Pug Thugs of Nitropolis Slot Review
Returning from their blimp in the sky, the cunning Pug Thugs of Nitropolis prepare for their final battle of Nitropolis. With a well-thought-out plan and no stone left unturned, it’s time to get back to work!
ELK Studios is switching things up in Pug Thugs of Nitropolis, a 6×6 Video Slot featuring connecting pay lines in all 4 directions and a number of thrilling features, mechanics, and modifiers, all wrapped in a neat bow with 25,000x in max win capabilities.
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis – Slot Symbols & Paylines
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis is a 6×6 Video Slot, playable from £.€0.20 per spin, up to a maximum bet size of £.€100 per spin. Simply select your chosen bet and begin spinning.
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis has 4 High and Low-paying symbols available, with the highest-paying producing wins of up to 2x your bet for a full 6-line win sequence. Low-paying symbols are standard A, K, Q, and J. Wilds substitute for all other paytable symbols.
Wins occur when 3-6 identical symbols land across connecting pay lines that begin from all 4 sides of the grid (left, right, top, and bottom). When a win occurs, the winning positions will spin again for a chance to create additional win lines.
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis RTP, Volatility, & Max Win – Hot or Not?
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis has a theoretical RTP of 94.00% and a High Volatility rating. The RTP level is considered below average, however, such figures are becoming increasingly common in the UK market.
Slots with a high volatility rating are better suited to players in pursuit of bigger wins, although they may not be as frequent and are riskier short term. Following previous titles of the series, Pug Thugs of Nitropolis offers a max win cap of 25,000x your bet.
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis Special Features
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis is home to Nitro Reels, Feature Screens, and Nitro Insane features, as well as ELK Studios’ very own X-iter (Bonus Buy) option.
Nitro Reels
Nitro Reels are special positions that cover one symbol containing a stack of symbols. The size indicator on the Nitro Reel indicates the number of symbols within the stack.
Nitro Reels can only appear in the 4×4 central grid area during gameplay. Intersecting pay lines also create Nitro Reels after the win is paid out. If a Nitro Reel is already present, it will upgrade to a maximum of 8 symbols.
Nitro Reels that contain Bonus or Super Bonus Scatters will have their indicators temporarily deactivated, representing only 1 Bonus or Super Scatter. Nitro Reels containing Coin symbols contribute to the number of coins presented by the size indicator when collected. During Respins, all Nitro Reels will reveal the same symbol.
Feature Screens
Attached to the main reel set are 4 Feature Screens (one in each corner), each holding a special Modifier that can trigger at random.
- Make Big – Expands a random symbol in view until it covers a 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4 symbol position.
- Collect – Activates before a win evaluation, it collects the values of all Coin symbols currently in view and accumulates their value on screen. Coin symbols will Respin after a collect, landing on either a Coin or regular payout symbol. This is repeated until there are no more Coin symbols in view. At the start of the Collect modifier, a Coin Rain feature may randomly trigger, scattering additional Coins on the grid.
- Nitro Wild – Converts 1 or more Nitro Reels in view into Nitro Reels containing Wild symbols.
- Nitro Match – Selects a random symbol in view and matches all present Nitro Reels into the selected symbol.
Nitro Insane
The Nitro Insane feature may randomly trigger at the start of any base game spin. When it does, it places so many Nitro Reels inside the 4×4 central grid area before all other reels stop.
X-iter
- Bonus Hunt – Triple the chance of triggering a Bonus Game (3x your bet)
- Nitro Insane – Triggers a Nitro Insane spin (10x your bet)
- Nitro Insane Plus – Triggers a Nitro Insane spin and a random Feature Screen (25x your bet)
- Bonus – 100x your bet
- Super Bonus – Free Spins with sticky Nitro Reels (500x your bet)
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis Bonus Rounds & Free Spins
Landing 3 or more Bonus Scatters during the base game triggers the Free Spins round. Landing more than 3 Scatters awards a boosted bonus game with additional Free Spins. During Free Spins, a Nitro Insane feature is triggered at the start of every spin.
If one of the triggering scatters is a Super Bonus Scatter, the Super Bonus game round is awarded. During Super Free Spins, all Nitro Reels are kept sticky on the grid until the end of the round. Landing 3 or more Bonus Scatters during this time awards additional Free Spins.
Either Free Spins round will not begin until all Respins and activated features have been played first. Features that have not been activated will be deleted.
Pros and Cons of Pug Thugs of Nitropolis
Pros:
- 2 Free Spins rounds are available, one being a Super Bonus round. The Super Bonus can be triggered naturally in the base game, meaning players outside Bonus Buy territory will benefit.
- Promising max win cap of 25,000x your bet.
- ELK Studios has combined their many promising features and mechanics to fit around the new game.
Cons:
- Bet sizes are limited with a small selection between the min and max bets.
- The 94.00% RTP level may be enough to deter players.
Similar Slots to Pug Thugs of Nitropolis
- Gritty Kitty of Nitropolis (ELK Studios)
- Rogue Rats of Nitropolis (ELK Studios)
- Dirty Dawgs of Nitropolis (ELK Studios)
Conclusion
Pugs are known for their problems breathing – their flat little faces and narrow nasal cavities make it hard for them to do so, yet Pug Thugs of Nitropolis has no issue breathing some life into a beloved series.
After Rogue Rats, we weren’t sure what to expect from subsequent releases. Dirty Dawgs came soon after and kept things more uniform, and Pug Thugs did the same. It’s good news if you’re not a player who wants their slots to resemble anything but a slot, and better news if you’re a big fan of the principal features that makes the Nitropolis series so great.
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis feels like a release that can kick off at any moment, yet it isn’t without an air of predictability that we think ELK Studios games suffer with. When the momentum is in full swing, Pug Thugs of Nitropolis feels like yet another solid release, and the statistics back it up. With a win cap of 25,000x the bet, Pug Thugs of Nitropolis stands proud as a slot with more punch than anyone would think possible of a pug.
The last yet to come is Nitropolis 5, which we’re hoping is the biggest and best yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the RTP of Pug Thugs of Nitropolis?
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis has an RTP of 94.00%, which is considered below average compared to the industry standard of 96%. However, this RTP is becoming increasingly common in the UK market. -
What is the maximum win on Pug Thugs of Nitropolis?
The maximum win is 25,000x your stake. This impressive win cap is achieved through the game’s various features including Nitro Reels, Feature Screens, and the bonus rounds with sticky Nitro Reels during Super Free Spins. -
Does Pug Thugs of Nitropolis have free spins?
Yes, Pug Thugs of Nitropolis offers two free spins rounds. The standard free spins round is triggered by landing 3 or more Bonus Scatters, while the Super Bonus round (with sticky Nitro Reels) is triggered when one of the scatters is a Super Bonus Scatter. -
Can I play Pug Thugs of Nitropolis on mobile?
Yes, Pug Thugs of Nitropolis is a 6×6 video slot developed by ELK Studios, which creates mobile-optimised games. The game is fully playable on smartphones and tablets, allowing you to enjoy the Nitro Reels and bonus features on the go. -
Does Pug Thugs of Nitropolis have a bonus buy feature?
Yes, the game includes ELK Studios’ X-iter (Bonus Buy) feature, which allows players to purchase access to bonus games directly. Options include Bonus Hunt (3x bet), Nitro Insane (10x), Nitro Insane Plus (25x), Bonus (100x), and Super Bonus with sticky Nitro Reels (500x). -
What is the volatility of Pug Thugs of Nitropolis?
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis is rated as High Volatility, which means wins may be less frequent but potentially larger. This volatility level is better suited to experienced players with a solid bankroll who are pursuing bigger payouts. -
How do Nitro Reels work in Pug Thugs of Nitropolis?
Nitro Reels are special stacking symbols that appear in the 4×4 central grid and can stack up to 8 symbols high. When they contain Bonus or Super Bonus Scatters, they convert to single symbols. During the Super Free Spins round, Nitro Reels remain sticky on the grid, increasing win potential significantly. -
What are the bet limits on Pug Thugs of Nitropolis?
Pug Thugs of Nitropolis offers a minimum bet of £0.20 and a maximum bet of £100 per spin. However, the game has a limited selection of bet sizes between these limits, as noted in the cons of the review.
