Giants & Sheep

Relax Gaming’s Giants & Sheep presents a quirky take on the classic fairytale motif. The theme is as if a children’s storybook was overrun by oversized characters, with the focus being more on the lightheartedness of the encounter than any real conflict. The title hints at a possible clash, but the reality is more of a playful romp through a fantastical world.

The artwork is polished, creating a charming visual experience. The game’s backdrop is a quaint medieval village, complete with stone structures and a peaceful atmosphere. The giant characters are cartoonish, a mix of gruff and goofy. The sheep, on the other hand, exhibit a calm, almost oblivious demeanor in the face of their gigantic counterparts. The musical score is surprisingly mellow, creating a relaxed mood that might just lull you into a false sense of security.

Core Gameplay and Mechanics

Giants & Sheep utilizes a 5×4 reel structure, offering 40 fixed paylines. Wins are formed in the traditional manner, requiring three or more matching symbols on a payline, starting from the leftmost reel. The game is classified as medium volatility, suggesting a balanced mix of smaller, frequent wins and the occasional larger payout. The betting range is quite broad, accommodating both casual players and high rollers, with stakes ranging from $0.10 to $100 per spin.

The lower end of the paytable features the standard card ranks (10, J, Q, K, A), styled to fit the game’s aesthetic. These symbols offer modest returns, maxing out at 1x the bet for a five-of-a-kind combination. The higher-paying symbols are where the game’s character shines through, featuring four distinct giants and a prince character. These symbols offer more substantial rewards, ranging from 2x to 10x the bet for a full line. A sheep represents the Wild symbol, which is just as valuable as the highest-paying prince symbol and can substitute for all regular paying symbols to complete winning combinations.

Amplified Wild Symbol Interactions

The Wild symbol in Giants & Sheep is more than just a simple substitute. It plays a central role in several of the game’s most engaging mechanics. When a Giant symbol lands on the reels, it can trigger an expansion of the Wild. In this scenario, the Wild will grow to cover the entire reel.

Furthermore, if the Giant decides to interact with the reels – a playful animation – the Wild symbol can spread to adjacent positions, transforming those symbols into Wilds as well. This creates a chain reaction of potential wins. Adding another layer of excitement, Wilds can also carry multipliers of x2, x3, x5, or x10. When multiple multiplier Wilds contribute to a win, their values are multiplied together, leading to potentially massive payouts.

Oversized Symbols: The Giant’s Footprint

The Giant symbols are a defining feature of this slot. These symbols are not merely larger versions of existing ones; they are entirely new entities that can occupy significant portions of the reel set. They can appear in sizes of 2×2, 3×3, or even a massive 4×4.

Their impact on the gameplay is significant. A single Giant symbol can instantly create multiple winning combinations across numerous paylines. Their sheer size increases the likelihood of connecting with other symbols, leading to a cascade of payouts. If you are struggling to grasp the full impact of this mechanic, the demo version of the slot has a full tutorial if you open the help by pressing (i).

Bonus Round: Free Spins with a Twist

The Free Spins feature in Giants & Sheep is triggered by landing three or more Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. The number of Scatters determines the initial number of free spins awarded: 3 Scatters grant 6 spins, 4 Scatters award 8 spins, and 5 Scatters provide 10 spins.

Before the Free Spins round begins, one of three modifiers is randomly selected, adding an extra layer of anticipation. These modifiers are:

• Extra Bonus: This modifier adds more Scatter symbols to the reels, increasing the chances of retriggering the Free Spins feature. Each additional Scatter during the bonus round awards one extra spin.
• Extra Wild: As the name suggests, this modifier introduces more Wild symbols to the reels during the Free Spins. This boosts the potential for creating winning combinations, especially when combined with the expanding and spreading Wild mechanics.
• Extra Giants: This modifier increases the frequency of Giant symbols appearing on the reels. With more of these oversized symbols in play, the chances of landing substantial wins are significantly amplified.

Feature Buy: Instant Gratification

For those who prefer to bypass the base game and jump straight into the action, Giants & Sheep offers a Feature Buy option. For a cost of 50x the current bet, players can instantly trigger the Free Spins round. This option also comes with a slight increase in RTP, from 96.10% to 96.50%.

Giants & Sheep presents a unique and entertaining slot experience. The giant symbol mechanic, while not entirely novel, is executed well and offers a fresh take on the traditional slot format. The game’s wild features, particularly the expanding and spreading wilds with multipliers, add a layer of excitement and can lead to substantial wins. While the game is visually appealing and mechanically sound, it does not feel groundbreaking. It is a solid, enjoyable slot that is worth playing, but it might not be the most memorable title in Relax Gaming’s portfolio.