It’s the start of a new year and Kerching is welcoming it the only way we know how: by compiling a list of cracking slot games! We’ve chosen a few classics, some theme-related slots, and a couple of up and coming titles too, so there is plenty of variety on offer here. Here are our top slots to celebrate the New Year with.
Starburst
We start with a game that isn’t too dissimilar from New Year's Eve; Starburst. If you’re wondering how a slot game can mirror a public holiday, the answer is that it’s all in the aesthetic. While they’re technically not fireworks, the starry visuals are starkly reminiscent of the firework displays that light up the globe every 31st of December. Starburst features a mix of classic fruit machine symbols, such as BARs and Red 7’s, but also a host of precious gems and jewels. It’s space-age visuals and dominant shades of purple also make for a very appealing display. Of course, all of this is supplemented by some great gameplay.
Instead of any recognised bonus rounds, NetEnt has decided to enhance some of the base game mechanics, and these serve as the ‘features’. Take the Starburst Wild, for example. It appears exclusively on the second, third and fourth reel. When it lands, it will expand and cover the whole reel it has landed on, thus increasing the chances of getting a win. This might seem simple, but it can also be very effective, especially when you consider its other benefits. Not only does it substitute for all other symbols to form wins, but it will also initiate a re-spin whenever it lands too. If a wild lands during the re-spin, it will stick in place and expand, and this can repeat to potentially create big wins. All wins pay from both left to right when this bonus is active too, which just adds to the fun.
Pirates Plenty Battle for Gold
Arrr me hearties, our next game to set sail is a treasure-filled adventure that takes place on the high seas. Don’t be fooled by the name though, you won’t find any scurvy outlaws looking to steal your pieces of eight. Instead, they serve as bonuses to help you win a little more. Let’s talk about how everything looks first, as it’s all very pretty. The reels are set in the captain's cabin and contain a certified workshop for any budding buccaneer. You can expect to see mountains of gold piled high, cutlasses, and pistols, so developer Red Tiger Gaming has certainly represented the theme well. Of course, there are also several features which could prove rather effective.
Let’s start with the Wild Reel, which you can unlock by filling a metre at the top of the screen when you land the Treasure Map scatter. When you have triggered it, a new reel will be added to play, which will see an increase in the number of ways to win. This is a persistent feature and will remain in effect as long as you remain on the same bet level. There’s a randomly acting bonus included as well; the Wild Monkey, who will jump onto the reels, picking up some of the low-value symbols as he does. A re-spin will then initiate, if the monkey collected one of each playing card suit, you will receive a 4x multiplier. The last bonus is the Battle Spins round, which you can trigger by landing three scatter symbols, for which an unspecified number of spins and sticky wilds will be added. Additionally, Captain Blackbeard may appear and throw bombs onto the reels, which can add spins, wilds, and multipliers.
Pixies of the Forest 2
It took a while for the hugely successful Pixies of the Forest to get a sequel, but it proved worth the wait when it was finally released. The second instalment in this popular IGT series saw a raft of improvements, including a much-needed graphics boost as well as some tasty new features. If you never got around to playing the first instalment, though, we’ll do a quick run-through of what it’s all about. It is set in an enchanted forest, inhabited by a colourful group of pixies. These mythical creatures will help you in your quest for coins with some nifty bonuses, but they also serve as the high-value symbols, so they can provide a pretty penny themselves. On top of that, there is a wealth of fauna and vegetation on display, as well as other magical items and imagery. There are some top-notch visuals here but, as always, it’s the bonuses we’re concerned with.
There are tons in this slot too, so we have a fair bit to get through. The first is the Tumbling Reels mechanic, which will see any symbols involved in winning combinations removed from play, before being replaced by other ones, which can form new wins immediately after the original. Then we have the Feature Wilds bonus, which will trigger once the Spirit Metre has been filled, and will offer one of three wild-related bonuses. This can turn certain reels wild, add random wilds to potentially form new wins, and add sticky wilds. There is a free spin round in the game too, which will trigger once bonus symbols have landed on reels one, two, or three. You must then choose one of the pixies, who will reveal the number of spins you’ve won, plus extra wilds will be added to play during the round. Any pixie symbols that land will result in them serving as a 2x wild. There is also a progressive jackpot to be won, and a Mystery Symbol that can help trigger the game’s bonuses. All in all, it’s a stellar set of features.
Narcos
We finish the list with one of Kerching’s favourite games of last year, Narcos. Brought to you by slot masters NetEnt, this title is based on the hit Netflix show of the same name and has already made waves, despite only being around for a short amount of time. If you’ve never seen the show, it follows the exploits of notorious Columbian criminal Pablo Escobar and the team of Drug Enforcement Agents that were sent to stop him. Because of this, the visuals and aesthetics are all centred around this battle between the forces of law and crime. Armed robbers, police chases, and even perfect illustrations of the main characters in the show are all standard fare. Everything is presented fabulously too, with a cell-shaded style not too dissimilar from a video game. If you were looking for a slot to compare it too, one of NetEnt’s other titles, Hotline, features a similar display and theme.
What about the bonuses though? Well, there are plenty to speak of, including Walking Wilds, which will trigger when a wild lands in a winning combination. On every subsequent spin, the wild will move one row to the left, providing more chances to hit those wins. After that, we have the randomly triggered Drive-By feature, which will see an animated gang appear on the reels, before turning some high-value icons into wilds. The Locked-Up bonus is next, but you’ll have to land three scatter symbols to trigger it. First, you’ll receive an instant win, before being transported to a new reel set with Gold Briefcases and the Locked-Up symbol. The former will award coin prizes, multipliers, and extra spins if landed on this new set. The final bonus is a classic free spin round, which will unlock once you land the game’s other scatter symbol at least three times. You’ll get 10 spins, plus the Drive-By bonus will be in effect for the entire duration.
Play them at Kerching
If you fancy having a go at any of the slots we’ve mentioned here, you can play each of them at Kerching. If this is your first time here, make sure to check out our latest welcome offer, which includes spins on great games such as Cleopatra and Wishwood.
Gamble Responsibly
Whenever you play a game on Kerching, always gamble responsibly and please, when the fun stops, stop. Visit BeGambleAware for free advice. Or you can get in touch with our support team at [email protected].
