Razor Shark slot review
Razor Shark is a deep-sea 5×4 slot game with 20 paylines and a maximum observed win of up to 85,000x. Launched by Push Gaming in 2019, the game gained a reputation for its high volatility and layered bonus features that feed into one another to unlock big winning potential.
With an RTP of 96.70%, Razor Shark has since spawned several follow-ups, yet the original remains a popular choice. Keep reading this review to find out for yourself whether the hype is justified, or if it’s just a small fish in a big pond.
Highlights
RTP 96.7%
Volatility Low
Stakes range 5
Max win 85,000x
Number of reels 5
Number of paylines 20-
Jackpots No -
Slot type Slots -
Slot theme Ocean -
Software provider Push Gaming -
Launch date 15/10/2019
81/ 100
83% Playscore based on 6 critics
Razor Shark summary review
Underwater-themed slots like Razor Shark are not uncommon, but its crisp animations and multi-layered bonuses make it stand out from the crowd. These elements, together with its exceptionally high volatility and elusive maximum win potential, have helped make Razor Shark one of Push Gaming’s most popular and recognizable slot releases.
With mystery symbols, Bet Coin Multipliers, and progressive win multipliers, much of the game’s appeal stems from its innovative bonuses and potential for big combinations and even bigger wins.
That said, the game may not appeal to players who prefer less volatile slots with simpler bonus mechanics. On the other hand, for those who enjoy Razor Shark’s feature-rich bonuses and high volatility, its follow-up titles, Razor Returns and Razor Ways, include Bonus Buy options and additional mechanics.
Pros
85,000x maximum win potential
Multi-layered bonus features
Above-average RTP of 96.70%
Cons
Complicated mechanics
No Bonus Buy option
Unforgiving volatility
Razor Shark comprehensive review
To see what lurks beneath the surface of this underwater-themed slot, I delved into its RTP, volatility, payouts, and symbols. I also took a deep dive into its multi-layered bonus mechanics, giving you a clearer picture on how they interact with one another.
RTP and volatility
With high volatility, Razor Shark’s RTP is listed at 96.70%. The game itself is played out on a fixed 5×3 grid with 20 paylines.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| RTP | 96.70% |
| Maximum win | 85,000x |
| Number of paylines | 20 |
| Volatility | High |
Starting from the leftmost reel, winning combinations are registered from left to right, and require a minimum number of matching symbols to land on active paylines. Multiple wins on separate paylines are added together at the end of each spin.
The slot’s RTP sits at 0.7 percentage points above the industry average of 96%, which is very respectable in my opinion. Considering it took me 18 spins to land my first win, the game’s volatility at times felt like it was notched up to the highest possible setting and then some.
However, during a 100-spin test run, my hit rate of 21% more or less aligned with what you’d expect from high volatility slots. While I managed to land a few Mystery Stacks, none of them resulted in me unlocking additional features. This probably wasn’t helped by the modest amount of fixed paylines.
All in all, my test run told me that the game’s value is locked behind additional features as opposed to regular hits.
Alexander Teoli
Bonus features
The great white shark symbols with red eyes are your Wilds. These can appear anywhere on the grid and substitute for all other symbols, except for Sea Mine Scatter symbols.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Bonus features | Wilds, scatters, Mystery Stacks, Nudge and Reveal, Razor Reveal |
| Top features | Free Games Feature, |
| Jackpot | N/A |
Landing three Scatters in any position triggers the Free Games Feature. If more than three Scatters appear at once, the additional Sea Mine symbols award a +1 free spin to the Free Games Feature. With that said, below are some additional mechanics that can be unlocked during the base game:
Mystery Stacks
Mystery Stacks can appear on any reel as four vertically-lined mystery symbols covered by seagrass. These stacks do not necessarily have to appear within the whole frame all at once, but when they do land, the seagrass makes way to reveal either paying symbols or Golden Shark symbols.
Nudge and Reveal Feature
After a Mystery stack lands, the Nudge and Reveal Feature is automatically triggered. When this happens, the Mystery Stack will once again be covered in seagrass. On your next spin, the Mystery Stack moves down one position, while the remaining reels spin normally.
At the end of the spin, the Mystery Stack will reveal new matching symbols. This process repeats itself until the top position in the Mystery Stack reaches the bottom row.
Razor Reveal Feature
When Mystery Stacks land to reveal Golden Shark symbols, the Razor Reveal Feature is triggered. When this happens, every position with a Golden Shark will spin to reveal either Bet Multiplier Coins or Scatter symbols.
Bet Multiplier Coins multiply your stake with one of the following values: 1x, 5x, 10x, 25x, 50x, 100x, 250, 500x, 1,000x, and 2,500x. All Bet Multipliers will be added to your payout at the end of the round.
If three Scatters land outside the Mystery Stacks, any Scatters that appear within the Razor Reveal Feature will simply award additional spins.
Free Games Feature
As opposed to receiving a set amount of free spins, the second and fourth reels are filled with Mystery Stacks. Every Scatter that appears during this feature nudges the Mystery Stacks up by one position, essentially granting you new free spins. The Free Games Feature ends when the Mystery Stacks disappear from view.
Furthermore, during this feature, every winning combination comes with a multiplier that starts at 1x. Every additional win increases the multiplier by one with no upper limit. The Razor Reveal Feature can also still be unlocked during the bonus game.
The layered bonus mechanics make for a unique and engaging gameplay experience. The Bet Coin Multipliers in particular have the potential to seriously ramp up your winning potential.
I also appreciated the fact that the slot’s core bonus features are accessible in both the base game and Free Games Feature. That said, the addition of win multipliers gives the bonus round real value and separates it from the base game experience.
However, my main issue is that the slot requires a lot of moving parts to align perfectly. For instance, Bet Coin Multipliers can only be accessed via the Razor Reveal Feature, which itself relies on Mystery Stacks to reveal Golden Shark symbols. So, while the setup is clever, it’s not exactly beginner-friendly and meaningful payoffs can be hard to come by.
Alexander Teoli
Symbols and payouts
Razor Shark features nine pay symbols. These are split between four low-paying scuba-related icons, while the five remaining high-paying symbols consist of shark images, including a Wild with its own payout tiers.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Theme | Ocean |
| Reel layout | 5×3 |
| Highest paying symbol | Great white Wild |
| Adjustable paylines | N/A |
| Visuals | Excellent |
| Sound | Excellent |
| Mobile quality | Great |
In fact, the great white Wild is the game’s top-paying symbol, rewarding 50x your stake for five matching symbols on a payline, 12.5x for four matches, and 2.5x for three. The payouts for the same number of matches on the next highest-paying symbol, the orange shark, are all halved.
The three remaining high-paying symbols fork out 20x, 7.5x, and 5x for five-of-a-kind, 5x, 2.50x, and 2x for four matches, and 1x, 0.5x, and 0.4x for three. Meanwhile, the four low-paying icons share identical payouts across all three pay tiers (2.50x for five matches, 0.50x for four, and 0.10x for three).
It’s not unusual for Push Gaming slots to have Wilds that also behave as pay symbols. It’s been done with games like Big Bamboo and Fat Rabbit, to name but a few. It gives the Wilds added importance and even when they don’t land as pay symbols, they can still contribute by substituting for other symbols.
In Razor Shark, Wilds carry great payout value, but the drop-off from this to the second-highest paying symbol is significant. That said, while not the highest, top-end payout symbols still offer pretty good variation and value overall.
However, the same cannot be said for the low-paying icons. The fact that all four share identical payouts was disappointing. While not uncommon for two, or even three, symbols to share similar or duplicate values, having four felt excessive and made the paytable feel a bit flat at times.
Alexander Teoli
How to play Razor Shark
Razor Shark has a bet range of $0.10 up to $100 per spin. To adjust your stake, select the arrow key next to ‘Total Bet’ and choose from twelve pre-set betting options. To get the reels spinning, select the big spin button with two circular arrows on the bottom right-hand side of your screen.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Min bet | $0.1 |
| Max bet | $100 |
| Autoplay | Available |
| Turbo mode | Available |
| Game history | N/A |
Autoplay options range from 10 spins to 1,000 spins, with seven pre-set options available. You can also select a Loss Limit and Single Win Limit, with the values expressed as multipliers of your stake.
You can mute or unmute the soundtrack using the sound icon. Selecting the grid icon opens the paytable, where you can view paylines, symbol values, and bonus features. From here, the sidebar gives you access to additional options, including detailed game rules via the ‘?’ option, while the gear icon allows you to enable Turbo Mode as well as adjust music and sound effects independently.
Casinos where to play Razor Shark
You can find Razor Shark and many other popular Push Gaming titles widely available across many high performing gambling platforms. Below are some of my top online casino recommendations where you can play these games:
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Expert verdict
Having grown accustomed to the same copy-and-paste bonus mechanics that many slots are guilty of, I genuinely enjoyed how innovative Razor Shark’s bonus features are. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it uses familiar mechanics in innovative ways, with features that feed into one another to unlock bigger moments.
That said, this multi-layered setup requires a lot of things to go your way at the same time. This is compounded by the slot’s high volatility, which also means patience is a virtue in this game. However, with careful bankroll management and by placing smaller bets, bonus elements can eventually combine to deliver strong returns.
Overall, I definitely see the game’s appeal but I also understand why its feature-rich mechanics may be too much for some players. So, if you prefer more straightforward, yet still engaging, bonus mechanics, I’d recommend Jack Hammer by NetEnt. Otherwise, Razor Shark is a very solid option for those who enjoy high-risk, feature-driven slots.
FAQs
What is the RTP of Razor Shark?
Razor Shark has an RTP rate of 96.70%, which is 0.7 percent points above the industry average.
What is the maximum win potential of Razor Shark?
Initially, the maximum win potential of Razor Shark was advertised to be 50,000x your stake but has since been observed to reach around 85,000x.
Does Razor Shark have multipliers?
Yes, the Razor Reveal mechanic available in the base game and Free Games Feature can unlock Bet Coin Multipliers. Plus, during your free spins, wins start off with a 1x multiplier and increase by one after each winning spin.
How do I trigger free spins?
Landing three Sea Mine Scatter symbols during the base game will trigger the Free Games Feature. Any additional Scatters that land on the same spin reward an extra spin.
What is the volatility of Razor Shark?
Razor Shark comes with high volatility, meaning wins are sparse but can potentially result in big returns.
