Pirates’ Frenzy Slot: Overview

Pirates’ Frenzy, created by Blueprint partner Reel Time Gaming, draws heavily from a familiar title in their archives: Fishin Frenzy, which later received a refreshed Megaways edition. That original clearly resonated with plenty of reel-spinning fishermen and armchair anglers craving a taste of the outdoors. This time the studio returns with another sequel that stays at sea, but shifts the focus to the idealised life of pirates.

Love it or hate it, the team has kept visuals that already felt old-fashioned even back when Fishin Frenzy launched years ago. It does create continuity and will satisfy fans of the first game, but players accustomed to slick modern presentation may find it a bit harsh on the eyes. For retro gaming enthusiasts, though, it’s a throwback to the early 1990s, when “state of the art” VGA could manage 256 colours—an idea that will either spark fond nostalgia or mild dread. The upside is the backdrop is sunny and welcoming, and it’s a pleasant reminder of warmer places.

The action sits right on the shoreline with a base setup of 5 reels and 3 rows. Over on the right is an optional 6th reel, which we’ll cover shortly. The 10 paylines are shown along the reel edges in that classic old-school style—an immediate sign you’re in retro territory. Players then ante up (no bait required this time) by choosing a stake, and the range is impressively broad. Budget spins start at 20 p/c a spin, while big spenders can push five-reel wagers up to $/€400. And even that hefty amount is outdone once the 6th reel comes into play.

The paytable further underlines Pirates’ Frenzy’s vintage vibe with its familiar look and layout. At the lower end are card ranks 9 –A, followed by sacks of coins, a bottle of grog, and oranges to keep scurvy at bay. Higher up you’ll find an anchor, and at the top a parrot—because every pirate needs one perched nearby. In five-reel mode, a full line of parrots awards 200 times the stake. Winning combinations require three or more matching symbols, except for the parrot, which pays from two.

The swashbuckling Captain Sparrow-esque character has two roles in Pirates’ Frenzy, one of which is acting as the wild. He can substitute for any other paying symbol and also carries a strong payout on his own. Land five of him on a payline in the five-reel game and he returns 500 times the stake. Mechanically, the original Fishin’ Frenzy played as a calmer, medium variance slot, but it feels like Blueprint Gaming has nudged that volatility up a step or two here. RTP hasn’t changed, remaining at 96.12%. The other parts that feel broadly familiar—just adjusted to suit the theme—are the features.

Pirates’ Frenzy Slot: Features

The standout new element is that intriguing 6th reel. You can switch it on whenever you like, and it comes with a few perks. Once active, 6 symbol combinations become available—these 6 symbol wins pay double what the equivalent 5 symbol combinations pay. Another advantage of enabling the 6th reel is that additional gold bag symbols and scatters show up in the game.

Naturally, these enhancements come at a price, and here it means the stake is doubled. For anyone playing at the top end, that translates into a staggering 800 credits per spin. One important detail: although the bet doubles, the coin values do not change. For instance, the minimum 5 reel wager is 20c, which sets the coin value at 2c per line. Turn on the 6th reel and the bet increases to 40c, but the coin value per line stays at 2c. Worth remembering.

The last symbol is the boat scatter—hit 3, 4, 5, or 6 of them to receive 10, 15, 20, or 50 Free Spins respectively. In the free spins round, money bag symbols can land showing values of 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, or 500 coins. If these appear alongside the Pirate Scatters, they’re collected and paid to the player. The bonus finishes once the free spins reach zero, and it cannot be retriggered.

Pirates’ Frenzy Slot: Verdict

Pirate’s Frenzy is the kind of slot that splits opinion, and the visuals are the main reason. Players raised on modern 3D showpieces may need time to adjust to the immediate visual shock. Sure, Reel Time Gaming seems to have deliberately chosen a dated style to keep that land-based machine feel, but some will still consider it downright unattractive. Perhaps that’s a bit harsh, yet the presentation is so distinctive that it may appeal most to dedicated retro-slot fans. That said, anyone who enjoyed hauling in wins on Fishin’ Frenzy should find similar satisfaction in collecting sacks of gold during the bonus as well.

Feature-wise, it’s worth pausing to decide whether the optional 6th reel is actually worth using. If you’re aiming for bigger action, it’s logical, since it enables larger combinations and increases the presence of scatters and gold bags. However, the added cost can mount quickly. At the far end, staking 800 credits per spin is genuinely bold—not only because of the expense, but because of the numbers involved. The maximum win is limited to $250,000 or 10,000 times the bet, whichever is reached first. That’s a solid ceiling, but high rollers could run into it sooner than you might expect. Even so, it’s difficult to picture anyone getting anywhere near the 10,000x limit. In fact, even a 1,000x hit here would feel like a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Again, keep that in mind.

All in all, it’s a decent enough slot if you can live with the old-school visuals and straightforward gameplay. Even so, there are plenty of pirate-themed slots available that look better and deliver more excitement.