Chilli Inferno: Link & Win

Although it would be easy to overlook Chilli Inferno: Link & Win at first glance, thanks to a low-key design and a standard 5 x 3 layout. But don’t be fooled! This apparently simple game packs some heat in the form of not one, but two exciting bonus features.

We’ve seen the Link & Win mechanic in several other games, including 6 Rubies of Tribute, which is also from the Microgaming studios. Bringing the opportunity to activate one of the fixed Jackpot payouts, this popular feature could generate wins of up to 2.000x your stake. But the medium volatility ensures that won’t be a regular occurrence!

Design

This latest addition to the Microgaming slots catalogue comes with a mobile-first design ethos. Big, chunky symbols and smooth gameplay show that a lot of thought has gone into this slot from the earliest stages. And HTML5 coding ensures that it gives the optimum playing experience on every device.

Simple, but colourful playing card icons are joined by cartoon-style chilli peppers, so there’s an element of fun to the design. But animations are very basic, and the accompanying rock soundtrack could start to grate over time. Still, it’s the gaming mechanics that come to the forefront here, and there are absolutely no complaints there!

Gameplay

Even if you’re not the most experienced of online slot players, you’ll find playing Chilli Inferno: Link & Win fairly easy. All the controls are sensibly placed, making it easy to adjust your bet, mute game sounds or switches to full-screen mode. The menu button takes you to the game’s paytable and rules, and it’s worth taking the time to check them out before you start playing.

Decide how much you’d like to wager, then hit Spin. There’s also a button to the left of the reels which offers to increase your chances of landing one of the bonus features. It’ll add an extra 40% to the cost of your spin, but it won’t add any extra value to symbol wins, so think carefully before activating it!

Win Potential

Unless you land low-value symbols in winning combinations across multiple paylines at once, you won’t see much of a return on your stake. Five-of-a-kind court card icons are needed just to return the cost of a spin. But as you’d expect, the chilli peppers pay out better rewards. A payline filled with either orange or green chilli peppers returns 4x your stake, whilst white and red peppers deliver up to 6x.

Look out for the fiery Wilds, which don’t just act as symbol substitutes in this game – they also pay out the top rewards, with 10x your stake on offer for five across a payline. Wilds also come Stacked, meaning there are often chances to scoop multiple payouts from a single spin, which is something every slots player likes to see!

This is a medium-volatility slot, so even a modest bankroll could go a reasonable distance at low wagering levels. The top win of 2,000x isn’t the biggest by a long way, but it puts those four Jackpot payouts within reach of every player.

Our Verdict

With the release of Chilli Inferno: Link & Win, it’s very clear that Microgaming isn’t trying to recreate the rulebook for online slot games. Instead, the developer has decided to home in on what it does best – serving up exciting and potentially rewarding game mechanics that add interest and value to its slots.

It’s worth exploring some demo games before laying your own cash on the line at the reels of Chilli Inferno: Link & Win. Although medium-volatility games are suitable for most types of slot players, the fixed Jackpots ensure that only a few people will experience the bigger wins. But if you can stand the heat, then this could just be the slot for you!