Fortune Cats Golden Stacks Slot Review
Slot Provider: Thunderkick
RTP: 96.14% | Variance: Medium | Maximum Win: 2,500x
Our Score: 7.8
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 Fortune Cats Golden Stacks
Reviewed by:
Mark Wadie
Published Date: 3rd 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.Fortune Cats Golden Stacks is a cute, 5-reel slot filled from Thunderkick filled with lucky Japanese charms. It comes with 40 paylines and a medium variance. Mystery Symbols in the base game transform into identical pay symbols to boost your wins. In the free spins round up to 3 reel sets come into play and symbol stacks replicate across them all. With spins starting at just 10p and a 2,500x max win potential, this is an exciting slot for those looking for a fun, simple gaming experience.
Fortune Cats Golden Stacks Game Information
- RTP: 96.14%
- Variance: Medium
- Maximum Win: 2,500x
- Progressive Jackpot: No
- Reels: 5
- Rows: 4
- Paylines: Up to 120
- Minimum Stake: £0.10
- Theme: Oriental
- Features: Mystery Symbols, Free Spins, Cloning Reels, Wilds, Symbol Stacks
Where To Play Fortune Cats Golden Stacks
Play Fortune Cats Golden Stacks at these UK slot sites which have been hand picked by our team, reviewed and rated to help you choose where to play. Each one is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
8.4
18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% match up to £300 + 25 bonus spins on your 1st deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply.
9.0
Opt-in required. 20 Bonus Spins on “Sahara Riches Cash Collect” at 10p per spin and 100% Deposit Bonus up to £25 on first deposit (payment method and play restrictions apply). Min. deposit £10. 30x wagering for Bonus Spins and Deposit Bonus (game weighting applies). Max. £5/spin or £0.50/line. 30 days expiry. Please gamble responsibly • BeGambleAware.org
8.1
New Players Only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £20. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% match up to £300 plus 50 bonus spins on your 1st deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 40x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution.
7.8
18+ new players only. Minimum deposit: £20. Maximum £100 bonus. Max bet with an active bonus: £2. Wagering requirement 100% match bonus: 30 times sum of deposit + bonus. Max redeemable from welcome bonus: £500. 100 Free Spins are given out 20 per day on Book of Dead for 5 days in a row, log in each day is required. Max Free Spins winnings: £100. Winnings from Free Spins are credited as bonus money with a wagering requirement of 45 times. Free Spins expire after 3 days. Some games may not be played with a bonus. Games may contribute differently when wagering a bonus. Play Responsibly!
7.2
New customers only. Register with code GAMES100. Deposit and stake £10 or more, within 7 days, on Slots at Betfred Games to receive 100 Free Spins on selected titles. Free Spins credited within 48 hours. Free Spins are valid for 7 days. E-Wallet & Card restrictions apply. SMS validation may be required.
7.2
Max bet limitations per spin apply. 35x wagering requirements apply (i.e the bonus x35). Higher wagering requirements may be applied depending on the games played.
8.2
New players only, only one offer per player, min deposit £10, max bonus £5, 1st deposit offer is 100% up to £100 + 25 bonus spins on Gonzo’s Quest and Starburst. Spins expire after 10 days, funds after 30 days. Bonus funds separate to cash, wagering requirements of 35x deposit + bonus apply.
7.5
New players only. One offer per player. Min Dep £10. Max bonus bet £5. 1st Dep offer is 100% up to £100 + 100 Bonus spins on selected slots. Spins expire after 10 days, funds after 30 days. Bonus funds separate to Cash. Wager Req of 35x Deposit + Bonus apply.
7.4
18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £20. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% match up to £300 plus 60 Extra Spins on your 1st deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 40x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply.
7.0
*Terms and Conditions apply. New players only.18+.Min deposit £20. 40x wagering applies to a match-up bonus. Offer valid for 1 week. 50 Spins on Starburst. 40x wagering applies to Spins. Please gamble responsibly.
8.4
This offer is only available for first time depositors. Min deposit is £10. 50 Free Spins on Book of Dead. Spin Value: £0.10. After your first deposit you may claim your 30 Extra Free Spins by visiting the Kicker Section. No min withdrawal. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. This offer is only available for specific players that have been selected by PlayOJO. OJO’s Rewards and Game Play policy applies. 18+| BeGambleAware| Full T&Cs Apply
8.3
*20 Free Spins credited upon your first £10 deposit on Big Bass Splash slot only, valued at 10p per spin. Free Spins must be used within 48 hours of qualifying. All winnings are uncapped and credited to your real money balance.
7.4
18+ new players only. Maximum £50 bonus. Minimum deposit: £20. Deposit Bonus wins are capped at £500. Max bet with active bonus: £2. Wagering requirement 100% match deposit bonus: 30 times sum of deposit + bonus. Winnings from Free Spins are credited as Real Money without wagering requirement. Some games may not be played with an active bonus. Games may contribute differently when wagering a bonus. Deposit Bonus expires after 30 days if wagering requirement has not been met. Free Spins expire after 3 days. One bonus allowed per person, address, device, IP. www.begambleaware.org. Full bonus terms apply
7.8
18+, New players only, Maximum bonus is £123, Max bet with bonus is £5, No max cash out, Wagering is 50x – Skrill & Neteller excluded, Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse, Cashback is cash, so no wagering, Cashback applies to deposit where no bonus is included
7.7
Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £10 | No max cash out | Wagering is 40x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded for welcome bonus | Cashback when offered, applies to deposits where no bonus is included | Cashback is cash with no restrictions |
7.5
*18+ Applies only to new depositing players. Minimum deposit: £10. 35x Wagering requirement applies to match up bonus. Spins credited in specific games. Spins expire after 24 hours. Wagering requirement applies to spins. Terms and Conditions apply. Please play responsibly. begambleaware.org #AD
6.5
18+. For new and existing customers. See site for full details.
7.3
Minimum 1st dep (Exc PayPal) of £10 to get £100% up to £250 on selected match slots & 100 Free Spins (FS) on Blueprint slots at 0.20P. Deposit Bonus Playable on selected Slots. 40x wagering requirement (Dep + Bonus) & MCR x5 for Bonus. FS and FS winnings are playable on Blueprint slots only, FS: 50xWR & Max win £50. 18+.
7.8
18+ new players only. Maximum £50 bonus. Minimum deposit: £20. Deposit Bonus wins are capped at £500. Max bet with active bonus: £2. Wagering requirement 100% match deposit bonus: 30 times sum of deposit + bonus. Winnings from Free Spins are credited as Real Money without wagering requirement. Some games may not be played with an active bonus. Games may contribute differently when wagering a bonus. Deposit Bonus expires after 30 days if wagering requirement has not been met. Free Spins expire after 3 days. One bonus allowed per person, address, device, IP.
9.0
18+, New players only. Min deposit £10. 20 Bonus Spins valid on Book of Dead. Bonus funds are 100% up to £100. Bonus funds + spin winnings are separate to cash funds and subject to 35x wagering requirement. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. £5 bonus max bet. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 10 days. Affordability checks apply.
8.6
New UK Players Only. £10 Min Deposit. £5 Max Bet using Bonus. MaxBonus £100. 40x Wagering Req. Issued Bonus valid for 14 days. 50 Free Spins will be instantly credited upon qualifying deposit on pre-selected games. Credited Free Spins valid for 72 hours. Max Free Spin winnings £100. Ewallets excluded.
7.4
Offer valid upon 4 deposits. 1st deposit: 50% up to £50 + 50 extra spins in Starburst, 2nd deposit: 30 extra spins in Book of Dead. 3rd deposit: 30 extra spins in Fire Joker, 4th deposit: 50% up to £50 + 40 extra spins in Gonzo’s Quest. 35x wagering applies.
8.2
18+. New Players only. One bonus offer per player. Min deposit £10. Max bonus bet £5. Bonus funds expire within 30 days & bonus spins within 10 days. Spins valid on Starburst only. 1st dep: 100% up to £300 & 100 spins, 2nd dep: 75% up to £300 & 75 spins, 3rd dep: 50% up to £300 & 50 spins, 4th dep: 25% up to £300 & 25 spins, 5th dep: 100% up to £100. The 100 spins on 1st dep are credited at a rate of 25 spins per day over 4 days. Bonus spins winnings credited as bonus funds & capped at £50. For the 1st dep offer, this winning cap shall be applied to each set of 25 spins. Bonus funds separate to Cash funds, 35x wagering.
7.8
New customers only. Min deposit £20. Wagering 40x bonus. Max bet £5 with bonus funds. 100% bonus up to £100. Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse. No max cash out on deposit offers. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Full T&Cs apply18+ Please Gamble Responsibly. Click ‘Claim Bonus’ to view the full terms and conditions.
7.6
18+, new depositing players only, welcome package split over three deposits, min 1st deposit £10, min 2nd and 3rd deposit £20, 35x wagering requirement applies to match up bonus and spins. Spins credited in specific games, spins expire after 24 hours. Terms and conditions apply.
8.5
18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% match up to £200 plus 50 bonus spins on your 1st deposit, 50% match up to £50 on your 2nd deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. BeGambleAware.org. FULL TERMS IN FOOTER BELOW
8.4
Min. dep £20. Max. bonus bet £5. 200 Bonus Spins on Book Of Dead on your 1st deposit. Winnings from all spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £20. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds & subject to wagering requirement (40x deposit plus bonus). Only bonus funds contribute towards wagering requirement. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks & Terms apply. BeGambleAware.org.
Testing Notes: Here’s What Happened When We Played Fortune Cats Golden Stacks
IMPORTANT: To give you an accurate assessment of the games we review our writers play 200 spins. Whilst this is a useful tool to help us review games and to give an example of what might happen when you play, keep in mind that 200 spins is only a very small sample and cannot be used to accurately predict what might happen over another 200 spins. The outcome of all slots play is always random.
Boom Or Bust? Our Session By The Numbers
I played 200 spins on Fortune Cats Golden Stacks for free at Casumo Casino to test the game and this is what happened.
- Stake Size: £1
- Start balance: £5,000
- End balance: £4,866.90
- Biggest Win: 10.4x
- Free Spins Round: 0
- Session Time: 19 minutes 48 seconds
A word of warning here. Despite its medium variance billing Fortune Cats Golden Stacks felt tighter than that. Over 200 spins I was unable to trigger the free spins round at all. In fact I extended this session to 250 spins to see if I could unlock it but still no joy. The only base game feature to look out for is the Mystery Symbols. This triggered 10 times (5%) over the first 200 spins. That isn’t too bad, but considering there are no other features it didn’t feel generous. The biggest win produced was 10.4x which you can see in the screenshot.
There is no question this game has a fun vibe to it but overall this session ran the balance down quicker than I expected for a mid-variance slot.
What We Liked
- Play on 3 reel sets in the free spins round
- Cute, bright and fun production
- High value premiums land in stacks on the reels
- Mystery symbols all convert into same symbol when they land
- 40 paylines to win on
What We Didn't like
- More volatile than expected in testing
- 2,500x max win is underwhelming
Fortune Cats Golden Stacks Review Scores
- Theme and Design 8
- RTP and Variance 8
- Maximum Win 7
- Symbols and Paytable 8
- Features and Gameplay 8
What Our Reviewer Says ...
"A super-cute slot with lots of lucky charms to help you score those wins but perhaps more volatile than you would expect!"
Overall Score: 7.8
Theme & Design
Our Score 8
An Overload Of Cute Cats and Lucky Charms!
In Fortune Cats Golden Stacks Thunderkick have turned the dial up on the cuteness factor way beyond 10! The theme is luck and with the Japanese writing on some of the symbols, the koi carp, and happy, waving cats the production comes with Asian styling. As you would expect from this studio, the artwork is top quality, though the cartoonish feel and over-the-top fluffiness might not appeal to everyone. Overall, the pastel colors, soft blues and bright pinks are fairly inoffensive, and the synth-y soundtrack is pleasant enough as you wait for those lucky spins to drop.
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.Fortune Cats Golden Stacks has 4 RTP settings – 96.14%, 94.14%, 92.14% or 90.14%. Which you play at will be as the discretion of your casino. I recommend checking the RTP once you have loaded up the game. You can do that by hitting the ‘I’ button in the top right of the screen. For this review I verified the RTP at a few sites we use for testing. MrQ was the only one to be running the game at the optimum level of 96.14%.
This is one of Thunderkick’s less volatile slots with a medium variance rating. So it should provide a more balanced payout distribution than games like Shifting Seas from the same provider for example.
Maximum Win
Our Score 7
What Is Maximum Win?
Maximum win refers to the maximum amount a player can win from one spin. It is expressed as a multiple of the stake. For example, where the maximum win is 100,000x, from a £1 stake, the maximum win would be £100,000.The top payout in this game is a little underwhelming at 2,500x. However, for a medium variance game it is not that unusual. If you want to play for higher jackpots I recommend reading our article on slots with the highest maximum wins.
Symbols and Paytable
Our Score 8
Fortune Cats Golden Stacks has a simple 5 reel and 4 row set up with 40 paylines giving plenty of ways to win. Wins are triggered by landing 3 or more identical symbols from left to right across a payline, starting at the left most reel.
There are just 8 symbols in the paytable. Each of the four low value symbols – clubs, spades, hearts and diamonds – is valued at 0.3x, 0.5x and 1x for 3, 4 or 5 on a line. The premiums are the calabash – the plump vegetable wrapped in a gold ribbon – koi fish, Japanese lantern and golden cat. These are valued at from 0.5x for 3 fish up to 7.5x for 5 cats.
There is also a Wild that substitutes for all other pay symbols to complete paylines. It has no value of its own and appears on reels 2 to 5.
Features and Gameplay
Our Score 8
This game is all about unlocking the free spins round where extra reel sets come into play which can be exciting and lead to bigger wins. This is how it works:
Mystery Symbols Transform Into a Randomly Chosen Symbol
Mystery symbols can appear on any spin in both the base game and free spins round and in any positions on the reels. These symbols are represented by a fan image. When they land they ALL turn into the SAME pay symbol, chosen at random, and at best can transform into the high-paying golden cat.Â
Free Spins With Up To THREE Reel Sets And Replicating Golden Stacks
So, to unlock the free spins round you will need to land 3 or more bonus symbols. You get the following configurations dependent on how many bonus symbols land:
- 3 Symbols – 10 spins on the standard reel set
- 4 Symbols – 10 spins and TWO reel sets
- 5 Symbols – 10 spins and THREE reel sets
Once you are into the free spins round you can collect bonus symbols to unlock further reel sets if they are available. So, if you collect 3 bonus symbols then the 2nd reel set opens up. If you collect 5 then the 3rd reel set opens up.
By collecting bonus symbols you will also add to your free spins total. Each 1 gets you 1 more spin, and each time a new reel set opens up, you get 2 more spins too!
This clever progressive gameplay feature means that with all 3 reel sets open, you get 120 paylines active in total, giving you better odds of winning on each spin.
Golden Stacks Activates When 2 Or More Reel Sets Are Active
Finally, to add further excitement, when more than 1 reel set is active, the Golden Stacks feature is activated. This means whenever ONE whole reel is filled with a stack of the golden cat symbol, then this is replicated across the other reel sets. This will also increase your odds of hitting high value wins with the top paying premium symbol.
The Final Verdict
Fortune Cats Golden Stacks is a really fun, cheerful slot with a playful vibe and lots of bright colors and lucky charms that create an upbeat atmosphere. The Mystery Symbols feature is basic but the free spins round looks exciting and could produce some great payouts when all 3 reels are in play. The game has a mid-variance rating but in truth it felt tighter. Of course, the 10p minimum bet means you can go in at a low stake to off-set the risk level if you choose and I would advise that when playing for the first time. Overall, a fun game that will appeal to fans of lucky charm and Asian slots.
Useful Tips When Playing Fortune Cats Golden Stacks
Remember, online slots are games of chance, there is NO strategy that can improve your odds of winning. However, reading our review and following these tips will help you get the most out of your time playing this slot game.
1. Watch Out For The Lower RTP Settings
Not all slot sites will run this game at its optimum RTP settings. In fact, I only found one that did when researching this review. So be sure to check the RTP before you spin to be sure you are getting value for money.
2. Pick A Low Stake To Make Your Balance Last
As testing showed, this can be a tight game, so choose a reasonable stake to ensure you don’t burn down your balance too quickly whilst waiting for the free spins round to trigger.
3. Watch For Bonus Symbols On Every Spin
You need at least 3 bonus symbols to trigger the free spins. When 2 land you’ll see them displayed down the left side of the reels whilst you wait for a third or fourth to drop. Check the remaining reels as they land to see if you get lucky.
4. Only Play At Licensed UK Slot Sites
We have chosen the sites on this page because they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission which means they offer safe, fair and secure gambling. You should never play at unlicensed sites.
Who Made Fortune Cats Golden Stacks?
- Name: Thunderkick
- Established: 2012
- UK License: 40165
- Total Games: 55
- Known For: Quirky, eccentric slots with fun features and distinctive designs
- Popular Slots: Pink Elephants 1 and 2, Flame Busters, Birds on a Wire
Like The Sound of Fortune Cats Golden Stacks? Here are 4 more games chosen for you...
Jin Chan’s Pond of Riches
Variance: High | RTP: 94.27
Max Win: 10,000x
Our Score 8.0
Neko Night Dream Drop Jackpot Slot
Variance: High | RTP: 93.98
Max Win: 20,000x
Our Score 8.4
Allslotsites.com - Trusted and Independent Online Slot Reviews
Allslotsites.com has been publishing online slot reviews since 2018. It’s fair to say we know a thing or two about what makes a good game – that magic mix of theme, style, gameplay and payout potential. For each slot we review we take you on the full journey through its narrative and design, reel configuration, key numbers including RTP and max win, volatility level, gameplay, and finally an expert verdict. You can also check our comparison tables to see how each slot matches up against others handpicked by our reviewers and check our tips on hitting that winning streak.
We are not paid by the developers whose games we cover. We are independent and our views of each game are honest. That is why you can trust us!
Learn, explore and find your next slots adventure with us!!