Aloha! Christmas

Discover what makes Aloha! Christmas Edition stand out with this Slot Overview.

Developer NetEnt NetEnt has decided to breathe new life into an old favorite by giving one of their less festive slots a holiday twist. The transformation is surprising and intriguing. Originally released in 2016, the Hawaiian Tiki themed game Aloha! Cluster Pays was a hit with casual players. The remake has introduced features that make sure it remains enjoyable any time of the year for players of all types.

In this holiday edition of Aloha!, we are introduced to a fresh area of the island. The previously threatening volcano is now replaced with inviting wooden structures, one of which is a bar to enhance the vibe. On the opposite side of the 6x6 grid is the familiar smiling Tiki figure, now donning a Santa hat as a nod to the Christmas theme. The island mood is rounded out by a lively soundtrack.

The Aloha! Christmas Edition slot can be played on any device, and it allows bets ranging from 10 p/c up to $/€200 with each spin. One downside is the reduction in RTP to 96%, a drop of 0.42%, which coincides with increased volatility thanks to NetEnt’s proprietary MAX concept and other upgrades. Essentially, a revamped engine has been installed, bringing more power under the hood.

What has stayed the same is the cluster pays In this system, as before, combinations of 9 matching symbols that touch either vertically or horizontally form winning clusters. The symbols largely remain the same, but with even more Santa hats making an appearance. The lineup, from lowest to highest, includes flowers, clamshells, coconuts, pineapples, and masks in blue, green, and red. The crowning glory, the three prized Tiki symbols, offer payouts up to 70-250 times your bet when you align clusters of 22 or more. Although there isn’t a typical wild symbol, one is generated via the game’s features.

Delve into the unique characteristics of Aloha! Christmas Edition.

Examining the slot features reveals a clear distinction between this and the original Aloha slot. While they share some extra features, tweaks by NetEnt have resulted in quite different gaming experiences.

Let's begin with the boosted Mystery Symbols. These can appear unexpectedly during the main game or bonus rounds and transform into the same pay symbol once revealed. A novel twist is that some Mystery Symbols can become multiplier wild symbols ranging from x2 to x7, which replace all symbols except for scatters and starfish.

Winning clusters in the main game can activate the Sticky Win Respin feature at random. During this feature, all symbols in the victorious cluster along with matching symbols remain in place while a respin occurs. This repeats until no new matching symbols are added, and a multiplier is applied based on the cluster’s size, potentially reaching up to x7.

Keep an eye out for the postcard-like scatter symbol. Standing two positions tall, it can land anywhere on the reels. Snag three or more, and you’ll activate the free spins round. Players are faced with two choices: the Tiki Bar, giving 10 free spins with wild multipliers of x2, x3, or x4, or the more volatile Tiki Bar MAX which provides 6 free spins with multipliers of x4, x5, or x7. Make your pick and hit ‘Select’.

During the free spins, starfish symbols are collected. Every trio adds another 2 free spins and removes one low-paying symbol type from play. Collect them all, and you’ll finish with reels showing only premium symbols.

Ending impressions on Aloha! Christmas Edition as a slot game.

Labeling this a Christmas slot might be slightly ambitious. Despite the occasional Santa hat and a few gifts on the sands, it doesn’t exude traditional holiday vibes. However, that might reflect regional differences where the holidays aren’t marked by snow but by sun-kissed beaches and luaus. Despite this, Aloha! Christmas Edition is an enhanced and improved version of its predecessor.

The updated visuals—while not revolutionary—have created a more visually appealing game. Feature enhancements ensure Aloha! Christmas Edition is an engaging experience. The multiplier wilds breathe new life into Mystery Symbols and the game at large, sometimes elevating ordinary wins. Free spins have been revitalized with wild multipliers, and offering a standard or MAX mode adds variety. It’s a bump in volatility if you want it, accompanied by increased potential compared to the original.

That being said, achieving even a 200x win proved elusive during testing, despite over 50 bonus rounds. While the game offers ample playtime, gradually watching your balance diminish with slim chances of large wins isn’t particularly thrilling.