4 Fantastic Fish (4ThePlayer) Slot Review

4 Fantastic Fish: Slot Overview 

Released on June 6, 2022, 4 Fantastic Fish by 4ThePlayer reels players into a vibrant, aquatic adventure that merges classic fishing slot elements with innovative twists. Featuring 6 reels, 4 rows, and 4,096 ways to win, this high-volatility slot offers a maximum win potential of 15,000x your bet. The game’s star attractions include Cash Ways, Big Game Jackpots, the Respin Bonus, and an occasional visit from a helpful Giant Squid that rearranges symbols for guaranteed or improved wins. 

The theme taps into the evergreen appeal of fishing slots, standing proudly alongside industry staples like Fishin’ Frenzy, but with its own distinct personality. It’s equally accessible for casual players and high rollers, thanks to a flexible betting range of €0.10 to €80 per spin, and a math model boasting a 96.0% RTP and a 23.41% hit frequency.

Design and Graphics 

The visual presentation of 4 Fantastic Fish is an explosion of color and charm, evoking a cheerful “Finding Nemo” atmosphere. The background immerses players in a lively ocean scene, with coral reefs, sunlit waters, and gentle waves glistening overhead.

The reel set is populated by playful marine life and fishing paraphernalia. Premium symbols include tackle boxes, fishing rods, crabs, seagulls, and fishermen, with the top-paying fisherman delivering 10x the bet for six-of-a-kind. Lower-paying symbols are the standard 10–A royals, each stylized with fishing hooks for thematic consistency. 

The fishing boat acts as the Wild symbol, substituting for all regular pay symbols to help form winning combinations. The bright and cartoonish art style works beautifully with the upbeat theme, and the animations — from bobbing fish to a squid’s tentacle reaching in — add character and a sense of fun.

Gameplay Mechanics 

The slot operates on a 6×4 grid with 4,096 ways to win, paying when three or more matching symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right, starting at reel one. Premium symbols require at least two matches to pay, while royals need three. 

A defining feature of 4 Fantastic Fish is the Cash Ways system. Here, fish symbols display cash prize values ranging from 0.2x to 100x the bet. When fish form part of a winning combination, their displayed values are summed and awarded as part of the prize. 

The Giant Squid can randomly appear on any spin, rearranging fish symbols to guarantee or improve a win — a clever addition that keeps gameplay dynamic. 

Another standout mechanic is the jackpot fish on reel six. These display fixed jackpot values: 

Big – 100x bet 

Super – 500x bet 

Mega – 2,000x bet 

Ultra – 10,000x bet 

If these symbols are part of a fish win, their jackpot value is instantly awarded.

Sound and Music 

The audio design matches the game’s buoyant visuals perfectly. Background music is light and cheerful, evoking the joy of a sunny day at sea. Reel spins are accompanied by soft splashes and satisfying clicks, while wins trigger celebratory jingles that build in excitement depending on the prize size. 

The Giant Squid’s appearance is heralded by a playful, almost mischievous tune, while jackpot wins and bonus triggers get their own triumphant fanfare. Overall, the soundtrack contributes to a relaxed yet engaging environment, keeping players hooked without becoming intrusive.

Bonus Features 

Cash Ways and Big Game Jackpots 

Fish symbols can appear on all reels, showing a cash prize value. In a winning combination, the Cash Ways feature activates, awarding the sum of all fish prize values in view. Larger fish yield bigger prizes, and the Giant Squid can step in to improve outcomes. 

On reel six, jackpot fish symbols offer substantial fixed prizes of 100x, 500x, 2,000x, or 10,000x your stake. When these appear as part of a fish win, their value is added to the payout. 

Respin Bonus 

Triggered by landing 3 or more Marlin Scatter symbols, this feature transforms the grid into a hold-and-respin format. Only the reels containing triggering scatters are active initially, but landing a Marlin Scatter on a locked reel unlocks it for the bonus. 

During the feature: 

Players start with 3 respins. 

Each time new fish symbols land, they lock in place and reset the respin counter to 3. 

Filling a reel entirely with fish symbols triggers a shark animation, which doubles the values on that reel before awarding them. 

Giant Squids can also appear during respins, moving fish to better positions. The feature ends when no respins remain or all positions are filled. 

Bonus Buy 

For jurisdictions allowing it, players can buy direct entry into the Respin Bonus for 60x the bet, skipping the base game entirely for instant high-volatility action.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Bets range from €0.10 to €80 per spin, offering flexibility for different bankroll sizes. The 96.0% RTP is solid for a high-volatility game, though a lower 94% version exists depending on the operator. 

The hit frequency of 23.41% means roughly one win every 4–5 spins on average, though high volatility ensures payouts can vary wildly. 

Payout Highlights: 

Top-paying symbol (Fisherman) – 10x bet for six-of-a-kind 

Jackpot Fish – up to 10,000x bet for the Ultra jackpot 

Max Win Potential – 15,000x bet 

This mix of regular payouts, cash prizes, and jackpots ensures multiple routes to big wins, though patience is often required given the variance.

Conclusion 

4 Fantastic Fish is a lively and well-crafted fishing-themed slot that blends familiar elements with inventive new twists. The Cash Ways mechanic, jackpot fish, and Giant Squid create a gameplay loop that feels rewarding even outside of the main bonus. The Respin Bonus is the real star, offering the kind of high-stakes tension and win potential that keeps high-volatility fans coming back. 

Visually, it’s bright, playful, and full of personality, while the sound design complements the atmosphere without overwhelming it. The betting range makes it accessible to a broad audience, though the high volatility means it’s better suited to players who enjoy the thrill of bigger, less frequent wins. 

With a max win of 15,000x your stake, a solid RTP, and an engaging set of mechanics, 4 Fantastic Fish is an excellent addition to 4ThePlayer’s portfolio — and a must-try for fans of fishing slots looking for something fresh yet comfortably familiar.