Reel 'Em In! A Bit Fishy Review
Many slot niches are now becoming overly subscribed. It's very difficult to think of something completely unique and not simply rehash an already established product. Reel ’em In! A Bit Fishy! has got some big competition to beat with names such as Fishin’ Frenzy and Big Bass Bonanza among the top-played titles.
The only way they were going to outshine the rest was by adding some clever additions. And we have to admit, they have done a good job of not following the regular format. The 729 win ways mechanics are slightly different to usual and it's possible to see some decent wins pop up. It's a good effort and we salute them for trying. It's up to you if you think their version is better than the rest.
Design
When loading the game, you assume you are somewhere out in the depths of a huge ocean. That is until the banjo starts to play. You quickly realise that this game takes place at the bottom of a lake with some beer-swelling hicks chucking their rods in the water above your head. So why are there sharks in this lake? We have no idea!
It is a fun soundtrack and there are a few nice little animated touches with the fishing rod making an appearance from time to time. We particularly like the fish swimming past in the background with a few bubbles rising to the surface. It's a simple but fun design and it does more than enough to hold your attention.
Gameplay
Base games can get a tad monotonous and we appreciate it when a game producer tries to break this up a little. The additional fishing rod feature will turn up and add to the excitement with multipliers and a chance of landing the swordfish symbols—which could mean plenty of free spins. And the free spins round is slightly different from usual thanks to the shark wilds that can munch their way across the screen.
It’s not a feature that’s available for UK players, but in some jurisdictions, you can Buy the Bonus for 51x your current wager. This won’t guarantee that your returns will cover the cost of activating the feature, so be sure to try this out in demo mode in the first instance.
Win Potential
The win potential on Reel ’em In! A Bit Fishy! is actually pretty good with a maximum of 8,259x available. The RTP may vary between 94% and 96% and there is relatively high volatility to look out for.
Playing card icons pay out up to 3x your stake, but it’s the themed symbols that deliver the best returns. Fishing nets, hats and tackle boxes pay up to 5x, life rings up to 8x and treble hooks up to 10x your wager.
But it’s the fish that spin up on the horizontal reel that has the most influence on your overall gaming session. Each cash fish comes with a multiplier value ranging from 5x – 50x, so the more you wager, the bigger the potential wins. And if you hook the electric eel and activate the Wild Reel feature, any wins involving that Wild receive a 4x boost.
Our Verdict
It was always going to be hard to get excited about another fishing-themed game but we have to say that we were pleasantly surprised. Light & Wonder has added just enough of an edge to their title to make it a little more unique. It has some decent prizes up for grabs and some nice little features that will keep you coming back for more. It's a good effort.
Even if you’re not a fan of catching fish for sport, there’s a lot of fun to be had from playing this slot. But we think the big attraction will be that max win worth over 8,000x the bet, which is sure to be a hit with slot fans.
Alyx has always loved slots and continuously follows their progress and development. She’s a big fan of gridded slots and music themes as well, so it makes sense that Def Leppard Hysteria is her absolute favourite. She can’t wait to see what’s next in the Play’n GO rock series.
Learn more about Alyx here
