Wheels of Flame Slot Review
We are exploring topics of fate and fortune in today's Wheels of Flame slot review. There are three mystical wheels that, according to ancient Greek superstition, can alter your fate. Wheels of Flame, developed by Playtech and Ash Gaming, puts players' fate in their own hands revealing these mystical wheels in all their glory. The 5-reels and 30-paylines may seem ordinary but just like the twists and turns of fate the Wheels of Flame slot machine is set to surprise and entertain you in equal measure. Free games, additional wild symbols, or cash awards of up to 500 times the wager are all determined by the flame symbols that spin the three wheels that hang above the reels to decide your fate. But, what does Gambling Zone make of the fate and future of the Wheels of Flame slot machine? All will be answered should you choose to read on.
Wheels of Flame
Wheels of Flame RTP and Wagering
Wheels of Flame is a Playtech video slot with 5 reels, 4 rows, and 30 paylines. Winning combos are created by lining up three to five matching symbols across a payline. Only the highest-paying symbol combination per payline is awarded. Players have a wide selection of bet sizes to pick from, starting at £0.10 and going up to £500 meaning that players of most budgets should be catered for.
The game's features are displayed on the enter screen when the slot first loads. Clicking the play button starts the game, and the bet settings can be adjusted by clicking on the coin button and using the + and - buttons. A nice element of the Wheels of Fire slot is that the paytable will adjust to show the payouts you will receive in relation to your current bet. When you are happy with your wager click the spin button to set the reels in motion.
Players outside the UK can activate turbo spins via the coin button too. This will cause the reels to spin and stop more quickly and will bypass a few win animations and sounds. Turbo mode can be stopped by clicking the turbo mode button again.
Non-UK players can also opt to use Autoplay which causes the reels to spin automatically. Players can select how many auto spins they would like to run and they can also configure the 'until feature' which will auto-spin the reels until either the free spins bonus round becomes active or when there are no more available funds. If you choose a set amount of spins instead, the remaining number of spins to be played is displayed. The autoplay feature can also be stopped at any time by pressing the stop button.
The game offers a default RTP of 95.56% which is a good deal below the current market average of 96% and casino operators can select even lower variations of 93.48% and 87.97%, so it is definitely worth examining the game details before placing a real money wager. The slot game is played with medium volatility and has a very conservative top prize of 500 times the total bet amount.
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Wheels of Flame Symbols and Audio & Video Design
Wheels of Flame is a slot inspired by Greek mythology, combining the story of wheels of fate with the mythos of the phoenix. The phoenix is an immortal firebird that is reborn from its own ashes once it dies. Slot enjoyers should be no strangers to this magnificent creature, as it is present in many games, including a few previously released by Playtech.
Initially, the game's theme feels very unclear. Legend has it that the phoenix resided in the desert. However, all we have to go on in the base game the base game is a firebird-themed mural, with the game's backdrop being a fairly plain stone wall. It is not until the Free Spins that players are transported to the desert clarifying the theme somewhat. Some players will not be fans of such scant visual detail, and it appears that Playtech squandered the opportunity to imbue their slot with a high level of storytelling. However, other players prefer to focus entirely on the gameplay, and the simple design features will also function well on mobile devices with smaller screens. The constantly spinning wheels above the grid, which allude to the wheels of fate and are the slot's main emphasis used for additional features, as well as the animated flame symbols, lend a small touch of flair to the overall visual presentation.
The soundtrack of the Wheels of Flame slot machine is much more notable. The game uses a delightful orchestral score which does not suit the simplicity of the game's visuals. Still, it is nice to have a slot that does not have you reaching for the mute button immediately.
Moving on to the paytable the lower-paying symbols are J, Q, K, and A. A full line of five with one of them returns 2.5 times the bet. Necklaces, rings, crowns, phoenix eggs, ladies, and phoenixes are among the highest-paying symbols. Five-of-a-kind with them pays 3.5x to 15x the stake. Wild symbols can be used to substitute for any non-special symbol to form a winning combination. The highest paying symbols; the phoenix and the wild have the benefit of paying out when just two appear on a payline instead of the usual 3. Animated flames can also appear behind symbols. Landing three of these in a row activates the Wheels of Flame feature; but more on this later.
Jack
Awards 0.2-2.5x the total stake for 3-5 on a payline.
Queen
Awards 0.2-2.5x the total stake for 3-5 on a payline.
King
Awards 0.2-2.5x the total stake for 3-5 on a payline.
Ace
Awards 0.2-2.5x the total stake for 3-5 on a payline.
Necklace
Awards 0.5-3.5x the total stake for 3-5 on a payline.
Ring
Awards 0.7-4x the total stake for 3-5 on a payline.
Crown
Awards 1-5x the total stake for 3-5 on a payline.
Phoenix Egg
Awards 1.2-7.5x the total stake for 3-5 on a payline.
Phoenix Lady
Awards 1.5-10x the total stake for 3-5 on a payline.
Phoenix
Awards 0.2-15x the total stake for 2-5 on a payline.
Wild
Awards 0.2-15x the total stake for 2-5 on a payline.
Wheels of Flame Mobile Features
The Wheels of Flame slot is fully optimised for mobile play and can be enjoyed on the go via Android, Windows and iOS devices. The simple graphics and layout of the slot lend themselves well to gameplay on smaller screens.
Wheels of Flame Bonus Features
While the three spinning wheels at the top of the reel set may look complicated, the bonus features that they are connected to are very straightforward and are examined in more detail below.
Flame Symbols
These are the only symbols that will display animations when landing on the reels. Landing three or more Flame symbols in a row triggers the Wheels of Flame bonus feature.
Wheels of Flame Bonus
There are three different Wheels of Flame positioned above the reels; green, blue, and red. Landing three, four, or five Flame symbols in a row activates the green, blue, or red wheels, accordingly. When activated, you will be able to spin the wheel, which can award Free Spins, a respin with extra Wilds, a cash payout, or a spin on the next wheel up. The green wheel is the base wheel, the blue is the mid-tier, and the top prizes are found on the red wheel.
The maximum awards on the red wheel are listed below:
- Up to 50 free spins.
- Respin with up to 12 wilds.
- Cash Prize up to 500 times the total bet.
- Free Spins Bonus trigger.
Free Spins
The Free Spins bonus round is triggered in an atypical manner, as it does not require scatter symbols (there are no scatters in the game at all). Landing three or more Flame symbols in a row will activate the Wheels of Flame feature; alternatively, the Wheels of Flame Feature itself can also award free spins. During the free spins bonus players have a higher chance of landing the Flame symbols, which in turn activates the Wheels of Flame feature, making the free spins round much more lucrative than it may first seem.
Feature Bet (Non-UK)
The Feature Bet can be activated for an additional cost of 100% of your stake. It will not trigger instant access to a bonus feature as is usually expected of features of this type, instead, it will double your chances of hitting Flame symbols.
Wheels of Flame Final Thoughts
The Phoenix is meant to be a symbol of life, regeneration, and rebirth, and while the wheels have fate have been known to play a cruel hand, it feels like they have bestowed a curse upon the Wheels of Flame slot as this game feels neither fresh nor full of life, and certainly not brimming with fortune.
I am keenly aware of the adage ‘different strokes for different folks’, and certainly the type of slot that appeals to me may not appeal to you. That being said, I have played and reviewed plenty of slots in my time, and even I am struggling to think of a player who would pick the Wheels of Flame slot over the wealth of other similar (and in my opinion better) slots out there.
There are hundreds of slots released every year and while not all will become smash hits, they still need to have an aspect that makes them stand out from the crowd. Wheels of Flame, however, seems not to possess anything special, it is almost like Playtech and Ash Gaming released the slot simply because they had the graphics and theme spare. The RTP of the game is below average at 95.56%, its medium volatility is nothing to write home about, and its top prize of 500x is pretty dismal. Even the Feature bet (which is not available to players in the UK), falls short of what is usually expected, requiring a hefty wager without guaranteeing access to any bonus feature.
Visually the game is bland, and the symbols also feel very low effort, with the playing card symbols adding nothing to the theme and the jewelery symbols looking as though they have been salvaged and recoloured from another medieval-themed game.
Regarding the positives of this game, at least the title is optimised for mobile play and its lack of detail will make playing the game on smaller screens more straightforward. The soundtrack of this game is also surprisingly good, so much so that when compared to everything else it is almost jarring. The wheel mechanic is interesting but feels frustratingly underutilised, but the best feature on offer is probably the free spins bonus; so long as you want to play the game enough to trigger it.
For these reasons, I have to throw a bucket of water on the Wheels of Flame slot and score it 4/10.
Rating: 4.0
If you like Wheels of Flame, then check out these other Ancient Greek Theme slot games
Wheels of Flame FAQ
Here are some of the most common questions we get asked about Wheels of Flame.
