Great Blue Slot Game Review
Here’s a challenge for you: Count the number of slot machine games that exist in the vast expanse of the Internet. Can you do it? We know we can’t!
Even so, everybody knows how many slot machine games there are. Too many! So, we understand what it’s like when you stumble upon yet another one that promises thrilling gameplay and exhilarating wins. How do you decide on the game that is worth dropping your coin?
In comes our meta-analysis of reviews to help you make that decision. In one convenient location, we compile the top casino game reviews with all the essential information, expert opinions, and player experiences that you will need. This time, we dive into a perennial favourite that you can invariably find at the best online casinos: the Great Blue slot game!
Review criteria
- Style & gaming experience
- Gameplay
- RTP, payout & volatility
- Software & mobile experience
Great Blue Slot overall rating ★★★★☆
The Great Blue slot machine game has been a mainstay at online casinos since its release in 2013 by Playtech, an award-winning casino game software development company with an impressive lineup of slot machines and decades of experience since its establishment in 1999.
Playtech is regulated by the UKGC (UK Gambling Commission) and licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. For the uninitiated, this affords a level of assurance that the game should be scam-free and safe to play with real money at reputable and trustworthy casinos. Despite being one of Playtech’s oldest games, it remains one of the most popular as a digital video slot game that harkens back to the days of classic slot machines.
The Great Blue name aptly alludes to the game’s underwater aquatic theme, with symbols of marine creatures like the killer whale that represents the Wild, giant clam for Scatter, as well as high-paying icons of sea life like fishes, great whites sharks, seahorses, sea turtles, pearls, and starfishes.
Key points
- Simple to play
- Free demo version available
- Up to 10,000 times payout but no progressive jackpot
- Mobile-friendly
- Dated graphics and sound
Style & sound
A recurring refrain in the reviews of this game is its nostalgia-inducing visuals that brings to mind the iconic orca from the “Free Willy” movie. At first blush, the high-definition brightly-coloured cartoon-style animation in the Great Blue slot game is charming, lively and engaging. Air bubbles and underwater blue colours lend to the undersea aesthetics for a fun gaming experience.
The nostalgia factor is compounded by the game’s sound design. Hailing back to land-based slot machines, music plays as sound effects when the player spins instead of playing as a background soundtrack.
Room for improvement
As sentimental and heart-warming as the graphics and sound can be, they certainly date the game. Some reviewers point out the lack of effort in creating a fuller and more immersive atmosphere, leading the game to feel generic.
Software & mobile experience
The Great Blue slot machine is free to play in demo mode on many online casinos. You don’t even need to download or register to do this. That means you get to try your hand and familiarise yourself with the mechanics of the game before you put any real money on the line.
Not to mention Playtech has taken on a mobile-first approach when designing this game. As such, the game works great in full-screen mode on mobile devices with the buttons resizing automatically in different orientations. There is even a “left-hand mode” that repositions the spin button to the left side of the screen in landscape mode.
Room for improvement
As is common for slot machines, there is no standalone mobile app for the game and the game can only be accessed via online casino sites. This leaves players reliant on their web browsers which have tied in with the handful of criticism about the game’s loading times. Your mileage might vary depending on your device and platform of choice.
RTP, payout and volatility
Reports about the RTP (return to player) rate of the Great Blue slot game range between 94.25% and 96.03%, which is pretty par for the course when it comes to video slot games. This means that $96.03 out of $100 that a player wagers will be paid out in winnings over time.
With 5 reels, 3 rows, and up to 25 adjustable paylines, players who love the freedom to determine the number of active paylines and bets per line would enjoy this game. A minimum bet per spin of $0.25 up to a maximum of $50.00 could potentially gain up to 10,000 times in returns. This is made more possible with extra spins and multipliers.
The game’s volatility is medium to high. You are likely to score large wins less often but small wins more frequently, leading to a semi-balanced gameplay. So, this game appeals to both players who don’t mind taking the time to make riskier bets, and also players who want faster gratification.
Room for improvement
In comparison to other Playtech slot games with RTP ranges between 97% and 99%, this one appears to be a smidge lower. This is compounded by the one shortcoming of the Great Blue slot machine that cropped up in several reviews: the lack of a progressive jackpot. This may turn off players in hunt of colossal payouts. It does not help that the purported bonus feature is known to be elusive.
Gameplay
With a gameplay emulating the most basic of slot machines, the Great Blue slot game is simple to play. If you have ever seen slot machines being played in a movie, then you already know how the game works.
Its most outstanding feature is the potentially endless Free Spins, which is great for real money games. The right number of Scatters could possibly activate additional bonus spins and there is no limit to the Free Spins that you could win.
Room for improvement
As much as the game is easy to pick up, reviews have described the mechanics as “unimaginative” and overly basic. There is no Gamble feature in the game or additional bonuses to keep things interesting. The game also doesn’t quite hold up to the various features and sophisticated rules when compared to some slot games in the market.
Where can I play Great Blue Slots?
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Final thoughts
The Great Blue slot game captures the imagination about the deep blue sea and the Free Willy movie. Its quaint charm can sometimes gloss over the over-simplicity of its gameplay as well as visual and sound design.
With semi-high volatility, low max bets, and decent payouts, the game is well-suited for general players. So, if you’re dipping your toes into video slot machines, this game is a great for your first foray.
