Sky Bounty

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Sky Bounty: Slot Overview

Krakens are a familiar sight in the realm of online slots, and few game developers have encountered these legendary sea monsters as frequently as Pragmatic Play. The studio has crafted a mini-series featuring them, including titles like Release the Kraken and Release the Kraken 2. While today's game, Sky Bounty, doesn't appear to be directly linked to these previous titles, it does share some similarities. For instance, it features tentacled creatures and the word 'Kraken' in its title. Additionally, all three games incorporate some form of wild-related feature, with Sky Bounty showcasing a particularly noteworthy one. So, if you're ready to embark on a high-flying adventure, let's set sail through the clouds.

But wait a minute, octopi-related characters soaring through the skies? Aren't they creatures of the sea? Indeed, typically they are, but in this tale, the Kraken seems to have adapted to life beyond the waves, acquiring a flying ship and navigating it through the clouds in search of treasure. Of course, suspending a bit of disbelief is necessary when entering the world of Sky Bounty. However, piloting an aerial pirate ship with tentacles offers a refreshing change from the depths of the ocean. It's a shame that Pragmatic Play didn't fully embrace this theme and explore its potential further. Nevertheless, as is often the case with this studio, they've come up with an intriguing concept, presented it beautifully, but somehow fell short of fully realizing its potential.

Like the intriguing theme, Sky Bounty's grid setup is a bit unconventional, featuring 6 reels and 6 rows of symbols. Rather than being a cluster pays or pay-anywhere slot as initially suspected, it boasts 50 paylines for determining wins. Delving deeper into the mechanics, we uncover Sky Bounty's math model, which is characterized by high volatility and offers different RTP ranges. The default RTP stands at 96.05% during regular betting, increases slightly to 96.06% with the Ante Bet activated, and reaches 96.07% when purchasing free spins. Regardless of the chosen method, players need to select a base bet ranging from 25 p/c to $/€250.

Moving on to the symbols, players will encounter 7 gemstones of various colors and shapes, representing the lower-paying symbols. These are followed by higher-value picture symbols including a bottle of rum, a ship's wheel, a cannon, and a pair of crossed swords. Achieving a low-paying win of 6 of a kind earns players 2 to 3 times their bet, while wins with the higher-value symbols can range from 6 to 20 times the bet. Wild symbols play a significant role in Sky Bounty, particularly during the bonus game. In both phases of the game, wilds can land on any reel and substitute for any paying symbol. If wilds form winning combinations, they can award up to 20 times the stake for a win consisting of 6 wild symbols.

Sky Bounty: Slot Features

To spice up the base game, Sky Bounty introduces a Random Expanding Wild feature that can appear unexpectedly. This feature also plays a role during free spins, but with a more lasting effect. Here's how it works:

Random Expanding Wild Feature

During the base game, this feature can trigger randomly. When activated, a frame of varying sizes (2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, or 6x6) appears over random symbols on the grid. If a wild symbol lands within the frame on that spin, it expands to match the frame's size. If multiple wilds land within the frame, the expanded wild receives a multiplier equal to the number of wilds present. This multiplier applies to all wins involving the expanded wild.

Free Spins

The free spins round in Sky Bounty is initiated when 3 or more scatter symbols land on the reels. Players receive 6 free spins as a reward. During free spins, a frame remains on the grid for the entire duration, shifting positions between each spin. Initially, the frame starts at 2x2 in size, and any wilds landing within it expand accordingly, just like in the base game. As scatter symbols appear, they are collected. Accumulating every 3 scatter symbols increases the frame size progressively to 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, and finally 6x6, granting an additional 2 free spins each time. After the frame reaches its maximum size, scatter symbols no longer appear on the reels. If the free spins were triggered with 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols, the round begins with 1, 2, or 3 scatter symbols already collected, respectively.

Ante Bet & Buy Free Spins

Players can activate Sky Bounty's Ante Bet feature, which adds more scatter symbols to the reels in exchange for a 20% increase in the stake. Additionally, players have the option to purchase free spins for 100 times the current bet. These purchased free spins ensure the appearance of 3, 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols to trigger the feature.

Comparison with Other Games

Game Design of “Sky Bounty”

“Sky Bounty” is an innovative slot game developed by Pragmatic Play that combines maritime and aerial themes. In this blog post, we’ll explore the game’s design, features, and what makes it stand out in the world of online slots.

• Visuals and Setting: The first thing that strikes players about “Sky Bounty” is its stunning visuals. The game employs an uncommon 6x6 reel structure, set against the backdrop of high-flying escapades. Imagine soaring through the skies on an aerial pirate ship with tentacles – a unique and captivating concept that sets “Sky Bounty” apart from other slot games.
• Base Game and Math Model: “Sky Bounty” features 50 paylines across its 6x6 grid. The game’s math model is highly volatile, offering different RTP ranges depending on the betting method. Players can choose a base bet ranging from 25 p/c to $/€250. The symbols include gemstones, a bottle of rum, a wheel, a cannon, and crossed swords. Wilds play a significant role, both in the base game and during the bonus rounds.

Features

• Random Expanding Wilds: “Sky Bounty” spices up the base game with a Random Expanding Wild feature. These wilds can also appear during free spins, where they have a more persistent nature. Keep an eye out for these expanding wilds as they can lead to exciting wins.

Sky Bounty: Slot Verdict

Overall, Sky Bounty delivers a decent gaming experience, showcasing both the strengths and weaknesses commonly associated with a Pragmatic Play release. While generally positive, one can't help but feel that with some extra attention, development time, or creative passion, Sky Bounty could have transcended from being just average or above average to something truly exceptional. Yet, for whatever reason, the studio seems content with churning out games at a rapid pace, even if only a few of them manage to achieve classic status despite their abundance.

• Nevertheless, Pragmatic Play often delivers commendable quality alongside quantity, and Sky Bounty is no exception. It introduces captivating concepts like sky-traveling Krakens and adventures in the stratosphere, along with intriguing gameplay mechanics.
• The expanding wild feature, for instance, offers a unique twist reminiscent of other popular games but with additional layers that need to align for maximum impact. The synergy between the bonus symbol collection and the expanding frame adds depth, increasing the chances of landing substantial wins, potentially even reaching a full-screen wild symbol with a multiplier for added excitement.
• The growing frame feature also helps to balance the reels and ways setup, which initially felt somewhat off. Additionally, with a win cap of up to 5,000 times the bet, Sky Bounty offers considerable potential for lucrative payouts.

Despite its strengths, Sky Bounty, like many Pragmatic Play slots, leaves players at a point where they crave more. While this trait might be appealing in storytelling, it can be frustrating for slot enthusiasts envisioning how a little extra effort could have transformed the game into something truly exceptional. Overall, Sky Bounty stands as a solid Kraken-themed game, but one can't help but wonder how it could have achieved greater uniqueness with additional time, resources, or passion invested in its development.