The Syndicate is a video slot machine game developed by Yggdrasil Gaming, released in 2015. This online casino slot offers an immersive and engaging experience for players with its unique theme of gangster-era London and intricate gameplay features.
Theme and Design
Set against the backdrop of a dark alleyway, The Syndicate transports players to the era of organized crime in London during the Prohibition period. Symbols on the reels include high-value characters like gunslingers, detectives, and other underworld figures. Low-paying symbols feature items such as wine bottles, money Place bet bags, and playing cards. Each symbol has an impressive design with detailed textures that enhance the overall aesthetic.
The game’s layout is a 5×4 grid with five paylines, offering a relatively simple gameplay experience but providing ample opportunities for wins. The Syndicate features multiple levels of wagering, accommodating players from both high rollers to low-budget gamblers.
Symbols and Payouts
High-paying symbols are represented by three characters: a detective with a magnifying glass, an armed gangster, and the leader of the syndicate (with a fedora hat). Each character is assigned a unique payout as follows:
- Leader – 1,000 coins for five on a payline
- Gangster – 500 coins for five on a payline
- Detective – 200 coins for five on a payline
Additionally, lower-paying symbols of wine bottles (125 coins), money bags (75 coins), and playing cards provide frequent wins. High-ranking suits have slightly higher payout values: King (£10), Queen (£5), Jack (£2). Low-value suit numbers offer fewer payouts.
Wilds
The Wild symbol is represented by the Syndicate logo, substituting for all high-paying symbols to facilitate more winning combinations.
Scatters
A safe icon serves as the Scatter in The Syndicate. Landing three Scatters anywhere on the reels triggers a Free Spins round.
Bonus Features
The game includes two major bonus features:
- Free Spins : Triggered by three or more Scatters, this feature awards ten free spins with increased wins.
- Syndicate Bonus : This is triggered randomly during normal gameplay and rewards players up to 500 coins based on the character landed.
RTP and Volatility
The Return-to-Player (RTP) rate of The Syndicate slot machine stands at around 95%. While not exceptionally high, this RTP still makes for an attractive option compared to many online slots. Regarding volatility levels, the game has a moderate setting. This balance ensures frequent wins but with more manageable variance.
Betting Range and Max Win
Players can adjust their wagering amounts by selecting between 0.20 coins per spin up to 50 coins per bet line, totaling £2,500 on all paylines.
The maximum win amount is capped at an impressive 1,000 times the player’s stake per playline for high-paying symbols and a total of £25 million (one in every hundred rounds) or approximately 6.3% RTP contribution to a progressive pool during syndicate bonus events triggered while having selected max bet lines.
Gameplay
Syndicate operates smoothly with animations optimized at standard frame rates, offering players an immersive experience without any jarring visual or audio inconsistencies. It should be noted that the game’s pace is rather slow compared to other titles from its genre due to extensive features and win notifications throughout gameplay sessions.
The user interface allows players to select maximum stakes per payline, set up win-loss alerts for easier monitoring of their progress, and turn off animations when needed.
Mobile Play
Fortunately, Yggdrasil Gaming’s commitment to mobile-optimization comes through with the slot running smoothly on iOS devices (6+), Android (4.0+), Windows Mobile 8 and later operating systems with varying screen resolution support.
Players can engage in Syndicate from anywhere at any time without sacrificing game performance thanks to modern server-side rendering optimizations for increased accessibility and reduced load times on slower hardware configurations.
Player Experience
As with all titles developed by Yggdrasil, The Syndicate prioritizes offering immersive and authentic gameplay experiences through high-definition graphics combined with enticing sound effects. An intuitive interface ensures seamless transitions between features as you navigate through gameplay elements like bonus rounds and free spins.
The game maintains a refreshing theme that caters well to enthusiasts of organized crime movies or individuals simply looking for unique slots from other eras.
Overall Analysis
Considering the captivating theme, relatively high RTP rate (compared to competing titles with similar volatility levels), lucrative bonus features including potential six-figure progressive pool wins every hundredth spin, The Syndicate provides a rich gameplay experience while satisfying both casual and high-rollers alike due to customizable stake values ranging from 0.20 coins up to £2,500 on all paylines.
In conclusion, Yggdrasil Gaming’s release of the syndicated slots is nothing short than an exemplar example showcasing developer expertise in creating rewarding games that appeal broadly across various player segments without feeling overpowered or diluted like some competitors’ offerings can come off as sometimes being overly reliant solely upon variance or bonus frequency rather than balanced RTP values and design quality which this particular game embodies so perfectly, setting the standard for those aspiring developers looking to emulate a more inclusive slot machine experience going forward.