Vampires slots are sinister and scary, Ancient Egyptian slots are loaded with adventure and fruit-themed games are a sweet distraction, but going by the figures, some of the most popular online slots are the ones with a fishing theme. Every online casino worth playing has a wealth of these to try, where you can cast your rod into the reels with the hopes of landing the big one. With so many people playing fishing-themed slots around the world, why not take a closer look with Wildz to see what all the hype is about.
Casinos net profitable fishing games
According to Egamingmonitor.com, the site that monitors game rankings across more than 2,000 online casino sites every month, there's a notable quirk when it comes to fishing-themed games. It's not unusual for 4 of the Top 10 games to have a fishy storyline, and game developer powerhouses are looking to capitalise on this success: chances are, when a slots game makes the big time, you'll find spinoffs, sequels and prequels released with exciting mechanics such as Megaways added into the mix. The games may be similar, in the same way that a goldfish is a little bit like a shark.
Small bait, big catch
Despite this remarkable popularity rate, there are no dedicated fish slots casinos (the idea that got away, perhaps?). Even among game developers, fewer than 1% of 4,800 new game titles released by 600 studios last year have a fish theme, according to igamingbusiness dot com, although the fish titles reportedly outdo the others in terms of performance.
This is a hint that when you create a slots game that involves angling, fishing or trawling, you'd better make sure it hits all the right notes. Take Pragmatic Play's title Big Bass Bonanza, currently the leading game in this genre. for example. This game has all-round excellence on its side, from gameplay to graphic design. So much so that it has four spinoff titles, each one regularly making the Top 10 online slots games lists. You can catch a glimpse of Big Bass Bonanza Keeping it Reel, Big Bass Splash, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways and Christmas Big Bass Bonanza to compare this whopper of a game.
Frenzy time!
Another game that has spawned a library of titles is Fishin' Frenzy, parent game to Fishin' Frenzy Megaways and Fishin' Frenzy Reel Time Fortune Play, evidence that one great idea can easily be used to birth other ideas. Take a look at some other current titles and see if you can guess which one is likely to have an offshoot title soon: Alaskan Fishing, Old Fisherman, Reel Big Fish, Go Fish and Fishin' Pots of Gold all show loads of promise.
What to expect from a great fishing slot
Fishing, as a theme, has plenty of scope when it comes to imagery and symbols. Naturally, water plays the biggest part, but you can also expect salty fishermen, happy fish, curious crabs, bobbing boats, waving seaweed and, sometimes, underwater treasure chests that you can snag on your hook, if you're lucky. There's no limit to the mechanics in play, either, with Free Spins, Multipliers, bonus rounds, expanding reels and cascading symbols all up for grabs across various titles. Jackpot games hold great appeal for players, although even the more modest Classic slots-styled fish slots games attract loads of visitors. A great idea is to search in the online casino's games lobby for titles that sound appealing. Many are available to play for free in Demo Mode so you can get an idea of how they work before deciding whether or not to place a wager. Be sure to make a note of the volatility of a slot so you know how to manage your bankroll.
Promotions, bonuses and more
One reason fish-themed slots are so popular is that they're popular! Since players enjoy playing these games, they're often part of limited edition promotions or marketed in partnership with bonuses and incentives, so they're not hard to find. A good fisherman knows to go where the fish are, after all, so if you head to the popular gaming sites like Wildz, you'll be sure to find what you're looking for.
An honourable mention must surely go to Razor Shark from Push Gaming. While it's not quite a fishing slot in the traditional sense, there's some seafood snacking going on with every spin!
Online slots can bring incredible opportunities to win, although all players should exercise responsible gaming behaviour, including knowing when to stop, having a pre-determined budget and taking plenty of breaks.