Big Bass Return to the Races (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Big Bass Return to the Races: Slot Overview 

Pragmatic Play’s Big Bass franchise is back, and this time, it has ditched the fishing rods for horse racing in Big Bass Return to the Races. Partnering once again with Reel Kingdom, this slot offers a unique twist on the familiar Money symbol mechanics by integrating elements of horse racing into its design. While it might sound unusual at first, the concept could appeal to fans of the Big Bass series looking for a fresh take. However, those expecting entirely new gameplay mechanics might be left disappointed, as the core formula remains largely unchanged. 

The game is played on a 5×3 reel setup with 10 paylines, featuring the usual Money symbols, wilds, and free spins. Big Bass Return to the Races offers a high RTP of 96.07%, a hit frequency of 1 in 7, and a high volatility model. The free spins round remains the main attraction, with multipliers, symbol collection mechanics, and retriggers that can boost the potential for big wins. 

Now, let’s take a deeper dive into its design, gameplay mechanics, bonus features, payouts, and overall verdict. 

Design and Graphics 

Visually, Big Bass Return to the Races offers an interesting blend of horse racing and classic Big Bass aesthetics. The game’s backdrop features a lush green racetrack, providing a fresh setting compared to the traditional fishing themes. The reels are also framed in metallic elements, reminiscent of a racecourse. 

The symbols on the reels include standard 10 to A card royals, paying 5x to 10x the bet, as well as premium symbols related to horse racing, including binoculars, beer, boxes, and champagne buckets, which offer payouts ranging from 20x to 200x the bet for five-of-a-kind combinations. Interestingly, wild symbols do not appear in the base game, making them exclusive to the free spins rounds. 

While the theme change is refreshing, it’s evident that Big Bass Return to the Races still heavily borrows elements from previous games in the series, making it feel somewhat recycled rather than fully innovative. 

Gameplay Mechanics 

The gameplay follows a standard Big Bass structure, with winning combinations forming from left to right on adjacent reels. The slot uses 10 fixed paylines, requiring at least three matching symbols to create a win. The betting range is 0.10 to €375 per spin, catering to both casual players and high rollers. 

An ante bet option allows players to increase their stake by 50%, boosting the chance of landing scatter symbols to trigger the free spins feature. However, this does not guarantee a free spins trigger, only improving the likelihood. 

Despite the theme’s new look, the core mechanics remain largely unchanged from previous Big Bass games, making it feel more like a re-skinned version rather than an entirely new experience. 

Sound and Music 

The sound design in Big Bass Return to the Races is surprisingly familiar. The music and sound effects used in this installment closely resemble those from Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake, suggesting that the developers reused audio assets. 

While the background tune is lighthearted and suits the racetrack atmosphere, it lacks originality. The reels feature classic Pragmatic Play sound effects, with satisfying clicks, chimes, and celebratory jingles accompanying winning spins. 

Overall, while the sound design is serviceable, it doesn’t offer much novelty for players already familiar with the Big Bass series. 

Bonus Features 

Free Spins 

The free spins feature is triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols, awarding 10, 15, or 20 free spins, respectively. If only 2 scatters land, there’s a chance that a third scatter can move into position via a respin or a randomly appearing scatter. 

Before the free spins round begins, players pick a card from 12 options to determine whether they will receive regular free spins or the special Golden Cup Free Spins. 

Standard Free Spins Mechanics: 

• Horse symbols act as Wilds, substituting for all other paying symbols. 

• Wild symbols collect all Money symbols on the reels. 

• Every fourth wild retriggers the feature, awarding +10 extra free spins and increasing the Money symbol multiplier to x2, x3, and x10 at different retrigger levels. 

• The feature cannot retrigger beyond the fourth level. 

Golden Cup Free Spins Mechanics: 

• Played on a special grid that contains only Money symbols, blank spaces, and Wilds. 

• Every Wild collects all Money symbols in view. 

• At the end of a spin, if Wilds appear without Money symbols, a random modifier may occur: 

• A lasso effect that pulls a Money symbol into place. 

• Curtains animation that changes all symbols into Money symbols. 

This Golden Cup variation makes the free spins round slightly different, but it’s not a groundbreaking change. 

Feature Buy 

For those who don’t want to wait, Big Bass Return to the Races offers two bonus buy options: 

• 100x the bet to buy either the regular free spins or Golden Cup Free Spins. 

• 270x the bet to guarantee Golden Cup Free Spins. 

These options provide a shortcut to the game’s most exciting features, but given the high volatility, wins are not guaranteed. 

Betting Options and Payouts 

The game offers a minimum bet of €0.10 and a maximum bet of €375 per spin, accommodating different bankrolls. The high volatility model means wins might not occur frequently, but they can be substantial when they do. 

Payouts include: 

• Low-tier symbols (10-A royals): 5x to 10x the bet for five-of-a-kind. 

• High-tier symbols (binoculars, beer, boxes, champagne buckets): 20x to 200x the bet for five-of-a-kind. 

• Money symbols: 2x to 5,000x the bet (only during free spins). 

• Max win potential: 5,000x the stake, with a max win frequency of 1 in 3,378,378 spins. 

Conclusion 

Big Bass Return to the Races attempts to shake up the Big Bass formula with a horse racing theme, but ultimately, it remains a re-skinned version of previous installments. While the Golden Cup Free Spins add some mild variations, they aren’t enough to make the game feel entirely new. 

Visually, the racetrack setting is refreshing, but reused assets and familiar mechanics make it hard to distinguish from previous titles. Players who enjoy the Big Bass series will likely appreciate the Money symbol collection mechanics and wild multipliers, but those seeking innovation may be left disappointed. 

Ultimately, Big Bass Return to the Races is a solid but unoriginal slot, best suited for fans of the franchise rather than those looking for groundbreaking gameplay.