Ice Lobster

Ice Lobster Slot Review

Slot Provider: Pragmatic Play

RTP: 96.06% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 5,000x

Our Score: 7.4

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About Ice Lobster

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 27th March 2024

How We Review Slot Games

We test and rate all slot games across 5 criteria, assigning a score out of 10 for each and an overall score that is an average of the 5. To build an accurate assessment of each game we gather information from the supplier and play in real play or demo mode. Find out more.

Ice Lobster is a high variance fishing slot from Pragmatic Play with 5 reels and 20 paylines. It is a simple game where the objective is to land 3 or more scatters to trigger the free spins round with up to 15 spins. Positions where scatters land are marked, and when lobster money symbols land on marked positions their value is collected. Landing more scatters extends the round, marks more positions and adds multipliers of up to 3x. Top win is 5,000x and spins start at 20p.

Ice Lobster Game Information

  • Release Date: 11.04.24
  • RTP: 96.06% | 95.06% | 94.03%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 5,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 5
  • Rows: 3
  • Paylines: 20
  • Minimum Stake: £0.20
  • Theme: Fishing
  • Features: Wilds, Free Spins, Cash Collect Symbols, Multipliers

Testing Notes: Here’s What Happened When We Played Ice Lobster

IMPORTANT: To give you an accurate assessment of the games we review our writers play 200 spins. Whilst this is a useful tool to help us review games and to give an example of what might happen when you play, keep in mind that 200 spins is only a very small sample and cannot be used to accurately predict what might happen over another 200 spins. The outcome of all slots play is always random.

Boom Or Bust? Our Session By The Numbers

I played 250 spins on Ice Lobster on Pragmatic Play’s test server prior to release to test the game. This is what happened.

  • Stake Size: $1
  • Start balance: $100,000
  • End balance: $99,856.35
  • Hit Rate: 26.8% (67 winning spins in 250)
  • Biggest Win: 23.5x
  • Free Spins Round: 0

It felt like Pragmatic Play have really boiled this game down to the simplest elements. There are no base game features so it’s all about just waiting for that free spins round to drop and hoping for a lucky run when you get there. I didn’t see it once in 250 spins. In fact, that is not too unusual. It can take up to 300 or more spins in some sessions. Meanwhile, the hit rate came in at 26.8% in the base game. That isn’t bad – roughly 1 in 4 spins producing a win, to keep you engaged whilst waiting for those scatters to drop. And my biggest win, shown in the screengrab, was 23.5x when 5 wilds dropped onto the grid.

A 23.5x win in Ice Lobster
A 23.5x win from the base game in testing

On this basis I would only really recommend this game to fans of high variance slots who don’t mind playing with no real features in the base game and just like hunting the big catches.

What We Liked

  • Lobster symbols have values of up to 1,000x
  • Classic, simple fishing slot gameplay and basic design
  • Earn multipliers of up to 3x by landing more scatters
  • Top paying premium symbol valued at 100x for 5

What We Didn't like

  • Very simple gameplay, less fun than Big Bass series
  • Lower RTP at some casinos

Ice Lobster Review Scores

  • Theme and Design 7
  • RTP and Variance 8
  • Maximum Win 7
  • Symbols and Paytable 8
  • Features and Gameplay 7

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"This fishing-themed game may be just too basic for some, but for those who enjoy simple, high variance gameplay it still offers some cash collect thrills in its progressive bonus round!"

Overall Score: 7.4

Theme & Design

Our Score 7

A Simple, Classic Fishing Slot Design

Fishing slots, even the hugely popular Big Bass ones, tend to be very simple in design style. Ice Lobster is no exception. This is a game set in a freezing landscape with a snowy landscape just visible above the waterline, but most of the action taking place underneath, where lobsters scuttle about and little shoals of fish swim by. The paytable is filled with brightly colored symbols, with a classic white-bearded old fisherman heading up the premium value ones. Like the gameplay, the production is simple and should appeal to fishing slot fans.

Ice Lobster by Pragmatic Play

RTP and Variance

Our Score 8

What is RTP?

RTP (Return to Player) refers to the amount a game will pay out in cash prizes expressed as a percentage of all the money wagered on that game. For example, a 96% RTP means a game will pay out £96 for every £100 wagered. This is an average number and will vary from one session to the next.  Read more here.

What is Variance?

Variance refers to how far a game will deviate from its RTP over time. High variance games deviate a lot and produce uneven win distributions and unexpected windfalls. Low variance games provide a more stable and even distribution of wins. Read more here.

Like most Pragmatic Play games, Ice Lobster has three possible RTP settings – 96.06%, 95.06% or 94.03%. You’ll need to check the game information screen when you load up the slot at your casino to find out which rate is active. You can do this by hitting the ‘I’ button under the reels then scrolling through until you reach the Game Rules page. Theoretical RTP is listed under the paylines graphic.

Ideally you want to be playing at 96%. In our own testing the slot site we have found to consistently run Pragmatic Play games at their optimum RTP rates is MrQ from Lindar Media.

Pragmatic Play rate this as 5/5 on their own volatility scale so it is a high variance game. That means the wins will be unevenly distributed, so the game can typically burn through your funds in quick time before it kicks out a nice win or two.

Maximum Win

Our Score 7

What Is Maximum Win?

Maximum win refers to the maximum amount a player can win from one spin. It is expressed as a multiple of the stake. For example, where the maximum win is 100,000x, from a £1 stake, the maximum win would be £100,000.  

The top payout has been capped at 5,000x. Whilst this is low for a high variance game, and a long way short of the slots found in our list of the highest max win games right now, it isn’t uncommon for a Pragmatic one. A lot is made of these headline figures these days but it’s not all about that, this can still be a good game without having blockbuster potential.

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 8

Ice Lobster has a classic 5 reel and 3 row set up with 20 payline in play. You need to land 3 or more identical symbols across a payline from left to right, starting at the left most reel, to trigger a win.

Ice Lobster Paytable
The paytable with 100x for 5 top paying premiums

There are ten pay symbols in the table. Low value ones are the cards, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace. These are valued at from 0.1x for 3 10s up to 5x for 5 Aces. The premiums are the fishing net, rod and reel, life ring, tackle box, and fisherman. These are value at from 0.75x for 3 nets up to 100x for 5 fishermen.

There is a wild too – represented by a golden fish. These are valued at 2.5x, 10x and 100x for 3, 4 or 5 on a line, and they substitute for all pay symbols to complete win lines too.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 7

As in their Big Bass series, Ice Lobster is all about triggering the free spins round where you can collect money symbols represented by lobsters to boost payouts. This is how it works:

Land 3 Or More Scatters

To enter the free spins you will need to land 3 or more scatters, represented by the lobster with the gold anchor. Spins are awarded as follows:

  • 3 scatters – 8 spins
  • 4 scatters – 12 spins
  • 5 scatters – 15 spins

The position each scatter lands in is marked for the duration of the bonus round.

Lobster Money Symbols Are Worth Up To 1,000x` 

The lobster money symbol is now in play and carries a value of 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 8x, 10x, 15x, 20x, 30x, 50x, 100x, 200x, 500x or 1,000x.

In order for the value of the symbol to be collected the lobster needs to land on one of the positions on the grid marked as previously showing a scatter.

You can extend the round by landing more scatters. Each one will get you another spin AND mark another position on the reels.

And finally, there is a progressive element too. Once you have marked SIX positions on the reels, money symbols double in value when they are collected. And once you have marked TEN positions, money symbol triple in value when they are collected.

The Final Verdict

Clearly fishing slots are very popular otherwise developers like Pragmatic Play wouldn’t keep producing them at the rate they do. But it does feel like we might be reaching saturation point soon. And Ice Lobster is somewhat symptomatic of that issue – there is nothing new here at all. I guess for fans of the Big Bass series who made be a little bored with all that bass fishing, at least this game does provides an alternative backdrop to chasing down those cash collects, and with the use of scatters to mark positions on the grid there is an alternative mechanism for activating prizes. But in truth, there is little to excite here, and I wonder if this game will stand the test of time.

Useful Tips When Playing Ice Lobster

Remember, online slots are games of chance, there is NO strategy that can improve your odds of winning. However, reading our review and following these tips will help you get the most out of your time playing this slot game.

1. More Scatters Means More Chances To Win

This slot, like the Big Bass series, is ALL about those free spins. You should be looking to land scatters as often as possible. First to trigger the round, then to extend it and add more marked positions onto the reels on which lobster cash values pay out.

2. Play With A Low Stake

We always advise you to use our bankroll management strategy when playing high variance games like these. They can burn your balance fast so set a relatively low stake to absorb the losing runs whilst waiting for the big moment to drop.

3. Find A Good Pragmatic Play Bonus

You can play this slot with bonus funds if you find a good offer that is eligible to use on Pragmatic Play games. I recommend Barz Casino where you get a 100% match up to £300.

4. Play At Our Recommended Slot Sites

Pick from the recommendations on this page or elsewhere on our sites. Every slot site in our listings has been reviewed and rated by our team and each is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission which makes them fair, safe and secure.

Who Made Ice Lobster?

  • Name: Pragmatic Play
  • Established: 2015
  • UK License: Remote 046683-R-325951-014
  • Total Games: 500 +
  • Known For: Wide range of themes and styles, live casino including gameshow formats, and bingo
  • Popular Slots: Fruit Party, Dog House Megaways, Big Bass Bonanza, Release the Kraken
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