Phoenix Forge Verdict
Phoenix Forge is driven by the concept of cascading wins, which intuitively feel just a tad too rare. This makes the volatility of Phoenix Forge slightly higher than the 5,000x maximum win would suggest, but perhaps this indicates a sense of realism more than a wonky math model. In the test run, my highest win was a 320x win after 15 free spins. Landing such a big win in the base game proves a lot more difficult, but certainly seems possible. Although nothing is obviously wrong with Phoenix Forge, it didn’t quite captivate as it might have.
Atmosphere: 12/20
Gameplay: 20/30
Math: 17/30
Editor’s discretion: 10/20
Total: 59/100
You should play Phoenix Forge if: you love the chance to build on cascading wins and straight-forward gameplay.
Key Facts
| Lay-out | 5*3 |
| Win lines | 20 |
| Max win | 5,000x |
| Lowest bet | $ 0,20 |
| Highest bet | $ 100 |
| RTP | 96,51% |
| Extras | Multipliers, Cascading Wins, Free Spins, Sticky Multipliers |
Theme and Atmosphere
As expected, the mythological phoenix plays a role in this slot, but it might as well have been a dragon or a magical frog. There’s a room full of gold coins in the background, the symbols on the reels are different gems, and the phoenix itself is the scatter symbol. The golden egg is the wild.
Gameplay and bonuses
The gameplay revolves around multipliers that increase with every cascading win. After a winning combination, the ‘winning positions’ get a golden frame and a multiplier, starting with 1x. New symbols fall into place, and subsequent combinations in the same spin up the multiplier by 1. Hence, you need three combinations in the same spot to earn your first real multiplier. After each spin, the multipliers are reset.
Three or more scatters give you access to the free spins. During free spins, multipliers don’t reset, and build with every combination. This allows you to keep increasing the multipliers and reach big wins, especially towards the end of the free spins. Three or more extra scatters earn you another five spins.
Math
The cascading wins starting at 1x feel a bit lame, but they build up, and you’re sure to see a big win after a while. You will need the bonus game for a solid win that comes anywhere near the 5,000x maximum.
Editor’s discretion
In a great slot, you feel a big win is always just around the corner. When playing Phoenix Forge, it feels it takes just a bit much to reach a high multiplier. You’ll hit the big wins, but starting with a 1x multiplier feels like it takes the momentum away from the game.
Alternative slots
For a bit more excitement with a phoenix, try Red Tiger Gaming’s Phoenix Fire Power Reels. To experience a classic slot with cascading reels and an increasing multiplier, Gonzo’s Quest is your best bet.
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