Silver Bells Slot Machine
The Silver Bells video slot jingle to the sound of real cash prizes. This software by NuWorks is not just for Christmas, but a present-filled slot at any time of year. If 30 paylines and free spins with 3x multipliers gets you ho ho hoing, then Silver Bells is the slot for you. On top of which, just because it's Christmas, there are two progressive jackpots to be won.
As Silver Bells is developed by NuWorks, fans of RTG games will find this software very familiar. Closely linked to RTG through the same parent company, NuWorks does well to take advantage of its big sister's established platform.
This relatively young company on the gaming market have produced an impressive body of work to date. The free Silver Bells slot is just one of the latest releases to add to their increasing canon.
Despite its shiny new status, though, the retro styling of the game makes it feel more late eighties or early nineties. Gamblers of a certain age will appreciate the nostalgic throwback in this Christmas-themed slot.
Regardless of your age, however, betting for the free Silver Bells will appeal to low limits and mid-range gamblers alike. Players can adjust the 30 paylines and place bets from 0.01 per spin to a, disappointingly limited, max bet of 7.50.
Get spinning these reels to make as many winning combinations as possible. Thanks to a choice of settings, players can adjust the slot to suit their preferences. Adjust the speed of the reels, opt for autoplay or tweak the music and sound effects for your ultimate game.
Unable to bear the suspense any longer? Let's tear off the wrapping paper to examine gameplay and paytable in more detail.
Big Wins of up to 800x Your Line Bet
The Silver Bells' 5x3 reel set is wrapped in snowflake covered wrapping paper. It sits in a pile of gaudy presents, covered with fairy lights and a big green bow. Function buttons are baubles and the spin button flashes on a snowflake to the right of the reels.
The whole effect is a wonderfully kitsch Christmas affair. If you're of a generation that remembers a childhood Christmas starring Home Alone and Die Hard on tv, then Silver Bells will be a classic trip down memory lane. You just have to glance at the top 30 Christmas movies to see that 1982 - 1995 had Christmas all wrapped up.
Glossy gold playing cards nine through ace form the low-paying symbols on the reels. Payouts from these symbols start from 5x your line bet for 3OAK and increase to 300x for 5OAK. Next, come the present and crackers which both offer payouts from 20x - 500x your line bet.
The top payouts from standard symbols come from the host and hostess. The man is wrapping presents, sporting tasteful Christmas knitwear and the woman is cooking the turkey in her finest evening gown. Both these perfect hosts reward their guests with a 5x multiplier for 2OAK and up to 800x your line bet for 5OAK.
Despite such high multipliers at the top end of the paytable, though, medium volatility means there's a lot of cash sapping action. Because you can't increase the line bets enough, the low-paying payouts will steadily deplete your bankroll. We need to look to special features and bonus rounds for bigger real cash prizes.
Multipliers Galore
Fortunately, we have both special features and a bonus game to offer more festive prize winnings in the free Silver Bells slot.
Generous Father Christmas wild symbols offer the most handsome stocking-fillers with a 25x multiplier for 2OAK, up to 2500x for 4OAK. 5OAK rewards the game's top fixed jackpot of 5000x your line bet.
However, his gifts don't end there. He offers the usual substitution, but here it's for for all symbols on the reels, including scatters. And, where he does complete winning combinations, he will double the win.
Three Christmas bell scatters will award 1x - 200x your total bet when landing on the reels. Plus, they have the power to trigger the free spins round. This round can be a real Christmas cracker. You can achieve 15, 30 or 75 free spins from three, four or five scatters with wilds.
However, achieve the scatters alone and your free spins double. That's up to 150 free spins. Plus, further spins can be triggered during the round. On top of which, all wins during free spins are tripled.
Finally the game offers two locally progressive jackpot prizes, the Major and Minor, which can be won randomly by any lucky player. Surely that's enough Christmas treats even for Verucca Salt.
Where Can I Get the Christmas Spirit?
Availability for NuWorks games is still relatively limited, as compared to sister company RTG.
Silver Bells was launched in November, 2017 and is available on flash enabled web browsers, therefore no download needed. However, many of NuWorks casinos still work on a download only basis. If you're unsure about an online casino or, if you're looking to play at a new site, it's best first to check out our guide to safe and reliable gaming online.
The Silver Bells video slot does have a play for free format. We'd recommend this option for players new to NuWorks titles, just to get the measure of volatility.
Other Titles Similar to Silver Bells
In case you're just so over Christmas that you can't face the free Silver Bells slot right now, Casino Technology's Lucky Dollar slot offers a very similar setup. The 30 paylines here also boast a free spins round with 3x multipliers. Theme, however, offers a very different atmosphere and is focused on the gun-toting Wild West.
Alternatively, you might like to venture for some higher volatility. Microgaming's wild Karaoke Party offers just 9 paylines, but a far higher wagering option. This means you can get bigger wins from the free spins with 3x multipliers. For a disco-jiving, funky vibe to boost your mood and your bankroll, you can't beat this party-themed slot. However, with higher volatility it's not for the faint-hearted.
The Silver Bells Verdict
We love the nostalgia throwback to the Silver Bells video slot. Styling feels like any classic early nineties Christmas film you can think of, and would certainly get players in the festive mood. However, this online slot isn't without its limitations.
The low wagering options, combined with medium volatility, makes it a challenge to build a decent bankroll during base game. Features and bonus improve your chances, but what you really want from this Father Christmas, is a better max bet.
If you're a regular fan of NuWorks titles, and are registered with one of their online casinos, then the free Silver Bells slot is a winning addition to the canon. The wonderfully cheesy theme, up to 150 free spins, plus two jackpots on offer, could mean all your Christmases come at once.
