Santa Express Review
Nothing says Christmas like the arrival of Santa, complete with his sack of gifts. But he’s done away with his sleigh for this fun game from Stakelogic, preferring to deliver presents on the Santa Express.
He comes bearing gifts of free spins, complete with generous multipliers and a Special Symbol that doubles in value when it features in winning combos. And with a top payout worth 20,000x your stake, Christmas could be all wrapped up for some lucky players.
Design
Christmas is a time for tradition, and that’s perfectly captured in this festive-themed slot from Stakelogic. The reels are set against a snowy background scene, with symbols representing gingerbread biscuits, baubles, candy canes and elves.
And there’s some atmospheric music to help things along too, complete with jingling bells.
Gameplay
The wide range of betting options makes this a game that’s suitable for just about everyone, although the relatively high volatility makes it risky for those with a modest bankroll. There’s an Autoplay feature which takes the hard work out of spinning, and you can speed up gameplay by activating Turbo mode. However, none of these mechanics are available to UK players.
All winning symbols collapse into a Wild as soon as the win has been evaluated. New symbols fill the other gaps in the grid, and if the Wild is part of another win it adds a 2x multiplier. Wild multipliers increase with each Cascade and can climb as high as 10x.
Free Spins
Landing three or more Santa Scatters triggers the free spins bonus round, which is where you’ll get to meet the Santa Express. The train displays the number of free spins you’ll receive, and a multiplier worth up to 10x that will be applied to your winnings. You’ll also be awarded a special symbol from the paytable, which doubles in value for the duration of the bonus round.
Super Stake
Activate Super Stake mode and the amount of your bet is doubled, although the paytable awards remain the same. But the feature doubles your chances of triggering the bonus feature, raising the possibility of some big wins.
Buy the Bonus
Although this feature isn’t accessible in the UK, some jurisdictions will allow players to buy the bonus round for 100x your bet or more. You’ll get a choice of free spin bonus options, although none of them guarantees that you’ll win back the cost of buying the feature.
Win Potential
Although there’s the possibility of spinning up some big prizes during base gameplay, it’s the free spins bonus round which holds the most winning potential in Santa Express. One randomly awarded paytable symbol comes with its value doubled throughout the feature, and the win multipliers can climb as high as 10x.
But it’s the top payout, worth an impressive 20,000x your stake that will be attracting the high roller slots fans. If the reels spin in your favour, you could have Christmas sorted early this year!
Our Verdict
Santa has built his reputation on delivering Christmas presents, and there are gifts you’ll definitely want to explore on the reels of Santa Express. Just make sure you try out the game in demo mode if you’re a risk-averse player, as the volatility could catch you out if your bankroll isn’t stretchy enough!
If you really do wish it could be Christmas every day, then there’s no reason why you should limit playing Santa Express to the winter months. With a top payout worth 20,000x your stake, we think even the Grinch might be tempted to give this slot a try!
Marianne's interest in slots was sparked by a win on a one-arm bandit at an old-fashioned seaside arcade. These days she's turned her back on classic games, and has made it her mission to track down the most exciting slots offering innovative bonus features - and a great soundtrack!
Learn more about Marianne here
