Shadow Shifter

Available online from December 19, 2024, the slot offers 5 reels, 4 to 8 rows and 4 to 8 paylines. To get one, players must line up identical symbols on consecutive columns, starting with the leftmost one. Sequences must line up on straight horizontal lines to qualify for a win.

Wagers start from a minimum of $0.20 up to a maximum of $100. The game has a maximum RTP of 94.00%, which is quite low, and is characterized by medium to high volatility.
The winning frequency in the base game is estimated at 23%, while the maximum jackpot can reach up to 10,000 times the bet.

The slot features medium-high volatility, which means that wins may not be frequent, but when they come, they tend to be larger. This type of volatility is ideal for players who prefer a gaming experience with a mix of high risk and potential reward.

However, the default Return to Player (RTP) of 94 percent is below the industry average, indicating that for every $100 played, the theoretical long-term return to the player is $94. This value suggests that the game is designed primarily for those who enjoy a challenge and are not afraid of a higher edge for the casino.

Shadow Shifter vs. 3 other slots from ELK Studios

The symbols in the Shadow Shifter slot offer maximum payouts when combinations of 5 equal symbols are obtained on a payline. Among the regular symbols, there are 5 that make up the main hierarchy.

Low-paying symbols depict an acorn and a leaf painted on a wooden surface, and award 0.4 times the total bet for a combination of 5. High-paying symbols, on the other hand, include a green insect, a yellow bird, and the Shadow Shifter effigy. These symbols offer much more generous payouts, ranging from 5 to 50 times the bet, making every winning combination an exciting time.

Bonus features of the slot machine

The Shadow Shifter slot is packed with special features that make the game compelling and dynamic. The main mechanics include the Thrust and Multiplier feature, Feature symbols that offer unique benefits, and a Bonus Game with free spins. Let’s analyze each feature in detail to fully understand how the game works.

Thrust and Multiplier

Each game round begins with the column multipliers inactive and a grid completely filled with new symbols. When a winning combination is formed, it is paid out and generates a Push (or Column Push). Each push allows a column to move up one position, creating the possibility of new winning combinations.

This dynamic repeats until there are no more winning combinations. Each time a push is activated on a column, the multiplier associated with that column increases by x1. Multipliers are specific to each column and are added together if multiple multiplied columns participate in the same win. This means that as the multipliers increase, the potential winnings become larger and larger.

Winning columns increase multipliers by x1 with each push, greatly increasing winnings.

Function Symbols

Function symbols add further variety and strategy to the game. Here are the four main symbols and their effect:

• Both Ways symbol : Activating this symbol causes the paylines to work in both directions, left to right and right to left. This feature remains active as long as the Both Ways symbol is visible on the grid, doubling the opportunities to create winning combinations.
• Expanding Wild Symbol: When it appears on the grid, this symbol expands vertically, turning the entire column into Wild symbols. These symbols can substitute for any other symbol except the Bonus and Both Ways symbols, significantly increasing the chances of winning combinations.
• Max Grow Symbol : The Max Grow symbol expands the number of rows on the grid to a maximum of 8. The effect is activated immediately when the symbol appears, providing more room to form winning combinations. Once activated, the Max Grow symbol remains on the grid until all symbols are replaced.
• WildSymbol: This symbol acts as a wild and can replace any standard symbol to complete a winning combination, making it a key element in increasing the odds of success.

Bonus

The Bonus game is activated when at least 3 Bonus symbols appear on the grid, rewarding the player with 5 initial free spins. During the Bonus, all Pushes and multipliers accumulated in the base round are retained and remain active for the duration of the free spins.

Each time an additional Bonus symbol appears during the Bonus, 2 extra free spins are awarded. This allows you to extend the Bonus game and increase your chances of winning.
The Bonus ends when there are no more free spins available or the maximum win limit is reached. At the end of each Bonus session, all accumulated winnings are counted and paid out.

Purchase X-iter Feature

As usual in ELK Studios slots, Shadow Shifter includes the X-iter feature, an option that allows you to immediately activate some of the game’s main functions via a special menu. Here are the available modes:

• 3x – Bonus Hunt: Triples the odds of activating the Bonus Game.
• 10x – Expanding Wild: Guarantees one spin with a safe Expanding Wild symbol.
• 50x – Super Spin: Activates a Super Spin with the Max Grow feature and all multipliers set to x5.
• 100x – Bonus Game: Allows direct access to the regular Bonus Game.
• 500x – Super Bonus Game : Unlocks the Super Bonus Game with the Max Grow feature active and all multipliers set to x5.

This feature offers players the opportunity to customize the game experience and focus on the most exciting features, choosing the level of risk and reward that best suits their preferences.