Sugar Rush Xmas slot review
Released in 2025 by Pragmatic Play, Sugar Rush Xmas is a festive rehash of another popular slot with the same name. Just like the original, the 7×7 slot comes with tumbling reels, cluster wins, and a maximum win potential of 5,000x your stake.
Its vibrant visuals and candy-themed symbols are paired with high volatility and an RTP rating of 96.50%. But, in what ways does this slot differ to the original, and how does it hold up as a Christmas-themed slot? To learn this and more, keep reading my Sugar Rush Xmas slot review below.
Highlights
Sugar Rush Xmas slot summary review
Sugar Rush Xmas delivers the same crisp visuals and innovative features that made the original so popular. This includes progressive multipliers tied to cascading wins, which can really help you stack up some big payouts, especially during the Free Spins round.
That said, there’s no escaping the fact that this is essentially a festive rehash of the original Sugar Rush slot. The only thing that differs is the betting range, with Sugar Rush Xmas offering a higher maximum bet per spin. Aside from that, everything from the game’s RTP rate to the maximum win potential remains unchanged from the original.
Even the Christmas theme feels very lackluster and barely meets the bare minimum. While the game itself is quite strong, there are plenty of other slots that do a far better job of recreating the festive theme. This includes Sneaky Santa by Realtime Gaming and Jingle Balls by Nolimit City, to name but a few.
Overall, Sugar Rush Xmas is a competent yet uninspiring festive slot that relies on the original game’s mechanics to do all the heavy lifting.
Pros
Strong betting range
Progressive multipliers
128x maximum multiplier
Cons
Lackluster festive theme
Gameplay identical to original
Modest 5,000x maximum win potential
Sugar Rush Xmas comprehensive review
In this comprehensive Sugar Rush Xmas review, I look beyond the festive theme to find out how the game works as a reskin and how it differs from the original version. I’ll also examine its RTP, volatility, and bonus features, along with its payouts and symbols.
RTP and volatility
With high volatility, the Sugar Rush Xmas RTP sits at 96.50%. This applies to both the base game and Free Spins round. Winning combinations require a minimum of five matching symbols which link up horizontally and vertically, but not diagonally.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| RTP | 96.50% |
| Maximum win | 5,000x |
| Number of paylines | N/A |
| Volatility | High |
The game’s maximum win potential of 5,000x can theoretically be reached in either the base game or Free Spins round, although your chances of doing so are higher in the bonus round thanks to the addition of multipliers and additional features.
The slot’s RTP sits comfortably above the industry average of 96%. What I found disappointing is that unlike other festive slots like Santa Hopper by Push Gaming, the RTP rate doesn’t increase when you buy free spins. There’s also no indication that the RTP changes when the feature is triggered through standard gameplay.
Regarding volatility, Pragmatic Play is well known for producing slots with high variance, which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I managed to trigger the bonus game naturally after just a few spins. This gave my payouts an early boost, although outcomes will vary.
As for payouts, I expected more. The maximum win cap of 5,000x isn’t terrible, but it’s just identical to Sugar Rush. For a festive slot, I had hoped for something a little more generous.
Bonus features
During the base game, when a winning cluster forms, the matching symbols explode and the positions are marked on the grid. If the tumbling reels reveal a new winning cluster on some or all of those marked spots, a 2x multiplier is added.
This is referred to as the Multiplier Spots Feature. Every time winning clusters form on marked spots, a 2x multiplier is added each time. This can theoretically reach a maximum multiplier of 128x. If you reach the maximum or if no more winning clusters can be formed, the feature ends and you start spinning those reels again.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Bonus features | Wilds, Scatters, Free spins, Respins, Multipliers, Multiplier Spots Feature |
| Top features | Multiplier Spots Feature |
| Jackpot | N/A |
When it comes to triggering the Free Spins round, landing a minimum of three Scatter symbols anywhere on the grid grants you 10 free spins. Depicted as a candy dispenser with a snowy top, four, five, and six Scatters will earn you with 12, 15 and 20 free spins respectively.
Landing seven Scatter symbols will see you earn the game’s maximum of 30 free spins. Additional Scatters that appear in the Free Spins round will award the same number of free spins. Alternatively, you can use the Bonus Buy option to trigger the Free Spins round at 100x your stake.
Furthermore, during the bonus round, the Multiplier Spots Feature takes on an additional role. Rather than resetting, the marked spots remain in place until the end of the feature, regardless of whether the subsequent symbols form part of a winning cascade.
The inclusion of progressive multipliers in the base game adds real value. The fact that the feature depends on clusters landing on previously marked winning positions adds a nice layer of excitement and unpredictability to gameplay.
I also appreciated that these marked spots stay in place during the Free Spins round. Not only does it add more lucrative potential to the bonus game, but I actually managed to stack up a decent run of multipliers at one point. Still, the 128x maximum multiplier seems a bit unrealistic in my book.
Overall, the mechanics aren’t overly complicated or difficult to understand. That said, the bonus features on Sugar Rush Xmas are a carbon copy of the original game. Remove the festive visuals and you won’t be able to tell them apart. So, while I enjoyed the bonuses, for the same experience, I could have just played Sugar Rush instead.
Symbols and payouts
Sugar Rush Xmas is made up of seven pay symbols, all of which consist of brightly colored candies with a snowy top to remind you of the festive theme. Each symbol features 11 unique payout tiers, with winning clusters starting from a minimum of five matching symbols up to a maximum of 15+.
In order of ascending value, the lowest paying symbols are the orange, purple, and red gummy bears. These pay out a maximum of 20x, 25x, and 30x your wager, respectively.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Theme | Christmas |
| Reel layout | 7×7 |
| Highest paying symbol | Pink candy |
| Adjustable paylines | No |
| Visuals | Smooth |
| Sound | Very good |
| Mobile quality | Very good |
Next in line are the two mid-tier icons, the green star and purple jelly bean. Clusters of 15+ green stars pay out 80x your stake, while the purple jelly bean rewards you with the same amount for 14 matches, and 120x for the maximum amount of clusters.
The orange heart is a high-paying symbol that carries a maximum payout of 100x your wager. The pink candy sits at the very top of the paytable with a maximum payout of 300x.
I’m going to risk sounding like a broken record at this point, but it’s something that cannot be left unsaid. The payout tiers from Sugar Rush have been copied and pasted onto Sugar Rush Xmas. Were it not for the snow-capped icons, the symbols would also be identical.
That said, if you put the lack of originality to one side, the payouts themselves are quite solid and offer decent variety. The fact that no two symbols share identical payout tiers was refreshing to see. Plus, even without hitting maximum clusters, wins can still return respectable amounts.
For context, the highest-paying symbol in Pragmatic Play’s Sweet Bonanza is a Scatter that forks out 100x for clusters of six. That said, all of these payouts pale in comparison to Reactoonz, a cluster-based slot by Play’n GO that offers a maximum payout of 750x for 15 or more matches.
How to play Sugar Rush Xmas
To adjust your stake, select the minus or plus buttons on the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. From here, you can set your wager based on Bet Level, Coin Value or, Total Bet. Starting off at $0.20 per spin, Sugar Rush Xmas features 44 different betting options for you to cycle through. Selecting the Bet Max button instantly sets your stake to $240 per spin.
Once satisfied, select the big spin button sandwiched between the plus and minus icons to start playing. Underneath it, the Autoplay button will open a small pop-up menu. From here, use the slider to determine your number of auto-spins.
Auto-play settings also give you options for faster gameplay, which include either Turbo or Quick Spin, as well as an option to skip animations. Alternatively, pressing and holding down the spacebar will also activate Turbo Spins.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Min bet | $0.20 |
| Max bet | $240 |
| Autoplay | Available |
| Turbo mode | Available |
| Game history | Available |
If you’d rather play without sound, click the sound icon on the bottom left-hand corner. To adjust music and sound effects separately, select the hamburger icon shown as three horizontal strips. From here, you can also adjust your bet, view Game History, enable Quick Spin, or activate Battery Saver mode.
The ‘i’ icon on the bottom left-hand corner covers game rules and instructions. This includes information on payouts, symbols, and bonus mechanics.
Casinos where to find Sugar Rush Xmas
Pragmatic Play slots are widely available across many top-tier gambling platforms. You can find Sugar Rush Xmas, along with many other festive titles, at the following online casinos:
| Casino Logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-casino button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
89/100
Expert rating
by Paul P.
91%
Playscore
based on
|
100% up to $1,000 + $25 On The House
|
Play now players accepted |
|
Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. MI, NJ, PA or WV only. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable site credit, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Terms. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling Problem? 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA & WV). |
2
|
85/100
Expert rating
by Dasha G.
86%
Playscore
based on
|
100% up to $1,000 and 2,500 Reward Credits on a $25+ wager
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
3
|
88/100
Expert rating
by Paul P.
92%
Playscore
based on
|
$20 Bonus Dollars + 100% up to $1,000
|
Play now players accepted |
|
Visit Borgata.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. NJ only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable site credit, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Terms. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER. |
1
|
94/100
Expert rating
by Sophie P.
81%
Playscore
based on
|
50,000 Gold Coins + 1 Sweeps Coin
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
2
|
94/100
Expert rating
by Paul P.
91%
Playscore
based on
|
1.5 million WOW Coins + 35 free Sweepstakes Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
3
|
93/100
Expert rating
by Sophie P.
79%
Playscore
based on
|
50,000 Gold Coins + 1 Sweeps Coin
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
4
|
89/100
Expert rating
by Sophie P.
77%
Playscore
based on
|
50,000 Gold Coins + 1 Sweeps Coin
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
5
|
89/100
Expert rating
by Paul P.
81%
Playscore
based on
|
10,000 Gold Coins + 2 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
6
|
89/100
Expert rating
by Paul P.
79%
Playscore
based on
|
25,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 Spree Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
7
|
89/100
Expert rating
by Paul P.
87%
Playscore
based on
|
Up to 120,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
8
|
89/100
Expert rating
by Vule P.
79%
Playscore
based on
|
500 Gold Coins + 3 FREE Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
9
|
89/100
Expert rating
by Paul P.
89%
Playscore
based on
|
Up to 650,000 Gold Coins + 1,400 Fortune Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
|
|
10
|
88/100
Expert rating
by Paul P.
96%
Playscore
based on
|
250,000 Gold Coins + $25 Stake Cash
|
Play now players accepted |
|
Expert verdict
When it comes to seasonal slots, I understand why some developers are reluctant to come up with original titles, preferring instead to put a festive spin on slots that have already proven popular. Sugar Rush Xmas is a prime example of this in action.
That said, there are original festive slots out there, like Wild Santa and Ho Ho Ho by Play’n GO, showing that going the extra mile is possible. On the other hand, Sugar Rush Xmas is undeniably strong, but that’s purely because the original game was already very solid.
Now, Pragmatic Play doesn’t hide the fact that Sugar Rush Xmas is a re-skin, but regardless, I had hoped for a lot more effort. As it stands, Sugar Rush Xmas feels like a cheap and lazy attempt at a festive re-skin, relying solely on snow-capped symbols and a wintry backdrop to carry the Christmas theme.
The only place where Sugar Rush Xmas triumphs over the original is in its betting range, with stake limits ranging from $0.10 to $240 per spin, while Sugar Rush caps at $100 per spin. That aside, you might as well just play the original. Alternatively, Sugar Rush 1000 is another re-skin that, at the very least, offers a much higher maximum win potential of 25,000x.
FAQs
What is the RTP of Sugar Rush Xmas?
Sugar Rush Xmas has an RTP rate of 96.50%, which applies to both the base game and Free Spins round.
What is the maximum win potential of Sugar Rush Xmas?
The maximum win potential of Sugar Rush Xmas is capped at 5,000x your stake.
Does Sugar Rush Xmas have multipliers?
Yes, Sugar Rush Xmas features progressive multipliers tied to cascading wins. These multipliers can reach a maximum of 128x your stake.
How do I trigger free spins?
To trigger the Free Spins round, you must land a minimum of three Scatter symbols anywhere on the grid. Four, five, six, and seven Scatter symbols earns you 12, 15, 20, and 30 free spins respectively.
What is the volatility of Sugar Rush Xmas?
Sugar Rush Xmas comes with high volatility, meaning you can expect infrequent, yet, at times, substantial wins.
