Boss Bear

If you’ve been here for a while you’ll remember that at the end of 2022, our community voted Push Gaming‘s Big Bamboo as Slot of the Year 2022. This release, which tied in the mystery element of releases like Razor Shark, was immediately loved by fans, thanks to its potent potential, gamble feature, and progressive free spins feature.

Now, after giving us their version of a fishing game in Fish ‘n’ Nudge, the team at Push Gaming are giving us a new take on the panda. They’re taking away the cuteness and instead introducing us to the boss of a notorious syndicate, along with a new take on the mystery element to heighten anticipation, and some features fans of Razor Returns will recognise, in Boss Bear.

With RTP options available up to 96.47% (96.81% feature buy), this highly volatile release can produce wins up to 25,000x bet.

Boss Bear Base Game

We’re taking a step away from the bamboo forests today and instead find ourselves in the middle of an Asian town. It’s a dull evening with some fog rolling across the ground, which means the whole thing has a bit of a deep teal hue. To the left of the reels is some sort of food stand whilst a neon sign hangs to the right. That’s pretty much it, since the whole town seems to be deserted.

The rest of our attention is given to the reels, where we find 3 mafia-styled animals – the panda, a monkey and a wolf. Other than this we find some Asian-styled symbols and some weapons. Finally, an oriental soundtrack comes in to tie it all together, littered with sounds like gunshots and gongs. All in all, a nice picture – and definitely a change from that of Big Bamboo.

Boss Bear Offers Players 50 Fixed Win Lines

Boss Bear Base Features

Taking place across 5 reels, wins are formed on Boss Bear by matching at least 2 or 3 symbols on adjacent reels, beginning with the leftmost reel, across 1 of 50 fixed win lines. Symbols available begin with non premiums, with blue diamonds, green spades, purple hearts and red clubs, awarding wins between 0.10 and 0.80x bet for matches between 3 and 5 of a kind.

In the mid range we have two weapons – throwing stars and guns. Land 3 of a kind of either of these symbols to see wins of 0.20 or 0.40x bet, increasing to values of 2 or 4x bet for 5 of a kind matches. At the premium end we meet the wolf and the monkey, awarding wins of 0.80 and 1x bet for 3 of a kind matches, increasing to values of 10 and 20x bet for 5 of a kind wins.

The highest paying symbol is that of the boss bear – the panda, which is also the only symbol to pay for 2 of a kind. Land between 2 and 5 of a kind pandas in view to see wins between 0.50 and 100x bet. Finally, Wild Symbols are available and substitute for all symbols except Scatter Symbols and either Reveal Symbol. Land between 2 and 5 of a kind Wild Symbols to see wins between 0.50 and 100x bet.

Boss Bear Golden Reveal Feature

Push Bet

By betting an additional 20% the chance of triggering Free Spins is increased by 50%.

When using Push Bet wins are calculated according to the base bet.

In the 96.47% setting RTP will increase to 96.53% when using Push Bet. This change may be different depending on the setting, but at all times Push Bet will increase the RTP.

Reveal Symbols

There’s really only one feature to cover in the base game of Boss Bear – Reveal Symbols.

When Reveal Symbols land on the reels, they will land in stacks.

After they have landed, all Reveal Symbols in view will reveal the same regular paying symbol or Wild Symbols.

Players Can Trigger or Gamble up to 9 Free Spins

Golden Reveal Symbols

When Reveal Symbols land on at least 3 consecutive reels Golden Reveal Symbols will activate. This can happen regardless of the size of the stack or the position on the reels – Reveal Symbols simply need to land on any 3 consecutive reels.

If this happens, all Reveal Symbols in view will turn into Golden Reveal Symbols.

This triggers the Coin Feature.

Coin Feature

During the Coin Feature, all Golden Reveal Symbols will turn into a coin and spin through different prizes.

The following prizes can land during the Coin Feature:

• Instant Prize Symbols – a bet multiplier holding a value of 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x, 25x, 50x, 100x, 250x, 500x or 1000x bet.
• Multiplier Symbols – multiplies the value of all Instant Prize Symbols or Collector Symbols on the reel by its revealed value, which can be 2x, 3x, 5x or 10x, before being removed and re-spinning to reveal a new prize.
• Collector Symbols – collects the value of all Instant Prize and Collector Symbols in view and transforms into an Instant Prize Symbol of their total value, with all collected values re-spinning to reveal a new prize.
• Nudge Symbols – expands the stack of Golden Reveal Symbols to cover the whole reel it has landed on with any new positions spinning for prizes.
• Scatter Symbols.

Low Paying Symbols are Converted to Reveal Symbols During Free Spins and a Multiplier is Active

Boss Bear Bonus

Land 3 or more Scatter Symbols to trigger Free Spins.

• 3 Scatters – 7 spins with no Low Symbols converted.
• 4 Scatters – 8 spins with two Low Symbols converted.
• 5 Scatters – 9 spins with four Low Symbols converted.

Gamble Feature

After triggering Free Spins with 3 or 4 Scatters, players have an opportunity to use the Gamble Feature to attempt to win a higher prize.

The Gamble Feature will have segments with a higher prize and also segments with no prize.

The following prizes can appear:

• 3 Scatters – 8 spins with two Low Symbols converted or 9 spins with four Low Symbols converted.
• 4 Scatters – 9 spins with four Low Symbols converted.

If Free Spins are triggered with 3 Scatters players can gamble twice. If the gamble finishes on a segment with no prize, no Free Spins are awarded.

If Free Spins are triggered through the Coin Feature players can still choose to gamble but will they forfeit any prize awarded from the Coin Feature if they lose.

Land Reveal Symbols on 3 Consecutive Reels to Trigger the Coin Feature

Multiplier Upgrades

During Free Spins, any Scatters that land on the reels will be collected on the Low Symbol Meter next to the reels.

Each time four Scatters are collected another Low Symbol is converted to Reveal Symbols. When all Low Symbols have been removed Scatter symbols can no longer land. If Free Spins are triggered with 4 or 5 Scatters any necessary Low Symbols are converted before the feature begins.

Each Low Symbol that is removed will award additional spins and a multiplier upgrade.

• First Low Symbol – awards +4 additional spins and a x2 multiplier.
• Second Low Symbol – awards +3 additional spins and a x3 multiplier.
• Third Low Symbol – awards +3 additional spins and a x5 multiplier.
• Fourth Low Symbol – awards +2 additional spins and a x10 multiplier.

This multiplier is applied to any Instant Prize Symbols or Collector Symbols during the Coin Feature, which is triggered in the same way during Free Spins as it is in the base game.

If Low Symbols are upgraded before spins begin the relevant multiplier will activate but no additional spins are awarded.

Bonus Buy

Players in appropriate regions can skip straight to the action with the following Bonus Buy options:

• Random Free Spins – 100x bet (96.70% RTP without Gamble Feature)
• 5 Bonus Symbol Free Spins – 600x bet (96.81% RTP)
• Full Screen Golden Reveal Feature – 300x bet (96.48% – 96.71% RTP)

The above RTPs are based on the overall game setting of 96.47% RTP.

The maximum win available in Boss Bear is 25,000x base bet. If the sum of a single game round exceeds this, the game round will end and 25,000x base bet will be awarded.

Boss Bear Free Spins

First Impression

There’s plenty happening in Boss Bear to pique the interest of a variety of players. From those who like to take a risk on a bonus gamble to those who want to buy their way to a full screen of coins, there’s something here.

That doesn’t mean gameplay outside of these bonus buys suffers, though. We have many of the same features that made Big Bamboo and Dino P.D. so popular, with a new Golden Reveal Symbol, triggered by landing Reveal Symbols on 3 consecutive reels and guaranteeing the Coin Feature.

That’s pretty much it for the base game, although Push Bet does help move things along. It’s Free Spins where most of the action lies though – with low symbols converting to Reveal Symbols and a multiplier building.

The Golden Reveal Symbol does mean you know exactly what you’re waiting on, but it does take away a few seconds of excitement as the reels land, where you know pretty much immediately whether it’s going to be coins or not. On the other hand, it does get very exciting if you have landed these symbols on consecutive reels and you’re waiting on the rest of the reels landing, so six in one hand and all that. When the right combinations occur, wins are possible up to 25,000x bet.

Finally, maths is highly volatile and RTP options are available up to 96.47% (96.81% feature buy) so as always it’s worth checking this. If you liked Big Bamboo and you’re looking for something similar with a new twist, look no further.

*The screenshots taken of games reviewed on this site are taken from Demo Play, as reviews are often written before games are released for real play.