Playing Showdown Saloon - First Impressions
I sat down for a lengthy session with Showdown Saloon, a release from Fortune Factory Studios exclusively for Microgaming. The game immediately sets a gritty tone with its Wild West theme, featuring a classic 5x3 reel layout and 15 fixed betways. From the first spin, the audio design stands out-the sound of reloading guns and shuffling poker chips really pulls you into the atmosphere.
The gameplay feels sharp and polished. While the base game can be quiet due to the high variance, the Mystery Stacks feature keeps the tension high. You constantly see stacks of matching symbols drifting past, teasing the potential for a full screen connection. It feels like a high-stakes poker game where you are waiting for that one perfect hand to land.
Symbols and Paytable
The symbols on the reels perfectly match the saloon setting. You have your standard lower-value playing card suits, but the premium symbols are where the money lies: whiskey bottles, poker chips, dice, and guns. The game also features a Wild symbol which substitutes for all paying symbols, crucial for connecting wins across those 15 paylines.
What makes the paytable interesting is the Mystery Stacks mechanic. On every spin, a stack of Mystery Symbols is replaced by a single matching symbol type. This includes the massive Mega Symbols (3x3), which can land to cover the central reels. Seeing the high-paying gun symbols stack up across the screen is visually satisfying and indicates the potential for the game's top payouts.
Symbol Payouts
| Symbol | Payout |
|---|---|
 | Wild |
| 5 → x100 | |
| 4 → x10 | |
| 3 → x1.5 | |
 | 5 → x7 |
| 4 → x2 | |
| 3 → x1 | |
 | 5 → x4 |
| 4 → x1.25 | |
| 3 → x0.5 | |
 | 5 → x3 |
| 4 → x1 | |
| 3 → x0.35 | |
 | 5 → x2 |
| 4 → x1 | |
| 3 → x0.25 | |
 | 5 → x1.25 |
| 4 → x0.4 | |
| 3 → x0.2 | |
 | 5 → x1.25 |
| 4 → x0.4 | |
| 3 → x0.2 | |
 | 5 → x1 |
| 4 → x0.4 | |
| 3 → x0.2 | |
 | 5 → x1 |
| 4 → x0.4 | |
| 3 → x0.2 | |
 | Scatter |
Mystery Stacks and Respin Mechanics
The core mechanic that kept me engaged was the Respin feature. It triggers when you land matching full symbol stacks on reel 2, 3, and 4 adjacent to reel 1. Essentially, if you lock in a match on the left, the game holds those reels and spins the remaining ones again.
In my experience, this feature triggers fairly often compared to the main bonus. It gives you a second chance to improve a winning combination or land a 5-of-a-kind hit. The anticipation as the remaining reels spin, hoping to lock in more stacks, adds a great layer of excitement to the base game grind.
Free Spins Bonus Round
To trigger the main event, you need to land stackable Scatter symbols on the reels. Hitting 3 or more Scatters, which must appear on adjacent reels starting from the left, launches the Free Spins feature. This was quite difficult to trigger during my testing, reflecting the slot's high volatility.
Once inside, the mechanic is similar to the base game but feels punchier. The Mystery Stacks and Respins are active here too, and this is where you can chase the game's maximum win potential of 5,000x your stake. The combination of Scatters and stacks makes the re-trigger potential theoretically possible, though I found it tough to land.
Betting Stats, RTP and Volatility
Mathematically, Showdown Saloon is a High variance machine. The RTP is solid at 96.16%, which is standard for the industry. You can place bets ranging from £0.20 up to £100 per spin, accommodating both casual players and high rollers.
Be prepared for swings in your balance. The high volatility means you might endure long streaks of dead spins or small wins before hitting a significant payout through the Respin or Free Spins features. Proper bankroll management is essential here, as the game can drain funds quickly while you hunt for those Mystery Stacks.
Final Verdict on Showdown Saloon
Showdown Saloon offers a robust Western experience with a specific focus on symbol matching mechanics. The visual presentation of the 3x3 Mega Symbols and the Respin feature provides a nice break from standard spinning reels. While the lack of paylines might frustrate some, the potential for big recurring wins via the stacks makes it a worthwhile play for fans of high-risk slots.
In-Game Screenshots
Showdown Saloon FAQ
Showdown Saloon — Comparison
| Game | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96.1% | High | x1500 | 5 | |
| 96% | Average | x5845 | 7 | |
| 96.44% | High | x5000 | 6 | |
| 96.26% | Average | x1000 | 5 | |
| 96% | High | x3119 | 5 | |
| 96.31% | High | x5000 | 5 | |
| 96% | 94% | 92% | 86.70% | High | x5000 | 10 | |
| 95.07% | High | x20000 | 6 | |
| 96.50% | High | x5000 | 8 | |
| 96.80% | High | x12000 | 7 | |
| 96% | High | x5000 | 5 | |
| 96.12% | High | x10000 | ||
| 96% | High | x5000 | ||
| 96.08% | Average | x1000 | 4 | |
| 96.24% | 94.24% | 92.24% | Low | x2500 | 7.8 | |
| 96.2% | High | x25000 | ||
| 96.18% | High | x2400 | 5 | |
| 96.31% | Average | x400 | 5 | |
| 95.29% | Average | x2388 | 7 | |
| 96.28% | Low | x230 | 6 | |
| 92.06% | High | 7.5 | ||
| 96.21% | 94.17% | 92.23% | High | x10000 | 8.5 | |
| 96% | Average | x5000 | ||
| 96.26% | High | x25000 | ||
| 94.28% | High | x5000 | 7.5 | |
| 95.79% | High | x4982 |
