Big Bass Return to the Races Slots
Pragmatic Play has once again expanded its popular Big Bass franchise with Big Bass Return to the Races Slots, combining the fishing theme fans love with the excitement of horse racing. This 5-reel, 10-payline video slot offers players a unique experience with bets ranging from just $0.10 to a substantial $250 per spin. With its engaging bonus features and potential for significant wins, this game continues the winning formula that has made the Big Bass series a hit at many online casinos in the US.
Game Theme and Design
Big Bass Return to the Races presents an unusual yet entertaining mashup of fishing and horse racing themes. The reels are set against a racetrack backdrop, where our familiar fisherman character has traded his boat for a racehorse. The graphics maintain Pragmatic Play's signature cartoonish style with bright colors and animated symbols that bring the game to life with each spin.
The symbols include the Fisherman (now a jockey), Bear, Binoculars, Box, Champagne, and various Jockeys, alongside the standard playing card values A, K, Q, J, and 10. The soundtrack complements the racing theme with upbeat music that intensifies during bonus rounds.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Big Bass Return to the Races operates on a standard 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines. The betting range accommodates both casual players and high rollers, with coin sizes from $0.01 to $2.50 and up to 10 coins per line. This flexibility allows for a minimum bet of $0.10 and a maximum of $250 per spin.
The game's RTP is competitive within the online slots market, though it can vary slightly depending on the specific feature being used. The volatility is medium to high, typical of the Big Bass series, offering the potential for substantial wins, particularly during the bonus features.
Special Features and Bonus Rounds
Free Spins Feature
The Free Spins round is triggered when three or more Riding Fisherman scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels. Players receive an initial 10 free spins, but the real excitement comes from the fisherman symbols that collect money symbols during this feature. Each time a fisherman lands, he collects all visible money values on the screen.
Additionally, collecting four fisherman symbols during the free spins adds 10 more spins to your total and increases the multiplier for future collections. This progressive element can lead to substantial payouts as the multiplier increases.
Buy Free Spins Feature
For players who don't want to wait to trigger the free spins naturally, the game offers a Buy Feature option. For 100x your stake, you can immediately access the Free Spins round. While this comes at a premium, it guarantees entry into the game's most lucrative feature.
Ante Bet Feature
The Ante Bet option increases your stake by 25% but doubles your chances of triggering the Free Spins feature. This risk-reward mechanic adds another layer of strategy to your gameplay, allowing you to potentially access bonus rounds more frequently.
Symbols and Payouts
The highest-paying regular symbol is the Bear, which can reward players with substantial wins when landing five on a payline. The Fisherman serves as both a wild symbol, substituting for all regular symbols to complete winning combinations, and as a central character in the bonus features.
The money symbols display random values that can only be collected during the Free Spins feature when a Fisherman appears on the screen. These instant win amounts can significantly boost your balance, especially with the increasing multipliers that come into play.
Mobile Compatibility
Like most modern Pragmatic Play releases, Big Bass Return to the Races is fully optimized for mobile play. The game performs smoothly on iOS and Android devices, with the interface automatically adjusting to fit different screen sizes. All features and functions available on desktop are preserved in the mobile version, allowing for seamless mobile gambling on the go.
Final Thoughts on Big Bass Return to the Races
Big Bass Return to the Races successfully builds on the popularity of the Big Bass series while adding a fresh horse racing twist. The game maintains the engaging collection mechanics that fans love while introducing new elements that keep the gameplay interesting.
While the base game offers decent potential, the real excitement comes during the Free Spins feature, where the collecting fisherman and increasing multipliers can lead to substantial payouts. The Buy Feature option provides immediate access to this high-potential bonus round for impatient players, though at a significant cost.
For fans of the Big Bass series or players looking for a medium-to-high volatility slot with engaging bonus features, Big Bass Return to the Races delivers an entertaining experience with win potential that will appeal to both casual players and serious slot enthusiasts.