Snake Arena

Snake Arena Slot from Relax Gaming: A Detailed Look

Surprisingly, the classic Snake game traces its beginnings back to 1976 under the name Blockade, crafted by the creatively named company, Gremlin, and quickly gained popularity. Jump forward to the 1990s, and the game became iconic when pre-installed on Nokia phones, cementing its status among mobile users with over 300 iterations now available for iOS. In the online casino world, this legacy continues with various adaptations, including a notable release from Gamevy.

Relax Gaming brings us Snake Arena, a slot with a palpable modern charm and intricate details like Clash of Clans-themed symbols, brimming with personality. The game's design features a 5x5 reel setup nestled in a robust castle courtyard, complemented by an engaging soundtrack and delightful sound effects. Though initially appearing to have a cluster pays structure, Snake Arena offers 30 unmistakable fixed paylines. Players secure wins by landing three or more matching symbols starting from the first reel.

This game introduces fresh symbols, split into 4 low-level pay symbols and 4 higher-value premium ones. Lower payout symbols are various colored coins—silver, blue, bronze, and gold—each with its own distinct symbol. The premiums bring a humorous twist, including items like beer mugs, a ham with a dagger, an eyeball orb, and a dazzling crown, with the crown rewarding players with 20 times their bet for five matching symbols. There are two wild symbols in play: the Knight in a standard 1x1 size and the snake, which is considerably larger, where its entire body can substitute for any symbol. A 96.25% RTP combined with high volatility drives the game, though the base game might be slow at times with many spins yielding minimal value. To keep things exciting, a few enjoyable extras are included, aimed at enhancing the prize potential.

Exploring the Features of Snake Arena Slot from Relax Gaming

The central theme of the Snake Arena's features revolves around the interaction between the snake and the Knight. The first noteworthy addition is the Wild Chase, an unpredictable feature that might trigger randomly during the base game. When activated, players witness the reels spin as both the snake and the Knight appear from opposite sides of the screen. If they surface on the same reel, the snake lunges at the Knight, transforming the entire reel wild. They have three opportunities to land on the same reel; failure to align results in no additional wilds, and the spin concludes. This feature guarantees at least one wild reel but can potentially convert all reels wild.

The second unique feature is the Free Spins round, which distinguishes this game. It activates when the snake lands on reel 1, while the Knight appears anywhere else. During this phase, the Knight changes position with each spin. After each spin, the snake and the Knight become wild, and wins are tallied up. Subsequently, the snake slithers towards the Knight to consume it. If no obstacles are present, the snake continues to grow, kicking off another free spin. However, if the snake encounters itself en route, it consumes itself, ending the round. Should the snake successfully extend across reels 2 to 5, the eat meter fills, and the player claims a jackpot of 1,000 times the stake. The free spins continue until the snake bites itself or the top prize is claimed.

Players in certain locations might choose to purchase free spins instead of waiting for them naturally. This option comes at a price, set at 70 times the stake per spin.

The Final Verdict on Snake Arena Slot from Relax Gaming

For those who fondly remember the Snake game on older Nokia models or its myriad copycats, Snake Arena offers a familiar, yet refreshed experience during its bonus feature. This modern slot exquisitely combines retro gaming elements with innovative features, creating a paradoxically unique yet familiar gaming environment.

Despite the intriguing Wild Chase, the real focus of Snake Arena is undoubtedly the bonus game. That's the primary attraction, as the base game can somewhat linger without much excitement. The symbol payouts aren't particularly impressive, and the game's pace might prompt players to jump straight to the action via the Buy button. While free spins entertain, the snake can both thrill and frustrate players. You'll find yourself cheering it on when it follows your strategy, but groaning when it takes illogical paths or inadvertently bites its tail, frustrating players further.

Yet, sometimes luck is on your side. It's possible to get so engrossed in guiding the snake to the Knight that you pay little attention to the accumulating prizes. Ultimately, the maximum wins lie in the free spins, as the hefty 1,000x reward for covering four reels is the highlight. Reaching that far means collecting a significant number of smaller wins along the way.

In conclusion, Snake Arena leaves players with mixed impressions. It shines brightly during the cleverly designed free spins but remains relatively monochrome otherwise. A favorable outcome when the snake meanders your way is truly gratifying, but without that, the experience can be trying, especially when you've just paid for the feature. Nonetheless, offering a demo at the very least allows for a nostalgic dive back into a grand tale of snakes.