Aloha Christmas

About Aloha Christmas Slot

So you're interested in the Aloha Christmas slot? Back in 2010, NetEnt introduced the Avalanche mechanic (cascading reels) with Gonzo’s Quest, and in 2016, they launched Aloha Cluster Pays , pioneering this game-changing feature. Pioneering trends comes with its challenges, especially with the heavy expectation to continuously innovate and elevate your games.

Thus, we felt quite let down when we examined the game sheet for Aloha Christmas and noticed it resembles its predecessor from four years ago almost exactly. The higher-value symbols are now adorned with Santa hats and beards, alongside a few Christmas presents positioned to the left of the reels, while the large Tiki on the right has been given a festive Santa hat, and his customary Hawaiian lei has been replaced by a Christmas wreath. Seriously?

It's clear that the visual aspects of this slot didn't receive much creative effort from NetEnt, and let’s face it – Hawaii isn’t really associated with Christmas. A little more imaginative input could have been beneficial. Still, let’s delve deeper into the game mechanics.

What is the theme of Aloha Christmas slot, anyway?

Game providers Every year, holiday-themed slots are released to cater to players looking to capture the festive spirit at home while aiming for wins that could fund extravagant purchases like golden jet skis or diamond-studded shoes. It was rather unexpected for NetEnt to rummage through its extensive library of games and revamp Aloha! Cluster Pays, which is arguably one of their least Christmas-themed games.

As we know, this holiday season typically entails overindulging in food at grandma’s house, while the brave hearts outside, undeterred by icy temperatures, may gather to sing a Christmas carol or two. It’s hardly a time characterized by gliding on ten-foot waves or avoiding shark encounters.

It feels odd to just slap a few Christmas decorations onto a Hawaiian-themed slot. Maybe next year, we could see a Christmas version of Starburst? Let’s call it Starballs and swap the stars for festive balls. You’re welcome, NetEnt.

How to play Aloha Christmas slot

To be fair, we've voiced quite a few criticisms about this slot, but there are some positive aspects to highlight as well. It’s always encouraging to feel a sense of control over game outcomes. slots When hitting 3 or more Free Spins symbols, the choice of which Free Spins feature to play is yours , adding a nice twist to the gameplay.

That said, the cluster pays feature can feel somewhat clunky for constructing winning spins. You need a minimum of 9 symbols clustered together just to score a win. On a 6×6 grid, that's a quarter of the screen. This can lead to irritation when symbols don’t align perfectly, resulting in missed wins.

These are the features to keep an eye out for while you spin Aloha! Christmas.

Free Spin Scatters

If you land 3 Free Spins symbols, you can select to play 10 spins featuring 2x, 3x, and 4x Multiplier Wilds, or alternatively, opt for 6 spins with 4x, 5x, and 7x Multiplier Wilds. Additionally, if you gather 4, 5, or 6 Free Spins Scatters, you’ll receive a cash prize of 10x, 25x, or 50x your wager, respectively. Collecting three Starfish symbols during Free Spins will grant you an extra 2 spins.

Multiplier Wilds

In the main game and during Free Spins Mystery symbols represented by a ? can pop up anywhere on the reels to form clusters or contribute to winning combinations. These symbols have the potential to transform into a Multiplier Wild, increasing a cluster’s winnings by up to 7x.

Sticky Win Re-Spins

These bonus Re-spins are exclusive to the main gameplay and trigger randomly. All identical symbols in a winning cluster remain locked in place, while other positions spin again until no additional matching symbols are added to the cluster, or the winning cluster occupies the entire grid. A multiplier ranging from 1x to 7x is applied once the Sticky Win Re-spins conclude.

What’s the RTP of the Aloha Christmas slot?

For a slot with medium volatility With an RTP of 96%, it can feel like winning spins don't come around quickly enough. Interestingly, it's odd for NetEnt to state that you can achieve winning spins up to 5,000x when such a thing hasn’t transpired even once in 204 billion spins. Perhaps they should have gone for 204 billion and one spins…

Let’s run some numbers and see what we can come up with. A winning cluster consisting of over 22 of the highest paying symbols yields 2500x. If this occurred during a Sticky Win Re-spins with a 7x multiplier… well, you’d likely need to spin far more than 204 billion times to witness that payout. Don’t forget to share a screenshot if you land it!

Should I play Aloha Christmas slot?

This version is an improvement over its predecessor Aloha! Cluster Pays. It’s important to note the added option to select the Free Spins feature and the inclusion of Multiplier Wilds among the Mystery symbols – definitely an enhancement. In isolation, it’s not a bad game. Perhaps we were a bit harsh on Aloha! Christmas for being the last title in NetEnt’s lineup needing a festive update.

Games with medium volatility can be tricky. Watching your bankroll decline over a few hours without the hope of a significant win can be pretty disheartening. In general, there are better options available, particularly in festive themes. Come on, NetEnt! We believe you can do better. If you find yourselves short on creativity for Christmas 2021, feel free to reach out to us to discuss Starballs.