We have seen many different, and sometimes also strange, themes in AvatarUX’ PopWins series, and the time has finally come for a fantasy fairy themed release. PixiePop will probably not appeal to all players, as the fantasy genre is a somewhat narrow niche. The visuals are decent, however, and we encourage players to look a bit deeper than the cover. There are some new and innovative twists in this game, and things can really ‘pop’ in the bonus round.
The PopWins mechanic expands the grid as is usually the case, giving you more ways to win as you go. A Nudge feature has been added this time, however, and it can help you out in many different and somewhat unexpected ways. The bonus round multiplier increases per win, and it can be significantly boosted by 2 different types of multiplier symbols. You also get a Pay Anywhere symbol in the feature, and this can lead to payoutsup to 20,000x your stake.
You can turn on theAnte Betbetween base game spins, and keeping it on means you will be paying25 % extra per spin. This doubles your bonus round chances, so it’s definitely something to consider. The 6 pixie premium symbols pay between 2 and 6 x your stake for 5 of a kind wins, and you can landWild symbolson reels 2,3, and 4 only. Wilds step in for any pay symbol to help complete and/or improve wins, but they hold no value of their own.
ThePopWins mechanictakes center stage as usual, which means that all winning symbols are removed and replaced by 2 new symbols. This expands the grid accordingly, and the process repeats for as long as your winning streak lasts. You can get up to 6 rows per reel in the base game, and removed symbols are replaced by only 1 symbol after the grid is maxed out.
TheNudge featuretriggers at random times, and reels are then nudged to improve your win. Bonus symbols can also be nudged into view to help trigger the bonus round, and give you extra free spins during the feature. Nudges can also expand the grid, nudge in a pay anywhere symbol, or even a wild symbol.
TheBonus Roundtriggers from at least3 scattersin view, and below is an overview of what you get from each number of triggering scatters:
You win +2 extra free spins each time a reel maxes out at 8 positions in height, and the bonus round win multiplier increases per popwin. A multiplier symbol can boost the win multiplier by between x2 and x11 when it appears, and the additive multiplier will add +5 to +50 to the win multiplier. The win multiplier keeps building for as long as the bonus round lasts, and you win 1-3 extra spins from a single scatter.
Hold on, however, as we aren’t quite finished with this feature yet. A random premium pixie symbol is chosen up front, and this becomes the pay anywhere symbol. You need at least 5 pay anywhere symbols in view to win, and the win is boosted by the win multiplier. Landing 5-6 to 31-35 pay anywhere symbols award between 12.5x and 500x your stake.
TheBuy Bonus featureis available in some jurisdictions, but not in the UK for sure. Below is an overview of what you can expect:
You get an uneventful taste of the base game, before we purchase the Max Bonus Round at 0:48 into the 4-minute highlights video. We got 10 free spins, and you can see for yourself how we fared by hitting the play button below.
The pixie theme will probably narrow the appeal of this game to a certain degree, and the somewhat annoying inactive spin button problem is present in this installment as well. You have to wait a few seconds before the spin button becomes clickable again after each round, which slows down the pace. The visuals are also not the most convincing stuff we’ve seen from AvatarUX, but the presentation is not too shabby either.
The PopWins mechanic does its usual thing, and the nudge feature comes to the rescue once in a while when you least expect it. It’s a decent innovation actually, as it can be helpful while also adding unpredictability to the gameplay. The multiplier symbols take things to the next level in the bonus round, and this is where PixiePop truly shines. The pay anywhere symbol system adds to the fun as well, and you can winup to 20,000x your stake. The bonus round saves the day in many ways, and the pace problem only exists in the base game anyway.
Pros
Cons
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.