Theme and Gameplay
Big Thunder takes you deep into a mysterious jungle where nature’s raw power is on full display. From roaring waterfalls to tribal drums and ancient masks, the visuals pull you right into an adventurous setting. The sound effects enhance the experience, giving you that immersive “lost in the wild” feel.
This slot game follows a traditional five-reel format, with paylines running from left to right. But don’t be fooled by its classic layout—Big Thunder is packed with twists, especially when you trigger its bonus features.
Symbols and Wilds
The game’s main wild symbol is the Gorilla, which substitutes for all other symbols except scatters and the King Strike. However, the Gorilla only appears on reels 3, 4, and 5 during the base game. While this might seem like a limitation, when you hit a winning combination with the Gorilla, it can really shake things up.
The scatter symbol is Big Thunder, and as you’d expect, it plays a crucial role in unlocking free spins and bonus rounds.
There’s also the King Strike symbol, which only shows up on reel 6. It’s the key to triggering the King Strike Bonus—more on that later.
How to Win—Understanding the Paylines
Winning in Big Thunder is all about matching symbols from left to right on adjacent reels, except when it comes to scatters and the bonus feature, which have their own rules. Only the highest win per line is paid, but scatter wins and bonus payouts get added to your line wins, giving you multiple ways to rack up prizes.
The Bonus Reel Feature
The excitement ramps up when you land three or more Big Thunder scatter symbols because that’s when the Bonus Reel Feature kicks in. You’ll get 15 free spins, but these aren’t just any regular free spins.
During this feature:
- A special bonus reel appears, introducing two new symbols: x3 and x5.
- If an x3 symbol lands, all your winnings for that spin triple.
- If an x5 symbol appears, your winnings for that spin are multiplied by five.
- Wins pay in any position, unlike the base game.
- The Gorilla wild still substitutes for most symbols, except the multipliers.
- You can retrigger the feature with another set of scatters, giving you an extra 5 spins.
With the different reel strips in play during the feature, the chances of hitting big multipliers are much higher—making this round the real game-changer.
The King Strike Bonus
One of the unique aspects of Big Thunder is its King Strike Bonus, which gives players a shot at one of four extra bonuses: Mini, Minor, Maxi, and Major. But how do you unlock them?
It all depends on whether you land a five-of-a-kind win with or without a Gorilla wild, while also having the King Strike symbol on reel 6. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Major Bonus: If you land a five-of-a-kind with Waterfall, Drum, Shield, Snake, or Mask (without a wild) and a King Strike symbol on reel 6, you get the Major Bonus.
- Maxi Bonus: If you land a five-of-a-kind with Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, or Nine (without a wild) and a King Strike symbol on reel 6, you score the Maxi Bonus.
- Minor Bonus: If you land a five-of-a-kind with Waterfall, Drum, Shield, Snake, or Mask (with a Gorilla wild) and a King Strike symbol on reel 6, you get the Minor Bonus.
- Mini Bonus: If you land a five-of-a-kind with Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, or Nine (with a Gorilla wild) and a King Strike symbol on reel 6, you win the Mini Bonus.
Unfortunately, the King Strike Bonus cannot be triggered during the Bonus Reel Feature, so it’s only available in the base game. Still, when you do land it, it can bring in some hefty payouts.
Return to Player (RTP) and Volatility
Big Thunder comes with an RTP of 94.38%, which is slightly below the industry average. This suggests it’s a higher volatility slot, meaning wins might not come frequently, but when they do, they can be massive.
This makes the game ideal for players who enjoy taking a few risks in the hope of landing those adrenaline-pumping big wins. If you prefer smaller, frequent payouts, this might not be the best fit—but if you love the thrill of chasing big multipliers and bonuses, it’s a fantastic pick.
Should You Play Big Thunder?
Big Thunder is worth a spin if you’re into high-energy slots with wild jungle themes, exciting multipliers, and unique jackpot mechanics. The Bonus Reel Feature can deliver some huge multipliers, and the King Strike Bonus gives an extra layer of thrill. Sure, the RTP could be a bit higher, but if you’re playing for the excitement and the potential massive wins, it’s a slot that delivers on both fronts.
So, are you ready to take a wild ride with Big Thunder? Give it a go and see if you can tame the jungle while cashing in on some big wins!