Big Stack Nutcrack Slot Review
Big Stack Nutcrack from Print Studios follows on from the provider’s spring release, Big Stack Lumberjack – a game built around the strength & impact of its axe-swinging theme.
Lumberjack introduced the Big Stack concept with clear intent, showing us how Print Studios built a feature structure around a central character & a simple, readable idea. Nutcrack now applies that same format to a festive, Christmas setting, replacing lumber & tools with several Nutcracker characters who drive the action in a more seasonal direction.
When loading into the game, the connection to Lumberjack is obvious, although the tone is far lighter & a lot more decorative. The core layout and presentation suggest a clear continuation, which begs the question many players will have going into this release – Will Big Stack Nutcrack mirror Lumberjack’s structure or has Print Studios adjusted it so that this version has a new identity beyond the seasonal shift?
This release also arrives at the end of a strong year for Print Studios. Alongside Big Stack Lumberjack, they’ve also released Holy Hand Grenade 2, a sequel that reinforced & built upon a stunning original release. Big Stack Nutcrack rounds out that lineup as the studio’s festive addition, keeping the Big Stack theme alive while leaning into a completely different theme.
With a fixed RTP of 96.22% and a high (9/10) volatility rating, the 20,000x max win potential from Big Stack Lumberjack has been revived here, but with that comes plenty of festive charm, which is just what we need to get us into the Christmas spirit…
Base Game & Features
Big Stack Nutcrack is a standard 5-reel, 3-row video slot with 10 fixed pay lines. Paytable symbols trigger wins when 3, 4, or 5 identical symbols land on adjacent reels, as long as they connect to any of the 10 pay lines.
The highest-paying symbol falls to the Purple Nutcracker, followed by the Red, Green, & Blue Nutcrackers, Candles, Coffee, Bells, and Baubles. When a winning combination is confirmed on the reels, you win between 0.3x and 10x your bet.
Additionally, Bonus Scatters act as Wilds on the reels, substituting for all symbols when part of a winning combination. Wild Scatters award a fixed payout of 2x, 10x, and 100x your bet for a 3, 4, or 5-of-a-kind win.
The Nutcrackers
Throughout each game session, the 4 highest-paying (Nutcracker) symbols will cover all 3 vertical positions on the reels, applying a 2-of-a-kind win. Each fully revealed Nutcracker symbol will award a random Multiplier up to x100.
Once a fully revealed Nutcracker symbol appears, it has a chance to fall sideways, covering the bottom row, either from left or right.
Yuletide Gifts
In addition to Nutcracker symbols, special Yuletide Gifts can award a random Instant Prize if they land on a reel with an active Multiplier.
During the Free Spins session, each Yuletide Gift is multiplied by any active Multipliers from the special meter, or it may randomly ‘select all’, meaning that the Yuletide Gift is affected by all Multipliers within the meter.
Santa’s Sleigh
The left side of the backdrop is Santa’s Sleigh waiting in the wind. Over time, Santa’s Sleigh will begin to fill with gifts, and once fully stocked, Whistle symbols will start to appear on the reels. Each Whistle symbol in view has a random chance to trigger Ultimate Nutcracker Spins.
After the Ultimate Nutcracker Spins have finished, Santa’s Sleigh will reset & Whistle symbols are removed from the reels. Please note that Santa’s Sleigh & Whistle symbols only exist in the base game.
Nutcracker Spins
When 3 or more Bonus Scatters fall within the same base game spin, the Nutcracker Spins feature triggers, where players can choose between 3 Volatility Modes:
- Mode 1: Awards 10 Free Spins, lower Multiplier increments, & a higher chance of the Falling Nutcrackers feature
- Mode 2: Awards 7 Free Spins, medium Multiplier increments, & a medium chance of triggering the Falling Nutcracker feature
- Mode 3: Awards 7 Free Spins, high Multiplier increments, & a lower chance of the Falling Nutcrackers feature
Ultimate Nutcracker Spins
When a Whistle symbol triggers the Ultimate Nutcracker Spins feature, 7 Free Spins are awarded, along with the highest Multiplier increments & the highest possibility of activating the Falling Nutcrackers feature.
Bonus Buy
Players within Bonus buy regions can purchase the Nutcracker Spins feature for an additional 109x their bet. Once active, 3 or more Bonus Scatters will drop onto the reels during the next spin (96.28%).
Our Honest Verdict
Big Stack Nutcrack is a merry & charming release, exactly as intended, & one we genuinely think deserves a place at the top of your iGaming Christmas list. Let’s be honest, very few providers put much effort into Christmas releases.
Most pop up just in time to do their seasonal duty, & disappear the moment the calendar hits the 1st of January. Once the decorations come down, even the mention of Christmas makes your skin crawl, making these games easily forgettable, unless they make a lasting impression that carries into the following year.
We think Big Stack Nutcrack achieves that. It isn’t a complete replica of Big Stack Lumberjack; however, it builds on the format with Instant Prizes & the addition of a medium volatility Free Spins option that gives players that much-needed balance between the low & high varients.
Christmas at Print Studios falls in a traditional setting. While they could have gone off the rails & produced a chaotic holiday sequel to Darkness or Dreadworks, they instead kept things grounded, celebratory, & genuinely enjoyable.
Finishing off on a festive high note, the 20,000x max win potential is a generous gift, and one that is rather befitting of the upcoming festivities. All in all, Big Stack Nutcrack is a gracious & warming addition to Print Studios’ glowing portfolio.
*The images found in this slot review are currently from Demo Play. On average, our reviews are written prior to the initial release date and before the game is available for real play.
