Exploring the Relentless iGaming Trend of Fishing Games
Around 12 years ago, which is a very long time ago in the iGaming world, the Reel Time Gaming-developed Fishin’ Frenzy arrived at online casinos and land-based casino slots terminals.
It was a hit at the time, with players enjoying its core feature and chance to catch cash-carrying fish. However, the trend then pivoted to high volatility slots.
As a low-medium variance game, Fishin’ Frenzy and its less flashy graphics sank from the top spots.
In 2020, having seemingly seen the potential of that core feature, Reel Kingdom revealed Big Bass Bonanza. A medium-high volatility slot with modern graphics, it kick started a trend that has only grown in strength over the last six years.
Now, the fishing theme is the biggest in iGaming. Where once the mythical deities of ancient Mediterranean civilisations ruled, a tide of fishing slots have now taken over.
Some platforms carry over 130 games in this theme, showcasing the relentlessness of the appeal of fishing slots in modern iGaming.
Catching the Most Popular Games
It’s up to every casino to create a stout library of online slot games that offers broad appeal.
This means including new and older games that span the many different themes, features, prize sizes, volatilities, and those that prove to be the most popular.
To hit the popularity quota, it’s almost essential to feature fishing games.
In the UK overall, six of the top 12 games, including the top two, are fishing slots.
The Big Bass series is the most dominant within this subgenre, headlined by Big Bass Splash, Big Bass Bonanza, and Bigger Bass Bonanza.
There’s also space for another series, two, with Fishin’ Pots of Gold having two entries within this top 12.
Despite the fact that we’re just looking at the games within one theme here, with many of them having essentially the same core feature – as that’s what’s really popular about the subgenre – there’s a lot of variety.
Big Bass has gone from river fishing to Vegas, boxing, and even a more sci-fi approach with Mission Fishin’.
Fishin’ Frenzy eventually got back into the race after Big Bass took off. It followed suit by upping the ante with new features, bigger top prizes, and higher volatility ratings in the likes of Fishin’ Frenzy The Big Catch Jackpot King.
Around them, we’ve got Fishin’ Pots of Gold games and one-offs like Fluffy Fishin’, Fish Eye, and Kingfisher.
Big Bass vs Fishin’ Frenzy
These are the two headline series in the wildly popular theme in slots. Fishin’ Frenzy first introduced the world to the core formula and has rightly made a comeback that rides the wave spurred on greatly by Big Bass Bonanza. Looking to catch up, the series has explored several new versions, like the enhanced The Big Catch games.
Even as the progenitor of this, Big Bass’ arrival generated so much momentum that not only is the original game still very popular, but the developers saw an opportunity to continue to expand.
The Big Bass series is what drives the most clicks in this arena, with zany new additions like Raceday Repeat further entrenching its place at the top.
Given how well the formula both suits high-powered feature play and the sport itself, it’s not a surprise to see fishing slots become the dominant force in iGaming.
It’ll take the creation of another particularly accessible and potentially potent core and catchy feature for these games to be unseated from the throne.
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