Play Grand Sumo for Free

You might not think that a sport involving two fully grown (and very heavy) men wearing what looks like nappies is a very serious affair, especially when the main aim seems to be to hug each other into submission. But sumo wrestling is one of the most ancient forms of sports in the world, originating in Japan many centuries ago. The most modern form of the competition can be traced back to the late 17th century, although it is believed that the show of strength and power goes back a lot earlier with ties to sacred rituals of the Shinto religion. Nowadays, sumo wrestling is practised as a popular spectacle, much like boxing continues to draw huge crowds from Western audiences.

This free Grand Sumo slot machine puts the player into the middle of the fighting dohyo (the ring in which the sumo wrestlers battle). Around the ring, players will see a couple of advancing sumo rikishi (wrestlers) as well as the gyoji (referee) and a geisha (hostess). If you can handle the battle, then you will notice that the reels reveal a number of icons related to the sumo sport as well as Japanese culture at large, from a series of wrestlers in different positions to icons that depict traditional ornaments, bowls of sushi rice and koi carp - symbolic of good fortune and luck across many Eastern countries.

One of the most unique aspects of this slot is instantly noticeable - the fact that the reels are shaped in a diamond formation with three symbol positions on the outermost reels, four positions on the inner reels and five positions on the central reel. As for the pay;lines, players won’t need to worry too much about them since this 720 ways to win slot machine actually awards its prizes whenever three or more matching icons appear on adjacent reels from left to right. With this in mind, punters simply have to select their preferred wager from the range of options that begins at just 0.20 credits and goes up as high as 30.00 coins. The best prize available when the max bet is in play is 1,500 coins for five bowls of rice.

As well as being the most valuable icon on the reels, the rice symbol also acts as a bonus-triggering symbol that activates a round of 5 free spins whenever three or more appear in any position. This might not sound like the most exciting of bonus game features in the world of real money online slots, but gamblers will have every chance to secure some bigger wins thanks to the fact that the game’s central reel will be filled with stacked wilds that remain in place for the entirety of the extra gameplay feature.

It is no secret that the oriental genre is a popular theme in the free online slots market. That said, the vast majority of slot machines with an Asian theme do tend to focus on the history and culture of China so it is nice to come across a Japanese styled game. If you’d like to get more of a taste for the Far East island, then you should dig into some sushi themed slots such as Sushi Paradise by The Art of Gmaes, Sushi Express by Amaya and Sushi Bar by BetSoft. Once you have had your fill of Japanese food, you can walk it off with some spinning adventures such as Samurai’s Path by Spinomenal.

It is safe to say that this slot packs a lot of punch when it comes to winning potential. With 720 ways to win, players might just find a couple of wins that are worthy of heavyweight sumo status. However, despite this the game doesn’t get too bogged down and heavy with bonus gameplay with just a quick round of 5 free spins and a sticky, stacked wild.