9 Skulls of Gold Review
Holly Roger changed the course of history in 8 Golden Skulls of Holly Roger, she's decided it's time for her comeback with 9 Skulls of Gold. This time she wants to find the 9 golden skulls instead of just 8 with her biggest adventure yet.
Developed by Buck Stakes Entertainment with Microgaming, this pirate slot plays on 5-reels with 20 paylines and follows the crew with free spins, bonus wheels and cashpots leading to piles of gold.
Design
The visuals are almost identical to the previous game with the ocean in the distance with a beautiful-looking sunset. On the reels, the female characters return and are unchanged from the original game as well.
This is extremely disappointing as we were expecting something a little more enhanced such as more animations or sharper graphics - but that is not the case.
As for the music, there is a jaunty pirate tune playing that is mixed with a little bit of classic rock to create something original. The overall design is fantastic but it's all something we've seen before (literally with the last slot).
Gameplay
Throughout the game, players can trigger free spins or the firepot. That's about it for this slot. If this was an original game with no previous title doing the exact same thing, it would be quite impressive and entertaining. However, we've literally seen this all before.
At the bottom of the screen, players will find the spin button and bet level buttons. Further to the right, they will find the menu buttons as well as the sound settings.
Win Potential
The original game had quite a strong win potential with RTP at 96.86% and a maximum win of 6,000x the stake. Sadly, this game does not follow the example and has a lower RTP of 96.33%. This is still over the average but disappointing that the developers have gone lower.
In addition to this, the maximum win for this high volatility slot is a 2,000x stake. Instead of improving and making the sequel better, they have literally made it even worse. 2,000x the stake for a modern slot is almost like a slap in the face to players - especially with the comparison of the previous game.
Our Verdict
It's frustrating to admit, but 9 Skulls of Gold feels like a step down from the previous game. There is a lack of Megaways in this slot and all the features are copied over from this game. Even the statistics have decreased lowering the win potential.
Evidently, we're unsure as to why this slot was made when 8 Golden Skulls of Holly Roger Megaways is already excellent. This is certainly a sequel that feels unneeded and a strange release from the developers. That's not to say that the game is bad, but the previous one is just so much better.
As the Content Manager at Slot Gods, Charlie is focused on staying on top of the latest slot releases as well as finding the most recent trends. She spends her day searching for the best slots to be reviewed as well as managing most of the content that you will find on the site. Whether it’s the latest slot review from Relax Gaming or a guide on a brand-new mechanic, Charlie will be sure to have it covered on Slot Gods.
Learn more about Charlie here