The Astronaut slot machine is a video slot game developed by renowned gaming software provider, Microgaming. The game takes players on an exciting journey through space, where they can win substantial prizes and experience thrilling bonus features.
Theme and Design
Upon launching the game, players are immediately immersed in a futuristic atmosphere, complete with sleek spacecraft designs and Astronaut demo vibrant neon colors. The background is set against a starry night sky, giving the impression of weightlessness and freedom. The high-quality graphics and animations create an engaging visual experience, drawing players into the game’s universe.
The reels are arranged in a traditional 5×3 configuration, with three rows of symbols displayed on each reel. The symbols used in the game range from low-paying card suits (10-A) to higher-paying space-themed icons, such as rockets, satellites, and astronauts themselves. The wild symbol is depicted as an astronaut’s helmet, which we’ll discuss further in this review.
Symbols and Payouts
The Astronaut slot features a total of 20 symbols, each with its own payout value when part of a winning combination. Here are the payouts for the low-paying card suits:
- 10: 5x to 50x stake
- J: 6x to 60x stake
- Q: 7x to 70x stake
- K: 8x to 80x stake
- A: 9x to 90x stake
The mid-paying space-themed symbols offer higher payouts:
- Rocket: 25x to 250x stake
- Satellite: 30x to 300x stake
- Alien Planet: 40x to 400x stake
- Spacecraft: 50x to 500x stake
- Astronaut (regular): 60x to 600x stake
Wilds and Scatters
As mentioned earlier, the astronaut’s helmet serves as a wild symbol. When it appears on the reels, the wild can substitute for any other symbol except scatters, thereby increasing players’ chances of forming winning combinations.
The scatter symbol is represented by an orbiting satellite icon. Scattered symbols pay out when two or more appear anywhere on the reels and also trigger the Free Spins feature when three or more are landed in a single spin.
Bonus Features
Astronaut features several exciting bonus rounds that contribute to its high RTP (Return to Player) percentage, which we’ll discuss later:
- Free Spins : Triggered by landing at least three scatter symbols, players receive 10 free spins. The wild symbol is multiplied by five times during the feature.
- Rocket Boost Bonus : Randomly triggered on a losing spin, this bonus gives one of four boosters: +2x Multiplier, +1 Spin, Win x20, or Scatter.
Free Spins
During the Free Spins feature, players can benefit from increased wild symbol multipliers and improved payout rates. As mentioned earlier, all three scatters must land on a single spin to trigger 10 free spins with five times multiplier applied to each winning combination formed by the wild symbol.
RTP (Return to Player) and Volatility
The RTP of Astronaut is an impressive 96.21%, which indicates that for every £100 wagered, players can expect to win approximately £97.20 in prize money over a long-term period. However, this figure does not guarantee winnings on individual spins.
Regarding volatility, the game falls under the medium category due to its balanced distribution of payouts and bonus features across various winning combinations and frequencies.
Betting Range
The betting range for Astronaut is flexible enough to accommodate both casual players with low stakes (£0.25 per spin) and high-roller enthusiasts who can bet up to £250 per single turn.
Max Win
Astronaut offers a substantial maximum win potential of x500 the total bet, which means if one were to place the highest bet of £250, they could potentially win an incredible £125,000 on a single spin.
Gameplay Experience
The gameplay experience in Astronaut is smooth and engaging. Microgaming has done an excellent job in crafting realistic sound effects that complement the visuals perfectly. The game features both automatic and manual play options for users who want to automate their spins or manually trigger special bonus features when needed.
Astronaut also supports multiple languages, including English (default), Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Greek, Turkish, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese. This adds a degree of global accessibility to the game’s functionality.
Mobile Play
Microgaming has developed an optimized mobile version for Astronaut that can be accessed via either web-based play (e.g., through a casino website) or dedicated mobile apps available from major app stores. Players with iOS and Android devices, including smartphones and tablets, can easily access the game in an immersive full-screen mode.
Player Experience
Based on various online reviews and testimonials gathered from gaming forums and casinos that offer this title, it appears that players generally appreciate Astronaut for its engaging gameplay mechanics, coupled with attractive graphics and frequent bonus opportunities. Some reviewers have even noted improved RTP values over time through responsible betting practices.
Overall Analysis
Upon thorough analysis of the game’s features, payouts, volatility levels, maximum wins potential, and global accessibility, we can conclude that Microgaming has crafted a truly compelling Astronaut slot machine experience worthy of attention from fans worldwide. With its attractive space-themed visuals complemented by soothing sound design elements, players will find themselves immersed in an extraordinary gaming environment filled with opportunities to win substantial prizes.
To make informed decisions about betting amounts and the suitability of this title for specific preferences, new and seasoned gamblers alike can draw valuable insights from the following key takeaways:
- High RTP value at 96.21%
- Medium volatility category
- Maximum payout x500 total bet potential (£125,000 on maximum bets)
- 20 symbols across card suits (low-payout) to high-paying space icons
- Wilds and scatters trigger Free Spins feature with five times multiplier applied during that round
