Dracula Awakening

Dracula Awakening Slot Review

Slot Provider: Red Tiger

RTP: 95.72% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 5,317x

Our Score: 7.2

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About Dracula Awakening

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 8th November 2021

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Oddly coming a few weeks after 2021’s Halloween celebrations, Dracula Awakening is the latest in a series of vampiric slots on release this year, including Dracula by NetEnt and Immortal Romance Mega Moolah from Microgaming. Over the years there have been quite a few games inspired by Stoker’s epic and popular tale and much like the cinematic incarnations the lead man looks different in each one. For their version, NetEnt’s Red Tiger have created a rather dashing version of the count, looking like it might be based on the one from the modern 2020 TV series from the BBC.

The game itself is highly atmospheric, boasting tremendous graphics with a looming castle in the background surrounded by a misty haze, while the reels are encased in grey stone with gold trim. As the game progresses, night falls and we move inside the castle for the Free Spins round to add an extra layer of interest and thrills.

Overall, this is a foreboding game, one to be played with the lights down for maximum affect, while the rocking 80s soundtrack combines with the dark imagery to give an air of menace. Everything plays out on 4 rows of symbols on 5 reels and whilst the action is not feature-packed the two free spins modes and sticky Mega Wilds can help push for some pretty decent payouts.

Dracula Awakening Game Information

  • RTP: 95.72%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 5,317x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 5
  • Rows: 4
  • Paylines: 30
  • Minimum Stake: £0.10
  • Theme: Horror
  • Features: Wilds, Mega Wilds, Free Spins

Dracula Awakening Review Scores

  • Gameplay and Features 8
  • Maximum Win 6
  • Theme and Design 8
  • Paytable 7
  • RTP and Variance 7

Dracula Awakening Pros and Cons

What We Liked

  • Atmospheric Dracula theme
  • Super-sized Mega Wilds
  • Eclipse Free Spins with Sticky Wilds
  • Day and Night modes add suspense
  • Cool dracula bite animation

What We Didn't like

  • Below average RTP

RTP and Variance

Our Score 7

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.

Onto the maths, and the RTP of this slot is slightly below average at 95.72% but it’s the maximum volatility (5/5) that makes this a highly risky play and one most suited to those with who dare to test their mettle against games with this much bite. The low 10p minimum bet means you can dial down the risk a little, but Dracula Awakening might be too much for more cautious players.

The top award here is 5,317x stake which might be achievable for adventurous spinners who manage to land Sticky Mega Wilds during Free Spins.  It’s not comparable with some other games out there right now that easily top 50,000x.

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 7

The ten regular symbols in Dracula Awakening are all themed on the story of Dracula. You’ll find Dracula himself, along with potion bottles, goblets, ruby rings, ruby crosses and a lady. The lady can become a vampire to act as Wild – presumably the doomed character Lucy Westenra from the Bram Stoker story. Note that Dracula himself can also act as Wild and appear Mega-sized on the reels for extra winning potential.

For regular payouts, the picture symbols can award from 2.5x to 10x stake for 5 of a kind, while high value card icons from 10 through to Ace can award the lower payouts.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 8

Red Tiger have built different game modes into Dracula Awakening, reflecting the different states of the count and as you would expect, when night falls and our man awakes, so things get real!

Day and Night Modes

The day mode lasts for 16 spins, while the night mode lasts for 8 spins. These signify the hours we are normally asleep and awake each day. Each mode can introduce different features, such as the Super Dracula Mega Wilds during night mode.

Super Draculat Mega Wilds

During night mode, any Dracula Wilds landing on the 3rd reel will turn into Mega Wilds to fill the entire reel and create more winning combinations. If the lady is on the screen when Dracula appears, this symbol is ‘bitten’ to turn into a vampire and become Wild.

Eclipse Free Spins

During day mode, landing 3 Eclipse Scatters will trigger 7 Free Spins. During these Free Spins, a Dracula Mega Wild sticks to the middle reel. Landing more Eclipse Scatters on the 1st or 5th reel will award an additional Free Spin.

Dracula Bite

The lady symbol has the potential to turn Wild during the Dracula Bite feature. This ties in perfectly with the vampire story and adds extra chances to win into the game. If the Dracula Wild ‘bites’ the lady symbol during Free Spins, she turns Wild and remains sticky on the reels for the duration of the Free Spins.

The Final Verdict

Our Score 7.2

Dracula Awakening by Red Tiger is the perfect match for fans of gothic slots and horror themes. Before we even get into the gameplay itself, the imagery is excellent, creating a strong atmosphere that ties in well with the moody soundtrack and story. On top of that, the reels have some evocative symbols, while the Mega Wilds are also visually powerful and create potentially bigger wins.

For us, the best feature is of course the Eclipse Free Spins, which gives lots of extra Mega Wilds and includes the Dracula Bite feature. The intriguing part is that the player is moved from day to night at regular intervals so that the available features changes – free spins only by day and super wilds only at night, with Eclipse mode bringing both into play. This nice bit of creativity at least lifts Dracula Awakening above some of the other titles in this genre when you first load up.

As far as maths goes we have some reservations about the low-ish RTP and top payout. For a high risk slot this is not what we would expect. Check out any of No Limit City or Big Time Gaming’s best titles as to how the maths should be done! Still, a 5,317x win can tempt us in nonetheless though overall the format may scare more casual slots fans off.

Fancy a bite? Dracula Awakening is released on 18th November 2021 at UK slot sites.

 

Useful Resources

Red Tiger Game Profile Page

About The Novel That Inspired The Game

How To Play Slots Guide

Who Made Dracula Awakening?

  • Name: Red Tiger
  • Established: 0000-00-00
  • UK License: 043114-R-321951-014
  • Total Games: 100 +
  • Known For: Megaways games, Oriental slots, high variance games
  • Popular Slots: Gonzo's Quest Megaways, Jackpot Quest, Totem Lightning, Phoenix
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