The Crossy Road slot game, developed by Hyperventilate Studio and published by 5th Street Entertainment, is a unique take on the classic casino slots theme. The game’s design is heavily influenced by the popular mobile game Crossy Road, which it also borrows its title from.
Theme and Design
At first glance, players Crossy Road game may be mistaken for thinking that this slot game is just another generic 5-reel slot machine. However, as they begin to explore the different features of the game, they will quickly realize that there’s more to Crossy Road than meets the eye. The game’s theme revolves around a road crossing scenario where various animals and other creatures attempt to reach their destination.
The design of the slot is colorful and vibrant, with cartoon-style graphics bringing the characters to life. The background music and sound effects add an extra layer of excitement to the gameplay experience. Upon closer inspection, players will notice that each reel has its own unique theme, ranging from a busy city road to a serene countryside landscape.
Symbols
The Crossy Road slot features a total of 12 symbols, including various animals such as ducks, rabbits, squirrels, and birds. Additionally, there are three special symbols: the Wild symbol, which is represented by a smiling face; the Scatter symbol, depicted by a signpost with an arrow pointing upwards; and the Free Spins symbol, shown as a clock.
Payouts
As far as payouts go, Crossy Road offers a relatively average return to player (RTP) rate of 96.13%. The game has a maximum payout potential of $50,000 for the highest-paying animal symbols, which is not bad but could be higher considering the RTP is above average.
The highest paying symbol in terms of individual payouts is the Golden Duck, offering up to $5 each time it appears on a winning combination line. Other animals such as rabbits and squirrels offer smaller wins ranging from $0.50 to $2 for five-of-a-kind combinations.
Wilds
In Crossy Road, the Wild symbol replaces any other standard pay symbol in order to complete a wining combination line. The Wild is also used during free spins and bonus features to increase winning potential. It’s worth noting that there are no multiplier or multipliers with increasing payouts like seen on certain slots.
Scatters
The Scatter symbol activates the game’s free spin feature when three, four or five land anywhere in view. During this feature players receive 5 free spins for three Scatters and up to a total of 20 bonus rounds at maximum quantity of appearing symbols – that is a significant difference.
Bonus Features
Crossy Road features two main bonus features: the Free Spins Bonus Round and the Bonus Road.
The Free Spin round can be activated when you get at least three Scatter signs on your reels. During this round, one extra free spin will be added for each additional Scatter symbol that lands in view.
In contrast, the "Bonus road" award appears a few times during regular gameplay – players receive 5 special moves: jump (swap positions between two animals), speed (double animal movements) and move forward or backward on reels. After you land your last step of crossing these steps will change to "Finish Move".
Free Spins
As mentioned earlier, the free spins round can be triggered when three Scatters appear anywhere in view during regular gameplay. Once activated, players receive 5-20 bonus games with a different road layout and random obstacles on each reel.
During this time players get an extra chance of receiving additional scatters leading to more bonus rounds as each new landing signpost changes the bonus conditions like increasing number of steps until it ends up turning in regular round when you pass over crossing without losing your current streak (that is very satisfying, but there’s still a lot left unsaid).
RTP and Volatility
Crossy Road has a return to player rate of 96.13% which places its expected payout at slightly higher end for slots with similar mechanics available on online platforms as most other competing titles around average levels between 94-96%. With respect, medium volatility rating means your chance for either very big losses or wins is more manageable compared to high-risked games – less volatile.
The betting range starts from a minimum bet of $0.20 and goes up to the maximum bet of $100 per spin. Given that the payout potential is capped at $50,000, it’s clear that this slot caters towards players who prefer smaller to medium-sized wins rather than chasing huge jackpots like slots with higher RTP values.
Gameplay
Overall gameplay on Crossy Road feels relatively smooth and engaging throughout its 5 reels and a staggering number of available symbols. During our review process we discovered that the game mechanics provide an unpredictable feel which keeps us excited – there’s no feeling of repetition or tiredness even after 20-30 minutes spinning.
Additionally, a variety in terms of payouts adds more depth as it becomes difficult to predict the outcome; sometimes even a "wild" symbol can turn out as high-paying if matched.
