The Goonies Return Slot Review
Blueprint Gaming continue to refine their branded slot portfolio, and this pirate-themed sequel builds on the foundation of the 2018 original. Released in September 2021, The Goonies Return maintains the established 5×3 grid and 20-payline structure rather than converting to the Megaways format many might have expected. The decision to preserve the core formula makes sense, given the original’s enduring popularity more than three years after launch.
Blueprint have delivered a substantial upgrade in visual polish while retaining the film’s 1985 charm. The Goonies Return introduces 6 base game modifiers alongside 6 distinct bonus rounds, significantly expanding the feature set beyond what the original offered. Maximum win potential reaches 50,000x stake, a fivefold increase over the predecessor’s 10,000x cap. This positions the slot firmly in the medium-high volatility space, with enough complexity to satisfy completionists who enjoy unlocking all available features.
Base Game & Features
The Goonies Return operates on a 5-reel, 3-row configuration with 20 fixed paylines. Bets range from £0.10 to £100 per spin, accommodating casual players and higher rollers alike. The base game centres around the One-Eyed Willy Key of Plenty system, a randomly triggered modifier that activates one of six distinct feature types during any standard spin.
One-Eyed Willy Key of Plenty
When the Key of Plenty triggers, the game selects from six modifiers, each tied to a character from the film:
Truffle Shuffle Wilds: Chunk adds wild symbols to the reels with potential multiplier upgrades. A Truffle Reshuffle mechanic can further enhance wild placement, creating opportunities for improved win combinations.
Hidden Riches: A stone pillar strikes the centre reel, adding a Mikey Wild symbol. All Goonies character symbols then transform into wilds, significantly boosting win potential for that spin.
Data’s Invention Reels: Synchronises between 2 and 5 consecutive reels, causing them to display identical symbols. At maximum sync, this creates colossal symbols spanning the entire grid, though activation frequency varies.
Lucky Coins: Introduces mystery symbols that either reveal matching standard symbols or cash values. Cash symbols lock in place and trigger respins, continuing until no new cash symbols land. The respin mechanic adds volatility spikes to base gameplay.
Bonus Boost: Adds additional bonus scatter symbols to the reels, increasing the probability of triggering the main bonus features. This modifier functions as a bridge between base game and feature rounds.
Win Spin: Guarantees a winning outcome on the next spin. While the win size varies, this modifier removes downside risk for a single spin, providing relief during dry spells.
Loss-to-Win Reel Modifiers
Four additional random modifiers can activate on losing spins, offering a second chance at converting losses to wins:
- Scythe: Resets the spin outcome
- Shooting Spikes: Adds wilds to reel positions
- Dynamite: Upgrades low-value symbols to premium symbols
- Cave Collapse: Removes blocker symbols and reshuffles the grid
The layered modifier system keeps base game engagement reasonably high. Community data indicates a 32.22% win frequency (approximately 1 in 3 spins), which balances frequent small wins against the rare high-value bonus triggers.
Red and Gold Keys
Two special key symbols offer guaranteed outcomes when they land during the One-Eyed Willy Key of Plenty sequence. The Red Key guarantees a substantial win on that spin, while the Gold Key directly triggers the premium One-Eyed Willy Riches bonus feature, bypassing the standard scatter requirements. These keys appear rarely but provide significant upside when they do activate.
Bonuses and Free Spins
Landing three or more scatter symbols triggers the bonus selection screen, where players climb through a tiered structure. The game offers 6 distinct bonus features, progressing from lowest to highest value. Feature gamble is available for all features except the premium One-Eyed Willy Riches round, allowing players to risk their current bonus for a shot at upgrading to the next tier or banking a mystery win.
Booby Trap Bonus
The entry-level bonus presents a key-turning mechanic. Players select left or right turns, revealing either cash multipliers, a collect command that ends the round, or progression to the next bonus tier. This acts as a gateway feature, offering immediate wins or a path upward through the bonus hierarchy.
Waterslide to Wealth
A trail-based bonus where players collect gold doubloons to advance along a path. Ship wheel icons provide strategic choices: upgrade the current multiplier, eliminate low-value outcomes, or take shortcuts to the end prize. The bonus combines collection mechanics with decision points, adding a layer of player agency to the outcome.
Skeleton Organ Free Spins
Awards 5 free spins with a sticky Skeleton Organ symbol placed on the reels. During the round, a key-picking mechanic allows players to select from multiple keys, revealing additional spins, multipliers, or bonus enhancements. The sticky symbol acts as both a wild and a multiplier anchor throughout the feature.
Fratelli Free Spins
Grants 10 free spins with Super Sloth mechanics that transform selected symbols into wilds or multipliers. The Momma Fratelli Money Spins sub-feature can trigger during the round, awarding 3 respins where cash symbols stick and reset the counter. This creates a hold-and-win dynamic within the broader free spins structure.
Final Voyage Free Spins
Features an Inferno Wild that begins as a stacked wild reel on the leftmost position, then moves one reel to the right with each spin. As the wild reel passes over Goonies character symbols, they permanently transform into wilds for the remainder of the feature. By the final spin, multiple reels can be completely wild, creating high-value win potential on the concluding spins.
One-Eyed Willy Riches
The premium bonus round, accessible by landing 5 scatters, gambling up through the bonus tiers, or triggering via the Gold Key. This hold-and-win feature operates on a 5×4 expanded grid with 3 respins. Cash symbols and character modifier symbols populate the reels, with each new symbol resetting the respin counter to 3.
Six Goonie character symbols provide distinct powers when they land:
- Mikey: Applies a multiplier to the total collected value
- Data: Awards an extra respin, extending the feature duration
- Chunk: Upgrades lower-tier cash symbols to higher values
- Mouth: Collects and adds all visible cash values
- One-Eyed Willy: Expands the grid size, adding more symbol positions
- Sloth: Reactivates the powers of previously landed character symbols
The interaction between character powers creates a compounding effect. Landing multiple characters in a single bonus round generates genuine suspense, particularly when Sloth reactivates earlier powers or One-Eyed Willy expands the grid mid-feature. This bonus type bears resemblance to the hold-and-win mechanics popularised by the Money Train series, though the character-specific modifiers add thematic integration.
Our Honest Verdict
Blueprint Gaming faced a challenge in creating a sequel to a well-regarded branded slot without alienating the existing player base. The decision to preserve the 5×3, 20-payline structure rather than convert to Megaways demonstrates an understanding of what made the original work. The Goonies Return isn’t about chasing mechanical trends, it’s about refining an established formula while significantly increasing win potential and feature depth.
The 50,000x maximum win represents a fivefold increase over the 2018 original, positioning this sequel in a higher volatility bracket. However, the 32.22% base game hit frequency prevents the slot from feeling as punishing as pure high-volatility titles. The constant stream of One-Eyed Willy modifiers keeps engagement levels higher between bonus triggers, which community data indicates occur approximately once every 104 spins (0.96% frequency).
The 96% RTP sits at industry standard for premium branded titles. Neither exceptional nor disappointing, it represents fair ground for a licensed slot with this level of production value. The medium-high volatility classification feels accurate when you consider the frequent small wins balanced against rare massive bonus payouts.
Where The Goonies Return excels is in feature variety. The 6 modifiers and 6 bonus types provide substantial depth for players who enjoy completionist gameplay. Unlocking all features requires multiple sessions, which some will find frustrating and others will view as extended engagement. The One-Eyed Willy Riches bonus delivers the most excitement, with character powers stacking in ways that create genuine suspense about whether the next spin will unlock a multiplier cascade or grid expansion.
The thematic execution deserves recognition. Blueprint integrated character voiceovers and music from the original 1985 film soundtrack, creating an authentic atmosphere that resonates with fans of the movie. For players with no attachment to The Goonies franchise, the slot’s merit rests on its mechanical offerings, which are solid but not groundbreaking. The base game remains engaging, the bonus features offer variety, and the maximum win potential provides enough upside to justify the volatility.
This won’t satisfy high-variance chasers accustomed to 100,000x+ potential from modern ultra-volatile slots, but it will more than suffice for players seeking a balanced medium-high volatility experience with nostalgic theming. 8.8/10
The Goonies Return FAQs
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What is the RTP of The Goonies Return?
The Goonies Return operates at 96% RTP, which sits at industry standard for premium branded slots. This return-to-player percentage is consistent across all UK-licensed casinos offering the game. -
What is the maximum win on The Goonies Return?
Maximum win potential reaches 50,000x stake, with a cash cap of £250,000. This represents a fivefold increase over the original 2018 Goonies slot, which capped at 10,000x. -
Does The Goonies Return have free spins?
Yes. The game offers 6 distinct bonus features, including three separate free spins modes: Skeleton Organ Free Spins (5 spins with sticky symbols), Fratelli Free Spins (10 spins with Super Sloth mechanics), and Final Voyage Free Spins (progressive wild reels). Bonus rounds trigger via 3+ scatter symbols. -
Can I play The Goonies Return on mobile?
The Goonies Return is fully optimised for mobile devices. Blueprint Gaming’s HTML5 build preserves all animations, voiceovers, and interactive elements on iOS and Android platforms without compromise to the desktop experience. -
Does The Goonies Return have a bonus buy feature?
No. The Goonies Return does not include a bonus buy or feature purchase option. Bonus rounds are triggered exclusively through standard gameplay by landing 3+ scatter symbols, or via the Gold Key special symbol which directly accesses the premium One-Eyed Willy Riches round. -
How often do the base game features trigger?
The One-Eyed Willy Key of Plenty modifiers trigger randomly during base gameplay. Community data suggests a 32.22% win frequency overall (1 in 3 spins), with modifier activations varying by type. The system keeps base game engagement reasonably high between bonus rounds. -
Is The Goonies Return a sequel to the original slot?
Yes. Released in September 2021, The Goonies Return follows the 2018 original. Blueprint Gaming preserved the 5×3 grid and 20-payline structure while increasing maximum win from 10,000x to 50,000x and expanding the feature set from 7 to 12 distinct mechanics (6 modifiers plus 6 bonus rounds).
