Post Published: January 28, 2025
Author: Chlo

6.2

Scored by our Casino Expert Chloe

While the theme is a nice variation, the repetitive nature of the mechanics highlights the need for Reel Kingdom to rethink and evolve the series to maintain its appeal.

Big Bass Return to the Races (Reel Kingdom) – Slot Review

Big Bass Return to the Races Online Slots Casino New Volatile Reel Kingdom

Big Bass Return to the Races by Reel Kingdom brings a refreshing twist to the beloved Big Bass series, combining the excitement of horse racing with the classic fishing theme that fans have come to adore. While previous installments like Big Bass Bonanza, Big Bass Splash, and Big Bass Keeping it Reel focused on fishing and underwater adventures, this new entry transports players to the lively world of horse racing, complete with symbols like binoculars, champagne, and jockeys.

The slot cleverly integrates its theme with familiar mechanics from the series, maintaining the nostalgic charm of the Big Bass games while adding a unique setting to keep the experience fresh. This fusion of high-stakes racing and classic Big Bass gameplay provides both continuity for long-time fans and novelty for those seeking something new.

Big Bass Return to the Races features a 5-reel, 3-row layout with 10 fixed paylines. This high-variance slot offers an RTP of 96.07% and a maximum win capped at 5,000x the bet. Players can wager between £0.10 and £375 per spin.

Big Bass Return to the Races Symbols & Pay Table

Big Bass Return to the Races Online Slots Casino New Volatile Reel Kingdom Symbols Pay Table Line

The game includes 12 symbols: five low-paying symbols represented by 10, J, Q, K, and A, and five premium symbols represented by Horse Racers, Binoculars, Beers, Bait Boxes, and Champagne. Special symbols include the Wild, which substitutes for all regular symbols, and the Scatter, which appears on all reels and is key to triggering Free Spins.

Big Bass Return to the Races Features & Mechanics

Money Symbol Feature

On every spin, Money Symbols take on a random value that can be won during the Free Spins feature. Potential values range from 2x to 5,000x the total bet, providing significant win opportunities.

Free Spins Feature

Landing 3, 4, or 5 Scatter symbols triggers the Free Spins round, awarding 10, 15, or 20 free spins, respectively. If only two Scatters land, a random feature may help secure the third Scatter by

  • Triggering a respin, moving the existing Scatters one position down while the other reels respin.
  • Adding an additional Scatter randomly on the screen.

Before the round begins, players choose one of 12 cards to reveal the type of Free Spins awarded. A Bonus card grants the standard Free Spins round, while a Golden Cup card activates the Golden Cup Free Spins.

Big Bass Return to the Races Online Slots Casino New Volatile Reel Kingdom Free Spins Bonus

Standard Free Spins

During regular Free Spins, Wild symbols collect all values from Money Symbols on the screen. Wilds are also collected and tracked throughout the round. Every fourth Wild collected retriggers the feature, awarding 10 additional spins and increasing the Money Symbol collection multiplier:

  • 2x for the second level.
  • 3x for the third level.
  • 10x for the fourth and final level.

The feature cannot be retriggered beyond the fourth level.

Golden Cup Free Spins

In the Golden Cup Free Spins, regular symbols are removed, leaving an empty grid populated only by Money Symbols, Wilds, and blanks. This special mode begins with 10 Free Spins. Wild symbols collect the values of all Money Symbols on the screen, and every fourth Wild retriggers the feature with the same progressive multiplier system as the standard Free Spins.

Random Free Spins Enhancements
During any type of Free Spins, the following random events can occur:

  • When Wilds are present but no Money Symbols, random Money Symbols may appear on the screen.
  • When Money Symbols are present but no Wilds, a lasso may pull a random reel to add Wilds.
  • If Wilds are present but no Money Symbols, a curtain animation may replace non-Wild symbols with new symbols.

Ante Bet and Buy Feature
Players can activate the Ante Bet option for a 50% increase in their wager, enhancing the likelihood of triggering the Free Spins feature. Alternatively, Free Spins can be purchased directly for 100x the bet, or Golden Cup Free Spins can be purchased for 270x the bet.

Conclusion

Big Bass Return to the Races by Reel Kingdom is yet another addition to the popular Big Bass series, blending the familiar fishing-themed mechanics with a horse racing twist. While the effort to refresh the theme with a creative setting is commendable, the slot ultimately falls into the trap of repetition. The gameplay mechanics remain largely unchanged from previous Big Bass titles, which may leave players feeling uninspired.

For those who are new to the series, it offers a solid, if predictable, experience. However, long-time fans might find the formula starting to feel stale, as the lack of innovation in features and gameplay fails to deliver a sense of excitement. Be sure to try out this game on launch and check out our exclusive casino offers.