| Software | Microgaming |
|---|---|
| Slot Types | Video Slots |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 20 |
| Slot Game Features | Bonus Rounds Wild Symbol Multipliers Free Spins |
| Min. Bet | 0.01 |
| Max. Bet | 20 |
| Jackpot | 15000 |
| Slot RTP | 96.43% |
Around this lies a game we've seen many times before (though always nicely built) – a 1024 ways-to-win game with a Bonus Wheel featuring three fixed jackpots and free Spins where multiplier wilds can be added on top of other multipliers. In this article, I'll detail exactly how each aspect of the game works, what the actual figures mean and whether using the double up feature is worthwhile, and who would benefit the most from playing this game. My final rating for "Golden Buffalo Double Up" is 7.5/10. It's a good game but not a classic. However, it is a far better game than it initially appears to be based upon graphics alone.
If you're unfamiliar with "Golden Buffalo Double Up", I'd highly encourage you to first try it in the Demo version. The Demo version utilizes the exact same mathematics as the live version so you receive the exact same return to player percentage (RTP), hit frequency and bonus frequency as if you were wagering cash. As such, it provides you with the opportunity to experience just how a game with moderate to high volatility performs in reality.
Additionally, while playing the Demo version is ideal for testing the Double Up feature, it is particularly beneficial due to the fact that you get to experience how infrequently the wheel shows up during long periods of time between bonuses. Playing a few hundred Spins both with and without the double up feature turned on will provide you with a much greater understanding of whether the feature is suitable for you than any written description. Although the only major difference in the Demo version is that winnings cannot be withdrawn.
| Software | iSoftBet |
|---|---|
| Slot Types | Video Slots |
| Reels | 5 Reels, 4 Rows |
| Paylines | 1,024 Ways |
| Slot Game Features | Wheel, Free Spins, Multipliers |
| Min. Bet | 0.20 |
| Max. Bet | 20 |
| Jackpot | Fixed, Up to 1,000x |
| Slot RTP | 96% |
Isoftbet was established in London in 2010 and evolved into one of the more consistent mid-tier suppliers in online gaming. Prior to releasing "Golden Buffalo Double Up," the company had previously explored the American West in games such as "Bounty Belles" and "Western Gold Megaways." These games centered around cowboys, outlaws, and saloons. While "Golden Buffalo Double Up" also explores this region of America, it focuses on the land itself - specifically the wide expanses of open prairies, its native wildlife, and the Native American culture developed by native americans living among massive herds of buffalo.
Slot games based upon buffalo have originated from land-based casinos where buffalo-themed slot machines have consistently been popular amongst patrons for years. Today, online versions include big-name titles such as Pragmatic Play's "Buffalo King," Playtech's "Buffalo Blitz, " and Blueprint Gaming's " Bison Rising Megaways. Isoftbet's offering is geared towards players who enjoy classic slot games where you simply press a button repeatedly (as opposed to modern fast-paced cascade games with numerous modifier options), but wish to have an additional element to manipulate.
The reels are situated behind a star-filled evening sky atop an expanse of wide-open grasslands. Rather than flashy, it is peaceful and atmospheric. The 5x4 grid is clean and easy to understand, and each of the Symbols is well-defined. There is nothing new here for players who have already experienced multiple buffalo-themed slots, and this is my primary complaint regarding this title. The artwork direction utilized for this title is sufficient; however, it is difficult to differentiate from a dozen identical-looking titles. The soundtrack fares slightly better.
A typical western music composition accompanies each spin and increases somewhat during each spin as scatter Symbols begin to land. It is not catchy enough that you will still be humming it after leaving the game; however, it adequately captures the ambiance and does not become annoying after extended sessions. Overall, this game has an atmosphere of a land-based slot machine - likely by design by iSoftBet. While not groundbreaking, it was created with quality in mind.
The basic rules are relatively easy to grasp. Select your wager amount (usually ranging from .20 to twenty dollars) and determine if you desire to activate Double Up prior to initiating your spin. Wins occur when you create combinations of matching Symbols on adjacent reels beginning with reel one. Since there are no defined payline positions in a 1024-ways system (which is often labeled incorrectly as paylines), any matching symbol(s) on reel One may combine with any matching symbol(s) on reel two through five. Due to having four rows across five reels, you receive 4 * 4 * 4 * 4 * 4 = 1024 total combinations per spin.
In practice, creating combinations is easier than doing so on a standard 20 or 25-line slot due to the increased chances of linking up successful combinations. Once you accumulate three or more scatter Symbols (anywhere on the screen) and you will initiate the Bonus Wheel. Depending on your location, you may be able to bypass the wheel altogether with the Buy Bonus option, which I'll describe later. Settings for autoplay and rapid-fire mode can be found via a standard menu (dependent upon your jurisdiction).
Regular Symbols include ten Symbols (eleven in total). Card royalty (from nine through ace) represent the lower-paying Symbols. These Symbols are common and maintain small wins flowing throughout your gaming session; however, they won't contribute significantly to your bankroll individually. Premium Symbols (in order of highest value) consist of: tomahawk, war bonnet (feathered), eagle, wolf and golden buffalo. The golden buffalo represents the symbol of greatest importance since a complete set of five-of-a-kind pays approximately 15x your wager amount.
Even though that might seem insignificant, in a way you can achieve multiple sets of five Golden Buffalo in a single spin - and during free Spins - you can obtain multiple sets of Golden Buffalo that can completely cover reels. The desert mountain serves as the wild symbol and only lands on reels two through five. The desert mountain replaces all regular Symbols except for the scatter symbol, which consists of a gold coin with a woman holding a torch. Landing scattered coins is essentially what this slot game revolves around.
Three, four or five scatters will award you between One and three Spins on the Bonus Wheel, depending upon how many scatters you landed on the screen. Each spin will land on either eight, ten, twelve or fifteen free spins, or one of three fixed jackpot awards. The Mini pays fifty times your bet amount, Major pays one hundred times your bet amount and Grand pays One thousand times your bet amount. The Grand can turn up at anytime during any wheel spin - therefore, even a three-scatter trigger has the chance for a win resulting in a four-figure multiplier before free Spins begin. If you trigger with five scatters, you will receive three separate wheel Spins and any combination of jackpot awards will be added together.
Most big wins come from free Spins rounds. two things change once the free Spins round begins; firstly, stacked-golden-buffalo Symbols may appear more frequently than in regular gameplay. Secondly, wild Symbols now carry a randomly assigned multiplier of either 2x or 3x per reel - no more than one multiplier wild per reel. When multiple-multiplier wilds are involved in a winning combination, their values multiply together - not add together. An example would be a combination where two 3x wilds are present and a third 3x wild joins-in across hundreds of winning ways. That's the scenario that could put you towards the maximum possible win of 5998x based upon how often stacks occur during bonus rounds and re-triggers (see below.)
The Double Up Feature is what the name of the game is based upon, and we will evaluate it here more thoroughly than other reviewers. When you activate double up, your bet is doubled and the scatters become twice as tall. All scatters count as one scatter symbol, but they are larger and therefore more likely to be visible. Initially, the stats appear to show a significant improvement (see table). The bonus appears approximately once per 200 spins when double up is disabled. With double up enabled, the appearance of a bonus is roughly once per 115 spins.
However, there is a slight decrease in hit frequency during the base game due to the increased height of the scatters (from 30.3% to 32.2%). However, it is here that many players overlook an important detail. Assume that your initial bet size is $1.00. The average amount spent before a bonus is triggered when double up is disabled is $200.00. When double up is enabled, each spin costs double ($2.00), and 115 spins at a price of $2.00 apiece will total $230.00. As such, the actual dollar value required for each bonus will slightly increase when using the double up function.
Two reasons. Firstly, your bonuses will arrive at a faster rate in terms of the number of spins required to reach them. This creates a feeling of greater activity and less downtime. Secondly, the bonus payouts are made on your initial bet (the same as the wheel prizes and any winnings from free spins), whereas the doubled payment works like a "fee" for having the bonus arrive more frequently. Therefore, you'll receive returns in different forms instead of simply losing those returns.
If you're trying to chase a series of bonuses, or you simply hate prolonged periods of no hits, enabling double up allows you to generate more frequent bonuses. If you have a limited bankroll and want to stretch that bankroll as far as possible, disable it. Neither approach is incorrect - they're suited to different player preferences.
As mentioned above, the game's default RTP is 96%, which falls directly into line with industry standards. In theory, for every 100 units wagered on a given game over a long period of time, you can expect to receive around 96 back in payments from the game. Of course, this does not relate to individual sessions. Some online casinos also operate lower RTP versions of this game as well, so please be sure to verify the RTP prior to committing to any stakes.
As previously stated, the volatility level has been determined to fall within the range of medium to high levels. Due to the fact that the base game produces hits at an extremely high frequency (approximately 1 in 3), the impact of volatility is greatly reduced. During the base game you will encounter numerous small wins that are typically less than your base unit stake. Your potential losses sit behind the bonus Feature, and achieving the bonus can require hundreds of spins.
Plan accordingly with regard to your bankroll allocation. The largest potential win available in Golden Buffalo Double Up is capped at 5,998x your stake. Unfortunately, achieving this level of payout requires the optimal combination of free spins: stacked buffaloes, multiple wild multipliers, numerous winning combinations and possibly even additional jackpot(s). While this payout is theoretically possible, it would be wise to consider it as the uppermost limit rather than a realistic target.
The game utilizes HTML5 technology and weighs in at only 11.8mb. Therefore, it loads rapidly on all devices, whether it be via browser or app on either ios or Android platforms. The 5x4 grid structure adapts seamlessly to handheld screens, and all features, including the double-up toggle button are easily accessible by a user's thumb. In my experience, playing on a tablet was nearly indistinguishable from playing on desktop.
Firstly, allocate sufficient funds for your expected number of spins before attempting to achieve a bonus (i.e., bankroll = bonus * expected # of spins). Due to the game being classified as medium-to-high volatility and requiring a bonus to occur approximately every couple hundred spins, i recommend allocating sufficient funds to account for at least 200-300 spins at your selected bet level. Reduce your bet size if your allocated bankroll feels too restrictive.
Secondly, determine your preference regarding double up before starting your session versus adjusting it mid-session based on recent results. The odds remain unchanged regardless of past results, and therefore switching double up on/off based solely on perceived trends will not alter the likelihood of the Next bonus.
Thirdly, utilize the free demo mode to gain familiarity with the gameplay mechanics and bonus system, and establish both a loss limit and a time limit prior to commencing real-Money play. A game with as much reliance on its bonus as Golden Buffalo Double Up can create strong urges to continue chasing that elusive bonus, and establishing limits in advance is essential to avoiding those behaviors.
Comparatively speaking with Pragmatic Play's Buffalo King, iSoftBet's slot provides more structure. Buffalo King utilizes 4,096 ways to win and relies on free spins wild multipliers whereas Golden Buffalo Double Up includes a wheel containing three fixed jackpots and an optional purchase for better bonus odds. Buffalo King Megaways and Bison Rising Megaways provide large numbers of reels/multipliers/etc.
For an extreme variance experience for players seeking maximum variance. Playtech's Buffalo Blitz provides an old-school type of experience, providing numerous free spins and easier access to the bonus round than newer releases. Golden Buffalo Double Up occupies the middle ground between these experiences offering fewer reel modifications than Megaways versions but including decisions through the inclusion of a jackpot wheel and double up.
After being released as a limited-time exclusive with Betclic, Golden Buffalo Double Up became widely available on June 2021 , and is now accessible in dozens of countries. Specifically, availability appears particularly widespread among Finnish-speaking, Canadian, Norwegian, and New Zealand markets. Availability may vary among regulated markets; therefore , it may not be accessible in every regulated jurisdiction.
When selecting which casino to engage with, please ensure it is properly licensed; secondly verify the version of RTP utilized by that casino ; thirdly, review welcome offers and finally ensure you fully understand any wagering requirements applied.
Golden Buffalo Double Up has the advantage of being made like other buffalo slots. While that doesn't make it anything special when it comes to an original theme, and while the base game can be slow, the Bonus Wheel is very enjoyable. When combined with its potential for big payouts (fixed jackpots), multiplying wilds, and ability to easily retrigger bonuses, this slot machine definitely packs enough punch. The double-up aspect is the only real highlight of this slot. While double up is more than likely to not improve upon the math, it does allow players to decide how they want their games to run, something relatively unique among many slots.
Therefore, I would rate this 7.5/10. If you enjoy classic-style slots with a land-based style of gameplay and you're looking for bonuses to come around more frequently, then this is definitely worth trying. First, test drive the demo version of Golden Buffalo Double up to determine what type of double up you'd like to use and proceed from there.
As stated earlier, the standard RTP is 96% however, casinos have the option to reduce the RTP; therefore always check the information displayed within the games own info screen prior to commencing play.
This game was developed by iSoftBet a UK-based gaming company based in London, established in 2010.
You can win a maximum of 5988 times your bet and that typically occurs during a prolonged free spin session with stacked buffalos and multipliers for wilds.
When you land three, four or five scatter symbols you will receive either one, two or three spins on the Bonus Wheel.
Doubling your wager as well as doubling the size of the scatters; that increases the chances of entering into the bonus round from approximately one in every 200 spins to approximately one in every 115 spins.
Yes, there are three fixed jackpots available on the Bonus Wheel: the minimum jackpot at 50x, the major jackpot at 100x and the grand jackpot at 1000x your stake.
In certain jurisdictions yes. A "Buy Bonus" button allows you to purchase one to three spins on the Bonus Wheel; however, this option is restricted in those areas that prohibit buying into a bonus round.
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