Samurai Code

Samurai Code Slot Review

Slot Provider: Pragmatic Play

RTP: 96.08% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 4,000x

Our Score: 7.2

Play at Grand Ivy Casino
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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 Samurai Code

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 7th June 2024

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.

Samurai Code is a Japanese-themed online slot from Pragmatic Play. It has very similar gameplay to slots in the Big Bass Bonanza series. In the free spins round landing wilds activates cash collects if fish money symbols appear at the same time. Meanwhile, every 4th wild collected extends the round and increases a multiplier up to 10x. Top win is 4,000x and spins start at 20p.

Samurai Code Game Information

  • Release Date: 08.07.24
  • RTP: 96.08% | 95.07% | 94.07%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 4,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 5
  • Rows: 4
  • Paylines: 12
  • Minimum Stake: £0.20
  • Theme: Oriental
  • Features: Wilds, Cash Collects, Free Spins, Multipliers

Testing Notes: Here’s What Happened When We Played Samurai Code

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 Samurai Code on Pragmatic Play’s test server prior to release to test the game. This is what happened.

  • Stake Size: 1
  • Start balance: 100,000
  • End balance: 100,220.64
  • Hit Rate: 11.5% (23 winning spins in 200)
  • Biggest Win: 260.64x
  • Free Spins Round: 1

Samurai Code reminded us just how fun these cash collect games, and in particular the Big Bass-style ones, can be if you hit a lucky run in the free spins round. The game kicked out a 260.64x win when the round extended twice after collecting 8 wilds with some good value cash symbols in the collect phase too. On the flipside, until that moment there was a lot of not much with a win rate of just 11.5% (I’ve seen that in Big Bass games too before, so keep in mind there might be many dead spins).

Samurai Code slot game
Samurai Code during 200 test spins

What We Liked

  • High value money symbols worth up to 4,000x
  • Top paying premium symbols worth up to 200x
  • Similar format to the popular Big Bass games
  • Nice Samurai graphics

What We Didn't like

  • Low max win at just 4,000x
  • Lower RTP at some sites

Samurai Code Review Scores

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

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"A new way for Big Bass fans to fish for cash collects and a fun alternative if you enjoy Samurai culture. But let down by a disappointing max win."

Overall Score: 7.2

Theme & Design

Our Score 7

A Slick Design For Fans of Samurai Culture

We are inside what looks like a Samurai training center for Samurai Code, with wooden interior and swords hanging from the ceiling alongside drapes bearing Japanese writing. There are plenty more samurai icons, burning red suns and treasure chests to take in on the reels. And a suitably Japanese-sounding soundtrack. Nothing too clever, but pleasant nonetheless.

Samurai Code by Pragmatic Play
Samurai Code – inside the training center of the warriors

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.

Samurai Code has 3 available RTP rates – 96.08%, 95.07% or 94.07%. Which you play at will be at the discretion of your casino operator. It’s best to play at 96.08% for the best chance of a positive return on your wagering. However, many UK slot sites now choose lower rates to improve their house edge.

Wherever you play you can check for yourself by hitting the ‘I’ button under the reels then scrolling through the screen until you see Game Rules. Scroll down that page and you’ll find the current RTP rate. My recommendation is to play at MrQ from Lindar Media which consistently runs slots at maximum RTP.

As for variance, this is another volatile one from Pragmatic Play, with a tough edege and uneven win distribution. It can burn you balance fast, so choose a sensible stake.

Maximum Win

Our Score 6

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 max payout stated in the game rules is 4,000x. That is low even by Pragmatic Play’s standards. Most of their slots land somewhere between 5,000x and 10,000x, or occasionally much higher as you will see in the list on this page.

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 8

This is a simple slot with a 5 reel, 4 row grid and just 12 paylines. The name of the game is to land 3 or more identical symbols across paylines from left to right starting at the left most reel. That tiggers a payout.

Samurai Code Paytable
The paytable with 200x for top paying premiums

There are 10 symbols in the paytable with some very good value at the top. They are the 5 low value cards, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, valued at from 0.5x for 3 10s up to 10x for 5 Aces; and the 5 premiums – fish, dragon fly, cross swords, treasure chest and samurai girl, valued at from 1x for 3 fish up to 200x for 5 samurai girls.

There is also a wild represented by the male samurai. He only shows up during free spins to substitute for pay symbols to complete win lines. He has no value of his own.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 8

Ok, so fans of Big Bass Bonanza will notice that Samurai code is a re-skin of that iconic game. The rules are pretty much identical. Here is how it works.

Free Spins and Cash Collects 

It’s all about triggering the free spins round. You need to land 3, 4 or 5 of the scatters, represented by the Samurai warrior in gold to trigger the feature. That gets you 10, 15 or 20 free spins.

There is also a near miss feature for when you only land 2 scatters. In this case a sword MAY swipe across the screen to bring in a 3rd.

Now, throught the game the fish symbols (geddit?!) are also money symbols, carrying values of 2x, 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x, 25x, 50x or 4,000x. Values change on each spin. These can only be activated during the free spins round when landing wilds at the same time collects the money.

At the same time, wilds are collected in a meter above the reels. Collecting 4 extends the round by 10 spins and adds a 2x win multiplier. Collecting 8 adds another 10 spins and increases the multiplier to 3x. Collecting 12 adds another 10 spins and increases the multiplier still further to 10x.

And finally, if you land 1 or 2 wilds but no fish another near miss feature may activate and randomly add fish to the grid. Or, if you have a totally blank spin – no fish or wilds – a sword may appear to pull the reels up and reveal wilds and money symbols and trigger a cash collect!

The Final Verdict

Not content with just building more Big Bass games, Pragmatic have found a way to drop the cash collect format on us via another theme. Surely, we don’t need that?! Or maybe we do … I enjoyed the Samurai artwork, particularly those animated fish, and the sword, drums and water sound affects throughout more than I enjoy watching that fisherman in all his different outfits. And there is a reason this format is so popular. Cash collects are king right now, and the simplicity of that feature mixed with some high value multipliers means it can be a thrill ride when luck is on your side.

Useful Tips When Playing Samurai Code

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 For Scatter Symbols

This game is all about the free spins round so keep your eyes out for 3 or more scatters in the base game to trigger the feature.

2. Collect Wilds In The Bonus Round

In the free spins round every wild that triggers a cash collect is added to the meter. The more you get, the more spins you can have, and the higher your multiplier goes.

3. Choose A Low Stake

Experience tells us that this will be a volatile slot that can burn your balance fast. To avoid burn out, use bankroll management and choose a low stake.

4. Play At Our Recommended Slot Sites

We have chosen the sites on this page because they all scored high in our reviews and they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. That makes them fair and safe places to play slots.

Who Made Samurai Code?

  • 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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