Introduction to the Game
Ice Fishing is a casino slot developed by Microgaming, one of the leading online gaming software providers. This game combines elements of fishing with exciting gameplay features that are designed https://icefishing-au.org to capture players’ attention and keep them hooked for hours on end.
Theme and Design
The Ice Fishing slot has an Arctic theme where players find themselves standing on ice in the midst of a snowy landscape. The background image is serene, showing snow-covered trees surrounding a frozen lake. The game symbols reflect this winter wonderland atmosphere with images of various fish species, fishing gear, and even Santa Claus to add some festive cheer.
The slot’s design is clean-cut and simple yet visually appealing. The gameplay area occupies the center of the screen, making it easily accessible on both desktops and mobile devices. Microgaming has done a great job in creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the game’s features without overwhelming players with excessive information or unnecessary details.
Symbols
The Ice Fishing slot features a variety of fish symbols, including Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye, Perch, Salmon, Rainbow Trout, and Brook Trout. These are categorized into four different groups:
- Low-value fish (Perch and Silver Eel): They pay out between 1:50 to 15 times the bet per line.
- Mid-value fish (Pike and Whitefish): Pay between 2:00 to 20 times the bet per line.
- High-value fish (Walleye, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, and Rainbow Trout): Pay between 3.0 to 30 times the bet per line.
The remaining game symbols include two low-paying symbols (Letter ‘J’ and Letter ‘Q’) that pay out from 1:25 to 2:50 times the bet per line.
Payouts
Ice Fishing offers a medium variance, which means it rewards players for their wagers by paying out more frequently than in high-variance slots but less often and with lower payouts compared to low-variance games. This is ideal for casual slot enthusiasts looking for stable winnings without risking large sums of money on each spin.
Wilds
The Wild symbol in Ice Fishing is the Ice Fishing Hole, depicted as an ice fishing hole on the frozen lake’s surface. It replaces any other symbol except scatters and bonus symbols to help complete winning combinations by forming additional matches where possible. If two or more wilds appear adjacent to each other (horizontally), they expand their positions across entire reels.
Scatters
The Fishing Rod is the scatter symbol in Ice Fishing, which can trigger free spins when it appears on at least three consecutive reels from left-to-right starting with reel 1. Players receive up to ten free spins as part of this feature, depending on how many scatters they land. Free Spins are played using their current bet.
Bonus Features
Ice Fishing features a Daily Jackpot progressive jackpot that can be won during both regular and free spin games alike. The maximum cash prize for this daily jackpot is always growing with each wager placed on the game. Winning it awards a one-off cash payment to an instant winner in addition to any other winnings accumulated.
The second bonus feature in Ice Fishing is the “Fishy Frenzy” mini-game triggered randomly during both regular and free spin games when three or more of Santa’s Gift Bows land anywhere on reels 1 through 3. This special round awards players with a random amount between 2:25 times the bet per line up to 10,000 coins as well as an instant Fishy Frenzy multiplier applied before triggering.
Free Spins
As mentioned earlier in this review, Ice Fishing features free spins triggered by three or more scattered fishing rod symbols anywhere on reels 1 through 3 from left-to-right. Ten free games are awarded for any combination of scatters and feature a minimum x5 multiplier which accumulates with each spin during the bonus round.
RTP
The Return to Player percentage (RTP) is set at an average rate, slightly above industry standards, with 95% returning player contributions back as winnings while keeping only the remaining 5% for its operation costs and house edge. This means if you stake $1 per spin, on average $0.05 will be deducted each time from your contribution.
Volatility
As mentioned earlier in this review, Ice Fishing’s volatility is relatively medium with a higher than low-volatility model but not high enough to reward players excessively often compared to other games of its type. Players should expect moderate winnings during the course of their gameplay session rather than substantial returns on every few spins or less frequently as seen elsewhere.
Betting Range
Ice Fishing offers an extensive betting range starting from 0:01 and reaching up to $250, so both low rollers and high-rollers can find a suitable bet that suits them while not limiting themselves out of participating opportunities with their stakes. Additionally, Microgaming has incorporated its ‘Auto Play’ function for smoother gameplay sessions.
Max Win
Ice Fishing’s maximum jackpot available during standard games is set at $7,500 by default though players should note that hitting this highest winning amount requires a significant number of spins accumulated towards the daily progressive jackpots.
