Fairytale Legends: Hansel & Gretel Slot Review

There’s nothing quite like a fairy tale to delight kids from ages 3 to 103. Many of us know dozens of these stories by heart: even if we didn’t learn each story exactly the same word for word, the themes and lessons have become the stuff of legend the world over.

One of the most famous of these legends is that of Hansel and Gretel, which tells of two children who are caught by a witch and taken to her candy house, where she plans to eat them – though the children outwit her in the end. This has become the basis of many retellings in film and other media, and is also the inspiration for Fairytale Legends: Hansel & Gretel, a new slot machine by NetEnt.

This game goes all in on the fairy tale theme, being filled with an aura of magic and wonder throughout the machine. There’s very little scary about the machine – the evil witch doesn’t make an appearance – and instead, this is all about the wonder of such stories, as well as the thrills that come when your find yourself in one of the many bonus rounds or winning a fabulous prize.

Some Enchanted Evening

NetEnt is known for creating some absolutely gorgeous slots, and this title is no exception. From the moment you fire up this game, you’ll be in awe of the ethereal look and feel. Mysterious glowing lights float around the screen, while the moon above adds just a little light to the nighttime forest scene. The two titular children stand on either side of the reels, animated and watching over the proceedings while you play, and several other animations during the action add a lot of life to the final product.

We also have to give a special shout out to the sound design for this machine. Few titles have put nearly as much work into using their music and sound effects as a way to flesh out a theme. The main instrumental score that plays when you first load the game is fantastic: enchanting and evocative, it reminded us of something out of a children’s movie.  Throw in plenty of ambient forest noises while you’re between spins, and this is a game that does everything it can to immerse you in the action.

Following the Breadcrumbs

Fairytale Legends: Hansel & Gretel is a five-reel, 10-line machine that features a more flexible payline system than most slots. Rather than requiring you to start matching symbols on the first reel, any consecutive match can count, as long as it is across the same payline. You’ll always need three in a row in order to get a prize, but even a match on reels three through five are enough to count as a win.

The lower-value symbols on this machine are candies that come in various colors. These four symbols all offer the same small rewards, but each one is a unique symbol. For bigger wins, you’ll need to find the two children at the heart of this story, or – for the most impressive payouts – the Fairytale Legends logo. Hit five logos in a row, and you can win 400x your line bet!

Find Your Way Home

This game really hits its stride, however, when you start interacting with the seemingly endless number of special features that can pop up at any time. First, there is the relatively conventional bonus system. Hit three treasure chests, and you’ll find your way into one of three different features. The potential outcomes here include:

• Coin Win: This awards an instant prize worth 15x your current spin bet.
• Free Spins: You’ll be given 10 free spins to be played at the same bet level as the triggering spin.
• Candy House Bonus: You’ll pick three pieces of candy from the house layout, each of which hides a different multiplier. Before you see the prizes, you’ll have the choice of taking the average of your three picks, or selecting one and taking whatever is hidden behind it. This can be lucrative, as the top prize in this feature is 120x your spin bet.

There are even more features that can be triggered right from the reels. A stacked wild can be found on reels 2 and 4. Should it cover the entire reel, you’ll be awarded any immediate prizes followed by a free respin that could result in even more cash. In addition, there are three random features that can pop up at any time with the help of a friendly fairy. Those features include:

• Fairy Wonder Spin: A cluster of up to 9 logo symbols will be added to the layout, guaranteeing some fairly large wins.
• Fairy Surprise: After a losing spin, a random symbol is selected, and other icons will change to match it until at least one winning payline is created.
• Fairy Wild Spin: Up to two full stacks of wilds are added to reels. After winnings are paid out, you’ll also get a bonus respin.

A Forest Adventure You Won’t Forget

Fairytale Legends: Hansel & Gretel is a great addition to the already highly-regarded NetEnt lineup. This is the perfect theme for a slot machine, as it is not only instantly recognizable, but also provides a great setting and plenty of thematic symbols. The gorgeous presentation is an additional plus that makes this a truly appealing package.

Of course, no game is complete without great gameplay features, and this is no exception. Thankfully, a bevy of special bonus rounds and random surprises always keeps the action fresh and provides tons of gameplay value. Whether you’re a casual gambler who is enticed by the theme or a slots veteran who wants a mix of style and substance, this is a game that should satisfy a wide range of players.