AvatarUX’ PopWins series has showcased various unique and unusual themes, and now it introduces a fantasy fairy theme with PixiePop. While the fantasy genre may not appeal to all players, the game’s visuals are decent and it is worth exploring beyond its cover. PixiePop offers new and innovative twists, particularly in its bonus round where things can really ‘pop’. The PopWins mechanic, which expands the grid, provides more opportunities to win. Additionally, a Nudge feature has been added, offering unexpected ways to assist players. The bonus round multiplier increases with each win and can be significantly boosted by two different types of multiplier symbols. The feature also includes a Pay Anywhere symbol, which can lead to payouts of up to 20,000x the stake. Players have the option to activate the Ante Bet during base game spins, paying an extra 25% per spin. This doubles the chances of triggering the bonus round and is worth considering. The game features six premium pixie symbols that pay between 2 and 6 times the stake for five of a kind wins, and Wild symbols appear on reels 2, 3, and 4 only. Wilds can substitute for any pay symbol to complete or improve wins, but they have no value on their own. The focal point of the game is the PopWins mechanic, where winning symbols are removed and replaced by two new symbols. This expands the grid and continues as long as the winning streak persists. In the base game, players can achieve up to six rows per reel, and after the grid is maximized, removed symbols are replaced by only one symbol. The Nudge feature is triggered randomly, and reels are nudged to enhance wins. Bonus symbols can also be nudged into view to activate the bonus round and provide extra free spins. Nudges can expand the grid, introduce pay anywhere symbols, or even add wild symbols. The Bonus Round is triggered by having at least three scatters in view. The number of triggering scatters determines the benefits of the bonus round, including extra free spins, increasing win multipliers, and additional spins from a single scatter. Additionally, a random premium pixie symbol is chosen at the beginning, becoming the pay anywhere symbol. To win, players need a minimum of five pay anywhere symbols, and the win is multiplied by the win multiplier. Landing between 5-6 and 31-35 pay anywhere symbols awards payouts ranging from 12.5x to 500x the stake. The Buy Bonus feature is available in certain jurisdictions but not in the UK. In terms of the video highlights, viewers can experience a taste of the base game before the Max Bonus Round is purchased at 0:48. The video showcases 10 free spins, allowing players to witness the gameplay firsthand. The pixie theme may limit the game’s appeal to some extent, and the inactive spin button problem persists in this installment as well. Players must wait a few seconds before the spin button becomes clickable again after each round, slowing down the pace. While the visuals may not be the most impressive from AvatarUX, the presentation is satisfactory. The PopWins mechanic operates as expected, and the nudge feature adds an element of unpredictability. The multiplier symbols elevate the excitement in the bonus round, where PixiePop truly shines. The pay anywhere symbol system also adds to the enjoyment, with the potential to win up to 20,000x the stake. Ultimately, the bonus round saves the day in many aspects, and the pace issue is only present in the base game. Pros: innovative features, expanding grid, bonus round multiplier, pay anywhere symbols, potential for high payouts. Cons: niche fantasy theme, inactive spin button, average visuals.
