Avatar UX, a Hong Kong-based company, continues to release new games in the PopWins series through Yggdrasil’s YGS Masters program. Their latest addition, HippoPop PopWins, stands out with its vibrant and clear jungle theme, inspired by Oaxacan arts and Alebrijes visions. While visually impressive, the game doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking for players already familiar with the series. The main focus is on maximizing the base game grid and exploring the bonus round. The math model of the game surpasses most Megaways engine titles, with a potential of 48,150x and a maximum bet of £40 per spin. However, the slow pace of the game holds it back from reaching its full potential. This installment removes both wilds and scatters, relying solely on the PopWins mechanic to keep players engaged. The Win-Both-Ways feature doubles the symbol values when a 5-of-a-kind win occurs, and the highest value symbol pays 4x the stake for 5 on a payline. Each win triggers the PopWins mechanic, replacing winning symbols with 2 new randomly chosen symbols, increasing the number of rows and paylines. In the base game, players can go from 3 rows with 243 win ways (486 win both ways) to 6 rows with 7,776 win ways (15,552 win both ways). The PopWins continue until no more winning combinations occur, and a progressive multiplier activates once the grid reaches 5×6 in the base game. Each subsequent PopWin increases the multiplier by 1. The bonus round is triggered by maxing out the grid and offers 5 free spins by default. Players can spin a wheel up to 3 times to gamble for up to 12 spins, but there is a risk of losing the feature. The wheel mostly awards +2 extra spins, with a few segments offering +4 or +5. In the bonus round, the grid resets to a 5×3 setup, and it can expand up to 5×8, providing a maximum of 32,768 win ways (65,536 win both ways). The multiplier carries over from the base game and increases by 1 with each PopWin during the bonus round. Each fully expanded reel grants +2 extra spins, and reaching 6, 7, or 8 rows increases the payout of the golden Hippo symbol. Non-UK players have the option to buy the bonus round for 85x the total stake. They receive 5 free spins with a starting multiplier between 2x and 4x, and they can gamble for up to 9 spins and a 10x starting multiplier. The gameplay in HippoPop feels stripped down compared to other installments in the series, but the bright and colorful theme adds freshness. However, there isn’t much innovation with the game engine, and the slow pace remains a drawback. Despite this, fans of the series will likely enjoy HippoPop, especially with the valuable Hippo symbol in the bonus round. The game offers the potential for massive payouts, up to 48,150x the stake, surpassing many Megaways slots.
