A 2016 slot game by Play ‘n GO featuring a 96.19% RTP, 5000x max win, high volatility, 5 reels, and 10 paylines, this slot has a Silk Route theme about an Arabian trader and a Chinese merchant. We are going to unpack all the details about it in our Golden Caravan slot review below, so make sure you read until the very end, because we are going to cover it in all its inadequacy as a slot game (and a little bit of charm).
The game features a traditional layout of 5 reels and 3 rows with 10 paylines. You can choose to activate anywhere from 1 to 10 paylines to control your wagers. The bet range is relatively narrow (only goes up to £50 per spin on the upper end). You can also adjust the coin value from £0.01 to £1 and wager between 1 to 5 coins per line.
Now, let us come to the meat of the discussion. Golden Caravan’s RTP is 96.19%—just a tad bit above the industry average of 96%. The slot game has high volatility, meaning you are in for wild swings (larger but rarer wins). The max win is an impressive, but also very common, 5000x your stake. This is the highlight of the game, which is not something to be proud of.
The best-case scenario? You get very lucky and the free spins trigger a lot. Coupled with the higher max win potential and high volatility, you might be raking in a lot of winning. But it is all still very risky and much better slot games are available from Play ‘n GO or in the Arabian Night style.
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Golden Caravan features the same-old, same-old. It does a half-decent attempt to bring the ancient Silk Route theme to life with the backdrop of the desert, Arabic instrumental music, and symbols featuring everything from Arabian traders and camels to Chinese merchants. The reels are paper-like for a classic feel and the sounds of desert winds do improve the atmosphere.
The main symbols include an Arab trader, a Chinese merchant, an Oasis, and a Treasure Chest. The Wild symbol is the Golden Caravan itself—substituting for all symbols but the Scatter. The Camel is the Scatter that can trigger the free spins round in the game if it lands on reels 1, 3, and 5. This same symbol becomes the Wild during the bonus round to help create more winning combinations.
The highest paying symbol is the Arab trader, who can give you the game’s max win of 5000x if you get 5 of him on the grid. Here is a breakdown of the symbols and their values:
Ten
3 = 5x stake / 4 = 20x stake / 5 = 100x stake
Jack
3 = 5x stake / 4 = 20x stake / 5 = 100x stake
Queen
3 = 5x stake / 4 = 25x stake / 5 = 150x stake
King
3 = 5x stake / 4 = 25x stake / 5 = 150x stake
Ace
3 = 10x stake / 4 = 40x stake / 5 = 200x stake
Oasis
2 = 5x stake / 3 = 20x stake / 4 = 75x stake / 5 = 500x stake
Treasure Chest
2 = 5x stake / 3 = 25x stake / 4 = 100x stake / 5 = 750x stake
Chinese Merchant
2 = 5x stake / 3 = 50x stake / 4 = 200x stake / 5 = 2000x stake
Arab Trader
2 = 10x stake / 3 = 100x stake / 4 = 1000x stake / 5 = 5000x stake
Play ‘n GO generally does a good job of optimising its games for mobile screens. The background crops or zooms in the right way to offer full screen coverage of the game, for example. The 5x3 grid is placed a little higher than the centre, but it is not a big issue. The mobile betting settings experience is neat as well. You know how to adjust the bet size very easily once you open the hamburger menu. Overall, it performs well on mobile.
Sadly, there is only one bonus feature here—the free spins round. Let us break it down and see how it works.
The Free Spins Bonus feature in Golden Caravan is triggered when you land three Camel scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5. Once activated, you are awarded 10 free spins, with all wins during the feature starting with a 2x multiplier. That is all good, but the real value is in the fact that you can retrigger free spins while inside the bonus game.
Every additional set of three Camel Scatter symbols will reset it with 10 more spins while also increasing the multiplier by 1 every step until the multiplier reaches a solid 10x.
The Camel symbol works as a Wild during the bonus. So, now, you have two Wilds to improve your chances of hitting those winning combinations (at just 10 paylines, it is not a significant advantage, to be honest). Nevertheless, this combination of increasing multipliers and extra wilds offers significant potential for larger payouts, especially considering the slot’s high volatility.
10 paylines on a 5x3 grid—not everyone’s cup of tea, safe to say. It is a simple game. On one hand, you can say that the whole Arabian Nights/Silk Road vibe they have going on is quite interesting and that there are a few hidden gems here and there. But overall, there is an objective lack of originality and thrill. For a game that barely crosses the industry average of 96% RTP, I would say there are scores of better games in the same theme for you to choose from.
If you could somehow look past the unoriginality, repetitiveness, and general lack of interesting features or bonuses in this game, over the long run, this high-volatility 96.19% RTP game might give you some good wins. But with so many better alternatives, the least I can suggest is to try it once in the demo mode we have before you jump in.
The only thing that the game might have going for it is its accurate usage of the word caravan. The word came from these desert travellers (from Persian “kārvān”) and unlike today’s holiday-infused meaning, it meant a chain of camel riders who were often traders. The slot game does justice to the name by displaying Arabian and Chinese merchants with camels.
Rating: 6 (Okay)
The game is just that—okay. It lacks in many departments. It is grossly unoriginal and lacks any semblance of excitement. But on the other hand, the multipliers, high volatility, 5000x max win, 96%+ RTP, and a few other redeeming qualities balance the scales. Neither bad, nor good. There are better alternatives.
These are some common questions about Golden Caravan.