Lucky Links

The Lucky Links slot, available at Just for the Win casinos, uses a theme that looks similar to what you might expect from a classic slot in the sense that the symbols are pretty straightforward and simple. However, the visual appeal is strong, and it uses symbols and visuals that weren't as common in those classic-style games, so it looks fresh compared to other games in the throwback sub-genre. The gameplay has a super low volatility and a high high-rate, and the feature set is simple enough that most of the value comes from the regular pay table.

Format and Layout

We like the format that this game uses because it's a bit different than what we normally see. There are five reels and four horizontal rows of symbols. However, you'll only have 20 paylines, which is about the lowest number we've ever seen for a 5x4 title. Aside from that, these paylines are always held in place, and you can wager from $0.10 to $100 per turn, which includes a smaller minimum bet size than you would expect from a title with this type of format. Considering how low the volatility is for this game as well, the minimum bet size is great for players who love super low stakes with few swings.

Lucky Link Golden Frames

There are golden frames around some of the symbols on each spin, and those frames actually drive the majority of the gameplay from a feature standpoint for this title. The basic idea is that one symbol is chosen at random for each spin, and it will have those frames around it for that particular spin. From that point, if two of those framed symbols show up beside of each other, then they will link together, and that's where the name of the game actually comes from. From this point, you get a feature that makes it easier to get more wins.

This feature is based around locked reels and re-spins. The reels with the linked symbols on them will lock into place after wins are paid, and all of the other reels will spin again. If you get new framed symbols adjacent to the existing linked chain, then it connects, and the process continues. If you don't get any new linked symbols, or if you end up with all five reels linked, then the feature ends. We have to say that we haven't ever seen a feature quite like this one, so it's something interesting that we think stands out on its own as an idea that's worth holding onto.

Payouts and Prizes

An important part of this game that you need to realize is that payouts always go in both directions. Along these lines, you'll win five-of-a-kind combinations twice whenever you get them on a payline. One of those wins goes left to right, and the other goes right to left.

With the Lucky Links symbol on a purple background, you'll score 7.5x for five of a kind on a payline. However, this really comes up to 15x total, which is like a 300x line bet win with 20 paylines activated. What you'll notice is that these wins are multiplied by your entire wager instead of by the amount bet on each payline, and a part of that is that some of the bet sizes aren't evenly divisible by 20, so this simplifies things.

The triple seven symbol is next up, and five earns 3x on a payline (really 6x). Likewise, the horseshoe symbol is worth 2.5x (really 5x), and you can pick up 2x (really 4x) wins for five of the acorn or clover symbols. The smallest four wins come from the four card suits, and this is 1.2x (really 2.4x) for five of the blue spade, red heart, green club or purple diamond symbols.

Overview

The main game mechanic that drives Just for the Win's Lucky Links slot is something fresh that you don't see every day, but it ties in some elements like linked reels and re-spins that feel familiar enough that it's not completely way outside of the box, which is something that can make players uncomfortable. We also like that this title is designed around low-stress, super low-volatility gameplay, and that includes being paid in both directions, which in turn puts players in a position to have a really high hit-rate.