Monster Wheels Slot Review

The backdrop for Monster Wheels by Microgaming features a close-up of a tyre, its pattern clearly visible. To the bottom left and right of the screen, a flame effect completes the look. While the background image is attractive, it’s the reels that command attention, and not so much what’s on them as the shape of them. Most slots utilise a 5×3 or 5×4 layout, but Monster Wheels isn’t most slots. It’s a game which flies in the face of convention, going for an unusual cross-shaped layout that sees reels sized, from left to right, 2-3-2-3-2. How many paylines does a slot like this have?

Not surprisingly, Microgaming have had to go for a multi-ways system here. In fact, you have a choice of playing with 128 ways or 288 depending on whether you’ve elected to have wins pay both ways. In case you’re wondering, by the way, what sort of a monster Microgaming are talking about here, we’re talking literal monsters. Nevermind monster trucks, these are actual zombies and vampires and devils and all the other monsters that haunt your dreams. There’s a real gothic feel to this game, whose eclectic characters include ghouls and mummies. Admittedly they’re of the comic book cartoon variety and thus are unlikely to give you too many sleepless nights.

A Whole Slot of Fun

If you’re wondering what it’s like to play a 288 ways slot, the answer is pretty damn fun. It’s easy to generate small wins at least because there are so many different ways to match symbols. Wins can be paid out left to right as well as vice versa and you can also match them diagonally.

There is a bright red button that is marked Switch Ways, and pushing this will switch up the number of active ways to win. Aside from the novelty value of the number of ways there are to win, the animations and sound effects are also extremely impressive in this game. It is recommended that you play the Monster Wins video slot manually before possibly switching to autoplay later.

Tyres and Tracks

In terms of who this game is marketed at, Monster Wheels appears to be something of a mashup in that it is designed to appeal to both horror fans and motor racing fans. In fact there’s a touch of Mario Kart to this game. Microgaming have done a very good job with the design and there are some extremely dedt touches at work here, particularly in the way the characters have been rendered. Naturally, this is a fully mobile-compatible game and it is one that works well on Android and iPhone as well as on tablet devices.

Everything from back to front looks impressive including the backdrop which depicts the close-up of a tyre. Free spins bonuses are just one of many need touches that are built-in to Monster Wheels. When you’re awarded free spins you have a choice of options which include 3 free spins with an 8x multiplier or 6 free spins with a 4x multiplier. Alternatively you could go for 12 free spins and a 2x multiplier. When you land the gas can symbol it will award you additional free spins.

Similar to Monster Wheels

There are loads of other great games out there which play similarly to Monster Wheels or which are thematically very similar. Boogie Monsters by Microgaming is one such option. This game has 128-188 ways to win and is rated as having medium variance. The RTP for this slot comes in at 95.7%. Other driving-themed slots include 5 Wheel Drive which is another Microgaming release. This low volatility game has just 9 paylines. As a final option you could take a look at Light Races by Quickspin. This is a game with 50 paylines where there are at 8 free spins to be won and there is a multiplier that can be as high as 10x.

A Monster Effort

Monster Wheels by Microgaming is an excellent effort. It is a welcome addition to the developer’s growing back catalogue that is sure to appeal to gamblers who are either into motor racing or horror. The way in which the reels have been laid out unconventionally certainly adds to the appeal of this game but there is more to this than simply novelty value.

The features and characters as well are enough to ensure that this game really takes off and it’s likely to gain traction among slots players. On this evidence, Microgaming have a strong future and seem destined to increase their market size among hardcore slots players.