There is a familiar feel to Fishin' Frenzy Lure 'Em In from the very first spin, but it does not take long before the new mechanics start making themselves noticed. Instead of saving everything for the Bonus Spins feature, Blueprint Gaming spreads part of the progression across the base game by introducing three tackle boxes that gradually unlock extra enhancements. We found ourselves watching those progress meters almost as closely as the reels because they influence how powerful the next feature can become.
The fisherman still plays the leading role, collecting cash prize fish whenever the opportunity arrives, but this release adds a little more planning than earlier entries in the series. Players who enjoy online slots with collection mechanics will quickly recognise the foundation, while the Lure 'Em In system gives this version something different to build towards.
The setting remains underwater, with reefs, sea plants and swimming fish creating a relaxed backdrop behind the reels. Nothing feels overcrowded, which helps the important symbols stand out whenever they appear.
The premium symbols continue the fishing theme with pelicans, lifebuoys, fishing reels and tackle boxes, while the familiar fisherman returns as both a paying symbol and the main collector during Bonus Spins. Fish carrying cash prize values are naturally the stars of the game because almost every major feature revolves around collecting them.
Above the reels sit three coloured tackle boxes. Their progress is always visible, so it is easy to see how close each enhancement is to being unlocked before Bonus Spins arrive. It is a simple addition, but it gives the base game more purpose than simply waiting for three Scatter symbols.
The payout values below are based on a total bet of 1.
The Fisherman substitutes for all regular symbols except the Bonus Scatter during Bonus Spins and collects every visible cash prize symbol whenever it lands. The Golden Fisherman only becomes available after the Golden Catch enhancement has been unlocked and applies a collect multiplier whenever it gathers cash prize symbols. Fish symbols display cash prize values ranging from 2x to 1000x the total stake.
The three tackle boxes represent the Blue, Red and Green enhancements. During the base game, coloured Bonus Scatter symbols add progress to their matching tackle box. When Bonus Spins are triggered with three or more Bonus Scatter symbols, at least one Lure 'Em In enhancement will be active. Depending on how much progress has been collected, one, two or all three enhancements can be active during the feature.
The Blue enhancement changes every Wild into a respin trigger. Whenever a Wild lands during Bonus Spins, all Wilds and every visible cash prize symbol remain locked while the remaining reel positions spin again. The respins continue until no additional Wilds or cash prize symbols appear, creating more chances to increase the final collection.
The Red enhancement introduces the Golden Fisherman. Alongside the standard Fisherman, this special collector gathers every visible cash prize and applies a collect multiplier. The multiplier available at the beginning of the feature depends on the level reached in the Red tackle box and can range from 2x to 5x. Once the Bonus Spins feature has finished, the multiplier resets and must be built again during future play.
The Green enhancement adds the Can of Worms symbol to the Bonus Spins feature. Instead of paying immediately, it absorbs the values from every visible cash prize symbol before the Fisherman makes a collection. The Can of Worms cannot collect another Can of Worms symbol, but it can significantly increase the value waiting to be collected.
Landing 3 Bonus Scatter symbols awards 10 Bonus Spins, while 4 and 5 Scatters increase the total to 15 and 20 respectively. The feature can also trigger randomly from 1 or 2 Bonus Scatter symbols, awarding 10 Bonus Spins.
Once the feature begins, every Fisherman collects the values displayed on all visible cash prize fish. Every fourth Fisherman also awards 5 extra Bonus Spins and upgrades the standard fish values that can appear for the rest of the feature. The same happens again after collecting 8 and 12 Fishermen, with the final upgrade allowing regular fish values of up to 50x. Fish worth as much as 1000x the total stake can also appear at any point during Bonus Spins.
Fishin' Frenzy Lure 'Em In uses a 5 reel, 3 row layout with 10 fixed paylines, where winning combinations are formed from left to right across adjacent reels. Although the game follows a standard 5x3 format, there is usually more going on than simply chasing line wins. The coloured Bonus Scatters steadily fill the tackle boxes above the reels, so every spin can move us a little closer to unlocking extra enhancements for Bonus Spins.
Cash prize fish range from 2x to 1000x the total stake and are collected whenever a Fisherman or Golden Fisherman appears during the feature. There are also four fixed jackpots worth between 20x and 1000x the stake. An optional Express Bet can be activated by increasing the wager by 0.5x, giving Bonus Spins a better chance of appearing.
Fishin' Frenzy Lure 'Em In keeps the core gameplay simple while giving players something to build towards throughout the base game. The tackle box progression works well because it makes every coloured Scatter useful, even before Bonus Spins arrive.
We also liked that the three enhancements each change the feature in a different way. Whether it is extra respins, collect multipliers or larger cash prize collections, they add enough variety without making the game difficult to follow. For anyone who enjoys collecting cash prize symbols and watching features develop over time, this is another solid addition to the Fishin' Frenzy series.