Big Bass Bonanza Megaways

Big Bass Bonanza Megaways moves Pragmatic Play’s fishing series onto a six-reel variable grid with up to 46,656 ways to win. It also introduces tumbling symbols, a horizontal bonus reel and two feature modifiers called Dynamite and Bazooka.

I see this as the most mechanically active of the first three Big Bass releases. The familiar Fisherman collection system remains, but the changing grid and consecutive tumbles create more possibilities from each spin. The trade-off is very high volatility and a bonus that can finish without progressing beyond its starting multiplier.

Big Bass Bonanza Megaways Slot Details

The available stakes, currency, RTP and optional features may vary between casinos. Pragmatic Play games can be supplied in alternative mathematical configurations, so the information panel inside the loaded game should be checked before playing.

Fishing Theme and Presentation

The game returns to the tropical fishing setting of the wider Big Bass series. Boats, blue water and a colourful coastal landscape frame a grid filled with fishing equipment, card ranks and Fish carrying monetary values.

The visual style is familiar rather than original, but the variable reel heights and tumbling animations make the screen more active than in the fixed-grid versions. A horizontal bonus reel sits above the central reels and moves symbols from right to left during tumbles.

The fisherman remains the main character during free spins. His collection animations clearly show when Money Fish values are being gathered, while the Dynamite and Bazooka sequences add more movement to otherwise empty bonus spins.

How the Megaways Grid Works

Big Bass Bonanza Megaways uses six variable reels and provides up to 46,656 ways to win. The number of visible symbols changes between spins, which means the number of active ways also changes.

A winning combination requires matching symbols on consecutive reels from left to right, beginning with the first reel. The symbols do not need to occupy the same row because the game uses ways to win rather than fixed paylines.

The extra horizontal reel supplies additional symbols above the central part of the grid. During tumbles, symbols on the main reels fall from above while the bonus reel moves from right to left.

A high number of active ways creates more possible combinations, but it does not guarantee a payout. Each spin and tumble remains random.

Tumbling Wins

After a winning combination is paid, all regular symbols involved in that win disappear. Symbols above them fall into the empty positions, and the refreshed grid is evaluated again without another stake being charged.

The process continues until no new winning combination appears. Several tumbles can therefore occur from one paid spin.

Scatter symbols remain in place instead of tumbling. Money Fish behave differently depending on the game mode: they tumble normally in the base game but remain on the grid during free spins.

Symbols and Special Roles

The regular symbol set combines playing-card ranks with fishing equipment. Card symbols occupy the lower end of the paytable, while rods, tackle boxes, dragonflies and floats provide the stronger standard payouts.

Fish symbols carry randomly assigned cash values. During free spins, they remain on the screen while other winning symbols tumble around them. Their values can then be collected by a Fisherman symbol.

The Fisherman acts as a collector during the bonus. After all tumbles from the current spin have finished, each Fisherman collects the values shown on every Money Fish still visible.

If several Fishermen land, each one performs a collection. The same group of Fish can therefore be paid more than once on a single free spin.

Free Spins Feature

Landing three or more Scatter symbols triggers the bonus:

• Three Scatters: 10 free spins.
• Four Scatters: 15 free spins.
• Five Scatters: 20 free spins.

During free spins, Money Fish are not removed when they participate in a tumble. Instead, they move down the grid as other symbols disappear. Fish combinations are evaluated after the complete tumbling sequence, and Fishermen collect their monetary values at the end of the spin.

This order matters. A Fish can survive several tumbles before being collected, while new Fishermen or additional Fish may enter the grid during the same sequence.

Fisherman Meter and Multiplier Stages

Fishermen are counted after all tumbles on a free spin have finished. Every fourth collected Fisherman advances the bonus to its next stage and schedules ten additional free spins after the current set is completed.

The feature contains four stages:

• Stage 1: all wins and collected Fish values use a 1x multiplier.
• Stage 2: unlocked after four Fishermen, with 10 extra spins and a 2x multiplier.
• Stage 3: unlocked after eight Fishermen, with 10 extra spins and a 3x multiplier.
• Stage 4: unlocked after 12 Fishermen, with 10 extra spins and a 10x multiplier.

Unlike some earlier Big Bass descriptions, the multiplier is not limited to Money Fish collections. The active stage multiplier applies to regular ways wins as well as Fish awards.

A maximum of 12 Fishermen can advance the feature. Any additional Fishermen after the final stage do not award further spins or increase the multiplier beyond 10x.

Dynamite Feature

Dynamite can activate during free spins when one or two Fishermen are visible but no Money Fish have landed. The fisherman throws dynamite, causing selected fruit symbols to explode and be replaced by Fish carrying cash values.

The newly added Fish are then collected normally. Dynamite is a random modifier, so an empty Fisherman does not guarantee that it will activate.

Bazooka Feature

The Bazooka feature can also occur when one or two Fishermen land without any Money Fish. The fisherman fires across the grid and removes every symbol except the Fishermen.

A new set of symbols then tumbles into the empty positions. These replacements can include Money Fish or additional Fishermen, potentially creating a collection or moving the feature closer to its next multiplier stage.

Bazooka provides a more extensive grid refresh than Dynamite, but it is also randomly activated and cannot be selected by the player.

Bonus Buy

A direct Bonus Buy may be offered by casinos in jurisdictions where feature purchases are permitted. It provides immediate access to the free-spins round without requiring the normal Scatter combination.

The purchase does not guarantee a Fisherman retrigger, a high multiplier or a profit. Its cost and active RTP should be checked in the game interface before confirmation.

RTP, Volatility and Maximum Win

The headline RTP is 96.70%, although lower configurations may be used by individual operators. RTP is a theoretical long-term percentage and cannot predict the result of one spin, bonus or playing session.

Pragmatic Play gives the game its highest volatility classification. A large share of the potential depends on reaching free spins, landing Fishermen alongside valuable Fish and advancing through the collection stages.

The maximum win is 4,000x the stake. Money Symbols can display values up to the game’s payout ceiling, but the appearance of a large value does not guarantee that a Fisherman will land to collect it.

If the 4,000x limit is reached, the game ends the round and awards the capped amount, even if free spins remain.

Comparison with Earlier Big Bass Games

Big Bass Bonanza offers the simplest version of the collection system. Bigger Bass Bonanza expands the fixed grid and introduces direct Fish payouts, while the Megaways edition adds variable reels and tumbling wins.

I would choose the Megaways version for its more active reel mechanics. Players who prefer predictable paylines and a less crowded interface may find one of the earlier games easier to follow.

Mobile Experience

The HTML5 version is available on desktop, mobile and tablet devices. The portrait layout keeps the variable grid, bonus reel and Fisherman meter visible without requiring horizontal scrolling.

Tumbling sequences remain clear on smaller screens, although the changing reel heights make the display busier than the fixed-grid versions. Autoplay, Turbo Spin and Bonus Buy may be unavailable in regulated markets.

Advantages and Drawbacks

What I Like

• The variable grid provides up to 46,656 ways to win.
• Tumbling symbols can produce several wins from one paid spin.
• Money Fish remain on the grid during free-spin tumbles.
• The multiplier applies to both regular wins and Fish collections.
• Dynamite and Bazooka can turn empty Fisherman spins into collection opportunities.
• Every fourth Fisherman awards ten extra spins and advances the bonus stage.

What Could Be Better

• The game uses Pragmatic Play’s highest volatility classification.
• Most of the distinctive mechanics are concentrated in free spins.
• Dynamite and Bazooka activate randomly.
• Twelve Fishermen are required to reach the 10x stage.
• The 4,000x maximum matches Bigger Bass Bonanza despite the more complex format.

My Big Bass Bonanza Megaways Rating

4.2 out of 5

Final Verdict

Big Bass Bonanza Megaways makes more substantial changes than a typical sequel. Variable reels and tumbling wins give the base game extra movement, while persistent Money Fish create more interesting sequences during free spins.

The Fisherman progression remains easy to understand, but reaching the strongest stage requires 12 collected Fishermen. Dynamite and Bazooka provide additional chances to find Fish, although neither can be relied upon.

My rating for Big Bass Bonanza Megaways is 4.2 out of 5. It is the most dynamic of the early Big Bass games, but its very high volatility and 4,000x payout cap prevent the added complexity from being an advantage for every player.

The game should be treated as paid entertainment with a real possibility of losing the full amount staked. More titles from the developer are available on the Pragmatic Play page and in the Bonanza slots catalogue.

Big Bass Bonanza Megaways In Comparison Table