Play Sherlock's Reel Mystery for Free

Sherlock’s Reel Mystery favours a standard layout, with 5 reels and 3 rows. The grid almost entirely covers the screen, though we can make out an old-fashioned style lamppost in the background. Below the grid, there are controls allowing the player to determine his stake-per-line, number of lines and keep tabs on his ‘total paid’ amount. There’s also the all-important Spin button, and a control with and - icons to regulate the number of auto spins you might wish to play. You can play up to 25.

The minimum stake-per-line is 0.02, but the figure rises incrementally all the way up to 25 credits. With 20 lines in play, you can bet a maximum of 500 on any one spin. The lines are also entirely configurable, with the gamer free to play on one if he prefers. The return-to-player percentage is 95.33%.

There are 14 total symbols in Sherlock’s Reel Mystery, which is rather a lot considering only 15 can appear on screen at any one time. However, there are no fewer than five special symbols, including one related to the progressive jackpots. The main character symbols, rendered in cartoon form, include a black dog, Sherlock’s assistant Watson, a moustachioed villain wearing a top hat, a police officer in the old-style blue uniform, Sherlock puffing a pipe, a street sign for Baker Street, a Victorian-era female and three playing card symbols in the form of an Ace, a King and a Queen.

These aren’t regular playing cards, though: the letter just appears on a big holdall, the like of which is used for transporting money. The symbols are colourful and well-sketched on the whole, and the base game jackpot is 250x.

This is a progressive video slot, with three jackpots up for grabs at any one time. Players can win the Mini, the Midi or the Maxi Jackpot by hitting three, four or five magnifying-glass-and-map symbols. There are tabs above the reels recording the amounts associated with each of these progressive jackpots.

The game’s wild is a pistol. It substitutes for all others except the scatter and jackpot symbol. The scatter, three or more of which grants the player between 10-60 free spins, is the violin. This does not need to be found on adjacent reels from left to right, like the others. In the ensuing free spins, you’ll notice Super Wilds come into play. When a wild appears on the board, it remains stuck for the duration of the free spins, enhancing the prospect of pay-outs.

Three or more golden safe icons triggers a bonus feature, where players can win between x4 and x20 their total stake by blowing open safes.

By far the most lucrative special symbol is the one which shows Sherlock meditatively smoking a pipe, attired in his signature green coat and deerstalker cap. The Sherlock symbol is linked with its own mini game just like the golden safe. Land three or more to kick this one into gear, then make five guesses about Moriarty’s disguise. The prizes on offer are truly mouthwatering: between x5 and x500 total stake if you can unmask the master criminal.

Sherlock’s Reel Mystery is certainly one of OpenBet’s best slots. The fast-paced casino game has excellent animations and bonus features, not to mention three progressive jackpots. The betting range is also such that anyone can have a go. If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, or even if you aren’t, plug in some coins and see if you can solve the mystery.