purchase immediate entry to any free spins tier: Lunker Spins for 94x stake, Hawg Spins for 300x stake, or Honey Hole Spins for 866x stake. UK-based players cannot access bonus buy per UKGC regulations, though the xBet feature improves bonus entry odds for all players.
• How volatile is Ugliest Catch?

  Ugliest Catch carries Level 10 volatility, the maximum on Nolimit City’s scale. This represents extreme variance where big wins come rarely but can be substantial when they do. With a max win probability of 1 in 20 million spins, the game is best suited for experienced players comfortable with extended periods without significant payouts.
• What are Enhancer Cells in Ugliest Catch?

  Enhancer Cells are locked reel positions (rows 6-10 on each reel) that can be opened during base game and free spins when scatters land. Once opened, these cells become active playing positions where Fish Trophy and Big Berta wild symbols can appear, significantly increasing win potential and creating multiplier opportunities unavailable in standard 5×3 layouts.
• When was Ugliest Catch released?

  Ugliest Catch was released by Nolimit City on October 17, 2023. The release represents Nolimit City’s entry into the popular fishing slot genre, bringing their signature high-volatility, feature-rich approach and irreverent visual humour to a crowded market niche.