Ultra Hold & Spin

Ultra Hold and Spin is a classic-style slot game developed by Pragmatic Play. Released on August 8, 2020, this 3-reel, 3-row slot features 5 fixed paylines and combines traditional fruit machine aesthetics with modern bonus features. The game offers a betting range from 0.05 to 250 coins per spin, catering to both casual players and high rollers.

The slot embraces a retro fruit machine theme, reminiscent of old-school one-armed bandits. The background displays a fiery scene with flames dominating the view, while a sliver of night-blue sky peeks through. The reels sit centrally on a plain brown backdrop, emphasizing the classic slot machine feel.

Core Game Mechanics

Ultra Hold and Spin operates on a straightforward 3×3 grid with 5 fixed paylines. Winning combinations are formed by matching three identical symbols across a payline, reading from left to right. The game only pays out the highest win per line, but multiple line wins are possible in a single spin.

The paytable includes nine regular symbols, divided into low and high-paying categories. Low-paying symbols are represented by cherries, oranges, plums, and a black X. High-paying symbols include the red 7 (the highest-paying symbol at 62.5x stake for three), BAR symbol, watermelon, strawberry, and gold star.

The slot's RTP (Return to Player) is 96.7%, which is slightly above average for online slots. It has high volatility, rated 4 out of 5 on Pragmatic Play's volatility scale, indicating that wins may be less frequent but potentially more substantial when they occur.

Bonus Features

1. Expanding Wilds: Wild symbols can appear on all three reels and substitute for all symbols except Money Symbols. When a wild contributes to a winning combination, it expands to cover the entire reel, potentially creating additional winning combinations.
2. Money Symbols: Money Symbols appear as silver or gold coins and can land only on the middle reel during the base game. When they appear, they award a random multiplier between 1x and 20x the total stake.
3. Re-Spins Feature: The main bonus feature of Ultra Hold and Spin is the Re-Spins round, triggered by landing three Money Symbols on the reels. The feature begins with the following mechanics:
   • Symbols on the first and third reels disappear, while the middle reel remains intact.
   • The player is awarded 4 re-spins.
   • Each new Money Symbol that lands during re-spins resets the re-spin counter to 4 and pays out its value.
   • The feature continues until no re-spins remain.
4. Diamond Money Symbols: During the Re-Spins feature, special Diamond Money Symbols can appear on reels 1 and 3. These symbols award substantial multipliers ranging from 100x to 500x the total bet, significantly increasing win potential.

An interesting aspect of Ultra Hold and Spin is its fusion of classic slot aesthetics with modern bonus mechanics. The game's Re-Spins feature, in particular, adds a layer of excitement to the traditional fruit machine format. The potential for Diamond Money Symbols to appear during this bonus round, offering multipliers up to 500x, creates moments of high anticipation within an otherwise simple game structure. This blend of old and new elements sets Ultra Hold and Spin apart from purely traditional or modern slot offerings.