| Provider | Stormcraft Studios |
|---|---|
| RTP | 96.30% - Compare RTPs |
| Volatility | High |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 50 |
| Bet Range | £0.20 - £20.00 |
| Features | Wilds, Scatters, Progressive Jackpot |
Wild Catch Slot Review
Wild Catch is a 5-reel, 243-ways-to-win fishing slot from Microgaming, released in 2013. It runs at a confirmed RTP of 96.3% with high volatility, a bet range of £0.30 to £150 per spin, and a top prize of 7,500x your stake. Two separate free spins modes - one triggered by the swordfish wild, one by the scatter - give it more bonus variety than most fishing-themed slots of its era.
Theme and Design
The fishing theme keeps things straightforward: reels packed with tackle - weighing scales, fishing boats, trophies, squid, and the obligatory nine-to-Ace playing card fillers. The playing card symbols take up more real estate than they should, but Microgaming did include enough themed content to carry the mood. The backdrop shows open blue sea, keeping focus on the oversized reel symbols. Sound effects are functional rather than atmospheric.
Stormcraft Studios, Microgaming's in-house development arm, built Wild Catch using the 243-ways engine common across many of their mid-2010s releases. The format means wins pay for matching symbols landing on adjacent reels left to right, regardless of exact row position - you don't need to worry about specific paylines.
Betting and Paytable
Stakes run from £0.30 up to £150 per spin, giving a decent spread across casual and higher-limit play. The top symbol combination pays 7,500x your stake at maximum multiplier. Premium symbols include the fishing boat and trophy alongside the squid, while the swordfish wild carries the most weight given its dual role in the bonus system.
With high volatility and 243 ways to win, base game hits land regularly enough to sustain longer sessions, though the big wins are concentrated in the two bonus features. Hit the paytable before playing - this is a slot where knowing what the swordfish triggers versus what the fisherman scatter triggers makes a genuine difference to how you play.
Bonus Features
Swordfish Wild Free Spins
Three swordfish wild symbols anywhere on the reels trigger 5 free spins. All wins during this mini-bonus are multiplied by 3x. If the wild appears again on a spin and contributes to a winning combination, you receive one additional free spin. This feature is shorter than the scatter bonus but pays at a fixed 3x on everything, making it the more predictable of the two.
Fisherman Scatter Free Spins
Three or more fisherman scatter symbols (the chap in the lifebuoy) launch the main free spins round. Three scatters gives 10 free spins, four scatters gives 15, and five scatters awards 20 free spins. This is where the multiplier trail mechanic comes in: the round starts at a 1x multiplier, and every time you land a wild symbol as part of a winning combination, the multiplier increases by 1x. It caps at 10x, so a run of wild-inclusive wins during a full 20-spin bonus can push the multiplier into high territory. The 7,500x maximum win comes from hitting the 10x multiplier on a top symbol combination.
Comparison with Other Fishing Slots
Microgaming has a full suite of fishing-themed games, and Wild Catch slots in as a mid-ground option. Alaskan Fishing uses a similar 243-ways engine and is probably the most comparable - it has a simpler bonus structure but is gentler on your bankroll over time. Lucky Angler from NetEnt takes the fishing theme in a different direction with sticky wilds rather than free spin multipliers. Plunder The Sea and Emperor of the Sea both shift the setting to pirate territory if you want ocean action with more adventure flavour.
Wild Catch's combination of two separate free spin modes distinguishes it from most of the competition at its release date. The escalating multiplier in the scatter bonus, going from 1x to 10x, is the game's defining mechanic and the feature you're targeting on any given session.
Who Wild Catch Suits
At 96.3% RTP and high volatility, Wild Catch is a better fit for players comfortable with variance. The 243-ways format means winning spins aren't rare, but the large payouts are concentrated in the scatter free spins with a built-up multiplier. Budget £0.30 stake players get full access to both bonus modes. At the £150 maximum, the 7,500x ceiling represents a £1.125 million potential return, though the practical path to that requires the full 10x multiplier alongside the best symbol combination during the scatter bonus.
The Microgaming catalogue on this site includes dozens of titles across all themes and volatility levels. If you prefer your Microgaming play with less variance, Break Da Bank Again or Avalon sit on the lower end of the volatility scale. For something with comparable swing but different mechanics, Immortal Romance offers four character-specific bonus modes at similar RTP. You can browse more options across casino reviews to find sites carrying the Wild Catch demo or real-money versions.
Wild Catch: Key Facts
- Provider: Microgaming
- Reels: 5
- Ways to win: 243
- RTP: 96.3%
- Volatility: High
- Min bet: £0.30
- Max bet: £150
- Max win: 7,500x stake
- Wild: Swordfish (also triggers 5 free spins)
- Scatter: Fisherman (triggers 10-20 free spins)
- Free spins multiplier: Up to 10x (scatter bonus)
Where to Play Wild Catch
These online casinos carry Stormcraft Studios games including Wild Catch. Read our Donbet review or browse all casino reviews.
Wild Catch RTP and Variance
Wild Catch has an RTP of 96.30%, which is above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. High volatility means wins come less often but tend to be significantly larger. Explore our high volatility slots guide.
At the minimum bet of £0.20 per spin, a £10 deposit gives you 50 spins with a statistical expected return of £9.63. Read our slot betting strategy guide for tips on managing your bankroll.