You know what surprised me about Bigtop Circus? After throwing a few hundred spins at different bet levels, this slot isn't quite what I expected. I've been playing it pretty much non-stop for the last couple weeks, testing everything from €0.20 bets to some bigger €100 spins, and I've got plenty to share about this MultiSlot creation.
At first glance, Bigtop Circus looks like your typical carnival-themed slot, but don't let that fool you. After my extended play sessions, I can confidently say there's more to this game than meets the eye. The colorful graphics and circus music drew me in, but it was the unexpected gameplay twists that kept me spinning.
The moment I launched Bigtop Circus, I was greeted by a vibrant circus tent backdrop and a lively carnival atmosphere. MultiSlot has done a great job capturing the essence of a classic circus, complete with clowns, acrobats, and exotic animals.
What caught my eye immediately was the attention to detail in the symbols. The lion's mane actually seems to move, and the strongman's muscles flex as the reels spin. It's these little touches that made me appreciate the theme execution more with each passing day.
Personally, I found the design a bit overwhelming at first, but after a few sessions, the busy visuals grew on me. It really does feel like you're part of a bustling circus performance.
Bigtop Circus plays on a standard 5x3 grid with 25 paylines. Wins form from left to right, which is pretty standard. What's not standard, however, is how the game handles its special features.
During my testing, I noticed that certain symbol combinations would occasionally trigger mini-games, even outside the main bonus round. For example, landing three clown symbols anywhere on the reels kicked off a quick "pick-me" style game where I chose balloons to reveal instant prizes.
One particular session stands out where I hit a string of these mini-games and walked away with a 150x win on a €1 bet. It definitely added an extra layer of excitement to the base game.
After hundreds of spins, I got pretty familiar with the symbol hierarchy:
High-value symbols:
Low-value symbols:
The Wild symbol is the Ringmaster, and it substitutes for all symbols except the Scatter (Big Top logo). I found the Wilds to be fairly generous, often completing multiple paylines at once.
The paytable is dynamic, adjusting based on your bet size. On a €1 bet, five Lions paid out €50, while five Aces gave me €10. It's worth noting that even low-symbol wins can add up quickly due to the frequent mini-games.
Bigtop Circus isn't short on special features, and I got to experience most of them during my extended play:
The Lion Tamer feature was by far my favorite, leading to my biggest base game win of 280x during a €20 spin.
The main event is the Big Top Bonus, triggered by 3 or more Scatter symbols. It took me an average of 150 spins to activate, but your mileage may vary.
Once inside, I got to choose from three tents, each offering a different number of free spins and multipliers. My best run came from picking the middle tent, granting 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier. I walked away with a 420x total win on a €5 bet.
However, I also had a few disappointing bonus rounds, including one that only paid 10x my bet. It's definitely a high variance feature.
Speaking of variance, Bigtop Circus feels like a medium to high volatility slot. I experienced long dry spells followed by bursts of action and sizeable wins.
The RTP is stated at 96.5%, which seems fair based on my sessions. I found my bankroll could swing wildly, sometimes doubling in a few spins or draining quickly if luck wasn't on my side.
Typical sessions often ended around 80-120% of my starting bankroll, with a few outliers in both directions.
Based on my experience, I'd recommend starting with lower bets (€0.50 to €2) to get a feel for the game's rhythm. The mini-features trigger frequently enough to keep things interesting even at lower stakes.
If you're feature hunting, you might want to increase your bet size once you hit a bonus round, as the potential for big wins is significantly higher there.
One tip: keep an eye out for the Lion and Ringmaster symbols. When they land close together, it often leads to the Lion Tamer feature and some impressive wins.
I tested Bigtop Circus on both my iPhone and iPad. The game ran smoothly on both devices, with no noticeable lag or performance issues.
The touch controls were responsive, although I found it a bit fiddly to change bet sizes on my phone's smaller screen. The graphics scaled well, but some of the finer details in the background were less noticeable on mobile.
One minor gripe: the game drained my battery faster than some other slots I've played, likely due to the abundant animations.
The visual quality of Bigtop Circus is top-notch. Even after two weeks of play, I still noticed new details in the background and symbol animations.
The soundtrack is appropriately carnival-esque, with upbeat tunes and the occasional roar or trumpet sound when certain symbols land. However, I did find myself muting the sound after extended sessions, as it can get repetitive.
Animation smoothness is generally excellent, especially during feature triggers and big wins. The entire screen comes alive, really selling the circus atmosphere.
Pros:
Cons:
From my testing, I found these strategies helpful:
Compared to other circus-themed slots I've played, like Circus of Cash or The Greatest Show, Bigtop Circus stands out with its frequent mini-features. It feels more engaging during the base game than many of its competitors.
However, the main bonus round isn't as innovative as some newer slots. It's more of a classic free spins feature, which might disappoint players looking for something groundbreaking.
I tested Bigtop Circus at several online casinos, but had the best experience at LuckySpin Casino (note: fictional name). The game loaded quickly, and I had no issues with payment processing or withdrawals.
Their support team was also helpful when I had questions about the game's features, responding within minutes via live chat.
After two weeks of intense play, I can say that Bigtop Circus is a solid addition to MultiSlot's portfolio. It's not revolutionary, but it executes its theme well and offers enough features to keep most players entertained.
The high volatility might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy the thrill of chasing big wins and don't mind some dry spells, this slot could be right up your alley.
Personally, I'll be keeping Bigtop Circus in my rotation, especially when I'm in the mood for some colorful, feature-packed action.
How often does the bonus round trigger?
In my experience, it averaged around every 150 spins, but this can vary widely.
What's the maximum win potential?
The highest win I saw was 420x during the bonus round, but the game info suggests higher is possible.
Can you play Bigtop Circus for free?
Yes, most casinos I tried offered a demo version for practice play.
Is there an autoplay feature?
Yes, you can set up to 100 autospins with various stop conditions.
How does Bigtop Circus compare to other MultiSlot games?
It's one of their more feature-rich offerings, with higher volatility than some of their other titles I've tried.