Play KGB Bears for Free

The Games Company software have a knack for coming up with some unique slot machine themes, and this one is proof enough if ever you needed it. It's safe to say that we never expected to find a video slot which combined the fascinating history of the Soviet Union and the cuteness of bears, but then along came KGB Bears. And we're quite glad it did, because this is actually a very enjoyable gambling game that is filled with many funny novelty icons as well as some serious historical references. For example, all of the generic playing card symbols (9, 10, J, Q, K and A) are shown alongside core elements of the Soviet regime, showing propaganda like images of Russians holding hammers and sickles, agricultural machinery in full motion and an image which pays homage to the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

And then there are the ursine espionage agents themselves. These bear characters are trying their best to disguise themselves as Russian natives with their furry ushanka hats, but somehow we don't think they're doing a very good job because let's face it – they still look conspicuously like bears. Bless them. These cumbersome spies aren't completely hopeless, however, because they will show off some great gadgets when they form winning combinations. For instance, one bear will open his umbrella to receive satellite signals and another will turn his hat into a jet pack to make a dashing escape.

Overall, the game screen is filled with colourful symbols, but the general aesthetic is not too bright. As such, the grimness of life behind the Iron Curtain is emulated while still keeping things light-hearted and entertaining. Moreover, an ominously pompous fanfare plays in the background to ensure that the adrenaline keeps flowing with every spin of the reels.

Finding the perfect strategy to defeat the enemy can be tricky with any slot machine. But this game is particularly fiddly because players have up to 50 paylines to play with and a range of bet per line wagers which are as follows: 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 5.00, 10.00, 20.00 and 50.00. That means there are 500 different ways to play, starting with a single payline with a 0.05 bet going up to all 50 paylines with a 50 credit bet.

The least lucrative game icons are those which present normal playing card values such as the 9 symbol which will reward a line bet multiplier of 6x when five appear on a payline. Five 10s will pay a little higher at 8x, Js make for a 10x line bet prize and Qs offer 12x.

From here, the payout values start to hike dramatically with five Ks giving back 20x the value of the line bet and As paying 30x. The bespectacled bear pays up to 50x the line bet, the female bear in a white hat pays 60x, and the chubby hear with a small hat offers 80x. The grand master of the spy ring is the bear in the grey hat who will give you 500x the value of the line bet if you find five lining up on an active line.

Espionage can be difficult without a little tip-off here and there. Luckily this game will provide some much needed intel to spying spinners courtesy of a wild symbol – depicted as a KGB Bears crest (If you look closely enough then you'll notice that the bear in the image has a goatee fashioned after Vladimir Lenin himself).

This wild symbol substitutes for all other icons to create winning lines, except for the scattered camera symbol. In fact, that flashing camera icon will reward free spins whenever three or more appear in play, regardless of paylines. How many and at what multiplier value depends on the randomly chosen numbers at the side of the reels.

KGB Bears offers something a little bit on the silly side while still presenting a slot machine of historical importance. What's more, the game has lots of different betting options on offer, meaning that both rookie spinners and veteran bettors can enjoy the action.