Big Bass Slot Versions Compared

Big Bass is the most successful fishing-themed slot franchise in the online casino industry. Big Bass was created by Reel Kingdom in partnership with Pragmatic Play and launched with the original Big Bass Bonanza in December 2020. Pragmatic Play has since released more than 35 Big Bass slot versions, including sequels, Megaways remasters, seasonal reskins, and 1000 variants.

This article compares 7 of the most popular Big Bass slot versions across Return to Player, volatility, grid layout, max win, and bonus mechanics. Understanding the differences between Big Bass versions helps players select the variation that matches their risk tolerance and preferred gameplay style. Learn more about slots with SlotsRank guides!

Big Bass Bonanza vs Big Bass Splash

Big Bass Bonanza and Big Bass Splash share the same 5x3 grid, 10 paylines, and 96.71% RTP but differ significantly in max win potential and bonus mechanics. Big Bass Bonanza launched the franchise in December 2020 with a medium-to-high volatility profile and a max win of 2,100x the bet. Big Bass Splash arrived in June 2022 as the franchise's most popular sequel with high volatility and a max win of 5,000x the bet.

There are 4 key differences between Big Bass Bonanza and Big Bass Splash.

• Max win differs by a factor of 2.4. Big Bass Bonanza caps at 2,100x while Big Bass Splash reaches 5,000x
• Fisherman Wilds appear as 1 per spin in Bonanza compared to up to 4 per spin in Splash, with each Splash Fisherman operating with an independent multiplier
• Volatility is medium-to-high in Bonanza and high in Splash, meaning Splash produces longer dry spells but bigger potential payouts
• Casino availability is equally strong for both versions, as both rank among the most commonly offered titles in welcome bonus free-spin promotions

Big Bass Bonanza suits beginners and bankroll-conscious players because of its lower volatility and more frequent, smaller wins. Big Bass Splash suits experienced players who are willing to accept longer losing streaks in exchange for significantly higher max win potential.

Bigger Bass Bonanza vs Big Bass Keeping It Reel

Bigger Bass Bonanza and Big Bass Keeping It Reel represent two different evolution paths from the original Big Bass formula. Bigger Bass Bonanza expanded the grid and added paylines. Big Bass Keeping It Reel kept the original grid and focused on multiplier enhancements. There are 4 comparison criteria that separate these 2 versions.

1. Grid and paylines - Bigger Bass Bonanza expanded to a 5x4 grid with 12 paylines, while Keeping It Reel stayed at the original 5x3 grid with 10 paylines. The expanded grid creates more symbol positions per spin and increases the base-game win frequency.
2. RTP - Bigger Bass Bonanza maintains the original 96.71% while Keeping It Reel drops to 96.07%. Bigger Bass holds a 0.64% RTP advantage over Keeping It Reel.
3. Max win - Bigger Bass Bonanza caps at 4,000x, while Keeping It Reel reaches 10,000x. Keeping It Reel's max win is 2.5 times higher than Bigger Bass Bonanza's ceiling.
4. Key new feature - Bigger Bass Bonanza added the Bazooka feature that randomly converts standard symbols into Money symbols during Free Spins. Keeping It Reel introduced Golden Wilds that collect all visible Money symbols and accumulate up to 10x multipliers.

The tradeoff between these 2 versions is clear. Bigger Bass Bonanza offers a higher RTP and more paylines, but a lower max win ceiling. Big Bass Keeping It Reel sacrifices RTP for dramatically higher max win potential and stronger multiplier mechanics. Players who value long-term expected return choose Bigger Bass Bonanza. Players who pursue large single-spin payouts choose Big Bass Keeping It Reel.

Big Bass Hold & Spinner vs Big Bass Keeping It Reel

Big Bass Hold & Spinner and Big Bass Keeping It Reel share identical base specs but differ entirely in bonus structure. Both versions use a 5x3 grid with 10 paylines, a 96.07% RTP, high volatility, and a max win of 10,000x. The choice between these 2 versions depends entirely on the preferred bonus mechanic. There are 3 key differences in the bonus structure between these versions.

• Bonus paths differ in quantity. Big Bass Keeping It Reel has 1 bonus path through Free Spins with Golden Wilds that collect all Money symbols and build multipliers up to 10x. Big Bass Hold & Spinner has 2 independent bonus paths through Free Spins with Fisherman Wilds and a separate Hold & Spinner bonus with sticky coins
• Multiplier mechanic works differently in each version. Keeping It Reel's Golden Wilds accumulate multipliers within a single bonus round. Hold & Spinner's sticky coin mechanic builds cumulative value through 3 respins that reset with each new coin landing
• Bonus trigger frequency is higher in Hold & Spinner because 2 separate features can activate independently, while Keeping It Reel channels all bonus activity through a single feature

Big Bass Keeping It Reel suits players who prefer one concentrated, high-impact bonus round. Big Bass Hold & Spinner suits players who prefer more frequent bonus triggers with 2 different mechanic styles. The maximum win remains 10,000x regardless of the version selected.

Standard Big Bass vs Megaways Big Bass

The fundamental structural divide in the Big Bass franchise separates 5-reel fixed payline games from 6-reel Megaways games. Standard Big Bass versions use 5x3 or 5x4 grids with 10 to 12 fixed paylines. Megaways Big Bass versions use 6 reels with variable rows that generate up to 46,656 ways to win in Big Bass Bonanza Megaways and up to 147,456 ways to win in Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways. There are 4 comparison criteria that separate the standard and Megaways groups.

1. Reel structure - Standard versions display the same number of symbols on every spin across a fixed grid. Megaways versions change reel sizes on every spin, creating unpredictable spin-to-spin variation in the number of active ways to win
2. RTP - Standard versions range from 96.07% to 96.71%. Megaways versions sit at 96.70%, which falls between the two standard tiers. The RTP difference alone does not determine which group is better
3. Max win - Standard versions range from 2,100x to 10,000x. Megaways versions range from 4,000x to 20,000x. Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways holds the franchise record at 20,000x
4. Cascading reels - Megaways versions remove winning symbols after each win and drop new symbols into vacated positions. The cascading mechanic allows chain reactions of multiple wins from a single paid spin. Standard versions resolve each spin in a single evaluation without cascading

Standard Big Bass versions suit players who prefer a familiar and controlled reel structure. Megaways Big Bass versions suit players who enjoy dynamic reel mechanics, cascading win chains, and higher max win ceilings.

Which Big Bass Slot Version Has the Best RTP?

Big Bass Bonanza, Bigger Bass Bonanza, and Big Bass Splash share the highest default Return to Player in the franchise at 96.71%. The RTP rankings of all 7 versions, from highest to lowest, are listed below.

1. Big Bass Bonanza, Bigger Bass Bonanza, Big Bass Splash - 96.71%
2. Big Bass Bonanza Megaways, Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways - 96.70%
3. Big Bass Keeping It Reel, Big Bass Hold & Spinner - 96.07%

The newer versions (Keeping It Reel and Hold & Spinner) dropped to 96.07% because these releases compensate for their higher max win potential with a reduced base RTP. Casino operators can also select lower RTP tiers for any version. Big Bass Keeping It Reel is available in 96.07%, 95.05%, and 94.07% configurations depending on the casino. Verify the active RTP in the game's info menu before placing real-money bets.

Which Big Bass Slot Version Has the Highest Max Win?

Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways has the highest max win in the franchise at 20,000x the bet. The max win rankings of all 7 versions, from highest to lowest, are listed below.

1. Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways - 20,000x
2. Big Bass Keeping It Reel - 10,000x
3. Big Bass Hold & Spinner - 10,000x
4. Big Bass Splash - 5,000x
5. Bigger Bass Bonanza - 4,000x
6. Big Bass Bonanza Megaways - 4,000x
7. Big Bass Bonanza - 2,100x

Higher max win potential comes with a significant tradeoff. The probability of hitting the 20,000x max win in Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways is approximately 1 in 1,496,522 spins. The original Big Bass Bonanza has a lower max win of 2,100x but a substantially higher probability of reaching that ceiling. Players who pursue maximum payout potential accept extremely rare win frequencies as the cost.

Comparison Table of Big Bass Slot Versions

The comparison table below summarizes the key specs of the 7 most popular Big Bass slot versions.

How to Choose the Right Big Bass Slot Version

The 4 steps for choosing the right Big Bass slot version are listed below.

1. Define the preferred volatility level. Select Big Bass Bonanza for medium-to-high volatility or choose a Megaways variant for high volatility with dynamic reel mechanics
2. Compare the RTP values and select the version with the highest available tier at the chosen casino platform
3. Decide between fixed paylines on a 5x3 grid and Megaways variable ways to win on a 6-reel grid
4. Choose the bonus mechanic that matches the preferred playing style. Select single Free Spins (Bonanza, Splash), Golden Wild multipliers (Keeping It Reel), or a dual-feature system (Hold & Spinner)