Bull Dozer

bull-dozer-slotDesigned by 1×2 Gaming studio, Bull Dozer takes players to the farm, where they are expected to put together some fantastic wins with the help of some excellent features. Aesthetically, this game is inspired by the USA country idyll, with a big red barn, white picket fence and a range of livestock featuring heavily. From a mechanical perspective, this is a five-reel, three-row game with twenty fixed pay lines. The RTP for this game is 96.07%, and the volatility rating is around the medium part of the spectrum. The top payout you can earn on one spin is 5,000x the stake. This game is available to play on mobile, tablet and desktop platforms.

Bull Dozer Overview

The featured content for this game starts with the Bull Wilds. These icons can appear on reels and substitute for all non-special symbols. If you land a Bull Wild and a Bulldozer symbol on the same spin, the Bull Wild will charge towards the nearest bulldozer to replace the emblem, leaving a trail of Wild Bulls behind it. Next on the feature list is the free spins feature. This is activated when players simultaneously land three or more scatter icons on the board. The more scatters you use to activate the bonus, the more free spins will be awarded to you. The final feature of this game is the hold-and-win game that can result in a jackpot amount being won. All features will be explained in more detail later in the review.

Bull Dozer Theme and Symbols

bull-dozer-wildThe theme for this game is the stereotypical American farm that players might imagine if they were told to think of a farm in the United States. Through many TV shows, movies and other media types, we have built up this idea that all farms in the US look essentially the same with red barns, glistening ears of corn and a weathervane in the shape of a cockerel. That is the image that is being presented to us here too. The reality of farming in the US is that most farms look very different as they are trying to cater to different land types and products such as dairy or arable.

The background for this game is the perfect farm this game is taking place. To the left of the playing board are the eponymous bulldozer, a windmill and a turreted red structure that looks like an old-fashioned grain silo. However, on the right of the playing board is a big red barn, a water tower, and a large brown bull. The weather is beautiful and bright, with only a few clouds in the sky. The playing board for this game is a wooden rectangle with a dark green interior.

The symbols are split into low-paying, high-paying and special symbols. The low-paying symbols are the ten, J, Q, K and A in playing card royals. The most valuable of these icons is the A. The more valuable icons are the haystacks, roosters, sheep and female farmers. The female farmer is the most valuable regular icon in this game. The specials finally are the Bull Wilds, the Barn Scatters and the coin symbols.

Game Play

bull-dozer-farmerBull Dozer is played on a 5-reel, 3-row machine with 20 fixed pay lines. To win combinations, players must land three or more matching symbols on pay lines moving from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel. The betting range for Bull Dozer is 20p to £50 per spin. To adjust their bet levels, players can toggle their stakes up and down using the tool located at the bottom left-hand side of the screen.

Further information, including a short tutorial and a display of the paytable, can be found via the menu button in the right-hand corner of the screen. The spin and auto spin buttons are located in the centre of the screen.
The volatility for this slot is rated in the medium range. The return to player percentage is 96.07%, which is above average. The biggest payout that players can win on one spin is 5,000x the stake.

Bull Dozer Features

bull-dozer-scatterThe first feature included in this game is the Bull Wild feature. The special Bull Wilds can appear on reels and substitute for all regular icons. If you land a Bull Wild and a Bulldozer symbol on the same spin, the Bull Wild will charge towards the nearest bulldozer to replace the symbol, leaving a trail of Wild Bulls behind it. Landing a full line of Bull Wilds will result in 250x your bet. This feature is available in both the base game and the free spins.

The next feature here is the free spins game. This bonus is triggered when players simultaneously land three or more scatter icons on the reels. The more scatters you land, the more free spins will be awarded to you. During free spins, the Bull Wild and coin features are in play, with an added +1FS coin. Furthermore, the wooden cannon is more frequently active than in the base game. This cannon fires coins onto the active panel for an increased chance of triggering the hold-and-win feature.

Finally, we have the hold and win feature. This bonus is activated when players land five or more coins on the reels simultaneously. Standard hold-and-win rules apply, meaning three spins are awarded at the beginning of the feature. However, if you land another paying coin, the number of re-spins resets to three. Jackpot coins are also available in this bonus, and landing one will result in a prize ranging from 50x your stake for the Mini Jackpot all the way up to 750x your stake for the Major Jackpot. Fill the screen with paying coins, and a prize of 2500x your stake is awarded.

Conclusion

If you have played a few hold and win games in your time, you’ll no doubt take to this free slots very easily and enjoy the generous feature content. In addition, the combination of a high RTP, manageable volatility and a hefty top payout should ensure a few tidy wins. This game’s appeal is also improved by its high-quality graphic finish and smooth playing experience. There is not much to complain about regarding this new product from Iron Dog. Try also Gate of Olympus for free. 

Asgard Warriors

Asgard Warriors Slot overview

Most of the time, 1×2 Gaming plays it safe in their game theming. We’ve seen the Robin Hood free slots, the Irish games and the Pirates that didn’t quite come from the Caribbean. Pretty standard themes, we think, and they’ve been sometimes successful sometimes not. Asgard Warriors is a little different, however, as it’s inspired by those vicious Vikings.

1×2 Gaming soars into a whole new universe to capture the imagination of the warriors of old. Asgard – as you may know – was one of nine worlds that surround the Tree of Life, the home of the Gods. The warriors of Asgard in the game look more like Midgardians, however. Midgard was the name for Earth and if you didn’t know that, you haven’t watched enough Marvel films!

This game offers a 5-reel game play option and there are 243 ways to win. The grid itself floats over cliffs and oceans, grassy foothills and forests and it brings a lovely view among the burly Asgardian warriors. The graphics are rather old school and slightly pixelated, but it doesn’t take away much from the fun of the game. The soundtrack isn’t as interesting as it could have been, but the choral pieces are pretty and it’s very scenic when you put it all together.

Symbols in Asgard Warriors

When you begin on the lower side of the pay table, you’ll see the J-A symbols that are carved from stone and forged into steel. You’ll also see fun images of battle helms, hammers and shields, the warriors, the warrioresses and the bare-chested men with pecs who are going to make up the premium symbols. When you land a combo of 5-character symbols, you’ll get a payout of up to 10x your stake, which is always a good result. One of the next symbols you’ll find is that of the Viking Longship Wild card, and this replaces any of the pay symbols. The result? More winnings!

Asgard Warriors Slot Features

It’s a simply designed game but it’s got an added base game feature, which is pretty cool to the players out there! It’s called Warrior Spins and it triggers a round of free spins to give you the biggest feature thrills in the game. Only the high pay symbols or wilds land on the reels for that needed spin.

The Scatter in this game is the skull icons and you’ll see that landing 3, 4 or 5 of them awards you more spins – 12, 14 and 16 to be precise. The possibility of scoring larger rewards is increased with the multiplier that starts at x1 and the number of free spins increases, too.

Conclusion

There are plenty of positives to Asgard Warriors, but the RTP may be the negative that changes your mind about the game. Unfortunately, there’s not much that’s exciting about Asgard Warriors. The cheerful look and graphics of the game end up a little disappointing given the return value. Anyway, it may not be the game for you, but it’s certainly going to be one that you should try out at least once!

Stellar Ways

Overview Stellar Ways

The outer reaches of space as it turns out are not populated by small green aliens with antennas but with precious gemstones encased in snug silver cases – who knew? It should be said that not all the intergalactic symbols for this game are made up of these galaxy diamonds and rubies, there are also planets and multicoloured wilds to be seen hurtling through space.
On the face of it, Stellar Ways looks like a pretty straightforward online slot played out on a traditional 5-reel, 3-row board. When you drill into the detail a little though, you will realise that Stellar Ways is a pay both way slot game. This means that it has an attractively large number of pay lines – 486 in fact.

In terms of features, Stellar Ways provides players with one main feature which involves locking wilds and re-spins, which helps to accelerate the pace of the game when things have slowed a little. There is also a decent top payout that players should be aware of which is 1,500x your stake.

Theme and Symbols

As you have probably guessed from the title and the introduction, this slot is all about space and the valuable treasures you may find there. It is always interesting to see where designers go with space themes, as they seem to have more flexibility with space than with any other theme. This is probably because you could argue that anything or anyone might be in space.
The backdrop is effective in that it immediately places you in the starry heavens with the simple use of a few touches of white light and a dark vignette. Placed on top of this background is the playing window which has a strong sci-fi design and is backlit in glowing turquoise to accentuate the window’s borders.

The symbols for this game comprise 5 jewels or gemstones and 2 planets. The most valuable of these symbols is the blue planet which mimics the colour palette of the game’s logo. If you manage to land 4 of these symbols on the reels on a payline, they will pay out a reward of 7x your current stake.

In addition to the planets and the gems, there is also the wild symbol which is easy to spot as it contains all of the gems in a kind of multicoloured solar system jewel (it also has the word ‘wild’ written underneath it). The wild can only land on the middle 3 reels and is the key to unlocking the true potential of this game, as you will discover in the features section.

Game Play

Stellar Ways is played on a 5-reel, 3-row playing window. Thanks to the pay both ways dynamic of this game, the pay lines are effectively double what they would usually be, numbering 486 in total. The betting range for Stellar Ways is 10p and £50 per spin. To adjust their bet levels, players need to click on the button in the left-hand corner of the screen which looks like a stack of coins. The auto-spin tool is located next to the big spin button, on the bottom right-hand side of the screen. All other playing settings, as well as the paytable, are accessible via the three lines symbol directly to the left of the playing window.

To land wins in this game, players must land combinations of 3 or more matching symbols across the board on winning pay lines. These combinations can start at reel 1 or at reel 5 thanks to the pay both ways dynamic.
The return to player percentage for Stellar Ways is 96.1%, perfectly average for an online slot game. The volatility for this slot is rated at just above medium. The top payout available for Stellar Ways is 1,500 x your total stake.

Features

As far as bonus features go, this is not a well-endowed slot. However, in many ways, this is kind of refreshing, as a lot of slot designers these days seem to think the more bonuses they can pack in the better. This can sometimes just end up making the game feel convoluted and overwhelming. There is something to be said for the more stripped-down games in terms of design purity.

The main feature for Stella Ways is the wild re-spin feature. The wild as mentioned can only land on the middle 3 reels- reels 2, 3 and 4. Every time that a wild lands on one of these reels, the re-spins feature is activated. The triggering wild as part of this feature grows to cover the entire reel on which it fell – making the whole reel wild. Following this, the player is granted one free spin with this wild locked in place.

If another wild lands on the free spin, it will also expand and get stuck to the reel it is on, meaning two reels are covered in wilds and frozen as such. If you manage to land yet another wild, you are granted a free spin with all of the central reels turned completely wild. Thanks to the pay both ways dynamic, this can lead to some great payouts.

Conclusion

Although critics might say that this game is a little basic and that there are plenty of more exciting or multifaceted games out there, Stellar Ways still has a lot to be said for it. The pay both ways dynamic and medium volatility for a start mean that you should be triggering frequent wins in an addictively progressive game. In addition, the one feature that the game does have (the wild re-spins) is an excellent one and one that will add tension and excitement to any game.

Reel Diamonds

Overview Reel Diamonds slot

Reel Diamonds is the brand-new slot from the developers at 1×2 Gaming and is one of the classic fruit slots. The slot is straight forward and provides some good gameplay where the risk sits in between low and high even though the overall feel of the game would be described as just above average. However, for those who love a classic slot this would be their ideal choice.

Theme & Symbols

The design in Reel Diamonds is basic and simple yet effective. The regular symbols are all fruit related, and you will find several of the other classic symbols included the top symbols or feature activators as well. The quality could be described as better then what you would find in older games and brings the theme together perfectly. This slot has a diamond wild and is particularly noteworthy as it offers Platinum and Gold Star scatters as well as the lucky 7 which is the top symbol, which is worth 500x the stake, whilst the regular symbols include cherries, plums, grapes, watermelons and so on.

Game Play

Reel Diamonds plays out on a 5×3 grid and there are 10 active pay lines in every round. The highest available win in a single spin stands at 3,100x your stake, and there is the chance that the Wilds and scatters can assist you with this. Due to the game being offered with medium volatility it is a shame that the developers were not able to do better with regards to the pay outs, however the return to player stands at 96% which is certainly good enough.

The bet range offered in Reel Diamonds starts from just $0.10 per spin up to a maximum of $100 and it is rare to find a slot which has $0.01 cent to $10 line bets as this does.

If you get lucky and form the correct winning combination several times it will be possible for you to win the jackpot which is worth up to 3100x your stake, as well as landing the lucky 7s which will give you 500x per line. The reason for the slot being described as medium volatility is that there is a certain element of risk involved.

Features

When it comes to the features on offer in Reel Diamonds one of the main ones is the wild which can be used together with the regular symbols to create winning combinations where it may not have previously been possible. The Wilds can replace any regular symbols apart from the scatter which is represented by the diamond. The two scatters are not that interesting and have obviously been designed to award certain prizes but have nothing to do with additional features.

The Gold Star scatter can land on your 1st, 3rd, and 5th, reels and if you have all three visible together you will be rewarded with 100 coins. The other scatter is the Platinum Star which can land on all your reels and is extremely useful if you land three or more, the prizes this scatter offers start from 50 coins up to 500 coins.

Conclusion

Reel Diamonds fits perfectly into the category of classic slots and therefore it will be a common choice amongst players. Although there is nothing new or special in this slot to determine why you would choose this over others, for me the pace of the slot was good and the wins frequent. Personally, I enjoyed the slot and would certainly return when I am looking for something simple to help me unwind at the end of a long day.

Whisker Jones

Whisker Jones, adventure cat

Strap on your adventure hat and join a feline explorer as he journeys through the jungle on a quest for riches lost in the Aztec kingdom. Whiskers Jones is a new slot that gives you this adventure and exploration from the comfort of your own home, developed by 1×2 Gaming. Highlights of your journey’s quest include the Free Spins feature, which allows you up to 16 free spins and extra wilds. Expanding its 1×2 resume, 1×2 Gaming brings a South American adventure in the form of bonus symbols, extra wilds, features and more. The slot is played over 5 reels and 3 rows on semi-transparent reels with a total of 10 active pay lines. Whisker Jones, the main character for the slot, stands to the left side of the reels and winks at you if you manage to hit wins and features. The temple is sat in the background behind the reels, willing you to explore and uncover the hidden riches within. While the maximum is only 2,000 times of the bet, there is plenty for the player to enjoy and play with.
The final touch to the atmospheric jungle themed slot is the epic soundtrack that sounds as though it should be the intro to Indiana Jones, which is obviously where the inspiration for Whisker Jones came from. Capturing the essential vibes of the adventurous play, this slot has a great vibe and excites us.

Betting strategy, RTP and potential wins

The betting range for this slot begins at 10p and increases up to a maximum of £50 per spin, with a maximum potential of winning up to 2,000 times the bet. It isn’t the biggest range of bets we have ever seen but it is perfect for the upper end of beginners or the lower end of the high ballers to enjoy.

The slot is powered by a medium volatility model and the RTP is pretty average, sitting at around 96%, so returns should be fairly often for the player. Adding this to the potential of 2,000 times the bet, you can win up to £100,000 per spin. While we know it is not the massive wins we would usually hope for, there is plenty of scope for multiple wins giving you the potential to win large over a number of different spins.

Symbols and design

The symbols for this slot include 8 regular symbols, which are split into two categories. The lower paying symbols are shown as royals: A, K, Q and J. The premiums are more like the jungle-inspired ones we would expect. Snakes and additional feline explorers to join Whisker Jones at the top of the pay table. The middle paying cat is seemingly modelled on Sean Connery’s character from the Indiana Jones films, and works perfectly for us, for an essence of familiarity. The cartoon-style compliments the cat adventure theme perfectly!

Matching three or more symbols will result in a win, while full winning combinations are made by matching 5 on a single pay line. The pay outs are not half bad, with lower paying symbols worth between 5 and 6 times the bet, premiums from 8 times to 50 times!

The Aztec theme is carried through the background of the slot into the symbols with a strong hint of Indiana Jones sprinkled throughout. While it does not scream sophistication, there is plenty for the player to enjoy.

Features

While there are not loads of features, the straightforward gameplay is appealing to the players. To help you form additional winning combinations, there is the Wild symbol, which is represented by a cat in a strange headdress. This will act to substitute for al other symbols on the reels. Furthermore, players can also benefit from Transforming Wilds. When the bonus symbol appears on the third reel, it will transform itself into a wild, as well as 6 other random symbols.
When three or more scatter symbols land on the reels at the same time during the base game, the player will be taken to the Free Spins feature. The player will be awarded 8, 12 or 16 spins at the beginning when landing 3, 4 or 5 scatters, respectively. Retriggering the free spins is possible and if you land 3, 4 or 5 scatters during the free spins, you will be given an additional 4, 6 or 8 free spins, respectively. During the Free Spin feature, the bonus symbol will help the player further by adding an additional spin to the remaining tally when they land on the reels. Even better, instead of now transforming regular symbols, the bonus symbol will remove the lowest of the royal symbols for the duration of the feature. It will also double the wins of any combination that has the bonus in it.

Conclusion

Whisker Jones is a straightforward slot with not many surprises for the players to enjoy. The unique theme and branding will give fans of Indiana Jones something to rave about, but for us, it fails to stand out from the other Aztec themed slots we have seen in the past year. 1×2 Gaming tends to keep the statistics around average so that all can enjoy them, however we cannot see this slot becoming a huge sensation. Whisker Jones gives a potential pay out of £100,000, which is not all that impressive, but does give for a decent pay out from a relatively small initial wager.

Book of Loki

Introducing Book of Loki slot

Book of Loki is one of the latest slot free slot machines from the development team at 1×2 Gaming. Based on the Norse God of Mischief this is a 5-reel, 10 pay line game and although one may think that Book of Loki can be tricky, Book of Loki is a simple and straightforward game with minor, yet very effectives features. If you want to find out more about this myth and legend themed slot keep reading.

Theme & Design

The design sees the use of a dark background with are coupled with some pastel-coloured symbols which are all created to great effect in the Book of Loki slot. The symbols are beautifully drawn to take in the Norse theme in a comic book style. In the background there is a haunting musical score playing and this continues as you spin your reels. One good feature with this slot is that you can amend the music and sound effects through the settings.

Symbols and Pay outs

When it comes to the symbols you can expect to come across the usual you will come across the usual low value playing card symbols 10 through to Ace as well as the high value symbols which include a gold ring, an amulet, a compass, and the Norse God Loki. The Norse God is the most rewarding symbol and if you land 2, 3, 4 or 5 on a pay line you will be rewarded with a pay-out that is equal to 1x 10x, 100x, or 500 x your stake, respectively.

Game Play & Statistics

When it comes to the game play this slot plays out over 5-reels. 3-rows and 10 pay lines and wins are created by landing three or more matching symbols moving from the most left reel to right, however, it is worth remembering that with the higher value symbols you only need to land two for a win.

Book of Loki is a straightforward slot with a simple interface. By clicking on the three lines that you will see on the left-hand side of your screen you can access various symbols and by clicking on the pay table you gain access to the pay table or alternatively by clicking on the “I” button you can gain the game information. The design is sharp and crisp and comes complete with a sweeping soundtrack. The slot is available to play on all devices and works well even on the smallest of screens.

When it comes to placing your bet, you can bet from a minimum of 10p per spin up to a maximum of £25 per spin. In the left-hand corner of the screen, you can change your bet to the amount you are comfortable playing with. There is an auto play function, and you can set by using the arrow button that you can see on the game page, and these can be set from 5 and 99 spins. It is also possible to set loss and feature stop limits as well as a quick spin feature. In the same as most slots form the developers at 1×2 Gaming you can flip the set up so that the game controls are on the other side of the screen.
Book of Loki offers a return to player of 95.8% which although a little lower than competitors and this is a highly volatile slot with a maximum pay-out that stands at a respectable 5,000x your total stake.

Bonus Features

As legend states Loki was a mischievous character and whilst his tricky nature is not that evident, and the game play is basic. There is only a single bonus feature, and this is one that you will most likely have seen before.

The mysterious Book of Loki symbol has dual purpose as it is the wild that can replace all the regular symbols. It is also the games scatter and landing 3, 4 or 5 on the same spin and you will be rewarded with 2x, 20x or 200x your total stake. This is also the way you can trigger the single feature in this slot and once triggered you are immediately awarded 10 free spins. This is the same whether you activate the feature with 3, 4 or 5 scatters.

Prior to the free spins beginning one symbol is chosen at random and will become the special expanding symbol, and every time the symbol appears during the free spins it will expand and fill the entire reel or even better reels. The special expanding symbol pays out in the same style as the scatter in the feature and the symbols do not have to be on adjoining reels for you to create a win. Therefore, matching symbols on your 1st, 3rd, and 5th reels will still create a winning combination for you.

The wild scatters cannot substitute for the expanding symbol during the free spins although it is possible to retrigger the feature by landing three or more of the Book of Loki on the same spin and you will then reactivate a further 10 free spins.

Conclusion

Book of Loki is a simple slot and the developers at 1×2 Gaming have done the best things by not overcomplicating things. Although there is only the single free spin feature with expanding symbols, but this is worth landing as you could end up with the maximum pay-out of 5,000x your stake.

It is true that the feature has been used in a lot of slots and although not what you would describe as innovative it does provide you with plenty of opportunities to land the big wins. I enjoyed paying this slot as I like the basic aspect coupled with the volatility and would have no hesitation recommending it to other players both new, beginners or the more advanced.

Queen of Embers

Overview of Queen of Embers slot

So, you play free slots like Queens in the jungle, Atlantis in the deep blue sea, castles, more gold and riches that you could ever thought imaginable and just when you thought you had played with everything 1x2Gaming come up with this fabulous new slot, Queen of Embers. The theme may not jump out and hit you, however, the potential and pay outs are something that you are not going to want to miss. It is true that there are no new mechanics, but the ones used will provide you with immersive and exciting game play. If you are ready to take on the heat and the Queen herself then read on.

Theme & Design

Throughout the Queen of Embers there is an evident theme this unsurprisingly is as the name suggests fire and flames. The backdrop to the reels is a canyon that has a perfectly depicted river of fire flowing through it, and the imagery is well designed to enhance the fantasy theme. In the background there is a soundtrack that is stirring and rather heavy on the drum and bass which accompanies the reels as you spin. The music is a good match with the fantasy theme, and it creates a great ambience and will really put you in the mood.

Game Play

The Queen of Embers plays out over a 5-reel set that offers 243 ways to win. You need to land three or more of the same symbols starting from the reel furthest left. These wins can also be assisted by the wild in the slot that can substitute for symbols to create winning combination. When you are ready to play the first thing you must do is select the bet level that you are most comfortable playing with. The bet range starts from just 20p per spin up to a maximum of £20 per spin, whilst not the highest range it will still appeal to a good variety of players. Should you wish to adjust your bet range at any time all you need to do is click on the pile of coins shown on your game screen and alter accordingly.

On the spin button you will notice that there are some arrows, these are how you can activate the auto spins, which start from 5 – 99 and this means that you an watch the game come to life before you. There are various advanced options that you can choose such as setting your own win and loss limits and ending the auto play when a feature becomes active. You can also use a quick spin mode or use the space bar on your keyboard should you wish, both can be set in the settings tab.

When it comes to variance you would expect this to be incredibly high particularly with the volcanic and fiery theme and the slot most definitely does not disappoint. It is vital that you realize that when I refer to the high volatility I am talking a full 10 out of 10, as so you may find that there are lengthy spells where wins are devoid but keep in mind that there is a chance that you could land a colossal amount of coins from a single spin. The maximum pay would be a cool 7,500x your stake. The return to player in this slot stands at just above average being 96.2% so it is not all bad.

Symbols and Playability

On your reels you can expect to see the usual low value playing cards 9 through to Ace and in keeping with the theme these are engulfed in flames. These are followed by the flaming torches, volcanoes, and fossils with the top of the standard symbols being the scene of the night sky which will reward you with 10x your stake if you manage to land a combination of five. There is also the wild which is represented by the tiger and makes the free spins feature tigeriffic!!

With the vibrant visuals and simplicity in terms of play, this slot is perfectly suited to play on a mobile, however you will not get the full effect of the orchestra and for some will make it a lesser slot, but when I tested the slot either way was good for me.

Features

Winning combinations in this slot are created by matching three or more of the same symbols on successive reels running from left to right. It is not important where the symbols land as all lines are used in the ways to win mechanic.
The first major feature you will come across is the stacked Tiger wilds and they can appear in the base game and for the free spins and they are a lot easier to land in the free spins. Either way the wilds can only land on your 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th reels and can substitute for all other symbols to create winning combinations. It is worth remembering that the wilds cannot pay out on their own in this slot they can only create wins when they are substituting for other symbols.

If you land the scatters which are represented by the Queen of Embers on your 3rd, 4th, or 5th reels they will reward you with 8, 12, or 16 free spins, respectively. In this feature you could see yourself landing between 65 – 75 stacked wilds making the feature a lot more worthwhile for you. You can reactive the feature, but you cannot get any more wilds. Being in the developers at 1x2Gaming’s Classics series it offers some of the common features that you would expect, and I was surprised (in a good way) that there are differences should you compare this slot with its competitors.

Final Thoughts

Although this slot may not be about to change the way games are designed or played it never says it will and never tries to. It sits in the Classic series from 1x2Gaming and it brings to the fore a couple of the most common features but in a totally different way. This is great for players that want familiar slots particularly ones with the chance of huge winnings.
Queen of Embers is a solid slot with decent figures in places, excellent top wins which make for an enjoyable gaming experience.

Van Helsing’s Book of Undead

Overview: Van Helsing’s Book of the Undead slot

Van Helsing’s Book of Undead is the latest slot to be released by the UK gaming developers at 1×2 Gaming. As the title suggests this slot has been inspired by vampires and see a vampire hunter traveling to Transylvania to Dracula’s castle complete with a repeating cross bow, holy water, and his intelligence to defeat the monsters that are residing there. The slot offers exceptional graphics, excellent wins, and a whole host of fun features. So, if you think you have got what it takes to join the vampire hunter read on.

Game Play and Statistics

Book of Undead is played on a 5×3 reel set with 10 active pay lines, and although this may not appear to be much do not worry as this slot can provide wins of up to 5,100x your stake. If you add the medium volatility into the mix and the return to player which is just below average standing at 95.80% this is a good addition to the vampire niche slots. Personally, I really enjoyed the features which the slot offers which include free spins with expanding special symbols, or the mixed scatters and wild, which we will look at more in depth further down this review.

Theme & Design

Compared with other Book-styled slots the theme is the one that has changed. This is most definitely a vampire themed slot and it is Van Helsing that has the main role. The design is superb, with a tiny town in Transylvania as the backdrop, with Dracula’s castle just about visible in the distance. When it comes to the decorations these are Gothic in style with a dark influence which fits the overall theme perfectly.

Spooky Symbols

The vampire hunter is the top paying symbol in this slot and wins can be as high are 5,000 coins per combination. He is followed by pictures of a female vampire, a vial containing holy water, a crossbow and five Royal playing card symbols that are cleverly decorated in a Gothic style design. When it comes to the feature symbol there is only one used in this game and this is the Book of the Undead.

Bet & Win

The first thing you need to do is set your bet and this starts from just $0.10 per spin which is the minimum to cover all of the 10 lines which gives a line bet of just $0.01 which is one of the lowest starting points I have come across for quite some time. The maximum bet is also reasonable standing at $50 per spin equating to $5 per line, and with this type of range the slot will appeal to a wide audience of players both old and new.

The greatest win is equal to 5,100x your stake and this is slightly over the average highest pay out that you can expect from a slot with Book-style mechanics, however even more interesting is the way the developers have described this slot as being a medium option when it comes to volatility. Most competitor slots are sure to have a high volatility rate and this is one area where this slot has a true advantage. Surprisingly, Van Helsing’s Book of the Undead does fall with regards to the return to player which at 95.80% is a little below most of the competitor slots that rely on the same type of features.

Undead Features

There is a strong possibility that any slot that features the word Book in their title are going to be inspired in some way by the hugely popular Book of Ra. Although this slot has not copied the theme of Ancient Egypt, the developers have used a number of the features that made the Book of Ra so popular, and if you are au fait with this slot the action will be familiar, if you are not then this is a perfect introduction to a fabulous game mechanic.

The most obvious feature in this slot is the mixed symbol which uses the image of the Book. In this game the Book takes on the job of both the wild and the scatter depending on how you can use it. If it lands on an active line, then it can substitute for the other symbols to create a winning combination. The wild will do this wherever possible. On the other end the Book symbol is also the scatter and can reward you with 20 to 2,000 coins when you land three or more in view on your game screen. The same scatter symbols also activate the free spins feature where you are rewarded with 10 free spins when the feature is activated. In the free spins the slot picks one regular symbol at random and this then has the capability to expand. There is also the chance to reactivate the free spins by landing another 3 or more scatters at the same time.

Conclusion

With the number of slots that are in this niche the Book of Undead is not dissimilar which could see it getting overlooked. However, the medium volatility and the potential pay outs of up to 5,100x should be enough for it to hold its own amongst the better offering.

One thing that I should mention is that this slot can be played for free, with this in mind I urge you to make use of this benefit as it means that you can get to understand the slot and what is has to offer without risking any of your own money.
Overall, I enjoyed playing Van Helsing’s Book of the Undead it had a good pace and the wins were fairly consistent, from my experience with the game I would give it a rating of 8/10 a lot of this is due to the fabulous aesthetics and strong theme, and I have no hesitation to recommend this to all.

Battle Maidens Cleopatra

Overview of Battle Maidens Cleopatra slot

Battle Maiden Cleopatra is the sequel to the hugely popular Battle Maidens and 1×2 Gaming have certainly done the slot justice. In this slot you will come across the maidens who have travelled from Norse mythology to Egypt to assist Cleopatra with her battle against Anubis. This follow up is crammed with special features such as increasing multipliers and expanding wilds which you can activate in the free spins round. If you are ready to take your place alongside Cleopatra, then please read on.

Theme & Design

With a theme based on Ancient Egypt Battle Maidens Cleopatra is up against some competition as this is a very popular genre in the gaming world and as so the developers at 1×2 Gaming have worked really hard to ensure that their slot offers some new and interesting features that will make them stand out from all of the other similar titles.
In Battle Maidens Cleopatra, the developers have given the usual Ancient Egyptian theme an unusual twist involving warriors. In this skit you will see the battle maidens join forces with Cleopatra to help her fight the god of death Anubis. Every character in this slot look incredibly fierce and you can tell that they are ready for a battle knowing that the result could be life or death.

How to Play & How to Win

It is so easy to start playing Battle Maidens Cleopatra, and when the game has loaded you need to click on the menu that you will find located on the left of your game screen. To see the pay table, you need to click on the trophy or if you want to look at the rules of the game then it is the “I” button.

You can speed up the game in the settings as well as turn the sound and music on or off or even change the currency and how it is displayed. It is here that you can also adjust the amount that you wish to bet, and this starts from a minimum of 0.10 coins up to a maximum of 25 coins per spin. If you feel like sitting back and watching how the slot plays out then there is an auto play options and the opportunity to set win and loss limits, so you are always in control of your bank balance. All there is left for you to do is hit the spin button and let the fun begin. The return to player is set at a solid 96.4% and this with the medium volatility and 10,000x as the top prize make for one very impressive game.

The slot operates on 1,024 ways to win format which means that you do not have to land matching symbols in specific places on your pay lines, all you need is to land three or more matching symbols side by side to be rewarded with a prize. The highest paying symbol is the Sphinx who will reward you with 50x your stake for landing a combination of five.

Features

Battle Maidens Cleopatra has several bonus features which you may find hard to understand merely from reading the information on the pay table. Due to this I am going to try and provide you with an overview of how the various features work in this slot.
The special symbols in the slot are the Battle Maidens and they can only appear on certain reels in the base game. If you land any combination of Battle Maidens complete with Cleopatra, you will activate the free spins round. During this bonus it is the Battle Maidens who have activated the bonus that determine which feature will be active. If it is the Knight Maiden that activates the feature you will have any wins multiplied by 2, the Archer Maiden will become a sticky wild for some spins. The Magician Maiden increases the game’s multiplier by 1, whereas the Dragoon Maiden expands whenever it makes an appearance on your reels, and finally Cleopatra the goddess adds one more free spin to the game.

When playing in the base game, these Maiden symbols act as scatters but their features do not become active. It is not all gloomy though as the Eye of Horus feature transforms up to four symbols in the base game to wilds and if this symbol lands in the free spins it adds another free spin to your total.

Conclusion

I can whole heartedly say that Battle Maidens Cleopatra from 1×2 Gaming is a great deal of fun to play and with it being categorized as having medium volatility the wins should come quite often and take it from me, they do! I also found that it was easy to activate the Eye of Horus and this is a great feature and one worth waiting for.

The free spins on the other hand are not as forthcoming but they do come with great win potential. However, this should not worry you as there are a wide variety of features that you can land in the bonus round with some being a lot more generous than others. The free spins bonus is elusive, but it does offer great winning potential. There are all sorts of different features that you can land in this bonus round, but some are not as exciting as others. If you get lucky and land expanding wilds and or the extra free spin features, then you can expect some hugely impressive winnings.

Overall, Battle Maidens Cleopatra is a well-designed slot that provides players with the chance to land some amazing game play and ways to win. I urge you not to be disappointed or put off as the slot may appear to be hard work to begin with but after just a few spins you will understand exactly how the slot and bonuses work. I enjoyed the slot immensely and would rate it as a solid 8.5/10 due to the aesthetics and the mass of features that it offers.

Theseus Rises

Introduction Theseus Rises slots

The legend of Theseus, and the quest that led him to defeating the infamous Minotaur, sits at the centre of this brand-new slot by 1×2 Gaming. In essence, an online slot machine that explores one of the many legends of Ancient Greece – something the slot world does not lack. Nevertheless, Theseus Rises manages to bring a little uniqueness to this somewhat overdone theme. It does this by focusing away from the most popular sections of the myths. From the potential wins, to the incredible graphical quality, there is plenty for the player to enjoy in this slot. A plethora of features, including free spins, bonuses, and wilds galore, will keep you on your toes as you battle alongside Theseus for those incredible wins!
The slot is based on a grid of 5 reels and 4 rows, which gives the player an impressive 1,024 ways to win. With a good RTP and the potential to win up to 7,500 times your stake on a single win, capped at £375,000 at most, there is plenty for the player to enjoy.

Betting and RTP

Betting for this slot begins from as low as 20p and increases up to a maximum £50 per spin. While it is not the biggest betting range we have seen in recent releases, it gives plenty of chance for the player to change their bets and alter the amount they wish to risk within a decent spectrum.
The volatility is set at medium to high and has been rated as 4/5 by 1×2 Gaming. The RTP, as mentioned above, is good; it sits bang on the average we see with free slots on the market today at 96%. The maximum exposure for the player is 7,500 times the stake, which is a decent pay out for a slot of this calibre.

Symbols and Design

1×2 Gaming has done an impressive job when it comes to the graphics and design of this slot. The reels are placed in the middle of what looks to be a Greek garden and they have white edges, in keeping with the traditional Greek architecture which sees temples made of brilliantly white stones. The white theme dominates through the slot also, with ivory statues littered around the garden behind.

While the slot is designed to have a cartoon-like style about it, the developers at 1×2 Gaming have managed to do this with elegance and both the background and symbols are tastefully put on display for the player. In the background, there is a stereotypical Greek tune playing for the player’s entertainment; it fits perfectly with the overall theme of the Ancient Greek mythology.
The symbols for the slot are relatively standard for a theme of this kind. The higher paying, premium symbols consist of four Ancient Greek characters to spin with; King Minos is the highest paying of these four and will pay out a total of 20 times the stake for 5 of a kind.

The medium paying symbols come in the form of swords, shields and sailing ships, which ties back to the legend of Theseus. The lowest paying symbols are the royals: A, K, Q and J. These are colourful, as always, and designed in the form of Greek Letters.
The wild for this Theseus-themed slot is, you guessed it, Theseus. As the wild, he can substitute for all other regular symbols on the reels, except for the Minotaur, which plays as the Scatter and will activate the free spins feature when three or more land on the reels.

Cascading reels, free spins, and a board game chase

There are plenty of features in this incredible slot, but we will start with the cascading, or avalanche, reels mechanism which is utilised on every single winning spin. Whenever a winning combination of three or more matching symbols is made, the winning ones will be removed from the grid, allowing for brand-new symbols to land in their places. This will continue happening until no new winning spins land and the player is then paid out their winnings. Realistically you can have an infinite number of spins with a single bet thanks to this feature.
Next we have the free spins feature which sees the player being given 10, 15 or 20 free spins when landing 3, 4 or 5 of the Minotaur scatters, respectively. Alongside this feature there is a multiplier, which will increase by x1 every single time the Golden Thread symbol graces the reels. Landing additional scatters will give the player additional free spins during the feature!
Labyrinth Chase is the third bonus feature in this slot, activating when three of the bonus symbols land on the reels during the same spin.

This feature will then trigger automatically and does not require the player to do anything. It will be played on a new screen which sees a duel between the Minotaur and our hero, Theseus. The bonus is a board game which sees Theseus and the Minotaur progressing around the board by numbers decided by dice. When one catches the other, the feature will come to an end.
If you do not feel like waiting to activate the Free Spins or the Labyrinth Chase, you have the option to buy each with the Buy Feature Option. This is a good way to potentially increase you wins quicker. Be sure to check if your casino does this feature as regulations may prohibit them.

Concluding Theseus Rises

Concluding this impressive slot is easy. It has impressive features, fun graphics and a tune that will stay in your head for days. There are plenty of positives to this slot, including the RTP, volatility and potential for wins. We are a little disappointed at the cap of £375,000 but this just shows that the slot is more for the beginners and up-and-coming players of the industry. Regardless, this slot is definitely one that will entice you in.