Santa's Reel Wheel Slots

It's no surprise to learn that Christmas represents one of the best times of the year for new slot game releases. It seems that every developer wants a slice of the festive action, and that means we've got another fresh review for you here. This time we are taking a different angle though, as we're checking out the unusual Santa's Reel Wheel slot game. What makes this unusual? You are about to find out the answer to that.

Who came up with the idea for Santa's Reel Wheel?

This game comes from the creative minds at Spin Logic Gaming.

Demo availability? Check

Yep, you can load this one and play it without making any real wagers, which is essential in this case as it doesn't work quite like anything else.

A little more about the theme for this game

With Santa mentioned as part of the title, the festive theme is an obvious one. If you think it's going to retread old ground though, think again.

Santa's Reel Wheel looks as festive as it possibly can

They've done well with the design here, offering 2D graphics and all the trappings of the season. Expect candy cane features and colors, with plenty of familiar icons dropping into place with each go.

Are you ready to find out more about Santa's Reel Wheel?

When the game loads, you'll notice there are three panels between two candy cane-style poles. You'll only play on the bottom panel, which spins three symbols into view. The idea is to try and open the next two panels in turn. To do this, you either need to get a prize on the existing panel or find a fireworks symbol there. The game doesn't offer the chance to spot a scatter symbol, but you can look out for a wild diamond that's blue in color. There aren't any progressive prizes in the game.

You can forget about any paylines for this game

You can see the panels work in turn, with the two top ones locked in ice and only the lowest one open to play on.

Sort out your coins before you begin to play

This is where the demo comes in useful, as you'll see the available coins and how much each spin might cost you. Remember to work out a budget - and make sure it won't matter if you lose it all.

The info logo reveals the game's paytable

As always, the info logo sits inside a circle and is situated to the left of the game way over almost to the far edge of the game logo.

Bonuses to explore in the Santa's Reel Wheel slot game

If you end up on the top panel, you should watch out for that blue diamond. The wild offers a 2x boost when it appears in a prize on the top panel. If you manage to get two plus something else to create a prize, expect a 4x boost instead.

So, what happens if you arrive on that upper panel and you either receive a prize or find a fireworks symbol there? If you thought you might finally reach Santa's Wheel, well done - although it's called Santa's Bonus Wheel rather than the Reel Wheel of the title. We won't quibble over that!

There are three outcomes that could occur from a spin of this bonus wheel. You could get a prize before returning to the base game. Another possibility is to score some free games. Finally, you might spin yourself into the Santa's Mega Bonus Wheel option.

If you reach that wheel, you'll receive one of two prizes. The first would be free spins and the second would be the Fireworks Bonus round. This lets you try to fill the available grid with fireworks, which would lead to 1,000x your bet if you managed to do it. Even if you don't, you'll still receive a multiplier based on your efforts.

The free spin round receives a neat tweak

If you get some free spins in Santa's Reel Wheel, you can expect each one to begin on the second panel instead of the bottom one. This means that just one prize will take you to the top panel, where you get the chance to reach the bonus wheel mentioned above.

RTP details are absent

This is a regular feature in games from this developer, so it was not a shock to see a lack of info on this topic.

Our rating: Does Santa's Reel Wheel offer something different?

It does, and we loved playing it. It seems like a small game to start with, but it turns out to be anything but that. Sure, it may be way smaller than a five-reel slot, but all the potential bonus features mean that we must give this 8.5 out of 10 points.

Can you reach the Fireworks Bonus round?

With a maximum prize worth 1,000x your bet, this could be the best feature in the whole game…

Play for some festive entertainment this Christmas

If you like the idea of a twist on your normal Christmas slot games, check out this one in demo mode to see what's involved.

Will you play some spins for real?

The demo game will guide you through the rules and make it easier to work out how to play this slot game. Santa's Reel Wheel is the real deal when it comes to something that puts a twist on the Christmas theme.

You can even play it on a smartphone or tablet

It's true - try it and see whether you prefer it that way.