4 Fantastic Lobsters (4ThePlayer) Slot Review

4 Fantastic Lobsters: Slot Overview 

Released on November 2, 2023, 4 Fantastic Lobsters by 4ThePlayer takes players beneath the waves for a crustacean-filled fishing adventure. Building upon the success of its predecessors, 4 Fantastic Fish and 4 Fantastic Fish in Egypt, this title swaps the finned friends for lobsters, adding a fresh twist to a proven formula. 

This high-volatility slot features 6 reels, 4 rows, and 4,096 ways to win, with a 95.0% RTP and a maximum win potential of 10,000x your stake. Bets range from €0.20 to €100 per spin, catering to both casual spinners and high rollers. 

Like the earlier entries, 4 Fantastic Lobsters combines Money Ways, quirky sea creatures, and feature-packed bonuses. The main innovation here is the Pick-A-Win Bonus, which joins returning favorites like the Respin Bonus, Crab Cash Prizes, and Giant Squid Bonus, along with three bonus buy options.

Design and Graphics 

The visual style of 4 Fantastic Lobsters mirrors the bubbly, cartoonish presentation that defined the previous “Fantastic Fish” games. The reels sit against a vibrant seascape, with shafts of sunlight piercing through the water’s surface, coral dotting the seabed, and gentle purple waves above.Symbol design is crisp and colorful. Lower-paying symbols are traditional card ranks from 10 to A, styled with a watery sheen. Higher-value symbols include thematic icons like floats, traps, starfish, seagulls, and the fisherman/captain. Of course, the lobsters themselves steal the spotlight, often appearing with attached cash values thanks to the Money Ways mechanic. 

Animation is lively without being overwhelming. Winning combinations trigger satisfying pops and wiggles, while bonus triggers, like the Giant Squid or Crab, come with distinctive visual cues to build anticipation.

Gameplay Mechanics 

4 Fantastic Lobsters is played on a 6×4 grid with 4,096 ways to win, meaning wins are formed by matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost side. 

Low Pays: Card ranks 10–A, paying 1.5x to 2.5x the bet for six of a kind. 

High Pays: Float, trap, starfish, seagull, and fisherman, paying 3x to 10x the bet for six of a kind. 

Wilds: The boat symbol substitutes for all regular symbols except scatters, but cannot land on the first two reels simultaneously. 

Money Ways are a key mechanic: Lobster symbols can appear anywhere on the reels displaying cash values. Land them on consecutive reels starting from the first, and the displayed amounts are instantly awarded. The real treasures are the Four Big Lobster Prizes, worth 50x, 200x, 1,000x, or 10,000x your bet, which can only land on the sixth reel.

Sound and Music 

The sound design fits the lighthearted, cartoonish nature of the visuals. Ambient ocean effects provide a calming backdrop, while spins are accompanied by a bubbly swish. Wins trigger cheerful jingles, and bonus events have their own audio stingers that amplify excitement—especially when the Giant Squid or Crab appears. 

During feature rounds, the music shifts to a more upbeat, slightly whimsical tune, enhancing the energy without becoming intrusive. Overall, the audio work is polished and complements the gameplay flow.

Bonus Features 

4 Fantastic Lobsters is stacked with features, both familiar and new:Money Ways

Lobster symbols display instant cash prizes, awarded when they land on consecutive reels starting from reel 1. The four biggest prizes—50x, 200x, 1,000x, and 10,000x—are exclusive to the sixth reel.

Crab Cash Prizes

The Crab symbol can appear on any spin. In the base game, it creates or improves a Lobster win. In the Respin Bonus, it can unlock closed reels, increasing the potential for big catches.

Giant Squid Bonus

When the Giant Squid appears, it swaps symbols to make or improve a Lobster win. In the base game, it helps form winning lines; in the Respin Bonus, it moves a Lobster from a closed reel to an open one and locks it in place. 

RespinBonus 

Triggered by landing at least 3 Respin scatters, this feature opens the reels containing the scatters while locking others. All Lobsters in view lock in place, and you get 3 respins. Each new Lobster on an open reel resets the respin counter. 

If a Lobster lands on a closed reel, it won’t count unless unlocked by a scatter or Crab. 

Fill a reel entirely with Lobsters to trigger the Shark feature, which doubles the values on that reel. 

The Shark won’t eat the 10,000x Lobster Prize.

Pick-A-Win Bonus

Landing 3 or more Pick-A-Win scatters triggers this feature. You’ll pick from 7 lobster traps, each hiding a prize worth 5x to 10,000x your bet. The number of picks equals the number of triggering scatters.

Bonus Buy Options

For players who prefer direct access to the action, 4 Fantastic Lobsters offers three bonus buys:Crab Feature – 30x the bet 

Respin Bonus – 75x the bet 

Pick-A-Win Bonus – 150x the bet 

These buys add flexibility for players with different appetites for risk and reward.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Bets range from €0.20 to €100, appealing to all player types. The high volatility means payouts can be less frequent, but the potential for large wins—especially the 10,000x Big Lobster Prize—keeps adrenaline high. 

The theoretical RTP of 95.0% is slightly lower than average for modern online slots, and notably lower than earlier “Fantastic Fish” titles. This might be a drawback for some, but the game compensates with high-value prize opportunities and engaging features. 

Payout highlights include: 

Regular symbol wins: up to 10x the bet for a 6-of-a-kind premium. 

Money Ways Lobsters: Instant awards that can stack across reels. 

Big Lobster Prizes: The true chase, capped at 10,000x the bet.

Conclusion 

4 Fantastic Lobsters is a vibrant, feature-rich fishing-themed slot that successfully evolves the “Fantastic Fish” formula by swapping scales for shells. While it retains much of the charm and structure of its predecessors, the introduction of the Pick-A-Win Bonus adds a fresh layer of engagement. 

Strengths include: 

Lively, colorful graphics and polished animations 

A mix of random and triggered features for varied pacing 

High win potential via the 10,000x Big Lobster Prize 

Flexible bet range and multiple bonus buy options 

Potential drawbacks: 

RTP is lower than average, which could deter some players 

High volatility may result in longer dry spells 

Core gameplay feels similar to earlier titles, so it may lack novelty for returning players 

In the end, 4 Fantastic Lobsters delivers a solid, entertaining experience for fans of fishing-themed slots and big prize chasers. The combination of whimsical design, engaging mechanics, and jackpot potential makes it a worthy addition to 4ThePlayer’s portfolio—especially for those ready to trade their fishing rod for a lobster trap.