Book of Yuletide: In-Depth Slot Review
Book of Yuletide, a creation by Quickspin, brings holiday joy with a Christmas theme, blending mischief and festivity. Following the “book of” genre, akin to Book of Duat, this slot manages to stand out by infusing unique Christmas-inspired elements into familiar mechanics.
Set against a holiday backdrop, the game features mischievous elf symbols, a Santa character, and a soundtrack featuring Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and O Come All Ye Faithful. This combination creates a joyful and festive atmosphere, with the music adding a playful touch to the base game and intensifying during significant wins.
In terms of gameplay, Book of Yuletide employs the expanding special symbols in free spins mechanism, a characteristic feature of “book of” style slots. While borrowing from its predecessor, Book of Duat, it adds a Christmas twist to the experience.
The game’s appeal lies not just in its holiday theme but also in its balanced approach, avoiding excessive sentimentality. The mischievous elements, such as Santa delighting in adding names to the naughty list, contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining slot experience.
Underneath its festive exterior, Book of Yuletide boasts a highly volatile math model with a return to player (RTP) value of 96.27%. The betting range spans from 20 cents to $/€100, offering flexibility to players. Three bonus buy options, each with different costs and potential benefits, enhance the game’s strategic aspect.
Despite its innovative features, Book of Yuletide maintains a conventional grid setup with 5 reels, 3 rows of symbols, and 10 fixed paylines. The slot stays true to the high payout values associated with games of its kind. For instance, achieving a 5-of-a-kind winning line with medium elves rewards players with 75 to 200 times the bet. Landing 5 Santas on a payline is even more lucrative, paying out 500 times the bet. The lower-paying symbols offer rewards ranging from 10 to 15 times the bet for a 5-symbol win.
Book of Yuletide: Slot Features
- Wild Symbol:
- Represented by a carrot-nosed decoration, the wild symbol appears on all reels, serving as a substitute for other pay symbols. It can yield payouts of up to 2,500 times the bet when five wilds form a winning line. The wilds also act as the scatter symbol for free spins.
- Free Spins:
- Triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 wild/scatter symbols, the bonus game awards 4 free spins and 3, 6, or 12 picks, respectively. During free spins, players receive an expanding symbol and a x1 multiplier.
- Pick and Click:
- Before free spins, the Pick and Click feature unfolds, where players choose from 20 gift boxes. These boxes may contain bonuses such as +2, +3, +5, or +10 free spins, +1, +2, or +3 expanding symbols, and +1x, +2x, or +5x multipliers.
- Additional Free Spins:
- If 3, 4, or 5 wild/scatter symbols are obtained during free spins, players receive an additional +2 free spins along with 1, 2, or 4 picks.
- Buy Feature:
- In the base game, players can purchase the free spins feature with three choices, each with increasing costs and benefits. The RTP for the 3 wild trigger is 96.5%, the 4 wild trigger has an RTP of 96.71%, and the 5 wild trigger offers an RTP of 96.91%.
Book of Yuletide: Slot Verdict
In the realm of Christmas-themed slots, Quickspin’s Book of Yuletide stands out for capturing the festive spirit without falling into generic or overly cheesy territory. While not as irreverent as some other holiday-themed slots, it strikes a thematic balance that adds an edge to the Christmas cheer.
Following the ‘book of’ genre tradition in its base gameplay, Book of Yuletide offers significant wins through 5 OAK combinations and scatters. The Pick and Click phase during the bonus round reveals various rewards, including extra free spins, expanding symbols, and multipliers. Bonus buys are available at a relatively high cost, but the game’s allure lies in its substantial winning potential of 32,760x the bet, placing it among the top-tier ‘book’ slots.
For players seeking a unique blend of Christmas spirit and unconventional ‘book of’ style gaming, Book of Yuletide provides a satisfyingly festive experience.