Fish and Bird (ELK Studios) Slot Review

Fish and Bird: Slot Overview 

ELK Studios dives into new waters with Fish and Bird, a quirky, atmospheric fishing-themed slot that mixes cartoon melancholy with sharp mechanical creativity. While many studios have embraced fishing slots before—Big Time Gaming with Golden Catch, Play’n GO with Boat Bonanza, and countless others—ELK Studios has largely stayed away from the genre. Until now. And instead of going bright, bold, and cute like most fishing slots tend to do, Fish and Bird arrives with a surprising visual tone: dim, misty, almost dreary, but full of character. 

The game takes place on a humble fishing boat bobbing over murky waters, inhabited by a weary fisherman who clearly has more stubbornness than luck. Despite the dusk-tinted mood, the slot has a strong cartoon appeal, giving the gameplay emotional charm—a kind of empathetic connection to the creaky-boned fisherman rowing out into the uncertain morning light. 

Played on a 4×4 grid with 256 ways to win, Fish and Bird delivers a compact but feature-rich experience. With medium volatility (6/10), a 94% RTP, and a 10,000x max win, it strikes a balance between accessibility and explosive potential. Released on August 21, 2025, this title continues ELK’s signature approach of mixing unconventional formats with polished systems and their X-iter feature buy menu.

Design and Graphics 

The visual identity of Fish and Bird stands out immediately. Instead of the typically cheerful, tropical fishing theme, this game opts for a gloomy, fog-covered seascape. The sky is washed in muted tones, the lighthouse casts a lonely glow, and the fisherman looks like he’s seen better years. This subdued palette gives the game a refreshing melancholic charm, blending humor with atmosphere in a way only ELK Studios could pull off.The symbols reinforce the contrast between the moody world and playful art direction. Low-value symbols are jellyfish in soft pastel colors, while high-paying symbols are cartoonish fish—fat red ones, blue ones with googly eyes, even pouting purple varieties. All regular symbols can land in four sizes: 

1×1 standard 

2×2 super 

3×3 mega 

4×4 epic 

These oversized symbols burst onto the board with comedic exaggeration, especially when combined with spreading wilds. Character animations, including the fisherman’s boat drifting or the birds swooping overhead, add delightful personality to the screen without overwhelming the compact grid. 

Overall, the design blends narrative charm with mechanical clarity—a balance that supports both thematic appeal and fast-paced gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Fish and Bird uses a 4×4 layout with 256 ways to win, paying for combinations of 3 or 4 matching symbols from left to right. For such a small grid, the game generates impressive variety thanks to expanding symbols, spreading wilds, collectors, multipliers, and bonus modes that reshape the reel behavior. 

Symbol Values 

4 matching jellyfish: 0.2× the bet 

4 matching fish: 0.5× to 2× the bet 

But the real power comes from multipliers and symbol sizes, not the base line payouts. 

Collector System 

The fisherman in the boat above the reels—called the Collector—is a central mechanic. He collects: 

Bird multipliers 

Prize fish values 

Bonus symbols 

The Super Collector, appearing in super modes, collects multipliers, Prize fish, and bonus symbols across every position in his column. 

Whenever the Collector picks up a Prize fish, its value is multiplied by the global multiplier—a persistent value that increases when birds are collected. 

After collecting a Prize fish, the Collector shifts one column to the left, causing the game flow to move rhythmically from right to left. 

Medium Volatility 

Wins occur regularly enough to keep gameplay steady, but the grid’s compact size means explosive chains can form quickly when multipliers and wilds align. 

In short, the game is simple to grasp but constantly evolving thanks to its collectible mechanics and symbol variation.

Sound and Music 

The soundtrack is one of Fish and Bird’s standout elements. A “very European” composition mixes accordion-like tones, gentle wooden percussion, and folkish melodies. The music shifts effortlessly between slow traditional rhythms and more upbeat, Eurovision-style energy during feature moments. 

Ambient sounds help tell the story too—the creaking of the fisherman’s boat, the soft splash of water, the hum of distant wind. Bonus rounds heighten the excitement with bouncier, more rhythmic music, while multipliers and collections punctuate actions with crisp, satisfying sound effects. 

Together, the sound design reinforces the game’s moody-but-playful personality.

Bonus Features 

ELK Studios packed Fish and Bird with a clever mix of collection mechanics, spreading wilds, bonus games, and modern X-iter buy options. Despite its small grid, the game offers robust feature depth.Spreading Wilds 

Wilds (and bonus symbols) substitute for all paying symbols. 

They come in two formats: 

Vertical wilds – fill their entire reel 

Horizontal wilds – fill their entire row 

These wilds can drastically reshape the 4×4 grid, especially when combined with huge symbol sizes or multipliers.

Collector 

The fisherman above the reels collects: 

Bird multipliers – added to the global multiplier 

Prize fish – multiplied by the global multiplier, then collected 

Bonus symbols – which trigger or upgrade features 

If no Collector is present but Prize fish or bonus symbols are on the grid, a Diver may descend onto the board, collecting everything in its column. 

Prize fish collection also awards 1 free spin, resetting the global multiplier afterward.

Bonus Game 

The bonus round begins by collecting a bonus symbol. Once triggered: 

The round guarantees 1 Collector 

After each spin, the Collector shifts one column left 

New Collectors may enter, prolonging the bonus 

The round ends when no Collectors remain 

A Super Bonus triggers if players collect the super bonus symbol. In this enhanced version: 

Only Super Collectors can appear 

Global multipliers can grow faster 

Prize fish become more valuable 

This version is where most of the game’s 10,000x-winning potential hides.

X-iter 

As always with ELK Studios, X-iter enhances accessibility and volatility control. The options include:Bonus Hunt – 2.5× the bet 

Spreading Wild – 10× the bet 

Guaranteed Big Fish Symbol – 25× the bet 

Regular Bonus – 50× the bet 

Super Bonus – 250× the bet 

These allow players to fine-tune their experience or chase high-volatility sessions instantly.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Provider: ELK Studios 

Reels/Rows: 4×4 

Paylines: 256 ways 

RTP: 94% 

Volatility: Medium (6/10) 

Min/Max Bet: €0.20 / €100 

Max Win: 10,000× the bet 

• Release Date: August 21, 2025 

For a 4×4 slot, the 10,000x max win is substantial, especially considering the medium volatility profile.

Conclusion 

Fish and Bird is a clever, atmospheric twist on the classic fishing slot. Rather than replicating the bright, noisy flashiness of many entries in this genre, ELK Studios opts for a darker, funnier, more character-driven approach. The combination of spreading wilds, symbol sizes, and the Collector mechanic provides excellent flow and engaging surprises—particularly in bonus rounds where the fisherman slowly drifts from right to left, gathering fish, birds, and bonus triggers as he goes. 

While the base game can feel quiet at times, its charm lies in the slow build—broken by sudden bursts of multipliers or large symbol drops. With a max win of 10,000x, thoughtful feature variety, and a visual style that blends gloom with humor, Fish and Bird is another strong addition to ELK Studios’ growing library of inventive slot mechanics.