Christmas Big Bass Bonanza

Christmas Big Bass Bonanza Review

Ah, Christmas Big Bass Bonanza — another festive cash grab from the relentless slot machine that is Pragmatic Play. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of Christmas cheer as much as the next guy, but slapping some Santa hats on fish and calling it a new game? Come on, lads, you can do better than that.

Let’s start with the positives, shall we? The game looks pretty enough, with its icy blue backdrop and gently falling snow. The jingly soundtrack will have you humming along in no time, even if you’re trying to resist the Christmas spirit. And hey, who doesn’t love the idea of Santa Claus moonlighting as a fisherman?

Same Old, Same Old

Now, if you’ve played any of the Big Bass Bonanza games before, you’ll know exactly what to expect here. It’s the same 5×3 grid with 10 paylines that we’ve seen a hundred times before. The RTP is a respectable 96.71%, which is nice, but let’s be honest — you’re not here for the base game, are you?

No, you’re here for those sweet, sweet free spins. And boy, does this game dangle that carrot in front of you. Land three or more scatters (which are, predictably, fish wearing Santa hats), and you’re in for a treat. Or at least, that’s what they want you to think.

Free Spins: Where the Magic (Supposedly) Happens

The free spins round is where this game really tries to reel you in (pun absolutely intended). You start with 10, 15, or 20 free spins, depending on how many scatters you landed. Then, it’s all about collecting those wild symbols, which look suspiciously like Santa Claus with a fishing rod.

Each wild collects the values of any money symbols on the screen. Collect four wilds, and you retrigger the feature, getting more free spins and increasing multipliers. Sounds great, right?

The Reality Check

Here’s the thing, though. While the potential for big wins is there — up to 2,100x your stake — actually hitting those big wins is about as likely as catching a real fish wearing a Santa hat. The volatility is high, which means you’ll be sitting through a lot of dead spins before anything exciting happens.

And let’s talk about those multipliers. Yes, they can go up to 10x on your third retrigger, but good luck getting there. Most of the time, you’ll be lucky to see the 2x multiplier before your free spins run out and you’re left wondering where all your money went.

The Verdict

Look, Christmas Big Bass Bonanza isn’t a bad game. It’s just… predictable. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll probably enjoy this festive spin on a familiar formula. The graphics are nice, the soundtrack is jolly, and there’s always that tantalizing possibility of a big win.

But if you’re looking for something fresh and exciting, you might want to cast your line elsewhere. This is essentially the same game you’ve played before, just with a bit of tinsel wrapped around it. It’s like getting socks for Christmas — nice enough, but not exactly thrilling.

In the end, Christmas Big Bass Bonanza is a bit like Christmas dinner leftovers. It’s comforting, familiar, and it’ll do in a pinch, but it’s not going to blow your mind. Play it if you’re in the mood for some festive fishing, but don’t expect any Christmas miracles.