Marlin Masters: Slot Overview
The fishing slot genre continues to lure in developers, and this time, it’s Hacksaw Gaming taking the bait. While the studio has largely steered clear of this hugely popular theme, the temptation has finally proven too strong, resulting in the launch of Marlin Masters. This angling adventure follows in the wake of industry giants like Fishin’ Frenzy and Big Bass Bonanza, featuring a fish symbol cash collection mechanic and a progression-based free spins feature.
At first glance, Marlin Masters doesn’t immediately scream Hacksaw Gaming. Unlike the studio’s usual extremes—whether it’s cutesy charm (Canny the Can) or dark intensity (Hand of Anubis)—this game sits somewhere in the middle, offering a clean, mainstream-friendly aesthetic. While it may not carry Hacksaw’s signature edge, the accessible design and familiar mechanics suggest the studio is aiming for a broader audience. That said, even players outside the traditional fishing slot fanbase may find plenty of fun beneath the surface.
Marlin Masters: Game Mechanics & Paytable
Perched precariously on the edge of a boat, Marlin Masters features a 5×4 grid with 14 paylines used to evaluate winning combinations. While base game payouts aren’t particularly high, the real action lies in catching Marlin cash symbols.
- Betting Range: Players can wager between $0.10 and $100 per spin.
- Volatility: Medium, balancing frequent wins with decent payout potential.
- RTP: The maximum RTP sits at 96.24%, but alternative lower versions may be available.
- Bonus Buy Options: For those who prefer skipping the base game, Marlin Masters offers five different feature buy options.
Paytable & Symbols
- High-Paying Symbols: Four different fish symbols, paying 5x to 7.5x the bet for a five-symbol match.
- Low-Paying Symbols: 10, J, Q, K, and A card royals, awarding 2x the bet for a five-of-a-kind (5OAK) win.
- Wild Symbol (Anchor):
- Substitutes for any regular pay symbol.
- Appears on all reels.
- Pays 10x the bet for 5OAK.
Surprisingly, the Fisherman symbol is NOT a wild—a notable difference from most fishing-themed slots. Instead, it serves another special function, adding a unique twist to the gameplay.
Marlin Masters: Features & Bonus Games
If you’ve played fishing-themed slots before, Marlin Masters will feel like a familiar experience—offering cash collection mechanics, progressive free spins, and multiple bonus rounds. The game includes Lootlines, Cash Them All!, and three distinct free spins features: Reel It In, Off The Hook, and Plenty Of Fish In The Sea, plus a Bonus Buy option for those who want to dive straight into the action.
Lootlines & Cash Them All!
- Marlin symbols serve as pay symbols that display cash values ranging from 1x to 1,000x the bet.
- Marlin symbols are collected if three or more land in a winning payline combination, similar to the 4 Fantastic Fish mechanic.
- If at least one Fisherman symbol appears, it collects all Marlin symbol values on the reels.
- The Fisherman symbol can land with a multiplier (x1 to x20), boosting the value of the collected Marlin symbols.
Free Spins Features
Reel It In (10 Free Spins)
- Triggered by landing 3 FS scatters in the base game.
- Comes with a Marlin Progress Bar, which upgrades the feature every time a Fisherman lands (even if it doesn’t collect cash).
- Every 4 Fisherman symbols collected advances the game to the next level:
- Upgrade 1 → +10 extra free spins, Fisherman multipliers start at x2.
- Upgrade 2 → +10 extra free spins, Fisherman multipliers start at x4.
- Upgrade 3 → +10 extra free spins, Fisherman multipliers start at x10.
Off The Hook (15 Free Spins)
- Triggered by landing 4 FS scatters in the base game.
- Similar to Reel It In, but Fisherman symbols are guaranteed to have at least a x2 multiplier from the start.
- Enhanced progression system, with each upgrade granting:
- Upgrade 1 → +15 extra free spins, Fisherman multipliers start at x4.
- Upgrade 2 → +15 extra free spins, Fisherman multipliers start at x10.
- Upgrade 3 → +15 extra free spins, Fisherman multipliers start at x15.
Plenty Of Fish In The Sea (10 Free Spins)
- Triggered by landing 5 FS scatters in the base game.
- All Marlin symbols have a minimum value of x5.
- At least one Marlin symbol and one Fisherman are guaranteed to land on every spin, increasing cash collection potential.
Bonus Buy Options
For players looking to jump straight into the action, Marlin Masters offers several bonus buy options:
- BonusHunt FeatureSpins (3x the bet) → Each spin is 5x more likely to trigger a bonus round.
- Cash Collection Feature (50x the bet) → Each spin guarantees at least two Marlin symbols and one Fisherman.
- Reel It In Free Spins (65x the bet).
- Off The Hook Free Spins (200x the bet).
With progressive free spins, guaranteed multipliers, and a cash-collect system, Marlin Masters offers a polished take on the classic fishing slot formula—adding upgrades, multipliers, and more ways to reel in big wins.
Marlin Masters: Slot Verdict
It’s hard to ignore the sense of déjà vu when playing Marlin Masters—but that’s to be expected in the fishing slot genre. The classic “land a Fisherman to collect fish money symbols” mechanic is as ingrained in fishing slots as rods and reels are in real-life angling. This formula has proven to be incredibly popular with players and, in turn, casino game developers keep cranking them out.
Now, Hacksaw Gaming has finally taken the bait, and while Marlin Masters doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does introduce a few tweaks that may intrigue fishing slot fans. One notable change is that Fisherman symbols can appear in all phases of the game, not just during free spins, and they can carry multipliers at any time. Additionally, having multiple free spins rounds isn’t standard practice in these types of slots, giving players a choice between different bonus experiences—whether through natural play or bonus buys.
Compared to Big Bass Bonanza—which is virtually impossible not to compare—it felt like Marlin Masters was stingier with Fisherman symbols during free spins. This is based on anecdotal observation rather than hard stats, but leveling up the bonus round seemed more challenging than in a Big Bass title. Of course, individual experiences may vary.
On the bright side, because Fisherman symbols can land with multipliers at any time, it only takes one strong spin in either the base or bonus game to land a major catch. With a 7,500x max win, Marlin Masters holds its own against direct competitors.
Final Thoughts
Marlin Masters is an interesting addition to the fishing slot lineup, especially coming from Hacksaw Gaming, which is better known for bold, high-energy designs. While it may not be the most groundbreaking entry, it’s still a solid addition to the genre—offering a few unique twists while sticking to a formula that has long proven successful.
