123 Boom! Slot Review

Introduction

123 Boom! — developed by 4ThePlayer in cooperation with Relax Gaming — is a pirate‑themed slot that swaps the typical spin‑and‑spin formula for an explosive cascade‑style gameplay. With a nautical backdrop (pirate ships, treasure, cannonballs) and dynamic reel movement, it stands out by blending a classic slot vibe with more arcade‑style action and chain reactions rather than straightforward paylines. The “boom” in the title is literal — explosions, sliding wilds, and chained wins make each spin feel like a cannon blast.

Game Features and Bonuses

• Layout: 5 reels, with 4 rows (grid 5×4), and 1,024 winning ways instead of fixed paylines.

• Special Symbols:

  • Wild Symbol: A cannonball wild substitutes for other symbols and triggers sliding‑wild behaviour: if no win is present, the wild slides in spin direction, blowing up symbols until it either forms a win or reaches the reel end.

  • Scatter / Bonus Symbol: Cannon scatter symbols trigger the bonus / free spins feature when 3 or more land.

• Cascading & Explosive Wins: Whenever a win is formed, winning symbols “explode” — removed from the grid — and replaced by new symbols falling/sliding in (depending on spin mode). This can trigger consecutive wins from a single initial spin (“Explosive Wins”), often chaining into long win sequences.

• Free Spins / Bonus Feature: Triggered by 3+ cannon scatters. In Bonus mode, each collected scatter/cannon symbol “reloads” a Cannonball Wild which triggers sliding wilds and chain explosions. A multiplier starts at 2× and increases by +1 with each explosion. The Bonus continues as long as cannon‑ammo remains or new scatters appear, offering potentially unlimited sequences.

• Unique Features: The Slot Slider™ — players can choose between two spin modes:

  • Slide Spin — reels spin horizontally (symbols slide in horizontally), paying left-to-right.

  • Top Spin — reels spin vertically (symbols drop in), paying bottom-to-top.
    This dual‑mode setup, combined with sliding wilds and cascades, gives 123 Boom! a dynamic and somewhat unconventional gameplay flow compared to many slots.

Game Statistics

• Release Date: November 2020 :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

• Game Type: Video Slot :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

• Reels and Paylines: 5 reels × 4 rows, 1,024 ways to win :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

• Max Win Potential: Up to 14,827× the bet. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

• RTP (Return to Player): ~ 96.44% :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

• Volatility: Medium to High volatility. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Gameplay Mechanics and Strategies

• Unique Mechanics: The core game flow centers on cascades and sliding wilds rather than fixed paylines. After any win, the winning symbols blow up and disappear. New symbols slide in according to the selected spin mode (horizontal or vertical), often creating new wins — leading to chain reactions of “Explosive Wins.” The sliding cannonball wild adds unpredictability: when wilds appear in a no-win spin, they slide and can trigger new wins by blowing up symbols. Bonus rounds intensify this with reloading wilds + increasing multipliers.

• In‑Game Dynamics: On a typical spin, you might win, causing symbols to explode and new ones to cascade — often leading to multiple cascading wins in one spin. If wilds are present but initial spin yields nothing, sliding wilds might convert a dry spin into a win. When you enter the bonus round (via cannon scatters), each cannon triggers a wild + cascade, and with each explosion the multiplier rises — so subsequent cascades pay more. With luck, this can result in very large payouts.

• Player Strategy: Because of the chain‑reaction nature and medium/high volatility:

  • Use conservative bet sizes to ride through dry spells until a cascade or bonus triggers.

  • Stick with Slide Spin mode if you find the horizontal reel movement more intuitive — especially as consecutive cascades and sliding wilds can be easier to track.

  • Bonus rounds offer best value — so patience is key: the bigger wins typically come from triggered canon scatters rather than base spins.

Comparison with Similar Slots

Compared with more traditional pirate‑themed slots (with fixed paylines and conventional wilds/scatters), 123 Boom! is more dynamic and unpredictable thanks to cascades, sliding wilds, and the Slot Slider mode.

Compared with other cascade‑style or “reaction” slots from Relax Gaming or other providers, 123 Boom! mixes the familiar (winning‑ways mechanics) with unique sliding‑wild behaviour and a progressively increasing bonus multiplier, giving it a distinctive identity. The dual spin‑