Base Game
ELK Studios’ Shadow Shifter introduces an innovative twist with its 5x4 expandable grid, which can grow up to 8 rows, enhancing win potential. The slot features only 5 symbols, offering a clear distinction between lower-paying and higher-paying symbols.
The lower-paying symbols are two icons that pay between 0.1x to 0.4x the bet for a 3-5 OAK win. Meanwhile, the three higher-paying symbols, including the top-tier fox/Shadow Shifter, provide payouts ranging from 0.25x to 50x the bet. The fox symbol is the most rewarding, paying 50x the stake for 5 aligned symbols.
Upon analyzing the paytable, we found that out of 15 possible payout combinations, 6 return the wager or yield a profit. This balance between win frequency and payout potential, combined with a maximum win of 10,000x, makes the base game both thrilling and rewarding.
As expected from ELK Studios, the slot’s high-volatility mechanics and RTP of 94% make it ideal for seasoned players who enjoy taking risks for high rewards. Wins are achieved by landing three or more matching symbols on horizontal paylines starting from the leftmost column. Adding to the excitement, multipliers come into play during key events, significantly increasing payouts.
Shadow Shifter: Slot Features
Shadow Shifter offers an innovative mix of expanding grids, multipliers, and special symbols that keep the gameplay exciting. With unique features like column pushers and the X-iter options, players have plenty of ways to unlock big wins. Let’s dive into the key features of this dynamic slot.
Column Pushers and Expandable Grid
Winning combinations activate column pushers, which shift entire columns upward to create new rows and increase the grid size, potentially growing up to 8 rows. As rows expand, the corresponding multipliers above each column increase, enhancing payout potential for connected paylines.
Multipliers
Each column’s multiplier grows as column pushers move up, and the total multiplier for a winning line is determined by combining the multipliers of all columns involved in that win.
Special Symbols
- Max Grow: Instantly expands the grid to 8 rows, maximizing opportunities for larger wins.
- Expanding Wild: Converts an entire column into wild symbols, except for scatters and Both Ways symbols.
- Both Ways: Allows paylines to pay both left-to-right and right-to-left, remaining active as long as the symbol stays visible.
Free Spins
Three scatter symbols trigger 5 free spins, with all accumulated multipliers and column pushers carried over. Additional scatters during the round award +2 free spins, extending the bonus feature.
X-iter Options
Shadow Shifter’s X-iter feature lets players access specialized game modes for an extra cost:
- Bonus Hunt (3x bet): Increases the likelihood of triggering the bonus.
- Expanding Wild (10x bet): Guarantees one Expanding Wild in the spin.
- Super Spin (50x bet): Starts with a fully expanded grid and column multipliers at x5.
- Bonus (100x bet): Activates the free spins feature.
- Super Bonus (500x bet): Starts free spins with max rows and multipliers at x5.
Conclusion
Shadow Shifter arrives as a follow-up to ELK Studios' Reindeer Royale, showcasing the developer’s commitment to creating distinctive and immersive gaming experiences. Its unique mechanics, such as column pushers, expanding wild, expandable grids, and multipliers, elevate it as a standout in the slot gaming scene.
For players who enjoy Expanding Wild features, Shadow Shifter shares gameplay similarities with Donut Division, Golden Pride, and Tik Talkers, making them excellent choices for those seeking equally thrilling slots. ELK Studios continues to push the envelope, ensuring that each release builds anticipation for the next.
Fun Fact
The Shadow Shifter character is inspired by mythological shapeshifters, but in this slot, it embodies creativity rather than chaos, making its presence a symbol of transformation.
