Tome of Madness

Tome of Madness (Play'n GO): Review

Rich Wilde, a prominent figure and seasoned adventurer from Play'n GO's lineup, is off on another adventurous journey filled with treasures and thrills. This game, inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, features a character reminiscent of Indiana Jones. Rich Wilde has previously starred in games like Aztec Idols and Pearls of India, becoming well-known from the Book of Dead slot. With his stylish outfit of a suit vest and a red tie, Wilde is ready to embark on this new quest!

Instead of taking players to historic locations, unlike Wilde's previous exploits, this adventure leads into the imaginative realm of a famous American writer's mind. H.P Lovecraft Prepare to explore the Cthulhu Mythos, a world governed by a powerful and fearsome godlike entity known as Cthulhu. In Tome of Madness, clusters are formed when four or more identical symbols align either horizontally or vertically, thanks to its cascading mechanic. This results in a domino effect where winning symbols are replaced, opening up additional opportunities to win. At the heart of the game is the Portal Effects feature, which enhances the gameplay with Special Wilds and enables the activation of more features. You can enjoy this game on various platforms, including desktops, tablets, and mobile devices, with bets ranging from 10 cents to 100€ per spin.

The setting is a dimly lit and mysterious hall where you find Mr. Wilde to the right, holding the iconic Book of Madness. Symbols on the grid include lower-value gemstones of green, blue, red, and purple, adorned with alien-like inscriptions. More rewarding symbols include Cthulhu skulls, rings, daggers, and octopus amulets, with the latter being the best-paying symbol in clusters of 10 or more, offering a substantial payout of up to 100 times your stake. As you play, keep an eye on the Portal Meter next to the grid, which fills up with every cascading win.

The game provides three distinct wild symbols to help you advance. First, there's the book symbol acting as the regular wild. Next, Rich Wilde himself serves as a wild with a x2 multiplier. Lastly, the alien octopus is the Mega Wild and appears exclusively in the bonus round.

Tome of Madness (Play'n GO): Features

During gameplay, Eye Marks may appear in random positions on the grid. Achieving winning combinations on these Eye Marks will grant you two Special Wilds on the next unsuccessful cascade.

Like many Play'n GO grid games, Tome of Madness builds excitement by filling the Portal Meter. Completing meter stages activates modifiers and special features, but be cautious—a failed cascade resets the meter. The specific awards based on symbols collected are as follows:

• • 7 symbols: Earns you 2 Special Wilds on the grid.

• 14 symbols: Awards 2 Special Wilds to the grid. If these Special Wilds form a winning combo, the Abyss Portal Effect is triggered.
• 27 symbols: Awards 2 Special Wilds to the grid. If these result in a win, the Void Portal Effect becomes active.
• 42 symbols: Reaching this threshold activates the Other World Free Round feature.

The Abyss Portal Effect removes a complete row or column, adding the cleared symbols to the Portal Meter. If the Void Portal Effect is triggered, it selects a random standard symbol from the grid and eliminates all its occurrences.

Once you fill the meter with 42 symbols, you'll unlock the Other World Free Round . This awards you one free round with three random Portal Effects. Further charging of the Portal can add another effect for every three additional winning symbols collected, up to a maximum of seven. During this, a Portal Effect will activate if no further cascade wins occur, which include:

• Special Wilds: Adds 4 Special Wilds to the grid.
• Abyss: Awards 4 Special Wilds to the grid, and any winning combination with them triggers the Abyss Portal Effect.
• Void: Gives 4 Special Wilds, with wins here activating the Void Portal Effect.

Mirroring the Reactoonz game by Play'n GO, which includes the Gargantoon feature, this game also offers the Mega Wild. In bonus rounds, strategically-placed Eye Marks can appear, and achieving wins at all Eye positions will summon the Mega Wild Cthulhu symbol. This Mega Wild then moves downward with each cascade.

Tome of Madness (Play'n GO): Verdict

Explaining Play'n GO's cascading slots can seem complex, though playing them is intuitive. Builders of these games have reused elements, like the cascading mechanics seen in Reactoonz, where consecutive wins fill a meter that unlocks features and bonuses. Although infinitely volatile, the game's max payout is set at 2000 times your wager, which some might find modest.

Most enthusiasts agree Play'n GO sets a high bar for grid slots. Visually, Tome of Madness is another demonstration of their skill. The compelling character of Rich Wilde contributes to brand recognition, making this title popular. While it may not represent Play'n GO's pinnacle effort, it satisfies fans of their grid slots.

Don't Miss

Curious for more? Did you know that rock legend Alice Cooper has his own rendition of Tome of Madness? Have a look at our comprehensive overview to discover more. Alice Cooper Tome of Madness review.