Wanted Dead or a Wild review

Theme and Storyline

Wanted Dead or a Wild has a dark Western theme.

An orange sunset burns in the distance and players face a spooky Western landscape. In this gritty world, they’ll need whiskey, bullets, and a little luck to get by.

This slot is a good pick for Western lovers who are ready to walk a more mysterious road. Cowboys and outlaws alike will need to be up for adventure on this dark frontier.

Graphics, Sounds and Animations

The slow-burn soundtrack brings to mind a cowboy riding out to meet a villain. The music manages to be unobtrusive, even as it adds tension, though the loop is quite short.

The animation style has a grainy quality that brings to mind a graphic novel or classic comic book. Players will feel as if the reels might make their fingers blackened with ink.

The symbols include bull skulls, bags of cash, and bottles of whiskey. They seem like everything a rugged cowboy or bandit would need to stay ahead of the law.

Behind the reels is a bloody sunset silhouetting crooked trees and a barbed wire fence. Players will be left with no doubt that this is a rougher Wild West than they’re used to.

Gameplay

Wanted Dead or a Wild is a five reel, five row slot, with 15 win lines.

The gameplay has a fast pace, ensuring that players will remain engaged.

Wilds, Bonuses and Free Spins

The Wild symbol substitutes for all symbols except the Bonus symbols and the VS symbols.

VS symbols will expand to cover the reel whenever their expansion will lead to a win. Players will then see two outlaws with different multipliers. This pair will duel, and the reel will also transform into Wilds and the winner’s multiplier will be applied to the reel. The outlaw’s multipliers will be between x2 and x100.

Should players land one VS symbol on each reel, then all the reels will become fully Wild.

When players land 3 or more of the Duel symbols, the Duel at Dawn Bonus feature will begin, starting with 10 free spins.

The Great Train Robbery feature is triggered when players land 3 or more Train Robbery symbols. During this feature players will have 10 free spins and all Wild symbols will be sticky.

The Dead Man’s Hand feature is triggered when players land 3 or more Dead symbols. During this, players accumulate Wilds and multipliers to be later applied to winnings.

Bet Sizes, RTP and Variance

The return to player of this game is 96.38%, above our yardstick for average of roughly 96%. The RTP in Bonus features is slightly different.

The range of bets on the site we tested ran from a minimum bet per spin of $/£/€0.20 up to a maximum of $/£/€100 per spin.

The volatility of this game is high, which makes it a good match for our preferred slot machine strategies. Our slot strategies target the highest possible volatility.

Conclusion

We recommend this high RTP, high volatility, dark Western slot.

The unique aesthetic and grittier take on the Western theme make the world of Wanted Dead or Wild interesting to visit.

The high volatility and respectable RTP also make this slot a strong choice for strategy-minded players, while the plethora of themed-bonus options ensure the gameplay stays novel and fun.

Sweet Bonanza review

Theme and Storyline

Set in a whimsical wonderland, this game is themed around fruity candies.

The sugary symbols are stacked against a cheerful blue sky. Players will gather grapes, bananas, plums, hard candies, and lollipops.

Players will feel like they are in a child’s dreamland with all the goodies they can eat.

Graphics, Sounds and Animations

The dream pastel hues of the backdrop create a calming mood for this game. Players will see iced desserts, candies, and swirls of ice cream. Meanwhile, fluffy white clouds drift through the sunny sky.

This fantasy world brings to mind the Land of the Sweets from the Nutcracker. It seems to be a carefree place where joy and fun reign.

The symbols take on the form of different fruits and candies. The fruits in particular are animated in a mouthwatering way and the sweets look like jewels. The design brings to mind classic fruit-themed slot machines from old school casinos.

The music is filled with tinkling bells and chiming notes. This feels on brand for the fantasyland environment. However, the tone can become grating and some players may wish to play with the sound off.

Sweet Bonanza Gameplay

Sweet Bonanza is a six reel, five row slot.

Wins are awarded based on the number of each symbol on the screen after a spin. The amount awarded depends on the number of the given symbols and the value of the symbol.

This game uses a cascade feature, which means that after each win the winning symbols disappear. The symbols that remain drop down and finally the empty positions are filled by new symbols rolling in. Players have no limit on the number of cascades.

The Ante Bet option increases the player’s bet per spin, and in return the number of Scatters on the reel increases.

Wilds, Bonuses and Free Spins in Sweet Bonanza

There is no Wild symbol.

The Scatter symbol may appear on any reel and pays in any position.

When 4 or more Scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels, the Free Spins Feature begins. The Free Spins Round may also be purchased. The round begins with 10 free spins, which are increased by an additional 5 spins if 3 or more Scatters land during the round.

The Multiplier symbol only appears on the reels during free spins. Whenever it lands, it remains on the reels to the end of a cascade series. Players will benefit from its random multiplier value (this will be between x2 and x100).

At the conclusion of the cascades, the value of every multiplier symbol is added together and applied to the player’s total win.

Sweet Bonanza Bet Sizes, RTP and Variance

The return to player of this game is 96.51%, above our yardstick for average of roughly 96%.

The range of bets on the site we tested ran from a minimum bet per spin of $/£/€0.20 up to a maximum of $/£/€100 per spin.

The volatility of this game is medium, which makes it a less ideal match for our preferred slot machine strategies. Our slot strategies target the highest possible volatility.

Conclusion

We recommend this high RTP, medium volatility candy-themed slot.

Despite the middling volatility, the high RTP and dreamy atmosphere make this game a fun choice.

The cascades, free spins, and multipliers make the gameplay exciting and keeps an engaging hold on players’ attention.

Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead review

Theme and Storyline

In this incarnation of the endless Book of Ra imitations, the player is presented with a main character who is no longer a copyright dodging rip off of movie hero Indiana Jones. Instead, the hero, Rich Wilde, is a rip off of computer game hero Nathan Drake.

Beyond that, the formula is much the same – Ancient Egyptian grave setting, hieroglyphics and sarcophaguses on the reels – with updated graphics and bit more gloss on everything. If you have enjoyed the Book of Ra slot and its many imitators before, then you will find nothing to surprise you in Book of Dead.

Graphics, Sounds and Animations

The graphics are more or less the same as the older games, with a higher resolution and a bit more polish on the artwork being the main upgrades.

The sound effects and music have also been lifted from the old Play’n’Go standard skin, but given a little upgrade in sound quality and complexity. The music does a fair job of setting up a desert atmosphere for the player, but very little else is as well-tailored in the sound effects.

The animations are serviceable, but again are the generic Play’n’Go animations with only the font changed. They lack the Egyptian or adventure movie flare that would hold the game together.

Gameplay

Book of Dead has a base game and a free spin bonus. Both are played on a five reel slot with three rows and ten configurable win lines. You can set the game to any number between 1 and all 10 lines.

The base game has very few other features, but does sport a gamble feature for those who want to crank the volatility of this slot up even further.

Overall, Book of Dead feels like a very standard slot, not doing a lot of different things but doing what it does competently.

Wilds, Bonuses and Free Spins

Among all the hieroglyphs on the reels, one stands out as special: the Book symbols acts as both a wild symbol and as a scatter.

As a wild, the Book symbol substitutes for all other symbols. While as a scatter, the Book symbol pays out from anywhere on the reels, regardless of whether it is on a winline or not.

Three Books will pay out twice your bet per spin, four will pay out twenty times your bet per spin, and five symbols gets you two hundred times your bet per spin. This is on top of any winlines it is part of as a Wild.

Three or more Books will also trigger ten free spins. During the free spins, a symbol is chosen to expand on any reel where it will result in an additional win. While regular symbols must run left to right starting from reel one, the expanding symbol can appear anywhere on a win line to produce a win.

Free spins can be retriggered by hitting three or more Scatters during the free spins, effectively adding another ten spins to your remaining spin counter.

Bet Sizes, RTP and Variance

The return to player of this game is 96.21%. This is within the bracket of roughly 96% that we use as our yardstick for average.

The range of bets on the site we tested ran from a minimum bet per spin of $/£/€0.01 if you play just one line or $/£/€0.10 if you play all ten. The maximum bet on the site we tested was $/£/€100.00 per spin.

The volatility of this game is as great as the pyramids at Giza; Play’n’GO rate it as 10/10 the highest level of volatility they produce. This ultra-high volatility makes this slot an excellent match for our preferred slot machine strategies.

Conclusion

Book of Dead is one of the most popular slots out there. This is largely because it evokes popular culture figures in a recognisable setting, and does a similar but slicker job than its direct competitor Book of Ra, which is something of a classic.

On top of these solid fundamentals, we like it for its high volatility and decent return to player. Both features make it a good match for our slot strategies.

We strongly recommend this one.

Razor Shark review

Theme and Storyline

Razor Shark is set in a whimsical underwater world.

The atmosphere will remind players of Finding Nemo and each character has a unique personality. The friendly ocean scene makes for a lighthearted background.

The colourful predators range from adorable to playfully terrifying. The abandoned diving gear in some symbols suggest that this is not the first time the sharks have encountered an intruder. Despite this drama, the player will feel like a happy ending is in store.

Despite their ferocious teeth, the sharks of this slot actually make delightful hosts.

Graphics, Sounds and Animations

The background music has the vibe of a Caribbean beach party. The reels spin with a satisfying swish of water and an ominous note that seems fresh off the iconic Jaws soundtrack. The combination of fun and fear is right on theme for this slot.

The brightly hued reef background is beautifully animated with a subtle waver to create the effect of being underwater. The angelfish and clownfish watching the game add a cute final touch.

Bonuses send the player into the dark deep sea in a swath of bubbles. In these darker waters, a dimly glowing fish swims beside a haunting shipwreck. This creates a moody setting for the bonus spins and creates some fun variety.

Gameplay

Razor Shark is a five reel, four row slot, with twenty win lines.

The Mystery Stacks feature consists of four symbols in a stack that may land anywhere on a reel. The Nudge and Reveal Feature is triggered when the Mystery Stack lands. This prompts the Mystery Stacks to open and show either Golden Shark Symbols or Paying Symbols.

The Razor Reveal Feature begins whenever a Mystery Stack unveils the Golden Shark symbols. This feature prompts every symbol position of the Mystery Stack to spin to either Scatter symbols (see below) or a Bet Multiplier.

Wilds, Bonuses and Free Spins

The Wild symbol substitutes for all symbols except the Scatter symbol.

Three Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels trigger the Free Games Feature.

The Free Games Feature begins when three or more Scatter symbols appear anywhere. Players will see the second and fourth reels filled by Mystery Stacks on their first spin. If there are additional Scatters, players are awarded +1 to the Free Games Feature, this moves the Mystery Stacks up one spot for each +1 awarded.

A Multiplier is also applied to each of the player’s wins. This Multiplier increases with each Nudge and Reveal Feature.

After each spin, the Mystery symbols move down by one space. The Free Games Feature continues until there are no Mystery symbols left on the reels. The Free Games Feature can therefore be extended by landing further Mystery symbols higher up on the reel.

Bet Sizes, RTP and Variance

The return to player of this game is 96.7%, well above our yardstick for average of roughly 96%.

The range of bets on the site we tested ran from a minimum bet per spin of $/£/€0.10 up to a maximum of $/£/€100 per spin.

The volatility of this game is high, which makes it a great match for our preferred slot machine strategies. Our slot strategies target the highest possible volatility.

Conclusion

We recommend this high RTP, high volatility ocean-themed slot.

With its fierce yet fanciful shark characters, this game is entertaining as well as a great choice for savvy players looking to play with the best strategy possible.

The gameplay is fast-paced and compelling. The diverse features will keep players engaged and wanting more.

After trying this slot out, players will easily understand what keeps it so popular.

Viking Runecraft review

Theme and Storyline

Viking Runecraft draws on the mythology of the Old Norse tribes of Scandinavia and Iceland. With your play watched over by Thor, God of Thunder to begin with.

As the game progresses you will encounter not only his fellow gods, but many of the other mythical events (Ragnarok) and beasts (Fenrir the Wolf) from this body of myths.

Many of the figures from the game will be familiar in their Marvel universe forms, but some – like Jormungandr – might be new to most.

Graphics, Sounds and Animations

Viking Runecraft really stands out in its design features, not only are there numerous carefully designed backgrounds, all of which borrow their style from Blizzard’s hugely successful Warcraft series of games, but beautiful and varied animations.

The various features (on which you can read more below) are all given beautifully designed dials and readouts on the game’s heads up display.

The animations are smooth and varied, with intuitively structured readouts that are easy to get to grips with.

All in all it is one of the best looking and intelligently designed slots out there.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Viking Runecraft is a decided departure from the usual press button, spin reel, style play of your average slot.

Instead of reels it has a 7x7 grid of runestones and symbols which fall into place. You win when the symbols fall in groups of five or more. Symbols that are part of a winning combo are then removed and a cascade mechanic kicks in dropping new symbols into the newly empty spaces.

There is a level up system to entice you into playing a longer session, and as you move up through the levels the bonuses and randomised events (known as Gifts of the Gods) get better.

Wilds, Bonuses and Free Spins

The bonus system is almost wholly unique to Viking Runecraft. To encourage you to stick around this Play'n GO slot and play the various bonuses build over time.

For each level a pattern appears in the 7x7 grid. When your wins make use of one of the squares in the pattern it lights up. Light up the whole pattern over the course of your game and your level increases giving you a new god and new randomised events like additional wild symbols.

If you destroy more than 20 symbols on a spin, you trigger an event called Charge of Destruction. There are four Charges, each of which does something different:

Fury of Fenrir destroys two diagonal lines and turns two others into all the same symbols as those that triggered the event.

Judgement of Jormungander destroys a chain of symbols, apart from a few which are transformed into the same symbol.

Scorching of Surtr three random symbols are selected and the symbols around them destroyed. The selected symbols are then duplicated.

Lure of Loki destroys all of one symbol on the grid and transforms another into the trigger symbol.

If you destroy 40 symbols in a round, including those during the triggered event, then the Ragnarok bonus triggers in which all four events trigger one after another. Each one is triggered when no further wins are made with the previous one.

Multipliers are added to certain symbols during Ragnarok.

The third bonus after Charge of Destruction and Ragnarok are the Runes of Valhalla. The Rune Stone symbols trigger a counter when you with with five or more of them. If you have at least one rune when you level up you trigger the Runes of Valhalla. This is a wheel with the five rune stone symbols on it. Hit an activated stone to win.

The more symbols you go in with the better your odds.

Bet Sizes, RTP and Variance

The RTP of 96.70% is not bad, falling around the rough industry average for online slots.

Much more attractive than this is the high variance of the game, which allows for rare huge wins, rather than frequent small ones. We prefer high-variance games like this for our recommended slot strategies.

The bet sizes are rather limited though, you can bet 0.5 coins up to 2.50 coins so if your chosen site doesn’t provide a wide range of coin sizes you’ll find yourself very limited.

Conclusion

Viking Runecraft is a really excellent slot.

Decent RTP and high-variance make it mathematically attractive but the real draw is the excellent game design, fast and varied gameplay, and visually stunning backdrops and animations.

We can recommend this slot wholeheartedly.

Razor Returns review

Razor Returns is a shark-themed online slot game from Push Gaming. The game is a sequel to the hugely popular Razor Shark slot.

Players dive deep beneath the ocean and spend some time with a menacing pack of sharks as they bid to land some big prizes.

Graphics, Sounds and Animations

The original Razor Shark slot was a huge hit for the studio, and Push has largely stuck with the same design. The reels are set deep beneath the water, with a group of menacing-looking sharps making up the higher-paying symbols on the grid.

The sharks have a cartoonish design, invoking memories of the popular Finding Nemo movies. There is nothing friendly about these creatures though, with the bite of the sharks being matched by the game’s biting gameplay.

Gameplay

Razor Returns looks scary, but the base game keeps things nice and simple.

The slot is played on a five-by-five grid, with the slot having 40 active paylines on each spin. Winning combinations are formed when players land matching combinations of three or more symbols across a payline, starting on the leftmost reel.

Wilds, Bonuses and Free Spins

The Razor Returns slot game really comes to life with its bonus features.

The first you are likely to encounter is the Mystery Symbol bonus. On any spin, Mystery Symbols, which are displayed as ocean plants, can land and reveal a matching symbol. These Mystery Symbols appear stacked and are then nudged down the reels in one position on each subsequent spin. To make this more exciting, the Mystery Symbols will change on each spin. It is possible to have more than one stack of Mystery Symbols active.

If the Mystery Symbols reveal a Golden Shark symbol, then the Razor Reveal bonus is activated. For this, each position will turn into a mini-reel set and will display a selection of symbols. The symbols are as follows:

• Instant prize symbols: These display prizes between x1 and x5,000.
• Multipliers: These can multiply the Instant Prize symbols by x2, x3, x5, or x10.
• Collectors: These collect the value of all Instant Prizes. Instant Prizes are then removed once collected.
• Converter: This spins and chooses a symbol on the reels, it will then change all instances of that to a Golden Shark.
• Nudge Up: This can only land during the Free Spins bonus and will nudge Mystery Stacks back up one position.

Players can trigger the Free Spins round by landing three or more Tornado Scatters. Three starts the round with x1 multiplier, while four and five start with x5 and x25, respectively. Before the round starts, a Gamble Feature is presented where players can spin to start the round with higher prizes. During the round, reels two and four are filled with Mystery Symbols. Each time these nudge down, they will boost the win multiplier by one. The spins continue until there are no Mystery Stacks left on the grid.

Depending on your location, you may be able to buy your way into the bonus rounds for predetermined amounts.

Bet Sizes, RTP and Variance

Razor Shark has an absolutely amazing maths model. The maximum win in the game is a mouthwatering 100,000x your stake. The RTP sits at 96.55%, which is comfortably above the industry average. The slot is considered highly volatile. The max win, high RTP, and high volatility make it the perfect fit, according to our slot strategy guide.

Players can et between $0.10 and $100. The stake is adjusted by clicking the stack of coins icon above the spin button.

Conclusion

Razor Returns is one of the greatest slot games on the market. The maximum win of 100,000x your stake is incredible, and the high RTP of 96.55% and the high volatility only add to this. The slot’s bonus features complement the base game perfectly, and this manages the feat of surpassing everything that players loved about the original. We can not recommend Razor Returns enough.

Floating Dragon Hold and Spin review

Theme and Storyline

This slot is themed around East Asian kites.

Players hover in a sunset sky among a flock of whimsical kites including birds, fish, and of course a fierce dragon. The dragon most of all seems to be a living creature among paper kites.

The festival atmosphere is captivating, as players test their will to see who will fly the highest. The dreamy nature of this world is uplifting and easy to get lost in.

Graphics, Sounds and Animations

The soundtrack is a gentle series of flute-like melodies. This reinforces the sense that players are in a fantasy East Asian setting.

The animation of the sunset backdrop is breathtaking and calming. The gradient of blue, purple, and orange bring to mind a watercolour painting. A blur of white birds occasionally glides by, suggesting players are at least as high as a bird might fly.

The symbols suggest various types of kites from a rainbow butterfly, to a ship with sails full of wind, to brighty hued fish in traditional designs. It’s easy to imagine the colourful creatures soaring high above the ground, suspended by wind.

A beautiful girl peers out from one symbol, her hair combed into an intricate hair piece. She looks at the player with an alluring gaze.

The dragon symbol explodes from his reel with horns and whiskers extending beyond its limits. His expression is crazed and furious as if he is heading into battle.

Overall, the front end of this game has a delightful aesthetic that is both engrossing and calming.

Gameplay

Floating Dragon Hold and Spin is a five reel, three row slot, with 10 win lines.

The gameplay stays fast and engaging. Players will be familiar with the style.

Wilds, Bonuses and Free Spins

The Wild symbol substitutes for all symbols except the Scatter symbol and the Money symbol. The Wild symbol appears on all the reels while players are in the Free Spins round.

The Scatter symbol appears on all the reels.

When players land 3 or more Scatter symbols, the Free Spin feature is triggered. The greater the number of Scatters, the greater the number of free spins. For example:

• 3 Scatters: 10 free spins
• 4 Scatters: 15 free spins
• 5 Scatters: 20 free spins

While in the Free Spins feature, every Wild symbol gathers value from Fish Money symbols.

Whenever Wilds land during the Free Spins Feature, they are collected and saved to the end of the round. Every fourth Wild gathered retriggers the Free Spins feature and increases the Money symbol multiplier. The feature can be retriggered up to 3 times.

The maximum win is limited to x5000 the player’s total bet, and, if player’s achieve this, the round will end immediately.

The Money symbol is assigned a random value during every spin from x1 to x20. It appears only on the middle reel.

When 3 Money symbols land, this prompts the Hold & Spin Bonus feature. During this feature, the middle reel symbols are held in place and the other reels vanish.

The player begins with 3 respins and any Money symbols that land will reset the respins back to 3. The value of all the middle reel’s Money symbols are added to the player's total win.

The Diamond Money symbol appears on reels 1, 2, 4, and 5 while players are in the Hold & Spin feature. When this symbol lands, it is randomly assigned a value between x100 and x4993.

If player doesn't reach the guaranteed win in the Hold & Spin bonus feature, respins again to 3. Guaranteed win of this feature is player’s total bet x20.

Bet Sizes, RTP and Variance

The return to player of this game is 96.71%, nicely above our yardstick for average of roughly 96%.

The range of bets on the site we tested ran from a minimum bet per spin of $/£/€0.10 up to a maximum of $/£/€250 per spin.

The volatility of this game is high, which makes it a good match for our preferred slot machine strategies. Our slot strategies target the highest possible volatility.

Conclusion

We recommend this high RTP, high volatility Asian kite-themed game.

With excellent mathematical stats and gorgeously animated front end, this game is a great choice for pleasure and maximised wins.

The varied bonus opportunities keep the gameplay engaging and exciting.

Gates of Olympus review

Theme and Storyline

This slot is themed on Greek mythology.

Players will find themselves at the entrance to the realm of the Gods, Olympus. An ominous Zeus hovers at the gate, daring those who approach to be worthy.

Up against reels of precious gems and mysterious artifacts, players will face a trial to enter the heavenly kingdom. The violet sky seems temptingly just beyond the gates.

This slot has an epic mood and lots of mythical drama.

Graphics, Sounds and Animations

The animation style has a video game aesthetic and this adds to players’ sense that they are on trial.

The colour palette is filled with purple, blue and gold, creating a great fantasy mood. Imposing white pillars topped with flames stand either side of the gold-framed reels.

The gems and other treasures make eye-catching symbols and feel satisfying to accumulate.

Zeus is clad in a white toga and chunky golden cuffs. His glowing green eyes and aggressive stance make it clear that players will need to impress him to get anywhere.

The theme music is filled with harps, bells and dark undertones. This reminds players that although they are at a heavenly gate, they haven’t gotten in just yet.

Gates of Olympus Gameplay

Gates of Olympus is a six reel, five row slot.

Wins are awarded for landing certain numbers of matching symbols anywhere on the reels, with increasing payouts for larger numbers. This effectively turns every symbol into a Scatter symbol.

The cascade feature takes place after every spin as winning combinations pay out and then the winning symbols vanish. The symbols that are left drop to the bottom of the screen and then the empty positions are filled with fresh symbols. Players may receive unlimited cascades.

Wilds, Bonuses and Free Spins in Gates of Olympus

There is no Wild symbol in this slot.

The Scatter symbol may appear on any reel and pays on any position.

There are four Multiplier symbols that may be present on all reels. Whenever a player lands a Multiplier symbol, they receive a random multiplier value from x2 to x500.

After the end of a cascade feature sequence, all the Multiplier symbols are added together and the total win of the sequence is multiplied by the final value.

Players are awarded the Free Spins feature when four or more Scatter symbols land anywhere. Players begin the round starting with 15 free spins. Whenever Multiplier symbols land during the Free Spins feature, the Multiplier value is added to the total multiplier.

If players land three or more Scatter symbols while in the Free Spins feature, they win five extra free spins.

Gates of Olympus Bet Sizes, RTP and Variance

The return to player of this game is 96.5%, above our yardstick for average of roughly 96%.

The range of bets on the site we tested ran from a minimum bet per spin of $/£/€0.20 up to a maximum of $/£/€100 per spin.

The volatility of this game is high, which makes it a great match for our preferred slot machine strategies. Our slot strategies target the highest possible volatility.

Conclusion

We recommend this high RTP, high volatility Greek fantasy slot.

With its excellent strategy profile and engaging theme, it's a great choice for pragmatic players as well mythology enthusiasts.

The unique system of awarding wins and the varied bonuses keep this game interesting and players will find themselves engrossed in the gameplay.