Squid Gold x2 Slot Review

While this game features highly detailed graphics, there’s more for you to look forward to while playing. It’s one of the 18Peaches slots with free spins, but it also has a Gamble feature and expanding reels and Wilds that can boost your wins considerably. In the following review, you can find my findings on audio-visuals and in-game elements in the Squid Gold x2 online slot.

Opulent visuals are the first thing that will strike you once you start playing this game. Squid Gold x2 is set against the backdrop of a lavish, sunlit palace corridor. The symbols are equally refined. Crystal and ruby card symbols gleam alongside intricately designed crown jewels, among other royal regalia. Every detail looks polished, especially the three-pointed hook, the key with a ruby, and the ring. While I can’t say Squid Gold x2 is among the best free casino games to play out there, its visual appeal is above most games I’ve tested so far.

The soundtrack is surprisingly elegant, led by gentle piano and harp melodies that match the Squid Gold x2 theme well. A subtle clinking sound when a win lands evokes the feeling of a treasure chest opening. I found the reel-stopping audio particularly distinct; it’s reminiscent of a heavy metal gate falling into place. The music shifts into a more intense rhythm when free spins kick in. Overall, it’s an effective use of audio to guide the mood and gameplay.

The animations are clean and purposeful. Winning combinations are clearly highlighted, and you get as much time as you need to review them in the base game. The light bubbles drifting through the background add a touch of elegance to the palace setting. When free spins trigger, the hook symbol gently sways and releases golden bubbles that fan out from the notification. The expanding squids are a visual highlight, especially when their eyes turn red. Big win animations take over the screen in a satisfying burst.

If you intend to play the game on your mobile device, make sure to sign up on one of our recommended mobile casinos to enjoy maximum functionality.

The Squid Gold x2’s RTP of 95.92% is in line with the industry standard. Additionally, the game’s medium volatility ensures fairly big wins every once in a while. However, I have to point out that the slot variance seemed high at times, as I sometimes had to spin 20 or 30 times between wins. At other times, though, I was lucky enough to trigger free spins after several spins or land multiple wins in the same spin.

The betting range is pretty wide, from €0.2 to €120. Still, I find that this casino game suits casual players better than high rollers due to the lack of high-win mechanics, such as progressive jackpots. If big wins are your thing, you might want to check out our recommended progressive jackpot casino sites. Also, the Squid Gold x2 maximum win is 500x the stake, which is pretty low by modern standards.

There are ten paying symbols in this online slot game. Payouts are moderate, at best. To win, you need at least three identical symbols (or fewer plus Wild) that match a payline from the leftmost reel to the right.

The game has 50 paylines by default, but this number doubles when the Wild symbol expands to cover an entire reel. That said, the standard 5×5 grid layout expands to 5×10 during these expansions.

There are a few great in-game features that can help you max out your winnings. So, if you play Squid Gold x2 for real money, you’ll find these elements valuable:

Free Spins

The Free Spins bonus game in Squid Gold x2 is triggered by landing three or more Scatter symbols. Three Scatters award eight free spins, while four or five of them trigger the bonus round with 12 or 20 free spins, respectively.

Note that free spins can be retriggered during the bonus round. Additionally, the Wild symbol expands to cover the entire reel when partially visible.

Gamble Feature

You can increase your most recent winnings with the Squid Gold x2 feature. To double your reward, guess the color of the face-down card correctly. If you guess incorrectly, you forfeit your winnings. If your initial guess is correct, you get another guess. If both of your guesses are correct, your original win is multiplied by four.

Buy Bonus

The Buy Bonus feature allows you to instantly trigger the Squid Gold x2 Free Spins round. You get eight free spins for 40x your stake. Note that you can’t purchase the higher tiers of 12 or 20 free spins. However, the relatively low cost stood out to me, as 40x is one of the most affordable bonus buy-ins I’ve seen in online slot machines I’ve reviewed so far.

Expanding Wild

You need the expanding Wild to achieve the maximum win in this 18Peaches release. This squid-shaped Wild appears in both the base game and free spins and triggers the gate to open, doubling the number of paylines. The Wild also substitutes for missing symbols, helping you complete winning combinations.