Every Big Bass slot from Pragmatic Play runs on the same bonus: fisherman wilds collect the cash values on fish symbols during free spins, and every fourth wild retriggers the round with a bigger multiplier (2x, then 3x, then 10x). The versions differ in three places that matter to your money: the RTP (96.07% to 96.71%), the grid, and how big the top prize can get.
The highest RTP in the series is 96.71%, shared by Big Bass Bonanza, Bigger Bass Bonanza, Big Bass Splash and two seasonal editions. The Keeping It Reel and Hold & Spinner branch drops to 96.07% in exchange for a higher ceiling. The table below puts the nine Big Bass slots in our catalogue side by side, with each RTP checked against Pragmatic Play's own game page.
The formula every Big Bass slot shares
Pragmatic Play's game pages describe the same core in almost every edition:
- Three, four or five scatters start the bonus with 10, 15 or 20 free spins.
- Fish symbols carry cash values. They only pay when a fisherman wild lands on the same spin and collects them.
- Every fourth fisherman collected adds 10 more free spins and raises the win multiplier to 2x, then 3x, then 10x.
Most of the base game is filler on the way to that bonus, which is why the series plays as high volatility: long runs of small or no wins, with most of the return paid in the free spins. The sequels change what happens around that loop (modifiers before the bonus, a bigger grid, a second bonus) and the size of the fish values.
Big Bass slots compared
RTP and top prize come from Pragmatic Play's game page for each title. Volatility, reels and lines are from our catalogue. "Fish values" is the largest cash value Pragmatic lists for a single fish symbol; the maximum win of a whole bonus can be higher, and the game's info screen shows the exact cap.
| Slot | RTP | Volatility | Grid | Top prize (Pragmatic Play) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | Medium | 5 reels, 10 lines | Fish values up to 2,000x |
| Bigger Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | High | 5×4, 12 lines | Fish values up to 4,000x |
| Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | 96.70% | High | Megaways | Fish values up to 4,000x |
| Big Bass Christmas Bash | 96.71% | Very High | 5×3, 10 lines | Check the game's info screen |
| Big Bass Halloween 2 | 96.71% | Very High | 10 lines | Max win 5,000x |
| Big Bass Trophy Catch | 96.50% | High | 5 reels, 10 lines | Fish values up to 5,000x |
| Big Bass Mission Fishin' | 96.50% | Very High | 5 reels, 10 lines | Fish values up to 5,000x |
| Big Bass Day at the Races | 96.07% | High | 5×3, 10 lines | Check the game's info screen |
| Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake | 96.07% | Very High | 5×3, 10 lines | Check the game's info screen |
Two patterns stand out. Eight of the nine are rated High or Very High on this site; only the original Big Bass Bonanza is Medium. And RTP falls into three fixed tiers (96.71%, 96.50% and 96.07%), so choosing a Big Bass slot by RTP is really choosing a tier.
Five more Big Bass titles are not in our catalogue yet but have studio figures: Big Bass Splash (96.71%, fish values up to 5,000x), Big Bass Keeping It Reel (96.07%, max win 10,000x), Big Bass Hold & Spinner (96.07%), Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways (96.70%) and Big Bass Bonanza 1000 (96.51%, wins up to 20,000x).
What the RTP tiers cost in shillings
The gap between 96.71% and 96.07% is 0.64 percentage points. On paper that is small; as a cost of play it is a 19% higher house edge (3.93% against 3.29%). Average cost = total staked × (100% − RTP):
| Total staked | 96.71% tier | 96.50% tier | 96.07% tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSh 10,000 (500 spins at KSh 20) | KSh 329 | KSh 350 | KSh 393 |
| KSh 50,000 (1,000 spins at KSh 50) | KSh 1,645 | KSh 1,750 | KSh 1,965 |
These are the studio's headline figures. A casino can run a lower RTP version of the same game, and the drop between versions is usually bigger than the gap between Big Bass tiers. Open the game's rules or paytable screen at your casino and read the RTP there before you compare.
Big Bass Bonanza vs Big Bass Splash vs Bigger Bass Bonanza
All three sit at 96.71%, so the choice is about the bonus.
- Big Bass Bonanza is the plain version: 5×3, 10 lines, fish values up to 2,000x. It is the only Big Bass slot rated Medium volatility on this site, which makes it the gentlest place to start.
- Big Bass Splash keeps the 5×3 grid and adds up to five random modifiers before the free spins begin (extra fish, extra wilds, extra spins and more). Pragmatic lists fish values up to 5,000x.
- Bigger Bass Bonanza moves to a 5×4 grid with 12 lines and fish values up to 4,000x. One extra row means more symbols on screen per spin in the base game and the bonus.
If you want the series at its calmest, play the original. If you want a higher prize ceiling at the same RTP, Splash and Bigger Bass give you that for more swing.
Keeping It Reel and Hold & Spinner: the 96.07% branch
Big Bass Keeping It Reel is a 5×3, 10-line slot where Golden Wilds help you climb levels to bigger multipliers in the bonus. Pragmatic states a maximum win of 10,000x. Big Bass Hold & Spinner adds a second bonus: three coins in the base game turn sticky and start a hold-and-spin round, separate from the usual free spins. Both run at 96.07%.
The same 96.07% tier appears on Big Bass Day at the Races and Secrets of the Golden Lake, both of which add a pick-a-feature step before the free spins. Over KSh 10,000 staked, the 96.07% tier costs about KSh 64 more on average than the 96.71% games. You pay that for the extra features and the higher ceiling. If you like hold and win bonuses, Hold & Spinner is the one built around them.
The Megaways editions
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways and Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways replace the fixed lines with Megaways reels, where the number of symbols per reel changes on every spin. Pragmatic lists 147,456 ways to win on Hold & Spinner Megaways, plus tumbling wins that remove winning symbols and drop new ones in. Bonanza Megaways awards 10 to 25 free spins for three to six scatters and lists fish values up to 4,000x.
Both sit at 96.70%, effectively the same as the top tier. Choose them for the reel style. They are rated High on this site, the same as Bigger Bass Bonanza.
Which Big Bass slot to play
- Set your budget in shillings first. With High or Very High volatility, a KSh 2,000 budget at KSh 20 a spin gives you 100 spins, and the bonus may not land in that time. A smaller bet gives the bonus more chances to appear.
- Pick the volatility. Big Bass Bonanza (Medium on this site) for steadier play; Splash, Bigger Bass or the Megaways editions for a higher ceiling and longer dry runs.
- Pick the RTP tier. 96.71% games cost the least over time. Then check the info screen at your casino, because the version it runs decides the real figure.
- Try it free first. Where a demo is available, it is the cheapest way to see how often the bonus lands. Our free slots page lists slots you can play without a deposit.
You can play these slots in a mobile browser at most online casinos, without an app. For deposits by M-Pesa or Airtel Money, check the casino's cashier. Gambling is for adults 18+; set limits before you play and read our responsible gaming guide.
