Aurora Wilds Slot Free Play
Auora Wilds
Provider:
Microgaming
Reels:
5
Paylines:
10
RTP:
96.2%
Free Spins:
no
Bonus Rounds:
yes
Jackpot:
yes
Recently updated on April 27th, 2022 at 02:22 pm
From the first time we’ve seen the Northern Lights appear in a textbook, we made it a priority to go and see them someday. And while we haven’t succeeded in making the trip just yet, we were able to indulge ourselves from time to time with pictures and videos. And now, Microgaming and their partner studio bring the Aurora to life, and give us the opportunity to win big as we play.
Credit where it’s due, the developer knows how to make winning feel good! The animation that highlights each win looks spectacular. Not to mention the fantastic sound design that further adds to the satisfaction. Between wins, you’re able to appreciate a majestic landscape full of mountains, forests and lakes. And above, in the skies, the Northern Lights glimmer beautifully.
Available special features include scoring one of four fixed jackpots and an expanding Wild with re-spins. Experienced players will recognize these bonuses from Starburst, a slot made by a different developer.
Recently updated on April 27th, 2022 at 02:22 pm
Developer
Microgaming needs no introduction. From 1994, they’ve been in the business of online casino software, and have cemented themselves as an industry giant! But following some smash hits of their own, the developers have chosen to take the publisher approach. Now, they partner with numerous smaller, independent studios, allowing them to launch their games under Microgaming’s banner. Sometimes, it works out great. Other times, not so much.
The software provider behind this release is Neon Valley Studios. Best we can tell, they’re brand new: this appears to be their first slot! If that’s the case, then we have to praise them for doing so well on their first go. Even if it’s not completely original.
How to Play it
Aurora Wilds is played on a 5×3 board with 10 paylines, which pay left to right and right to left. Gamblers cannot turn individual paylines on or off. Instead, they set their total stake by clicking the Bet button, and choosing from a list of pre-selected options. Players can bet between $0.10 and $60 on each spin.
It’s the same Microgaming layout, with a few little additions to make it better! Mouse over the 10 lines banner, for example, and it will show you how the paylines look. It looks good, and it’s easy to use: what more do you need from a user interface?
Unfortunately, the Autoplay is quite basic. You can only select the number of spins to be played, from 10 to 100. There’s no way to set win or loss limits. Or to set whether you want auto spins to stop or not when a special feature is won.
Individual parts of this game aren’t that impressive visually. The only thing that really stands out is the aurora itself! The rest of the background is completely static, but helps complete a wonderfully scenic picture. Another part which looks really cool are winning animations! There’s nothing uniquely amazing about them. But the lightning effect and sound design combined look fantastic!
So, if we discounted symbol designs, this would probably be an above average release. That said, we’re not huge fans of what Aurora Wilds tried to do with its icons. Runic depictions of animals is a cool concept, but the execution just doesn’t do it for us.
Special Features
Wilds can only appear on the second, third and fourth reel. Each time a Wild appears, it will expand to cover its entire reel, and grant a single re-spin. You can win three re-spins if you manage to space out a different Wild landing with each re-spin.
The golden disc is a jackpot trigger, and can only appear on the second, third and fourth reel. Collect three triggers, and you get a spin on the jackpot wheel. The said randomly determines one of four fixed jackpot prizes which you will win. Available jackpots are the Mini, Minor, Major and Grand, worth 15x, 50x, 100x and 2000x, respectively.
Maximum Payouts
This medium variance slot has a jackpot worth 2000x your total stake. The game’s RTP is 96.2%, which is above the current industry average.
Summary
Microgaming’s release would have earned stellar marks if it wasn’t a clone of an existing slot. To be fair, Aurora Wilds isn’t exactly the same, as it does have the jackpot bonus which Starburst doesn’t. It makes for a great replacement if, for some reason, you’re unable to play the real thing. But it lacks anything to call its own – which is why we wouldn’t recommend playing it.
