Big Bass Splash is a fishing-themed online slot put out in June 2022 by Pragmatic Play and Reel Kingdom. You can pull plenty of loot from the depths with this game, and while the mechanics will feel familiar, they expand on the popular formula from the Big Bass franchise.
Exceptionally broad localization, with support for dozens of website languages, which makes the platform more accessible across many regions.
Very wide currency coverage, including both fiat options and selected crypto-denominated balances, giving players more flexibility in how they deposit and play.
No stated in-house withdrawal limits, with restrictions depending mainly on the payment system or local regulation rather than a fixed casino cap.
Strong game-library depth across multiple verticals, not just slots, including live casino, virtual sports, bingo, TV games, and niche categories like hunting and fishing.
Built around a 5-reel layout and 10 fixed paylines, the slot keeps things simple and has a bonus feature that can generate big payouts. It offers an RTP of up to 96.71%, with lower configurations available at some online casinos, along with high volatility and a 5,000x max win, making it a strong pick for players who do not mind some quiet stretches in exchange for a big hit when the bonus finally lands.
The bearded fisherman from the original Big Bass Bonanza is back, but with a cowboy hat this time around. The game has a bit of a western vibe as you spin for fish in a canyon. The vibrant setting is easy on the eyes, even if the music does not necessarily fit the theme. It is a quirky combo, but it looks great on a smartphone or a PC thanks to the HTML5 build.
The reels in the Big Bass Splash slot feature a variety of themed symbols, along with the usual royal cards. The Monster Truck has the best base payout at 200x for five on a payline. Fish symbols provide players with a hidden bonus that can range from 2x to 5,000x the stake, although those values do not come into play until the Fisherman Wild appears during free spins.
Three or more hooked bass scatters trigger the bonus round. Before it begins, a modifier draw can deal out up to five boosts, including extra fish, additional wilds, and a progressive multiplier system. It also makes certain bonus events like the Bazooka and Dynamite easier to trigger.
Big Bass Splash: How to Play
Set your stake with the + and – buttons beside the spin control. Bets start at €0.10 and run up to €250 per round in Big Bass Splash. All 10 paylines are fixed, so there is nothing to adjust before you take a spin.
Three or more scatters anywhere on the reels trigger free spins, with the modifier draw taking place before the bonus round begins. Once inside the free spins round, the goal is to collect fisherman wilds. Every four gathered fills the progress meter, retriggers 10 more spins, and advances the multiplier through the four levels.
Random events during the bonus can also place fish symbols on reels where none landed, or drop a wild on reels covered in fish but no collector.
Paytable and Symbols
Things are straightforward when you play Big Bass Splash, but there are plenty of symbols to keep in mind. The lowest paying icons are the five card ranks with Ace through 10. Hitting five of a kind will return between 5x and 10x the bet, depending on the rank.
As for the medium-paying symbols, they cover the fishing gear. While you don’t see the dragonfly, fishing rod, or tacklebox as much, they pay considerably more than the common cards. The Monster Truck is the premium in this slot, although the fish are arguably more valuable thanks to their dual purpose.
In the base game, they pay as standard symbols only, as the hidden value is collected by the fisherman wild during free spins. It is exclusive to the bonus round and substitutes for all regular symbols and sweeps up the combined cash values of every visible fish money symbol on the reels every time it lands.
The hooked bass or jumping bass is the scatter in this game, which triggers free spins anywhere on the grid. Three scatters will get you 10 spins, while four will reward you with 15. If you hit 5, you’ll get 20 and can expect a hefty payout when the reels finally stop. Scatters can lead to big bucks, but landing just two is not the end of the road.
This slot may activate a respin where the reels containing the scatters drop one row to try to pull in a third. A hook animation may also drag a scatter down onto the grid from above. Neither is guaranteed, but both were definitely welcome when they appeared in my time with the game.
How Payline System Works
The grid is a standard 5x3 layout with 10 fixed lines running left to right. As with the original, there are no Megaways mechanics, cluster pays, or adjustable lines to think about, so it’s essentially Big Bass Bonanza Splash in many ways.
Three or more matching symbols on an active line starting from the leftmost reel produce a payout, and only the top win per payline is counted on each spin. The money symbol system is the main mechanic in this game, and something that will quickly hook you. Fish icons have two functions. They pay like regular symbols in the base game, but also carry concealed cash values at all times, which are only released when a fisherman wild lands during free spins.
When that happens, all visible fish money values are totalled and paid out instantly, while the active level multiplier is applied to the combined total. Random in-bonus events can provide a boost when wilds and fish symbols land on separate reels in the same spin. They can add fish to reels covered by a wild or place a wild on a reel full of fish money symbols.
RTP, Volatility and Payout Potential
The RTP comes in at up to 96.71% for the game and Buy Feature, which is slightly above the industry average of around 96%. Some operators choose lower configurations, so it’s a good idea to check out the paytable on any site before playing.
Volatility is high in this slot. Base game wins are minor, and the free spins round may take a while to appear. When you play Big Bass Splash and the bonus does arrive, the multiplier ladder is significant. The max win is 5,000x the stake, so a €10 bet nets you €50,000, and on the minimum €0.10 wager, you’d get a €500 return.
While not as severe as other slots, I recommend trying the demo before switching to real money to get an idea of how long it takes to hit bonuses. When you’re ready to jump in, keeping a bankroll of at least 100 to 200 times your intended bet is a solid starting point. Set a loss limit before you start and remember to game responsibly.
Mobile Performance and Compatibility
The slot is built on HTML5, so it will open instantly in any modern smartphone without a download. It runs well on both Android and iOS, and even on Fire Tablets with a good browser. It’s responsive, and nothing is stripped from the desktop version. The bonus features are the same, and Buy Features are still present. The RTP doesn’t change between devices, so you can expect the same experience on a mobile as you’d get on a PC when you play Big Bass Splash online.
Demo Mode
You can demo this game without registering and use virtual credit for a test run. That means you can get the full experience without spending your money, including the Buy Feature. This gives you an idea of how big wins would pay out, which is ideal for volatile slots like Splash.
All the features found in the full version were present in the demos I played. I put in around 140 spins for this review, and would highly recommend others do the same. Consider it practice, and it gives you a clear picture of how often the bonus rolls around and what an average free spins round looks like.
Inside Pragmatic Play’s Portfolio
The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Gibraltar, with additional offices around the globe. Pragmatic Play has licences across more than 40 jurisdictions, including the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. All of their titles are certified for fair play by independent testing bodies, including GLI and eCOGRA.
The company’s portfolio covers more than 500 titles across slots, live casino, bingo, and virtual sports. They also picked up the EGR B2B Innovation in Slots award in 2018 and the SBC Best Slot Provider title in 2020. Some of the more popular releases include Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, Wolf Gold, and Buffalo King Megaways.
The Big Bass franchise is among their most successful series, developed in partnership with Reel Kingdom, a studio known for building some of the more creative mechanics in the fishing slot space. If you enjoy the experience of play Big Bass Splash slots, you’ll definitely want to consider other titles from the series.
Big Bass Slot Franchise
This saga has grown considerably since Big Bass Bonanza launched in 2020. At present, the company has dozens of Big Bass slot games listed on its official site, and you can expect more to roll out in the future.
All of their games share a lot of similarities, but each has slightly different mechanics and win potential. That includes holiday-themed slots and oddballs like Big Bass Boxing. If you want to see how it all started, you’ll want to start with Big Bass Bonanza.
This title kicked things off with the core mechanic. It is the most casual entry in the series, and a far cry from Bigger Bass Bonanza. That iteration expands the reels and paylines while adding the option for ante bets.
It also raised the payout potential along with the volatility. In 2023, the company took things in a different direction with the aptly named Big Bass Crash. It’s a fantastic choice if you’re curious about crash mechanics, but still want to stay in this fishing franchise.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Straightforward mechanics and a clear paytable
A competitive RTP above the industry average
Bonus round progression is entertaining
The Scatter Assist feature
Flexible betting range
Cons
Can get quiet between bonus rounds
The maximum win is lower than some newer high-volatility slots
Buy Feature costs 100x stake
This is one of the more interesting Big Bass games, and a title that has a little something for everyone. Beginners and casual slotters will appreciate the simple layout and easy-to-follow mechanics in Big Bass Splash slot, while high-variance hunters will find plenty to chase.
The western fishing theme brings personality to the grid, and the modifier draw adds a little chaos to spin sessions. While the max win of 5,000x is not going to turn many heads compared to similar slots, I thought the overall package was a lot of fun. Be sure to give the demo a run before jumping in with real funds.