AvatarUX could have benefitted from choosing a more mainstream theme for their initial releases of the PopWin mechanic. However, TikiPop is visually more appealing than the previous titles in the series, despite the cliché Polynesian island theme. The gameplay remains focused on popping wins and expanding the grid with additional rows. However, there is still an issue with the pace of the game, as there is an annoying pause after winning symbols pop and filling up empty positions takes too long. The bonus round provides exciting thrills, but it raises questions about how long AvatarUX can continue stretching the series with only minor feature changes. The PopWins mechanic is central to the game, and fans of the series will already be familiar with it. Each winning combination causes symbols to “pop,” creating two new symbol positions. This expands the reel set and allows for up to two extra rows per reel in the base game. Reaching the maximum size of five rows on all five reels results in a 2x multiplier boost to total winnings. The base game offers 468 to 6,250 win ways due to its win both ways setup. The bonus round is triggered by landing at least three scatters on a single spin, awarding 7, 11, or 15 free spins for landing 3, 4, or 5 scatters, respectively. Players also have the option to gamble for more spins before the feature begins, with a 50/50 chance of upgrading to the next tier. Starting with a randomly chosen reel configuration, the bonus round allows for expanding the grid to a fully expanded size of 5×5, with the ability to add two extra rows. A progressive multiplier increases by +1 with each PopWin, and there is no upper limit to the multiplier. Rather than resetting to the default setup, the bonus round reels decrease to the shortest achieved reel size. Upgrading all reels to a maximum of seven rows allows for a grid size of 33,614 win ways throughout the bonus round. Fully expanding a reel grants 2 to 4 extra spins, and reaching the maximum reel size increases the progressive multiplier by +2 per PopWin. Non-UK players have the option to buy the bonus round for 100x their total stake, granting 7 free spins with the opportunity to gamble for more. The gamble feature proved lucrative, resulting in a total of 15 free spins and significant wins. TikiPop is a visually improved installment in the PopWins series from AvatarUX/Yggdrasil. The symbols are clearer and easier to distinguish, and the Polynesian theme features vibrant colors. However, the game offers nothing new to convince those who are undecided. Reaching the multiplier plateau level with a full-size grid can be particularly exciting with the +2 increasing multiplier. While the 32,000x potential is lower than some previous titles, it still surpasses the maximum win offered by most other games. Overall, TikiPop is recommended for fans of the PopWins series who enjoy the mechanics and improved visuals. Additionally, other popular installments in the series include CherryPop and PopRocks, offering different themes and high potential wins. BountyPop has also gained attention with a significant bonus round win and the ability to expand reels up to nine rows, providing a potential win of up to 55,000x the stake and offering three tiers of the bonus round with up to 100x multipliers.
