Rise to the Top in Shaolin Panda: Hold & Win

One pet peeve we have with video slots is that many hide their backdrops with their reels. At times, this can spoil the hard work the artists put into designing the game. That is why we were delighted to see Shaolin Panda: Hold & Win take a different approach. Its transparent reels let you appreciate the effort that went into crafting this game.

Of course, more awaits you here than just great visuals. Fun features, fixed jackpots, and big wins await you in this Octoplay title. Join us for an in-depth look into the slot and everything it can offer.

Shaolin Panda: Hold & Win Visuals & Sounds

We are big fans of this slot’s background image. Shaolin Panda: Hold & Win is set in an ancient Chinese town during a misty morning. The art team went all out in creating a gorgeous backdrop, with towering mountains overlooking the sprawling village. You can also see an occasional leaf float through the air, coming from the many trees that grow alongside the large houses and towers.

Symbol designs are a mix of playing card royals and more theme-appropriate icons like rice balls, straws, fish, and dumplings. The Yin-Yang symbol is Wild, while coloured coins are jackpot symbols.

A tranquil track plays in the background while you spin the reels. Wins are accompanied by the sound of slicing. Each dumpling will also be quickly eaten by the meditating panda monk, which has an amusing sound effect.

Shaolin Panda: Hold & Win Gameplay & Features

Octoplay’s release uses a 5×3 playing area with 10 fixed paylines. Winning combinations must have at least three identical symbols in adjacent reels while following a payline. Paying combinations only count when starting with the leftmost reel.

Fixed Jackpots

There are five fixed jackpots that you can see at all times while playing the game.

• Mini Jackpot – 25x
• Minor Jackpot – 50x
• Major Jackpot – 100x
• Mega Jackpot – 250x
• Grand Jackpot – 500x

Each time a jackpot coin lands on the reels, it increases the corresponding fixed jackpot.

• Mini Jackpots can be increased by 1x, 3x, or 5x, up to a maximum of 100x
• Minor Jackpots can be increased by 5x, 7x, or 10x, up to a maximum of 200x
• Major Jackpots can be increased by 10x, 15x, or 20x, up to a maximum of 400x
• Mega Jackpots can be increased by 20x, 25x, or 50x, up to a maximum of 1,000x
• Grand Jackpots can be increased by 50x, 100x, or 250x, up to a maximum of 2,000x

Hold & Win

Each dumpling that lands has a chance to activate the Hold & Win feature. When the bonus triggers, it adds the Shaolin Panda symbol and up to 12 golden coins. The panda is a 1×2 icon and is locked to the third reel.

You start with three free spins. Each time a new golden or jackpot coin lands, the number of spins is reset. The Shaolin Panda symbol collects all cash and jackpot prizes that land during the bonus, adding them to your total win. Your top prize is capped at 10,000x your stake.

Shaolin Panda Features

These three bonuses have a chance to trigger with each Hold & Win spin.

• Reel Expansion expands the playing area up to a 6×5 size. The panda will add a new reel with 3-5 icons or 2-5 symbol positions to existing reels.
• Mystery adds up to 5 golden or jackpot coins to the reels.
• The Multipliers feature adds 2x, 3x, or a 5x multiplier to a reel. They’re applied to all coin and jackpot symbols that appear on that reel.

Double Chance

As its name suggests, the Double Chance feature doubles your chance of activating bonuses at a slight cost.

Shaolin Panda: Hold & Win RTP and Payouts

Shaolin Panda: Hold & Win has an RTP of 95.73% during normal gameplay. Enabling Double Chance increases it slightly to 95.78%.

As mentioned earlier, the game’s jackpot is 10,000x your stake. Despite the impressive top prize, the title has a low volatility, which makes it an attractive pick.