Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots slot review
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots is a progressive jackpot slot released in 2014 by International Game Technology, a global game provider based in Reno, NV. It’s labeled as medium-volatility, has 5 reels with a unique hexagonal 3-4-5-4-3 structure, and offers 720 ways to win.
The game keeps most of the features that made IGT’s Siberian Storm series famous in the first place, including the MultiWay Xtra mechanic, and then adds a progressive jackpot on top. This addition bumps up the max win potential significantly, but it also drops Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots’ RTP to just 88.98%.
You can find out whether that trade-off is worth it in this Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots slot review, which also dives into the game’s volatility, bonus features, symbols, and paytable.
Highlights
RTP 88.98%
Volatility Medium
Stakes range 250
Max win 1,000x
Number of reels 5
Number of paylines 720-
Jackpots No -
Slot type Slots -
Slot theme Siberian Tiger -
Software provider IGT -
Launch date 31/01/2014
64/ 100
68% Playscore based on 3 critics
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots slot review summary
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots basically takes an IGT classic from 2010 and adds one major upgrade: a progressive jackpot system. It’s the same 5-reel grid with a somewhat unique hexagonal 3-4-5-4-3 structure and 720 ways to win. Even the MultiWay Xtra feature makes a comeback, paying both ways once again.
Like the original, Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots is set against the backdrop of a dark, icy wilderness, where Siberian tigers usually stalk their prey. It’s evident that a lot of effort went into the design at the time, but the symbols and background visuals do feel quite outdated today.
What makes Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots stand out from its predecessor is in the name. This is no longer a game with a max win of 1,000x the stake, as you’re now looking at the Mega Jackpots progressive prize, which seeds at $500,000. That said, the addition of a progressive jackpot also drops the RTP from the original game’s already not-so-great 94.26% to just 88.98%.
Pros
Wide $0.50-$250 betting range
MultiWay Xtra mechanic pays both ways
Scatters pay and trigger free spins
Cons
Lower RTP of 88.98%
UI feels outdated
Mega Jackpots is directly tied to bet size
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots comprehensive review
Before you go after the $500,000+ prize, take a moment to explore my thorough Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots review. In it, I’ll cover the game’s RTP, volatility, bonus features, symbols, and paytable and share my experiences about how they affect gameplay.
RTP and volatility
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots’ RTP is 88.98%. While that figure doesn’t include the 3.5% that contribute solely to the jackpot pool, it’s still below the industry average, even for progressive jackpots.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| RTP | 88.98% |
| Maximum win | 1,000x |
| Number of paylines | 720 |
| Volatility | Medium |
As far as variance goes, the game is listed as medium volatility, which means both smaller and larger wins should occur at a reasonable pace.
Many progressives combine the base game’s RTP with the jackpot contribution to advertise a higher overall return. Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots doesn’t do that, which I appreciated. But you should still be aware of the potential damage you’re walking into with a medium-volatility slot whose RTP sits at just 88.98%.
I started spinning at $2.5, but at the rate my bankroll was depleting, it wasn’t long before I was forced to drop to just $1. The base game did toss me a few minor hits here and there, but they barely went beyond my stake, let alone make up for the damage all the dead spins beforehand had made.
Paul Portanier
Bonus features
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots doesn’t overwhelm with features, unlike many modern video slots. The game keeps it simple with MultiWay Xtra at the center, retriggerable free spins, and a progressive jackpot that can be triggered in both the base game and the bonus round.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Bonus features | Wilds, scatters, free spins |
| Top features | MultiWay Xtra mechanic |
| Jackpot | Mega Jackpots |
MultiWay Xtra
Although not technically a bonus, Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots’ MultiWay Xtra mechanic is absolutely worth mentioning. The feature essentially gives you 720 ways to win by matching symbols on any position on adjacent reels, and wins pay both left to right and right to left.
Free spins
Since there’s no buy feature here, the only way to trigger free spins is by landing scatters in any position on 5 consecutive reels, courtesy of the MultiWay Xtra mechanic. This gets you a payout worth 50x your stake and triggers the bonus with 8 free spins, but you can earn up to 96 initial free spins with stacked bonus symbols.
Free spins can also be retriggered during the bonus round. Each conjunction of 5 scatters awards another 50x the stake and another 8 free spins, while the total number you can get inside the round sits at a whopping 240.
Mega Jackpots
The progressive feature relies on the Mega Jackpots logos, which can appear anywhere on the reels inside the base game and during free spins. While only one of these symbols can appear on each reel, they also pay out:
- 2 logos: 2x your stake
- 3 logos: 20x your stake
- 4 logos: 100x your stake
- 5 logos: progressive jackpot
The game’s rules also confirm that playing with a higher stake increases your chance of triggering the jackpot. However, the grand prize remains in play regardless of how much you’re betting per spin. Plus, there’s also a behind-the-scenes mechanic that effectively gives you a second chance at the jackpot if a spin with Mega Jackpots logos doesn’t award the bonus.
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots’ free spins may no longer be the main feature here, but they’re still a crucial part of the setup. Although I only triggered this bonus once, the 8 initial free spins almost erased all the bad memories I had from the base game, while a retrigger with 8 additional spins put me over the edge.
That said, the obvious shiny object here is the Mega Jackpots progressive. I like that you can go after the grand prize even with a stake of just $0.50, which effectively translates to a max win of 1,000,000x at the very least. Unfortunately, my luck seems to have run out with the free spins, so I never got past 2 Mega Jackpots scatters.
Paul Portanier
Symbols and paytable
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots ditches the usual card marks in favor of a fully Siberian tiger-themed set with 8 standard symbols. The 5 low-paying ones are green, purple, and blue gem-like artifacts, a tiger claw pendant, and a jeweled necklace, while higher-paying symbols include a white tiger, an orange tiger, and the Siberian Storm logo.
With the game’s MultiWay Xtra mechanic in play, wins pay both left to right and right to left, with multiple matching symbols on the same reel boosting payouts.
Combinations of 3-5 matching symbols reward the following coin value multipliers:
| Symbols | 3 matches | 4 matches | 5 matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green and purple artifacts | 5x | 15x | 50x |
| Blue artifact | 5x | 15x | 100x |
| Pendant | 10x | 25x | 100x |
| Necklace | 15x | 30x | 125x |
| White tiger | 20x | 50x | 300x |
| Orange tiger | 25x | 75x | 400x |
| Siberian Storm logo | 50x | 150x | 1,000x |
White tiger wilds, tiger eye scatters, and Mega Jackpots logos join the 8 standard symbols.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Theme | Dark woods, snow tigers |
| Reel layout | 3-4-5-4-3 (hexagonal) |
| Highest paying symbol | Siberian Storm logo |
| Adjustable paylines | N/A |
| Visuals | Icy wilderness |
| Sound | Dramatic orchestral effects |
| Mobile quality | Good |
Wilds appear only on reels 2, 3, and 4 and substitute for all symbols but scatters and Mega Jackpots logos, while 5 scatters pay out 50x the stake and trigger the bonus with 8 free spins.
While Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots has surprisingly top-heavy symbols for a 2014 video slot, we’re still talking about coin values, which don’t necessarily translate to huge payouts unless you’re playing at the higher end of the betting range.
Speaking of, Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots’ betting range is wide enough for both conservative players and those comfortable enough spinning at the $250 max stake. Even without progressive prizes in play, those kinds of wagers put some serious payouts on the table.
For comparison’s sake, the original Siberian Storm allowed bets of up to $500, so the Mega Jackpots variant effectively halves the base game’s max win. Plus, there’s the whole below-average RTP and medium volatility combination, which means you could be out of a bankroll pretty fast with bets this high if Lady Luck doesn’t smile upon you.
Paul Portanier
How to play Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots
Getting started with Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots is quite straightforward. The game’s 720 ways to win are fixed, with 50 coins in play at all times, so you just need to adjust the coin value from 0.01 to 5.00. This sets your stake from $0.50 to $250, and you’re ready to hit spin.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Min bet | $0.50 |
| Max bet | $250 |
| Autoplay | Available |
| Turbo mode | N/A |
| Game history | N/A |
And if you prefer to kick back while the game goes at it, you can tap the autoplay button on the far right and set up 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 hands-free spins.
Casinos where to play Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots
If you’re up for an ice-cool adventure and want to chase that Mega Jackpots progressive prize, you can check the game out at these top-rated US online casinos:
| Casino Logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-casino button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
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88/100
Expert rating
by T2P contributor
92%
Playscore
based on
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Spin the Wheel up to 1,000 Bonus Spins
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2
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89/100
Expert rating
by T2P contributor
91%
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based on
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100% up to $1,000 + $25 On The House
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3
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86/100
Expert rating
by T2P contributor
85%
Playscore
based on
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Bonus Money reload up to $500
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Expert verdict
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots takes the formula IGT came up with for the original 2010 release and slaps on the Mega Jackpots progressive. The result is a similar-looking and sounding game, with the same dark, icy wilderness backdrop and dramatic spin sound effects and roars.
What is different is Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots’ RTP. While a progressive jackpot that starts at $500,000 and has second-chance mechanics baked in is a nice addition, it also lowers the Mega Jackpots variant’s RTP to just 88.98%.
Ultimately, I don’t think the trade-off is worth it, given that there are higher-RTP progressive jackpot slots with larger prizes out there. Break Da Bank Again Mega Moolah is a prime example, with an RTP of 92% and the top prize starting at $2 million.
FAQs
What is the RTP of Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots?
Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots’ RTP is 88.98%, which is below average, even for a progressive jackpot slot.
What is the maximum win potential in Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots?
The max win in Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots is 1,000x in the base game. That means playing with the $250 maximum stake puts a potential payout of $250,000 on the table, plus whatever the Mega Jackpots progressive is at that moment.
Does Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots have a progressive jackpot?
Yes, Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots has a progressive jackpot that starts at $500,000, and the largest it has reached is close to $2.9 million.
How do I trigger free spins?
Land scatters in any position across 5 consecutive reels, and you’ll trigger free spins thanks to the game’s MultiWay Xtra pays-both-ways mechanic. This awards 8 free spins, though you can potentially get up to 96 to start with, thanks to the stacked bonus symbols. Free spins can also be retriggered as you’re playing, with 240 being the absolute max.
Is this a high-volatility slot?
No, Siberian Storm Mega Jackpots is a medium-volatility game. It’s basically the middle ground between low- and high-variance slots, with both small and big wins occurring equally.
