Chi

From the moment we first booted the slot, we knew we were either going to love it or hate it. It had gorgeous visuals, and a somewhat overdone oriental theme. It offered a not often seen reel structure, and with it came a different payline setup than we’re used to.

Just one misstep would be enough to doom this game. And yet, we’re pleased to report that ELK Studios’ release made none! It’s fantastic from start to finish.

Chi Slot Review

Chi is played on a three reel board, where each reel is five symbols tall. It’s an inversion of the playing field we’re usually used to, which is a nice change of pace! The slot has 27 paylines awarding wins both ways, for a total of 54 paylines. To win, collect three or more identical icons in adjacent positions, starting with either the top or bottom reel. All wins must follow one of 54 active paylines, or else the cash prize won’t be awarded. If you want to play for real money you need to subscribe at an online casino.

There’s quite a few special features, and some are triggered in fun and unique ways! Take the the Chi and Mow spirit bonuses, which activate when their symbols appear completely on the totems next to the reels. There’s a regular free spins round with sticky Wilds. And finally, there’s the bonus game, which has you ascending a heavenly stairway, with multipliers increasing with each step!

Theme & Symbols

We were pleasantly surprised by how well ELK Studios executed the theme. Many other studios either fumbled theirs, or just went with the path of least resistance. But the developers clearly put a lot of effort into creating the visuals for this release. And we’re sure at least half of that time was spent making the fox spirits as cute as possible!

It wouldn’t be an oriental slot without a calming soundtrack and a scenic background image. It’s a view we’ve seen plenty of times, but it rarely looks this good! Your attention is further drawn away from the painted background by the blooming trees. They sway gently in the wind and their pink petals occasionally fall off and flutter in the wind. It’s such a small detail, but it adds so much to the experience.

Fortunately, symbols designs ended up being mostly unique. The lower value icons are artistic renditions of fish, bamboo, turtle shells and chalices. The more valuable symbols are a bit more generic. Jade crystals, red lanterns, blooming flowers…You’ve seen them all before. Once again, the game is saved from any further criticism because of its good looks. Well, that and the gorgeous visuals when you trigger the special features!

How to Play Chi

ELK Studios’ release is played on a 3×5 board with 54 paylines which pay both ways. This Slot has a high volatility, and a jackpot worth 12,500x your total bet! It could technically go even higher, but the developers artificially capped it there. If you’re hoping to earn this big win, you’ll have to make good use of the bonus game. Otherwise, Chi’s most lucrative prize will continue to elude you!

In a flash of smart design, the developers included Chi and Mow as totem triggers. Their minor bonuses enhance your gameplay, while also introducing the characters for the larger bonus game which comes later. Free spins come with sticky Wilds, which is cool, but only worth it if you can retrigger them several times. And, of course, none of them can compare to the possibility of landing the 10,000x multiplier increase in the bonus!

To change your total bet, simply click the stacked coins and select your wager. Players don’t have to bother converting coins to cash, or tapping one button to adjust their stakes. Just click which one suits you best, and you’re ready to start spinning! Gamblers can bet between 0.20 and 20 on each spin. Not the best spread of wagers we’ve ever seen, but it gets the job done.

Bonus Features

This slot lives and dies with its special features. And even then, those bonuses come in tiers. There’s the totems, followed by the free spins – and finally, the Stairway to Heaven special feature!

• Chi Totem

When the left totem’s picture is fully revealed, the orange fox spirit makes his appearance. He creates between one to six Wilds in random positions.

• Mow Totem

When the right totem’s picture is fully unveiled, a crimson fox spirit emerges. He hits his gong, which grants players a multiplier between 2x to 5x.

• Free Spins

Collect three, four or five Scatters to win ten, fifteen or twenty extra turns, respectively. Three or more Scatters after the initial activation will grant extra free spins. During this bonus, Wilds generated by the Chi Totem become sticky until the extra turns end. Meanwhile, if you activate Mow’s Totem, it will gradually increase from 2x to 5x, instead of just awarding it once.

• Stairway to Heaven

Collect three bonus symbols to activate this special feature. If triggered during free spins, the other bonus will pause until this one finishes. On the left, Chi will draw numbers between one to six, and Mow will climb the matching number of stairs, increasing your multiplier. This can end in one of two ways. Either Chi draws collect, which ends the special feature, or Mow reaches the top of the stairs first!

• Fortune Reels

At the very top lie the Fortune Reels. Here, each spin is played with the multipliers you’ve collected so far. If you land an arrow on the uppermost reel, you win the 10,000x multiplier – which all but guarantees the top prize.

Chi Payouts

Chi has a high volatility, and a jackpot worth 12,500x your total stake. The slot’s RTP is 96.00%, which matches the current average right down to the digit in de world of online gambling nowadays.