Big Bass Halloween is the perfect choice for a spooky fishing adventure that may end with a big catch - or a big win. The game may look familiar for seasoned players: it’s a holiday version for Big Bass Bonanza, one of the most popular slot machines today.
Pragmatic Play released the game in October 2023, just in time for Halloween. It’s a creepy and scary fishing adventure, and maybe an homage to a classic horror franchise from the 1990s. It has high volatility, and a truly generous bonus feature that will make it a great choice for both casual and professional slot machine players.
Big Bass Halloween has five reels, 3 rows, and 10 fixed win lines. It is Big Bass Bonanza reimagined, the perfect choice for the Halloween season.
Big Bass Halloween Slot Demo
No more Mr Nice Fisherman! Have some scary good fishing wins with the free Big Bass Halloween demo.
Best Casinos to Play Big Bass Halloween Slot for Real Money
Pros and Cons
- Holiday re-skin of Big Bass Bonanza
- Ante bet and Buy Bonus available
- High volatility
- Free spins can be retriggered
- “Buy Bonus” not worth it
- No jackpot
- Low hit frequency
How to Play Big Bass Halloween Slot
Before you start playing this online slot, familiarize yourself with the game’s controls. If you are a seasoned Pragmatic Play slots fan, you’ll find the user interface of Big Bass Halloween familiar:
On the bottom left, there are the game controls: volume, game information, and settings (the gear ⚙️ icon)
Next, the game shows you your total credits and the total bet per spin
In the middle, you’ll see a display of your wins and any messages the game has for you
On the right, you have the prominent Spin button, with Reel Kingdom’s signature crowned ape in the middle
On the sides of the Spin button, you have the ⊖ and ⊕ symbols that will allow you to set your total bet
Below the Spin button, you have the Autoplay button
First of all, set a total bet per spin that you are comfortable with. As part of your bankroll management, set a bet that will give you the most play time and large enough wins while also fitting into your gaming budget. You can set:
The number of coins per line (1 to 10)
The value of the coins (from R0.15 to R37.5)
The total bet (from R1.5 to R3,750 per spin)
You can set the bet to the maximum amount by pressing the Max Bet button
These controls will allow you to fine-tune your total bet to a comfortable level. Once you are done, you can dive right into the scariest fishing adventure of your life.
Big Bass Halloween Slot Symbols
As the name suggests, Big Bass Halloween is a fishing-themed slot machine - but this time, in a Halloween setting. This means that the familiar fishing-related symbols on its reels have been replaced by scarier ones.
The payouts are always calculated as multiples of your total bet.
Low-Paying Symbols
Like all other Big Bass slots, this one borrows its low-paying symbols from playing cards. They are a bit monstrous, though, with their stitches tearing open in a bloody manner when they land in a winning combination.
Symbol | 3 matching symbols | 4 matching symbols | 5 matching symbols |
---|---|---|---|
10 | 0.5x | 2.5x | 10x |
J | 0.5x | 2.5x | 10x |
Q | 0.5x | 2.5x | 10x |
K | 0.5x | 2.5x | 10x |
A | 0.5x | 2.5x | 10x |
High-Paying Symbols
The high-paying symbols in this real money casino game are scary versions of the ones you see in Big Bass Bonanza. The toolbox is a menacing red and black, the dragonfly was caught by a crow, and the fishing rod has been replaced by a bloody hook.
Symbol | 2 matching symbols | 3 matching symbols | 4 matching symbols | 5 matching symbols |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fish | - | 1x | 5x | 8x |
Toolbox | - | 2x | 10x | 50x |
Dragonfly | - | 2x | 10x | 50x |
Hook | - | 3x | 15x | 100x |
Life buoy | 0.5x | 5x | 20x | 200x |
Special Symbols
Unlike most other slot machines, Big Bass Halloween doesn’t have Wild symbols in the base game. But their role during the Free Spins is much more important than just standing in for symbols in winning combinations:
The Wild symbol only appears during the Free Spins. It substitutes for all symbols except for the Scatter. When landing on the screen together with Fish Money symbols, it collects all the amounts from the screen and pays them out to you.
The Scatter symbol appears only during the base game. It doesn’t pay, but it triggers the game’s Free Spins.
The Fish Money symbols appear in the base game, too, but they only pay during the Free Spins. The Wild symbol collects the amounts from all Fish Money symbols.
My First Moments Playing Big Bass Halloween Slot
When I first loaded Big Bass Halloween, I almost reached the uncanny valley. It’s so much like Big Bass Bonanza… yet its theme gives it a completely different atmosphere. The game is obviously inspired by Benjamin Willis or The Fisherman - the villain in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” - with its oversized rain gear and bloody hook. It was a perfect choice, I must say.
A Scary Spin on a Familiar Game
The game may look different but under the skin, it is the same as Big Bass Bonanza. It’s a tried-and-tested format that’s been around since 2020 and has since become one of the most popular slot machines - not just among fishers.
A Homage to a Horror Classic
A single look at the game makes it obvious that it is as much a Halloween slot machine as it is a homage to a horror classic. “I Know What You Did Last Summer” was released in 1997, creating countless tropes for the teen slasher genre.
Big Bass Halloween Slot Bonus Features
The only bonus feature in the Big Bass Halloween slot machine is the Free Spins. But it has enough goodies and potential for big wins to be worth waiting for.
Big Bass Halloween Free Spins
The Free Spins can be triggered by three or more Scatter symbols landing on the screen. Depending on the number of triggering Scatters, you’ll get:
10 free spins for 3 Scatter symbols
15 free spins for 4 Scatter symbols
20 free spins for 5 Scatter symbols
You can increase the chance of triggering the Free Spins through the Ante side bet. This will increase your total bet by 50% (from R10 to R15, for example), and increase the number of Scatters on the reels. There’s also a Buy Free Spins function that will instantly trigger 10 free spins in exchange for 100 times your total bet.
The Free Spins bonus game is played with an alternative set of reels:
No Scatter symbols on the reels
Wild symbols are added
The Fish symbols turn into Fish Money symbols with winnings between 2x and 2,000x your total bet on them
The Wild symbols take on a special role during the Free Spins bonus game. When it lands on the screen, it “catches all the fish” - collects all the values from the Fish Money symbols. Wild symbols are also collected at the top of the screen. Every fourth catch will give you a special prize: 10 more free spins plus a 2x, 4x, and 10x multiplier (in this order) applied to all the subsequent catches. If you’re lucky, you can catch truly spectacular wins during the game’s bonus feature.
Some Technical Considerations
With a slightly lower RTP than usual, high volatility, and the lack of Wild symbols in the base game, Big Bass Halloween might not be the right choice for casual players. Of course, it’s a fun Halloween slot machine but without frequent payouts, it may become boring pretty fast. If you’re a high roller with a considerable budget and a lot of patience, though, you should definitely give it a try. While the base game won’t pamper you with frequent big wins, the free spins feature will more than make up for it. As long as you’re patient enough, of course.
Big Bass Halloween Slot Strategy & Tips
Like all other Pragmatic Play slot machines, Big Bass Halloween is completely fair and random. This means that there are no cheats and tricks that will help you beat it. The game is volatile and doesn’t pamper you with frequent hits. To make the most of it, you should:
Manage your bankroll: set your total bet to a level that allows you the maximum playtime with the lowest risk
Be patient: Big Bass Halloween is a high-volatility game which means that it hits rarely, and you’ll probably have to wait a considerable time before triggering the Free Spins.
Limit your playtime: It’s easy to get absorbed in the game. To avoid spending more than you should, set timers to limit your playtime. Play responsibly!
Should You Play Big Bass Halloween Slot?
Give Big Bass Halloween a go if you’re looking for a slightly horror-themed Halloween slot machine. While it’s not the perfect casual game, it will give you some fun times - maybe even a few big wins. If you’re a high roller with a big budget, you can play it to win. But prepare to be frustrated by its infrequent hits.
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Big Bass Halloween Slot FAQs
What is Big Bass Halloween?
Big Bass Halloween is the Halloween-skinned version of Reel Kingdom’s “Big Bass Bonanza” slot machine. It was released by Pragmatic Play in October 2023.
Where can I play Big Bass Halloween?
You can play the demo version of Big Bass Halloween for free right on this page
Can I play Big Bass Halloween on mobile?
Yes, Big Bass Halloween is 100% smartphone-friendly. You can play it in South African casino apps or on websites.
How to win big at Big Bass Halloween?
Be patient and wait for the Free Spins bonus feature to hit. That’s the place where you’ll get the big wins.
Rudie Venter is a seasoned online casino games expert with 13 years of industry experience. Holding a degree in psychology, he combines academic insight with practical knowledge of casino game strategies. Rudie's talent lies in demystifying game mechanics, making them accessible and fun for everyone. On his time off, Rudie loves a good ol’ braai and watching the rugby with a naughty Klippies & Coke (in moderation, of course).
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