Big Time Gaming is an iGaming developer that’s been around for almost a decade – but it wasn’t until around 2017, when their blockbuster Bonanza Megaways and Danger High Voltage hit the online gambling that they started to attract mainstream success. Since, their unique Megaways mechanic has taken the online gambling world by storm – and they’ve since licensed out the technology to tens of game developers, and it now appears in hundreds of different slots.
While some players would claim that Megaways slots are saturated today, original releases from BTG are generally well-received – and we expect that to be the case with the game developer’s latest release, Rasputin Megaways.
While the game uses the software provider’s famed Megaways mechanic, it’s a little different to what you might already be used to. There are 6 reels, and a minimum or two rows per spin – but the number of “ways-to-win” can reach up to a whopping 2,985,984! It’s a highly volatile video slot, and the RTP is 96.68%, which is pretty standard for Big Time Gaming.
Like many of their video slots, Rasputin Megaways slot offers up some insane win potential; players have the chance of winning as much as 68,180x their stake, and the minimum bet is just 0.10 credits, so it’s available to those on a budget, too. The max bet is capped at 20 credits – although some online casinos and new bingo sites in the UK will likely have an even lower max bet to limit their financial liability.
This slot review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the game – including its theme, design, and layout. Additionally, we will delve into the bonuses and features offered, and provide an honest evaluation of the overall experience.
Rasputin Megaways Slot: Theme, Design, and Layout
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin is a well-known name in Russian folklore – and according to online sources, this self-proclaimed “holy man” ended up befriending the family of Nicholas II.
Like most of BTG’s video slots, the game offers up some great graphics – and it appears to be set right in the heart of Moscow, right the Red Square visible in the background. Saint Basil’s Cathedral can be seen behind the reels too – and this historical building, constructed in 1561, is one of the main tourist attractions in Russia.
There’s also a plethora of win animations built into the game – and while the soundtrack is a little lacking, on the whole, the game does a pretty good job in presenting itself well.
Special Symbols, Bonus Features, and Gameplay
As mentioned, the game uses BTG’s Megaways mechanic – but instead of the maximum number of seven symbols per reel, it’s possible for ten symbols to appear. Like all of BTG’s games, playing card values, including 10, jack, queen, king, and ace are used to represent the low-value symbols – and there’s also a nine thrown into the mix.
The higher-paying symbols are all a bit more relevant to the theme, and you’ll see BTG’s iconic gems, colored in green, red, purple, and blue.
Rasputin Megaways Slot: Bonus Features
While Big Time Gaming slots often offer some significant win potential during the base game, it’s undoubtedly the bonuses and features that offer up the biggest chance of hitting nice wins.
The first is the Rasputin Wild feature – and whenever the wild disco ball symbols land in view, it will reveal a random number. This number correlates to the number of symbols that will be added to the reel – and up to 48 symbols can be added during the base game, while 68 can be added during the free spins bonus round.
The free spins bonus round is triggered by landing 3, 4, 5 or 6 of the scatter symbols anywhere in view and you will then get to pick from one of the following two bonuses:
Big and Strong Free Spins: If you choose this free spins option, you’ll be awarded 7 free spins. Extending reels are present here, and after the first free spin has played out, the number of symbols on each of the reels then carries over to the next spin. Any time a reel reaches 12 symbols high, you will be awarded an additional three free spins – so it’s similar to the mechanic we saw in White Rabbit.
Ecstasy and Fire Free Spins: If you choose this free spins bonus round, you’ll be awarded with 10 free spins. During the free spins, there’s an unlimited win multiplier that increases each time five Rasputin wild symbols are added to the reels. Additional free spins can be won by landing an additional three scatter symbols.
Like we’ve seen in many of BTG’s recent games (from the last year or so), there’s also a “Win Exchange” mechanic built into the game. During the base game, any time you hit a win of between 25x and 100x your stake, you have the option to gamble your win for a chance at triggering the free spins bonus round.
Players located outside of the UK can also purchase direct entry to the bonus round using the bonus buy mechanic. This costs 100x your stake, and you’ll then be given the chance to choose which of the two free spins bonuses you’d like.
Conclusion
Rasputin Megaways slot is a creative game, there’s no denying that; however, it’s clear that BTG have “borrowed” elements from some of their older games. For example, similarities to White Rabbit can be seen during the bonus round, where extra free spins are awarded for expanding the reel’s height to 12 symbols – and the unlimited multiplier round is something we’ve seen in several of their previous releases.
However, we really like the fact that there’s so many “ways-to-win” – almost three million – and the huge maximum win potential of almost 70,000x your stake is sure to attract players looking for those once in a lifetime hits!
If you are looking for volatile games with lots of extras, then check out our Dead Canary slot review and Walk of Shame, both from Nolimit City.
