Fishin’ Frenzy is a remarkable slot in many ways, not least because it was released way back in the dark ages of 2014 and is still widely played today. Blueprint was the developer behind the game, who are now owned by Merkur, so you sometimes see it listed under both names.
There have also been somewhere in the region of 20 Fishin’ Frenzy offshoots since the original, which speaks to how popular the game was and still is.
We are talking about the original today though. It is the game that introduced the idea of collecting cash amounts, and it is the simplest of them all too, so there is virtually no learning curve.
Like so many games of its time, everything revolves around making it to the free spins round, and that will be explained below.
Fishin’ Frenzy Free Play
Game Features: How To Play
Fishin’ Frenzy is really easy to play because there are no upgrades to unlock or multipliers to keep track of. It’s simply a case of spinning the reels, collecting the odd combination in the base game, and waiting for those scatters to land so you can access the free spins round.
It’s a five reel slot with three rows and 10 paylines offering a maximum win of 5,000x your stake. That’s a maximum of course, so you are highly unlikely to get anywhere near that in a play session. The RTP is 96.12%, but do check wherever you play because some online casinos run versions of the game with a lower one.
It’s a high volatility slot wherever you play it.
Game symbols include fishing rods, tackle boxes, lifebuoys, pelicans, fish of different sizes (with faded out cash amounts on them), and the low paying A, K, Q, J symbols. The fish symbols become doubly relevant in the free spins round.
How Free Spins Work
To trigger free spins, you need to land three or more of the scatter symbol on any spin. This is the fishing boat symbol.
Once you get into the bonus round, the fisherman symbol can land. When he does, he will ‘catch’ any of the fish symbols that are also on the screen for that spin, and in doing so, collect the cash amounts attributed to them.
It’s most usual to trigger free spins by landing 3 scatters, but you are rewarded better for landing more:
- 3 scatters = 10 free spins
- 4 scatters = 15 free spins
- 5 scatters = 20 free spins
Obviously, the longer the free spins round lasts, the more chance you have to catch fish. The fish come in different sizes too, with the bigger fish being worth larger cash amounts.
You can land regular winning combinations during free spins too, including the fish symbols if they land on a payline, but what you’re really hoping for is a nice big catch of fish showing healthy cash amounts.
Verdict
High volatility slots aren’t for everyone, but if you have the patience and the bank roll to churn through the base game and get to the free spins round, this is where the game is at its best.
It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll come away happy of course, but it’s lots of fun. Every spin holds so much potential, and even if you are on your final free spin with very little to show for it, that last one could turn your fortunes around.
It can be annoying too though. A screen full of valuable fish can be frustrating when the fisherman doesn’t land with them, but equally, a single fish at the top end of the cash values can be better than collecting lots of smaller less valuable fish.
Fishin’ Frenzy is pleasing in its simplicity without compromising on the potential for big wins, and that’s what people seem to like about it.
Other Fishin’ Frenzy Games Worth Knowing
Like I said, there are loads of slots in the Fishin’ Frenzy series, and these are some of the better ones:
Fishin’ Frenzy The Big Catch Megaways
Introducing the popular Megaways mechanic to the series, this one expands the game to six reels and up to 15,625 ways to win. Collecting fishermen in the bonus round can upgrade the fish (and therefore their value) as well as award extra spins, giving something extra that the original doesn’t have.
Fishin’ Frenzy Fortune Spins
Fortune Spins keeps the classic game available, but players can also opt for a separate more expensive feature. With Fortune Spins active, four games play at once, with the fisherman available in the base game too, so he can collect fish on every spin, not just on free spins. It’s the collection mechanic without the churn.
Fishin’ Frenzy Even Bigger Fish
A much busier take on the original idea. Bigger Fish offers 4,096 ways to win plus cash collection on every spin. On top of this, it has special collection symbols and upgrades you can unlock, so there are a lot more layers to this version of the game, even if the original idea stays the same.