Fishing Max

Fishing Max: Slot Overview

There are things in life that at times feel like they have a certain ring of inevitability to them. Putting two socks in the dryer and pulling out one, getting the wobbly wheeled trolley at the supermarket, or ending up in the slowest queue when you're in a hurry. In gambling, it's fish slots. It feels like a studio, somewhere, has always just released one or is just about to. In this instance, it's the time of Games Global partner Snowborn Games to lead outdoorsy gamblers to the water in order to pluck fish from it, in a slot which actually delivers an animated Fishing feature, while other extras include free spins and Super Free Spins.

Fishing Max is one of those ultra-charming fishing games which makes it seem like fish actually enjoy being yanked out of their home by a hook in the mouth, reeled on board, then sliced open with a knife. Of course, players don't see any blood and guts; it really isn't that sort of game. The charm factor is boosted further by the three main characters – Max the fisherman, Steven the Seagull, and a crab called Sebastian, who likes to cut fishing lines to spoil the party. As well as those three dudes, players can expect to see fish, water, and mountainous terrain dressing up a slot which looks basic, but cheerfully so.

Tucked to the left is a 5x3 gaming grid with 20 paylines, landing winning combinations from the leftmost side. Tucked out of sight is a medium volatile math model producing an RTP of 96% as well as two lower return values depending on the configuration. Stakes vary from $/€0.20 to $/€30 per spin, and when using the Bet Boost, the bet increases by 50%, doubling the odds of triggering the Fishing feature, and increasing the chance of getting free spins, and Super Free Spins.

Fishing Max's pay symbols are 10-A playing card icons, hooks, anchors, boxes, floats, and trophies. Hitting 5 OAK lines pays 0.8x to 2.4x when made of royals, or 5x for landing 5 matching high pays. The premiums all have the same value. Wilds substitute the paying symbols and are present on all reels in the base game and free spins. A five-of-a-kind wild win pays 99x the stake. Multiplier Fish land on all reels in the base game and free spins too, carrying a multiplier of up to x3. A 5 OAK Multiplier Fish win pays 5x. Wilds and Multiplier Fish cannot land on the rightmost reel in Super Free Spins.

Fishing Max: Slot Features

Obviously, there is going to be some form of fishing in this game and that comes courtesy of the Fishing feature, which is available in all phases of play. The game also has free spins, Super Free Spins, and feature buys.

Fishing Feature

Landing one or more Golden Reel symbols on reels 1-4 and the Max symbol on the rightmost reel at the same time triggers the Fishing feature. Multiplier Fish on the triggering spin may add their values to the Fishing Multiplier, which starts at x1. During the feature, fish swim beneath the fisherman next to the reels. Fish carry multipliers of x1 to x100 or cash prizes of 0.5x to 50x the bet. The fisherman may catch them. This continues until a crab is caught, ending the feature. If multiple Golden Reels land, the Fishing feature plays one by one, and the Fishing Multiplier does not reset between them.

Scatter & Super Scatter

Scatters land on the leftmost, middle, and rightmost reels during the base game and free spins. In the base game, a Super Scatter Meter sits below the reels, filling up when scatters land on the leftmost and middle reels. When the meter is full and unlocked, Super Scatters can land in the base game on the leftmost, middle, and rightmost reels, providing a chance of triggering Super Free Spins. Once Super Free Spins have been played, the Super Scatter Meter resets to 7 out of 20 collected.

Free Spins

When triggered by landing 3 scatters on the applicable reels, players win 10 free spins. Hitting 2 or 3 scatters awards +2 or +5 free spins, respectively. When the Fishing feature is triggered during free spins or Super Free Spins, the Fishing Multiplier does not reset after the Fishing feature has played.

Super Free Spins

Landing 3 Super Scatters in the base game on the leftmost, middle, and rightmost reels awards 10 Super Free Spins. During this bonus, a stacked Tall Max symbol is locked to the rightmost reel.

Feature Buy

The feature buy makes it possible to buy free spins for 75x or Super Free Spins for 150x the stake. Feature buys do not affect the Super Scatter Meter.

Fishing Max: Slot Verdict

Fishing Max is a charming addition to the ever-growing catalogue of fishing-themed slots, which has causal gambler stamped all over it. In a field overflowing with options, the game's cheerful demeanour, amplified by Max, Steven the Seagull, and the mischievous Sebastian the Crab, gives Fishing Max a playful identity that helps it stand out from similar titles. To a point. There isn't likely to be enough here to make Fishing Max a real monster of a release. But its amiable cartoon energy is an attractive quality which may motivate some gamblers to bait up and find out what the rest of Fishing Max has to offer.

The animated fishing action during the Fishing feature could be a draw, too. Max did have a knack for reeling in lower-value fish while shunning the higher-value ones. Though, as always, lucky gamblers might be able to witness him reeling in the bigger fish. He is able to reel in multis as well, which play a critical role in piling up chunkier catches. This is even more noticeable in free spins and Super Free Spins, since the Fishing Multiplier doesn't reset between spins. Couple this with the general feel-good factor Fishing Max taps into, and it could be enough to keep players looking for Big Bass alternatives hooked.

As for how much Fishing Max is monetarily good for, the max win part was vague. There are no jackpot-style prizes like Snowbound Games' Fish 'Em Up, but collectable multipliers suggest results might technically be fairly sizeable for a fish slot. Consequently, Fishing Max doesn't feel destined to achieve angling domination, but there is enough here for fans of jovially vibed fish slots to enjoy.