Tic Tac Take

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Tic Tac Take: Slot Overview

Tic Tac Take, developed by Pragmatic Play in collaboration with Reel Kingdom, is a casino version of the classic paper-and-pencil game known as tic-tac-toe or noughts and crosses. For those unfamiliar, tic-tac-toe is a game played between two players who take turns marking spaces on a 3x3 grid with either an 'X' or an 'O' until one player forms a line of three of their symbols, or until all spaces are filled. Interestingly, tic-tac-toe has been famously depicted as a futile game in popular culture, notably in the movie WarGames, where it was used to teach a computer about unwinnable scenarios amidst the threat of nuclear warfare. However, in Tic Tac Take the slot game, players have the opportunity to win, especially with the wild respins feature offering promising returns.

While Reel Kingdom's contributions often seem to echo a more economical approach compared to Pragmatic Play, Tic Tac Take may inadvertently emphasize this perception. Its attempt to exude a sense of glamour ends up feeling somewhat tacky rather than sophisticated, with a flashy backdrop contrasting with a game grid cluttered with symbols, many of which seem to have been recycled from the puzzling Star Pirates Code. Similar to that game, Tic Tac Take adopts a gameplay reminiscent of Starburst, focusing on forming wilds across its central three reels and triggering respins. Given the existence of Starburst and the somewhat cheesy disco theme of Tic Tac Take, it fails to inspire the excitement needed to get players grooving.

Underneath its surface, Tic Tac Take operates on a highly volatile mathematical model and offers three different RTP (Return to Player) settings. For those considering their options, the highest RTP value stands at 96.63%, but it can drop to 95.54% or even 94.57%. The frequency of wins in the base game is relatively low, with an average of one winning spin in every 6.49 spins. So, mentally preparing for a significant number of spins without wins might enhance the overall gaming experience. For those interested, Tic Tac Take is accessible on any device and allows players to wager stakes ranging from 10 pennies/cents to $/€100 per spin.

Set on a 5-reel, 3-row game layout, Tic Tac Take offers 10 paylines for players to land winning combinations on, which can occur from left to right or right to left. A payout is triggered whenever three matching symbols appear on adjacent reels starting from either the first or fifth reel. The highest payout of up to 100 times the bet is awarded for landing five rainbow symbols, followed by 50 times, 25 times, and 5 times the bet for the purple gem, green gem, and the three lower-paying gem symbols, respectively. The star symbol serves as the wild and can substitute for any regular paying symbol. It appears on reels 2, 3, or 4, transforming from either the 'O' or 'X' symbols.

Tic Tac Take: Slot Features

Tic Tac Take keeps things straightforward by limiting extra features, with the main one being the Tic Tac Take Respin Feature, which can trigger spontaneously during gameplay or be activated through a feature buy option where permitted.

Tic Tac Take Respins

In addition to the regular symbols, the game includes 'X' and 'O' symbols, which appear exclusively on the middle reels 2, 3, and 4. When a line of 'X' or 'O' symbols appears horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, the respins feature is activated. Each line of 'X' or 'O' symbols awards 1 respin, up to a maximum of 8 respins. During the respins, the triggering 'X' or 'O' symbols transform into wilds and remain locked in position. If additional 'X' or 'O' symbols land, creating new lines, extra respins are awarded accordingly. Once all respins are completed, the game grid returns to its normal state.

Buy Respins

Players also have the option to instantly purchase the Tic Tac Take Respin feature for the cost of 100 times the total bet. Upon purchase, a spin occurs where a random number of 'X' or 'O' symbols appear, guaranteeing at least one line of them to trigger at least one respin. Purchased respins offer the same RTP (Return to Player) as naturally triggered respins. Similar to the feature in Starburst XXXtreme, the bonus buy option remains active until manually deactivated by the player.

Comparison with Other Games

Game Design of “Tic Tac Take”

“Tic Tac Take” is a delightful twist on the classic game of Tic Tac Toe. While the original game is played on a 3x3 grid, “Tic Tac Take” introduces new mechanics and strategic elements that elevate the gameplay. In this blog, we’ll explore the game design of “Tic Tac Take,” covering everything from the basic rules to implementing it in code.

The Essence of “Tic Tac Take”

At its core, “Tic Tac Take” retains the fundamental objective of forming a line of three symbols (either “X” or “O”) horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. However, the game board is larger, typically a 5x5 grid, which opens up more possibilities for winning combinations. The elegance of “Tic Tac Take” lies in its deceptive complexity—simple rules, yet challenging strategy.

Rules of the Game

1. Setup: The game is played on a 5x5 grid.
2. Players: One player uses “X,” and the other uses “O.”
3. Objective: Be the first to form a line of three symbols in a row, column, or diagonal.
4. Winner: The player achieving this wins the game.
5. Draw: If the entire grid is filled without a winner, the game ends in a tie.

Tic Tac Take: Slot Verdict

Well, Tic Tac Take seems to have found its footing better than its predecessor, Star Pirates Code, did. The previous game was a bit of a mishmash with gems and coins, lacking a clear pirate theme, and topped off with a rather peculiar name. Players will feel more grounded in Tic Tac Take - the disco vibe feels familiar, and the gameplay cleverly ties into the tic-tac-toe theme. In summary, it's definitely a step up from the previous attempt at a pirate-themed Starburst clone, although there are a few things to consider.

There are some positives, and it might sound blasphemous to say this, but the respin feature in Tic Tac Take is arguably better than Starburst's. For one, you can potentially win more respins, and they can be quite thrilling with numerous locked wilds on the reels. During testing, there were instances of filling all three middle reels, resulting in wins of around 1,000 times the bet. However, Tic Tac Take does have its limitations, notably with a win cap of 2,200 times the bet in place. If you happen to reach that amount at any point, the respins will immediately come to an end.

To be clear, the biggest wins during testing came from using the bonus buy feature, as the base game's low hit rate could become a bit tiresome and even harsh. However, buying respins can be even harsher, reminiscent of buying Feature Spins 3 in Hacksaw Gaming's slot Harvest Wilds. The reason being is that the minimum guarantee of one line of wilds often doesn't lead to significant wins. Paying out 100 times the bet for the feature sometimes resulted in just one disappointing respin. While there's potential for good wins, repeatedly paying 100 times for low-win respins can sting. It's worth noting that NetEnt's own updated version, Starburst XXXtreme, offers players the option to pay 10 times the bet for a guaranteed Starburst Wild on each spin or 95 times for two Starburst Wilds. Not saying you're more likely to win there, but when it does pay out, Starburst XXXtreme can soar.

Nevertheless, players seeking a modernized version of Starburst might find Tic Tac Take intriguing. It slightly expands on the respins feature, and the theme is somewhat engaging, although it's not exactly groundbreaking gaming, and the visuals leave room for improvement.