X Factor Jackpot Slot Review

It might no longer be the preeminent pop star show – The Voice has arguably stolen its crown – but The X Factor remains hugely popular 13 seasons in. Countless millions have been captivated by the programme’s intriguing characters complete with emotional back stories and epic journeys. The moment the iconic theme tune kicks in, you’ll find yourself living your dreams of pop stardom in this riveting progressive slot.

Any developer can assemble a branded slot (provided they’ve obtained the requisite license) but it takes skill to devise one that captures the excitement and unique features of the original it was modelled on. In X Factor Jackpot, Ash Gaming have indeed struck the jackpot, creating a memorable 5-reel blockbuster.

Sing Loud, Sing Proud

TV shows come and go but The X Factor lurches on, its loyal fanbase remaining as committed as ever to the show and its ever-changing band of hopefuls all intent on notching the Christmas number one and embarking on a pop career, no matter how short-lived it might prove to be.

X Factor Jackpot is a 20-payline slot with a maximum bet per spin of 200 and a minimum of 1.00. The classic X Factor flag, essentially a red Union Jack with added shimmer effects, forms the background for the reels. Ash Gaming have elected to rely heavily on playing card symbols to form the basic values. These aren’t much to look at if truth be told; they don’t even have an LED lighting effect applied, or indeed anything that could tie them to the game they’re in.

Reel Fame

The proprietary symbols are better, though they still aren’t the cleanest or neatest designs you’ll ever encounter. Free spins for example appear as a symbol of a compact disc. Does anyone even listen to CDs any more? Other symbols include a silhouette of a pop trio and another of a solo artist giving it his all.

Despite the so-so symbols, the actual features built into the game are much more enticing and certainly channel the X Factor spirit. There’s a live show bonus round, free spins with sticky wilds and a microphone ‘Pick Me’ bonus. Not to forget the progressive jackpots either, of which there are three in total.

Time to Face the Music

The live shows are where the real fame and money are at. To get there in X Factor Jackpot you’ll need to collect at least three ‘Yes’ votes, each of which awards a prize. Any prizes you collect here will be boosted with the aid of the Week Multiplier. If you end up with two Yes and two No votes, the deadlock will be settled by a phone vote. This feature is triggered by landing bonus symbols on reels one, three and five.

Collect four phone votes to collect the bronze progressive jackpot. You’ll need five to collect the silver pot and six for the gold. For free spins, meanwhile, land the free spins symbol on reels two, four and five. When it comes to collect them, the X Factor ‘X’ will remain fixed on the reels as sticky wilds. Finally, look out for the microphone symbol surfacing on the middle reel to award the ‘Pick Me’ bonus.

Progressive Slots

Progressive slots tend to have a lower RTP than regular slots, and that’s certainly the case with X Factor Jackpot, whose stated RTP is 92.35%. Similar games to this medium variance slot include Leprechaun’s Luck, also by Ash Gaming, and Battleship Atlantic by Gamesys which also has three jackpots.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t the only X Factor slot out there. For example, there’s X Factor Platinum by Blueprint, a 40 payline slot which also captures the excitement and format of the phenomenally popular ITV series.

X Appeal

It might not be the sharpest looking slot you’ll ever encounter, but the features built into X Factor Jackpot can’t be faulted. Ash Gaming excel at devising feature games which tap into the formula that made the original show or series so successful. If you’ve seen X Factor once, you’ll know exactly what to expect from this triple jackpot slot. Visually, it’s nothing spectacular, but the soundtrack and features make X Factor Jackpot well worth a pop.