Four Seasons is a video slot inspired by the Chinese zodiac and the changing seasons. The game's background shifts through summer solstice, autumn blossom, winter snow, and sparkling spring as players progress. The main characters are the 12 zodiac animals: pig, dog, horse, rooster, snake, goat, dragon, ox, rat, rabbit, and tiger. These cute critters are rendered in a charming, cartoonish style that adds to the game's whimsical atmosphere.
The slot's visual design incorporates traditional Chinese elements, with the reels set against scenic backdrops that change with the seasons.
Core Game Mechanics
Four Seasons is played on a 5×3 grid with 30 paylines. The game offers a wide betting range, allowing players to wager from as little as $0.30 to $30 per spin, making it accessible to both casual players and high rollers. The slot has a reported RTP of 95.3% and medium volatility, providing a balanced gameplay experience.
The base game features the zodiac animal symbols as standard paying icons. Players aim to land matching symbols across the paylines, with rewards starting at three matching symbols and increasing for four or five of a kind. During regular play, each zodiac symbol pays 10 credits for 3, 20 credits for 4, or 50 credits for 5 matching symbols.
A unique aspect of Four Seasons is the seasonal wheel mechanic. This wheel, depicting all 12 zodiac animals, rotates every 30 spins. The animal the wheel lands on becomes the “golden” symbol with a 10x multiplier. Adjacent animals become silver (5x multiplier) and bronze (2x multiplier) symbols, significantly boosting potential winnings.
Bonus Features
- Double-Up Gamble Feature: After each win, players can opt to gamble their winnings in a heads or tails game. Correct guesses double the win, while incorrect guesses result in losing the wagered amount.
- Wild Symbol: The golden cat serves as the wild symbol, substituting for all regular symbols to form winning combinations. Landing five wild symbols on a payline awards the game's top prize of 10,000 credits.
- Scatter Symbol and Free Spins: The Yin and Yang symbol acts as the scatter. Landing three or more scatters triggers the free spins round, awarding between 8 and 20 free spins. These free spins are played at the same bet level as the triggering spin. Additional free spins can be won during this feature if more scatter symbols appear.
- Changing Seasons: Every 90 spins, the game's background changes to reflect a new season, adding visual variety to the gameplay.
- Stacked Symbols: When symbols appear stacked on the reels, an additional multiplier is applied, ranging from 2x to 10x, potentially leading to substantial wins.
The most intriguing aspect of Four Seasons is its seasonal wheel mechanic. This feature adds a dynamic element to the gameplay, as players anticipate the wheel's rotation every 30 spins. The changing multipliers keep the base game engaging, as any spin could potentially lead to significant wins if it coincides with the right position of the seasonal wheel. This mechanic effectively combines the excitement of rotating bonus features with the steady progression of time and seasons, tying together the game's theme and core gameplay in a unique and rewarding way.