Mega Runner

Mega Runner Overview

Designing slot games can sometimes get a little convoluted in the modern market. Every new game seems to try and build on the previous generation regarding the development of features, themes, and payouts. It has come to a point where online slots now are so saturated that they become challenging to play as so much is happening at once. On the other hand, this new slot from Stakelogic is the antidote to this inexorable complication of the format. Its simple board and theme are a tonic to the powerfully overstimulating games of the modern era. Come and learn about this exciting classic slot here.

There are three features in this game. The first of these is the most interesting. Low-value symbols throughout the game can acquire stars that stay attached to the icon for a few spins. These stars facilitate a new layer of gaming potential, as icons with stars can form combinations between themselves -the actual symbols don't need to match as long as they have a star. The other two features here are the super stake and gamble features. As in most games, these options give you more control over your spins by giving you the ability to increase your stake and gamble wins, respectively. All features will be explained in more detail later in the review.

Theme and Symbols

The designers in this game have tried to capture a casino's buzzy atmosphere, aiming to immerse the gamer in as close to the real deal as possible. This slot game looks like it would be right at home in the 80s, with classic symbols, an old-school machine housing, and even nostalgic fonts used for the titles and signs. If you like the gentle sounds of clicking one-armed bandits and the jubilant trilling of arcade games, you will also enjoy this game's soundtrack, which tries to emulate the soundscape of your local casino. If you could also smell cigarettes and lager, you could swear you were gaming in the 80s.

The background for this game is the out-of-focus casino that this game is habituated in. All around the game in front of you, you can see glowing screens and lights giving clues to the other games in the casino. However, as the backdrop is significantly blurred, it is difficult to make out much detail. The tactful blurring is probably a good move on behalf of the designers as it keeps your eyes focussed on the game at hand and also simulates that tunnel vision effect that occurs when you are very engrossed in a game in real life.
The playing board for this game is a classic reel set with five reels and three rows, all housed in a clean black fruity machine.
The symbols for this game are split into low-value, high-value and special symbols. The low-value symbols are the oranges, plums, pears, and golden bells. The golden bells are the most valuable of these paying out at 2x the stake for the top combination. On the other hand, the higher-paying symbols are the strawberries, grapes, melons, and lucky sevens. The lucky sevens are the most valuable of these paying out at 4x the stake for the top combination. The special symbols in this game are the white stars that overlay the regular icons, these payout at 10x the stake for the top combo, and the wild symbol, which has the same value.

Game Play

Mega Runner is played on a 5-reel, 3-row machine with 15 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 Mega Runner is 20p to £200 per spin. Players can toggle their stake up and down to adjust their bet levels 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.
Volatility for this slot is rated in the low range. The return to player percentage for Mega Runner is 95%, which is below average. The biggest payout that players can win on one spin is 110x your stake.

Features

The first feature included in this game is the star symbols bonus. Throughout the game, you will notice that some regular symbols are overlaid with a white star. These white stars can form winning combinations between themselves. It doesn't matter what the star is on top of. As long as the stars align, you'll be able to score wins. Stars, along with wilds, are the most valuable symbols in the game.
The next feature is the gamble feature which can be activated after any successful win. Activate it, and you will trigger a mini-game of heads or tails with a coin. This game is double or nothing odds – choose correctly, and you'll double your winnings, yet choose incorrectly, and you'll lose all your winnings.

The final feature in this game is the super stake feature. This is a betting option available to you throughout the game. When activated, it will double the size of your bet per spin in exchange for landing wilds on the board, which help to score more wins by substituting in for other icons. Unusually wilds do not appear until the super stake option is activated.

Conclusion

If nostalgic gaming with classic symbols and dynamics is your cup of tea, then this new game from Stakelogic will certainly appeal to you. The atmospheric buzzy casino is a fun place to be, especially if that environment holds pleasant memories for you. On the other hand, the winning potential here is pretty poor, and the amounts that they ask of the player are high. The combination of a low RTP, an off-putting top payout and the fact you need to turn on super stake just to get wilds is a recipe for disaster. If you want the fun of playing in a real casino, you might be better off doing just that.