Step into Play’n GO’s festive fishing wonderland with Boat Bonanza Christmas, adding a Christmassy twist to this fan-favourite slots series. Building on the success of three previous Boat Bonanza titles, Play’n GO’s game retention leader Erik Hellstrom reveals why the team felt the holiday season is the perfect moment to unveil this next instalment.
“As with all of our sequels, we wanted to build on the success of the original while offering a fresh and – on this occasion – seasonal twist that honours the original, but introduces new features and mechanics, while also capturing the magic of Christmas.”
Play’n GO is no stranger to successful sequel games and Hellstrom believes that the team has masterfully reeled in another winner with this latest instalment to the Boat Bonanza series. With the popularity of its 2023 predecessor, Boat Bonanza Colossal Catch, still making waves on a global scale, now seemed the perfect time to add a touch of Christmas magic to the fishing themed slots adventure.
“The festive season is a perfect time to engage players with themes of joy, giving, and excitement, and Boat Bonanza Christmas was our way of merging those emotions with the engaging gameplay players already know and love.”
Launching in 2018, Boat Bonanza hit the headlines with its popularity, setting the scene for the subsequent editions, Boat Bonanza: Colossal Catch in 2023, and Boat Bonanza Down Under in Spring 2024.
But with success comes challenges, and this time around the test for the Play’n GO team was perfecting the progression of the Boat Bonanza storyline in a way that retains engagement through familiarity while adding a touch of festive intrigue for both new and existing fans.
Hellstrom adds, “In Boat Bonanza Christmas, players will aim to match wintery-themed symbols across the game’s 5×4 reels for your chance to haul in some big holiday wins. We’ve stayed true to the original game, but with more of a winter wonderland vibe that we think players will love.”
“With a backdrop of a snow-covered coastline and shimmering icy waters, you’ll feel like you’re sailing through a serene winter paradise as you cast those nets into the icy depths.”
Festive themes are in full swing this time of year, with snowy landscapes, glistening snowflakes and Christmas trees taking centre stage. However, Hellstrom believes his team have created a game that provides more than just seasonal cheer—by leveraging industry experience and detailed player insights the team has struck the perfect balance between the game’s popular features and an infusion of Christmas magic.
He explains, “We tried to match wintery-themed symbols across the game’s 5×4 reels for your chance to haul in some big holiday wins. Alongside the classic slot symbols, you’ll encounter seagulls with Santa hats, festive buoys, and more.
“We’re really hopeful that this game can utilise the popularity of the Boat Bonanza IP to stand out this Christmas. The metrics for success will be the same as for all of our releases. We’ll engage with operators to acquire feedback, and we expect the game to be a mainstay of players’ seasonal activities for many years to come.”
Striking this perfect chord isn’t possible through guesswork and Hellstrom is proud of the way his team listens to player feedback to incorporate the standout features and mechanics.
He explains, “Player feedback highlighted a love for the simplicity of the core fishing mechanic, but we wanted to introduce more interactive bonus rounds to continue to deliver on experience too. In Boat Bonanza Christmas, we’ve added enhanced bonus features like the Mega Catch Multiplier to make the gameplay more engaging and rewarding.”
By speaking to players themselves and ultimately targeting the right audience at the right moment, Hellstrom believes the Play’n GO team has mastered the art of connecting with players – something that naturally reinforces its position as a leading slots developer.
“This game is perfect for players who enjoy seasonal games, casual gaming experiences, and visually immersive slots. The Christmas theme appeals to a broad audience, particularly during the holiday season when players look for light-hearted, festive entertainment.”
“The appeal of fishing games is a secret to no one at this point, and we wanted to deliver a game that capitalised on that appeal while also giving a nod to the festive season.”
Boat Bonanza Christmas has managed to combine its trademark stand out colourful graphics with an appealing festive backdrop of icy water, Christmas trees and even the appearance of Father Christmas himself.
Set on five reels of three rows with 12 paylines, some of the key mechanics of the game include 10, 15, or 20 free spins with a combination of 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols plus an overall maximum payout of 5000x your bet.
As in the rest of the Boat Bonanza series, there are no wilds in this edition. However, there are two exciting bonus features that more than make up for it. Keep an eye out as the pair of tugboats rise to the surface of the icy waters, ready to reel in their catch. Snag a lobster or fish symbol, and you’ll activate a multiplier mechanic to enhance your winnings. But the real excitement comes when both tugboats make a catch simultaneously, triggering the Mega Catch Multiplier, and offering a chance to win up to 1,000x your bet.
“For seasonal games, timing is everything.”
While Hellstrom recognises that Boat Bonanza Christmas is formed around the popular slots theme of fishing and fans-favourite Boat Bonanza mechanics, he is quick to emphasise that a well-planned and timely marketing schedule is very much a key proponent to a game’s success.
“We focus on creating a sense of urgency by promoting the game heavily in the months leading up to the holiday season.
“Marketing strategies include themed campaigns, social media engagement, and partnerships with operators to feature the game in their Christmas promotions. We want the game to be front and centre for players over Christmas when they choose to use their leisure time for gameplay.
“The game really strengthens our seasonal offerings and showcases our ability to adapt successful titles into festive formats. This game contributes to our goal of providing diverse experiences, ensuring there’s something for every player during key times of the year. Naturally, given the theme of the game, we think it’s more likely that it becomes a seasonal classic as opposed to a year-round one.”
With this Christmassy slot game set to make a name for itself and further boost the Boat Bonanza series, Hellstrom is confident there may be other seasonally themed titles in the making.
He concludes, “While we can’t reveal specifics just yet, seasonal games are an important part of our strategy. We’re always looking for opportunities to adapt popular titles into special editions that resonate with players during festive periods. The success of this game will help to form our strategy next year and into the future. Watch this space!”
Play’n GO’s Game retention leader Erik Hellstrom
