Pragmatic Play Turns to the Open Sea with Hot Tuna

Pragmatic Play

Rated 97.15/100%

495 Casinos
700 Games | 33 Live Games

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Number of games

700

Country

Malta

Founded

2015

• Live Games
• Slots
• Tournaments

Pragmatic Play has introduced Hot Tuna, a slot that places less emphasis on rapid outcomes and more on gradual development through its bonus structure. While the fishing theme provides a familiar backdrop, the game's defining characteristics are found in how it manages value collection, free spins, and conditional multipliers. Rather than relying on frequent triggers or abrupt volatility shifts, Hot Tuna adopts a measured approach that unfolds over time.

The base game follows a conventional structure. Wins are formed by matching at least three identical symbols, with payouts reaching up to 200 times the stake. This establishes a restrained framework in which the base play primarily serves as a gateway to the feature round. The design suggests that sustained engagement is expected to occur once the bonus game is activated, rather than during regular spins.

95.25/100%

New

Play for free Play for real

RTP%

96.53

Volatility

High

Layout

5×3

Max Win

Hot Tuna

No star

0 plays

12/01/2026

Pragmatic Play, Reel Kingdom

Entry into the bonus round occurs when three to five scatter symbols appear on the reels. The number of scatters determines the starting number of free spins, ranging from 10 to 20. From this point, the game begins to differentiate itself from simpler free spin models by introducing mechanics that reward sequencing and symbol interaction rather than relying solely on repetition.

During the free spins, wild symbols represented by fishermen become central to the outcome of each spin. Their function extends beyond substitution, as they actively collect the values of money symbols that land during the same spin. This creates a dependency between symbol timing and position, such that the presence of a wild alters how the value is processed. Each fisherman wild also adds free spin, allowing the bonus round to expand organically rather than through fixed retrigger rules.

Not all money symbols are converted into wins immediately. When they appear without a fisherman wild on the reels, their values are stored in a meter. This meter fills incrementally as qualifying symbols land over successive spins. The process is gradual and transparent, encouraging attention to longer-term progression rather than isolated results. Once the meter is completed, the game awards an extra set of 10 free spins, extending the bonus phase further.

These additional free spins introduce a structural change. Special Hot Tuna symbols are added to the reels, altering how collected values are treated. Their role is not constant; instead, they act as modifiers that become relevant only under certain conditions. When active, these symbols multiply collected money values by 10, significantly reshaping potential outcomes without changing the underlying mechanics.

One of the more intricate interactions occurs when Hot Tuna symbols land alongside fisherman wilds. In this situation, the fisherman first gathers all available values from money symbols on the reels. Only after this collection phase is complete does the multiplier apply. This sequencing matters, as it determines whether the enhanced payout is applied to the full collected amount or not at all. The result is a feature that rewards alignment rather than frequency.

From an analytical standpoint, Hot Tuna relies on accumulation rather than acceleration. The bonus game does not depend on constant retriggers or escalating modifiers from the outset. Instead, it builds value through repeated interactions, stored symbols, and conditional upgrades. This structure reduces abrupt swings while still allowing for extended bonus rounds if the right combinations appear.

The fishing theme functions as a narrative layer rather than a mechanical driver. Fishermen, fish values, and tuna symbols visually represent collection and reward, but they do not introduce side features or external decision-making. The reels remain the sole focus, keeping gameplay linear and predictable, even as outcomes remain uncertain.