Football Mayhem is a video slot developed by Endorphina that throws players into the heart of a high-stakes football (soccer) championship. The game features a vibrant stadium atmosphere filled with cheering fans and a packed audience. Four teams, each represented by a different animal (lion, bull, wolf, fox), compete for the championship trophy. The top symbols on the reels showcase these animal players, and they can appear stacked, increasing the chance of forming winning combinations.
The gameplay unfolds on a standard 5×3 reel layout with 25 fixed paylines. To score a win, players need to land 3 or more matching symbols from left to right on an active payline. The game offers a Wild symbol depicted by a stadium, which can substitute for any other symbol except the Scatter and Bonus symbols, helping players complete winning combinations. The Scatter symbol, represented by a trophy cup, triggers the Free Spins bonus round when three land simultaneously on reels 2, 3, and 4.
During the Free Spins round, players receive 8 free spins with a special twist. The reels are populated primarily with top symbols (animal players), Wilds, Scatters, and Bonus symbols, which increases the chance of landing high-value combinations and potentially triggering the Bomber Bonus Game.
The true excitement builds when players land 6 or more Football symbols on the reels. This activates the Bomber Bonus Game, which takes place on a separate 5×3 grid. The triggering Football symbols move to this new grid, carrying their indicated cash prizes with them. The Bomber Bonus Game utilizes a respin mechanic. Players receive 3 respins, and with each spin, only empty cells with a specific pattern and various special symbols can land. These special symbols include:
- Football Symbol: This standard bonus symbol awards a random multiplier ranging from x1 to x15 of the bet.
- Silver Ball: This mystery symbol reveals a cash prize (x3, x5, x10, or x15 of the bet) or one of three fixed jackpots (Min, Mid, Max) at the end of the respins.
- Gold Ball: This mystery jackpot symbol guarantees awarding the Min, Mid, or Max fixed jackpot at the conclusion of the respins.
Any time a Ball symbol appears on the grid, it locks in place and resets the respin counter to 3. The bonus round ends when no respins remain or all cells are filled. Filling the entire grid awards the coveted Ultra Jackpot, the highest payout in the game.
In addition to the bonus features, Football Mayhem offers an optional Risk Game after any winning spin in the base game. Players can gamble their winnings by choosing one of four face-down cards. If their chosen card has a higher value than the dealer's revealed card, their win is doubled. However, an incorrect guess forfeits the entire winning amount. This Risk Game can be played up to 10 times consecutively.