Free Slots
You know how passionate we are when it comes to slots. But our work gets fascinating when we get to discover new games that have all the chances to challenge the throne and replace the old slot machines mechanics we all love.
TaDa Gaming recently launched what they like to call fishing-shooting games, and these are packed with a type of action that you have never seen before. For those of you who are still new to this genre, you can learn everything about their mechanics from our previous article, where we cover fishing-shooting gameplay secrets and teach you how to switch between difficulty and volatility levels.
And that’s your first main difference before we even dive into the comparison. It is indeed true. You can change the difficulty level when shooting kinds of marine creatures in these games, but more on that in the following paragraphs.
Gameplay Mechanics: Chance VS Skill-Based Interaction
Fundamentally speaking, slots are entirely built around chance. The only action required is to press the “spin” button, and the game does its thing, randomly generating a result that may or may not bring you any wins. So, it is only up to the algorithm to decide if your wager is rewarded or not.
In slots, variety, fun and entertainment is driven by graphics, game mechanics, reel layout, sound effects or bonus features.
In contrast, fishing-shooting games require you to continuously interact with the game. From our testing sessions at Mega Fishing, we felt like we were permanently in control. You can control the weapons and bets, choose your targets, and build up strategies depending on how precise your aim is or what marine creatures you plan on battling.
Each catch has a payout value, making aiming accuracy and timing determine your success. Should we also mention the boss fights and all the action that happens on the screen? Fishing-shooting games are completely immersive, and decision-making is required for every shot. It really feels like an arcade game rather than a casino game.
Verdict: Fishing-shooting games are packed with actions, graphics, colours and intense situations, but compared to slots, they also require you to make a choice each and every round, your decision having direct impact on the outcome.
Player Experience
Our recent interview with Sean Liu, Director of Product Management at TaDa Gaming revealed that the studio developed their games in such way that players can even have control over the volatility and risk levels from the beginning.
Increasing your bet, switching to rough targets and bosses can immediately increase the difficulty, and the rewards at the same time. However, they require constant attention, but wait, there is more.
Players can team up in the same game and go for the same fish. You can see other cannons joining your fight, each player having the opportunity to upgrade the weapon, making the experience feel like a state-of-the-art video game.
On the other side, slots come with their own quality-of-life perks. They are designed for short bursts of play and for people who mostly want to go for a relaxing session of spins. If you are the type of player who spends his free time with his favorite drink to the side and a bucket of popcorn, choose a classic slot, turn on the auto-spin mode, lay back, and hope for the free spins feature to be triggered.
At the same time, no deposit free spins give you the best slots experience as they completely eliminate the financial risks you have to take financially.
Verdict: If you want an intense and immersive experience packed with action and shooting, you should go for the fishing-shooting games. If you want a more relaxed type of gameplay, go for slots.
Winning Potential and Strategy
The reward system differs from one game to another. Fishing-shooting games will reward you based on your strategy and decisions, while slot rewards are strictly influenced by RNG results and RTP (Return To Player).
Playing fishing-shooting titles requires skill. You must choose which fish to target, when to switch to another type of weapon, and when to upgrade it. Rare fish will reward you with higher payouts, and each bullet costs you money, making budget management vital.
Verdict: Fishing-shooting games present you with the possibility of choosing what your winning potential is. If you just want to have fun shooting fish, go for the small ones and enjoy yourself.
Return To Player Rate & House Edge
Talking about RTP and house edge in slots used to be a never-ending debate. Everything is public now, with each slot developer being forced to publish all the details regarding their game`s RTP.
However, slots will always have a fixed RTP value, except for the Megaways ones, where the RTP value changes if you reach an advanced level of reel expansion. Nevertheless, fixed RTP means constant fun and relaxing sessions, and your only worry should be your wagers. As a side note, please remain in the range of 95%-99% RTP when playing at slots. Anything lower might be too risky and not worth it.
The scenery completely changes when playing fishing-shooting games. We will take Mega Fishing as an example again. On average, the game features a 97% RTP, but in an actual session, everything can change. The RTP is never constant because there is no RNG algorithm behind your decision to shoot smaller or bigger fish.
On top of that, considering its social nature, players can join you, making bullets count more. Therefore, RTP and house edge depend on how you play.
What would a good strategy look like? Set the wager to a minimum and only aim for the smallest fish. The majority of them will disappear with only one shot, helping you achieve consecutive profitable shots. You can also experiment with taking on bigger fish, but that will definitely require more financial resources.
Verdict: If you like to strategize and always have a response to what is happening on the screen, you should definitely go for the fishing-shooting games. If you want to enjoy a relaxed and effortless session, stick to slots.
The Heat of The Moment
After playing both types of games head to head, we cannot ignore the fact that when playing fishing-shooting games, you are never just waiting for something to happen. You have to interact with the game, react to it, calculate your next moves, and try your best to outgun a big shark that constantly floats on your screen. You know there is a huge prize behind that hunt, so fighting it is your challenge.
This whole anticipation comes in differently when playing slots. You only get your “heat” from spinning the reels, and the most intense moments are those right before you hit the bonus feature. You know how your heart goes when the last reel is about to give you the third bonus symbol and activate the feature.
Verdict: We cannot say we have a favorite here since both games can keep your adrenaline levels up. It is only a matter of taste.
Social Connections and Teamwork
It is absolutely mind-blowing how new game genres take the path of social gaming. We are pioneers ourselves, and we love to see studios joining the ride. Fishing-shooting games have a social component. You will see four cannons on your screen, but only one is yours. Three more players can join you in battle and help you defeat the shark or hunt rewards.
You are able to see what fish are going for, what weapon upgrades they’re using, and team up to score big wins.
Slots? Well, that’s solo territory. It’s only you against a machine with an algorithm behind it, with nobody to influence your session in any way. There is nobody to compete or cooperate with. You and your luck against the almighty RNG.
Verdict: While shooting fish can quickly transform into a social event where teaming up with friends and players only helps you earn more and quicker, slots are a true solo adventure where you are responsible for any outcome.
Responsibility
Adrenaline, intensity, and bets that drive revenue are what we all chase at any given time. However, we should not forget that gambling or any casino activity are just forms of entertainment.
Having a responsible approach is crucial to both your personal data safety and finances. Considering that both slots and fishing-shooting games are extremely volatile, we can suggest a different approach for each that will keep your risk level at the lowest:
Slots: Keep your bet low, do not turn on auto-spin, and do not abuse the gamble feature.
Fishing-shooting: Do not spam your shots. Each bullet costs you the amount of your wager. Only aim for small fish and creatures, and only fight the big bosses when you are playing with at least two more players.
Final Conclusions
What we understood after comparing fishing-shooting games with slots is that finally someone is contesting the classic single player gambling format aiming to turn it from a passive activity into a more decision-making, social, action-packed environment.
Still, it is only up to your taste to decide. Are you up for a fight against a giant ocean creature, or do you fancy the idea of pressing auto-spin and enjoying a bag of popcorn on the side?
