Buffalo King Untamed Megaways

This review dissects Pragmatic Play's Buffalo King Untamed Megaways, the latest iteration in their popular Buffalo King series. We'll move beyond the marketing fluff and focus on what truly sets this slot apart – or perhaps, what keeps it tethered to its predecessors.

Gameplay and Mechanics: A Familiar Range, Yet Slightly Untamed

The core gameplay is instantly familiar to anyone who's played the previous Buffalo King titles. The 6-reel Megaways engine, with its fluctuating row count (up to 7 symbols on inner reels), delivering a maximum of 86,436 ways to win, provides a foundation of proven potential. However, the “Untamed” moniker hints at subtle, yet strategic, modifications. The default RTP of 96.02% is relatively standard for the genre, a point worth noting, especially when considering the bonus buy option. The betting range, from €0.20 to €240, caters to a wide player base, with the Ante Bet option allowing players to boost their chances of triggering the bonus round for a 50% increase in the stake.

Symbolism and Payouts: A Familiar Wild West

The paytable is populated by a standard cast of characters: low-paying A-9 card royals and higher-paying animal symbols (deer, wolves, cougars, eagles, and, naturally, buffalo). The artwork is competent but doesn't push any creative boundaries. This adherence to familiar imagery may resonate with fans of the series but might feel uninspired to those seeking a fresh visual experience. The win potential, capped at 10,000x the bet, represents a significant departure from the unrealistic 90,000x potential claimed in the original. This more realistic win cap is a point to note for players who value transparent pay-out structures.

Bonus Features: Where the Untamed Aspects Emerge

The Wilds, appearing on reels 2-5, hold the key to significant wins. They substitute for all regular symbols and carry multipliers of x2, x3, or x5. The multiplier's progressive nature within the free spins round adds a layer of strategic excitement. This is a departure from simpler multiplier mechanics found in similar games.

The random modifiers – the guaranteed minimum of 10,000 ways and the random addition of Buffalo symbols – introduce an element of unpredictability, potentially leading to exciting bursts of wins. These features, however, lack the innovation to truly distinguish themselves from a crowd of similarly structured slots.

The Free Spins round, triggered by 4 or more scatters (awarding 10-20 free spins), features the escalating wild multipliers which truly drives the potential for significant payouts. The ability to retrigger the Free Spins round and the scatter symbol payouts provide layers of incentive throughout the feature. The bonus buy feature, costing 100x the bet, offers a direct route to the free spins, though at the cost of some potential long-term gains.

Verdict: A Solid Iteration, but Not a Revolution

Buffalo King Untamed Megaways is a well-crafted slot with solid mechanics and the potential for impressive wins, particularly from the escalating multipliers in the Free Spins round. However, it lacks the innovative spark to truly differentiate itself from the vast landscape of similarly-themed Megaways slots. While the “Untamed” aspect introduces minor enhancements, it doesn't fundamentally alter the core experience established in previous Buffalo King games. The game is a safe bet for fans of the series, but for players seeking a truly unique and groundbreaking slot experience, it may fall short of expectations. The realistic 10,000x win cap, however, offers a welcome level of transparency.