Golden Unicorn Deluxe

Habanero’s “Golden Unicorn Deluxe” immerses players in a world of fantasy, focusing on a mystical forest theme. This slot is dominated by vivid colors and symbols like princesses, ladybugs, and the titular golden unicorns. The overall aesthetic is whimsical and lighthearted, like stepping into a children’s story. While I’m not crazy about how much it’s like a child’s story book, I’m happy that such slot exist, giving us opportunity to remember the childhood, and I don’t see it like something bad. The sound design complements the visuals, creating an immersive soundscape that enhances the game’s theme.

Core Mechanics and Gameplay

“Golden Unicorn Deluxe” features a 5×3 reel layout with 25 fixed paylines. Wins are formed traditionally, from left to right, but with the added twist of also paying right to left for symbols like the Palace. This dual directionality adds an element of anticipation to every spin. A line of 5 Palaces, even if the line starts from reel 5, will still pay, which is not a common feature. Also, a line of 5 other symbols will pay only if it starts on the first reel.

The betting range is quite flexible, starting at $0.25 and going up to $500 per spin, making it accessible to both casual players and high rollers. The game’s high volatility means that while wins might be less frequent, they have the potential to be substantial, up to 12,506 times the bet. This kind of payout is what draws experienced players, looking for a big win. It is really something! The volatility makes sense in this game, given the magnitude of the possible payouts, making each spin exciting.

Special Symbols: Wilds and Scatters

The game features two types of Wild symbols: the standard Unicorn Wild and the Golden Unicorn Wild. The Unicorn Wild can appear on all reels except the middle one and substitutes for all symbols except the Scatters. The Golden Unicorn, however, is far more potent.

During the base game, it appears exclusively on the third reel and has a unique “nudging” mechanic; it always adjusts to cover the entire reel, no matter where it lands. More importantly, it acts as a multiplier, from 2x up to 32x, for any win it participates in. This can lead to unexpectedly large payouts from what would otherwise be modest wins.
The multipliers from multiple Golden Unicorn Wilds will combine, up to a maximum of 32x. The Unicorn Wild does not show up during Free Spins, but the Golden Unicorn Wild will then appear on any reel.
If you are unsure about how exactly this or other features work, you can try the demo Golden Unicorn Deluxe slot, and open the in-game help by pressing the “(i)” button.

Chest Feature: A Trove of Rewards

The Chest Feature is triggered by landing three Chest Scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5 in the base game. This feature allows you to select one of three chests, each containing different rewards:

• Green Gems: Award a cash prize and an additional pick. These cash prizes can range from 10x to an astounding 10,000x the bet multiplier, offering the potential for life-changing wins.
• Blue Gems: Increase the current win multiplier and grant another pick, allowing you to stack multipliers and enhance potential winnings. This kind of dynamic in a bonus is quite unusual, making it a real standout of the slot.
• Red Gems: End the feature. The presence of this “dud” gem adds a level of risk-reward decision-making, akin to a classic gamble feature, but with a thematic twist.

The range of potential prizes is what sets the Chest Feature apart; even though you can get nothing, you can still find a large reward inside one of those chests. And with the possibility of multiple picks, the anticipation and potential rewards can be quite exhilarating.

Free Games Feature: A Path to Big Wins

The Free Games Feature is activated by landing 3, 4, or 5 Palace Scatters on a payline, awarding 10, 25, or 100 free spins respectively. During free spins, the Golden Unicorn Wild, which now appears on all reels, continues to act as an expanding multiplier wild, significantly boosting winning potential.

What’s noteworthy is that the number of free spins awarded is directly tied to the number of triggering Scatters. This direct correlation between the trigger and the reward is a refreshing change from slots where the number of free spins is random. The free spins can be bought, but they cannot be retriggered, which is unusual. I would have liked to see a retrigger possibility, giving it a familiar feel for veteran players.

“Golden Unicorn Deluxe” offers an engaging and potentially rewarding experience, particularly for those who appreciate high volatility slots. This game is worth a try. The combination of the Chest Feature, the expanding multiplier wilds, and the substantial number of free spins makes for a game that keeps you on the edge of your seat.