Crystal Cavern Megaways™

Crystal Cavern Megaways™ Slot Review

Slot Provider: Pragmatic Play

RTP: 96.46% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 10,000x

Our Score: 7.8

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WHY YOU CAN TRUST THIS REVIEW: The information and opinions on this page are the result of an comprehensive process of information gathering and live game testing by the gambling experts who work at allslotsites.com. Find out more here.

About Crystal Cavern Megaways™

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 12th November 2021

How We Review Slot Games

We test and rate all slot games across 5 criteria, assigning a score out of 10 for each and an overall score that is an average of the 5. To build an accurate assessment of each game we gather information from the supplier and play in real play or demo mode. Find out more.

NOTE: Screenshots on this page are taken whilst we played this game for real money at Temple Nile.

With something or a Christmasy-vibe, or at least a wintery one, Pragmatic Play are utilising their Megaways™ license once again to deliver up a game that looks like it was fashioned in a gleaming ice cave somewhere deep in a far-out mountain range. It glitters, shines and sparkles thanks to all the deep blue crystals emanating from the stalactites and stalagmites in the background, and you’ll be able to spin from December at the best slots sites in our listings.

But whilst visually Crystal Cavern is an impressive slot, behind the make-up this is very much a Megaways™ by the numbers game. It’s played on 6 reels with up to 7 symbols on each and the usual separate horizontal reel running across the top of the screen. The symbols mix up colourful gem crystals and high cards. And at full expansion the reels give you the top 117,649 ways to win when all pay ways are activated. In the interests of originality Pragmatic have at least thrown in a wild expander, but much like their Christmas Big Bass Bonanza game, the lack of something new in this one might leave you feeling a bit cold.

Let’s find out more.

Crystal Cavern Megaways™ Game Information

  • RTP: 96.46%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 10,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 6
  • Rows: Up To 7
  • Paylines: 117,649
  • Minimum Stake: £0.20
  • Theme: Crystals
  • Features: Tumbling Wins, Free Spins, Progressive Multipliers, Expanding Wilds

What We Liked

  • Colourful and atmospheric cavern setting
  • Extra Expanding Wilds
  • Free spins re-triggers
  • Progressive multipilers in base game
  • Good top payout of 10,000x

What We Didn't like

  • Not so original!

Crystal Cavern Megaways™ Review Scores

  • Theme and Design 7
  • RTP and Variance 8
  • Maximum Win 8
  • Symbols and Paytable 8
  • Features and Gameplay 8

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"A pretty standard Megaways slot but with added expander wilds thrown in for extra intrigue!"

Overall Score: 7.8

RTP and Variance

Our Score 8

What is RTP?

RTP (Return to Player) refers to the amount a game will pay out in cash prizes expressed as a percentage of all the money wagered on that game. For example, a 96% RTP means a game will pay out £96 for every £100 wagered. This is an average number and will vary from one session to the next.  Read more here.

What is Variance?

Variance refers to how far a game will deviate from its RTP over time. High variance games deviate a lot and produce uneven win distributions and unexpected windfalls. Low variance games provide a more stable and even distribution of wins. Read more here.

As you would expect from a Megaways™ slot, we’re talking super high variance here, a risky play where wins are unevenly distributed and those looking for a few casual spins and frequent payouts should steer clear.

In the UK the RTP is set at 94.38%. We verified this at Temple Nile casino, a UK-licensed site. Pragmatic slots have variable RTPs and in the UK most operators choose the 94% setting.

Crystal Cavern Megaways RTP
Crystal Cavern Megaways slot RTP verified at Temple Nile

The maximum payout you can expect is 10,000x stake, which will trigger if you manage to rack up a good sequence of Cascades, push up your Multiplier and earn a stack of free spins. The reality is the max win is quoted as a 1 in 3 million shot, but it’s still better than shooting for 500x!

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 8

As standard, payouts in Crystal Cavern are triggered by landing three or more identical symbols on adjacent reels from left to right.

The symbols in Crystal Cavern Megaways™ include five different brightly coloured crystals and high cards from 10 through to Ace. The crystals are red, green, pink, blue and purple all shaped like precious gemstones. You will pocket 1.5x to 25x stake for landing 6 matching crystals together, while high cards award the lower payouts.

You’ll also find a green Wild symbol in the game which can substitute for the other symbols to create more potential winning combinations. It appears only on reels 2 through to 5.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 8

The features in Crystal Cavern are the same as those in most Megaways™ slots, but we have some a couple of tweaks to discuss – progressive multipliers in the base game and an Expander Wild to help spice things up.

Tumbling Reels

Form Bonanza to the Royal Mint, Tumbling Reels are the staple of Megaways™ games and keep the action ticking along nicely in the base game as well as creating mayhem in the free spins round.   Whenever a winning combination of symbols appears on the screen, the winning symbols disappear and new symbols tumble down to replace them. This produces another potential winning combination of symbols – and more potential payouts.

The tumbles continue until no new winning combinations appear.

Free Spins

Landing 4, 5 or 6 Scatters will trigger the Free Spins round with 12, 16 or 20 Free Spins respectively. You will also receive a payout of 5x, 10x or 100x stake, depending on the number of Scatters that triggered the round. There is a re-trigger feature too – hitting 3 or more Scatters during the round will re-trigger and add another 5 Free Spins to your total.

Expanding Wilds

This is the extra thrown in by Pragmatic, a gesture of originality if you will. When you hit a Wild symbol (rows 2 to 5) it will expand to fill the entire reel with the exception of Wilds that land on the top row.

Progressive Multipliers

On every win cascade, including in the base game, a win Multiplier at the side of the reels will increase by 1x. This continues until the sequence ends and the multiplier re-sets – after being applied to your win total. In the free spins round the multiplier does not re-set between cascades giving it the chance to increase significantly by the end of the round.

The Final Verdict

Crystal Cavern Megaways is an atmospheric slot with an attractive pale blue, icy design that has an alluring quality, beckoning you in to explore the crystal caves with their stalactites and shiny gems. But although it’s pleasant, this game is not particularly original in appearance or feel. The Megaways™ feature we have seen hundreds of times before in this format. It gives up to 117,649 ways to win and the tumbling reels make the gameplay feel quite fast-paced, but with few add ons, it all feels a bit too generic.

In terms of maths, this is a volatile game, so you can expect long lean streaks which break up the pace and could cause problems for those with less balance to play with. So unless you have the bankroll to sustain some extended play, it might feel too much of a slog to squeeze out the rewards.

For those who do take it on, the best wins will come where the Progressive Multipliers build up good rewards, and it’s the Free Spins feature where they can really mount up. What is great to see with regards to payouts is a 10,000x stake as the top potential instead of the more common 5,000x offered by Pragmatic.

In summary, although it’s attractive in design with good atmosphere and solid Megaways™ features, this game falls a little short in originality. Megaways™ fanatics will get a blast of their favourite type of slot but those looking for new thrills might do better looking for other new slots elsewhere.

 

Useful Resources

Pragmatic Play Website

Free Slots Play Guide

Who Made Crystal Cavern Megaways™?

  • Name: Pragmatic Play
  • Established: 2015
  • UK License: Remote 046683-R-325951-014
  • Total Games: 500 +
  • Known For: Wide range of themes and styles, live casino including gameshow formats, and bingo
  • Popular Slots: Fruit Party, Dog House Megaways, Big Bass Bonanza, Release the Kraken
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