The Irish Luck Leprechaun theme is hardly unheard of in the world of online slots, but it’s not too often you see a “dark” version of it. AvatarUX has cleverly avoided the cliché trap this way, and Pop O’ Gold PopWins comes with mechanics and features that have never been seen before in the PopWins series. Most notably, you get something called the StickyPop mechanic in this release, which means that winning symbols are held in place while the grid expands for indefinite streak respins.
The mechanic is not new, and was famously first seen in NetEnt’s Jack Hammer series, but it meshes perfectly with the grid-expanding PopWins mechanic. You get a progressive multiplier when you max out the grid, and this goes for the base game as well as for the bonus round. In addition, AvatarUX has come up with a brand new Symbol Split Multiplier system, and up to all 5 reels can be filled with these enhanced symbols at random times. We have no complaints about the20,000x potentialeither, and this is a highly recommended installment if you can stomach the volatility.
You can turn on theAnte Bet featurebetween base game spins if you wish, and keeping it on means you pay25 % more per spin. The benefit is that you effectively double your bonus round chances. The mid-level symbols pay 1.5x your stake for 5 of a kind wins, while the high-value symbols pay 2.5x your stake for the same. You win both ways in this game, and the PopWins mechanic takes center stage as usual.
TheStickyPop mechanicis a brand new addition, however, and it goes well together with the PopWins mechanic. Winning symbols become sticky on the grid while all other positions respin, and reels with sticky winning symbols get expanded with an extra position.
This increases the number of win ways accordingly, and the process repeats if your win is improved by the respin. You can grow the base game grid up to 5×5, and everything resets when you land a respin that does not improve the win.
You will land symbols with themultiplier value of x2 or x3attached on a regular basis in all stages of the game. These are so-calledSplit Symbols. This increases the value of the symbol according to the split multiplier, but they don’t do anything unless the relevant symbols are part of a win.
You will sometimes see 2 to 5 reels being highlighted at the start of a spin, and this is known as theBoosted Reels feature. All symbols that land on boosted reels come with split multipliers of x2 or x3, and they work as described above.
If you manage to max out the base game grid with5 rows per reel, awin multiplier of x2comes into play. This is known as theBase Game Unlock feature, and wins that follow increase thewin multiplier by +1. The multiplier reset, together with the grid size, when you land a non-winning spin.
You need3, 4, or 5 scatter symbolsin view to trigger theBonus Round, and this gives you5, 8, or 12 free spins, respectively. You cangamble to get extra free spinsif you wish, but you then risk losing the whole feature. The defaultgrid size is 5×4 with 2,048 win waysin the bonus round, and the grid resets to the lowest achieved reel height between spins.
You can getup to 7 positions per reelduring the feature, and maxing out the grid gives you+2 extra spinsand a win multiplier that starts at x2. The multiplier increases by+1 per winafter that, and it never resets for as long as the bonus round lasts.
TheBonus Buy menuis available in some jurisdictions, but not in the UK for sure. If eligible, you can pay100x your stakefor 5 free spins, or a spin on the Enchanted Gamble Wheel that can land you up to 14 free spins. You can also pay400x your stakefor 12 free spins.
You get to see a few base game PopWins, before we purchase the top-tier bonus round at 0:36 into the 2:42-minute highlights video. We managed to max out the grid towards the end, which took everything up a notch, and you can see for yourself how we fared by hitting the play button below.
First of all, it’s refreshing to see a Leprechaun that‘s not all jolly and smiles, and this adds a darker and more mysterious dimension to the common Irish Luck theme. Pairing the PopWins mechanic with the StickyPop feature is also a match made in heaven, and it allows the game to flow smoothly as winning symbols are frozen in place while the grid expands for the respin. The symbol values aren’t super high in this game, but the split multiplier can be helpful in that regard. In addition, you have to account for longer winning streaks.
Maxing out the grid seems crucial for larger payouts though, and we like that you get an increasing multiplier also in the base game when this happens. It will not happen all that often, of course, and the more free spins you start with the better in that regard. The sooner you max out the bonus round grid, the higher is your likelihood of closing in on the solid20,000x potential. We found Pop O’ Gold PopWins to be a highly satisfying installment in the series, and the game pace is the best we’ve seen so far from this engine.
Pros
Cons
The Pop O’ Gold PopWins online slot by AvatarUX offers a unique and darker take on the traditional Irish Luck Leprechaun theme. The game introduces the StickyPop mechanic, where winning symbols are held in place while the grid expands for respins. This mechanic, although not new, pairs well with the grid-expanding PopWins mechanic. The game also features a Symbol Split Multiplier system, where up to all 5 reels can be filled with enhanced symbols at random times. With a potential payout of 20,000x, this slot is recommended for players who can handle the volatility. By activating the Ante Bet feature, players can increase their chances of triggering the bonus round. In the bonus round, players can win up to 12 free spins and can increase their multiplier with each win. The game also offers a Bonus Buy feature, allowing players to purchase free spins or a spin on the Enchanted Gamble Wheel. Overall, Pop O’ Gold PopWins offers a refreshing and exciting gameplay experience with its unique mechanics and potential for big wins.