Playing Sidewinder - First Impressions
Sidewinder is a 5-reel slot developed by Just For The Win and released through Microgaming back in September 2018. It starts on 243 ways to win but can expand up to 1,125 ways during play. I tested it across a bet range of 10p to 100 pounds per spin, and the average volatility kept things ticking along without too many brutal dry spells.
The overall feel sits somewhere between a classic fruit machine and a modern video slot. The grid expansion mechanic is what caught my attention early on - those extra rows opening up change the rhythm of the session noticeably. It runs well on mobile and desktop, and I had no issues swapping between devices mid-session.
Sidewinder Symbols and Paytable
The paytable in Sidewinder splits into clear tiers. At the top you have premium symbols paying up to 8x your stake for five of a kind, with the next tier down offering 7x and 6x respectively. There are also mid-range symbols worth 5x and 4x for a full line. Five low-paying symbols round out the set, each returning 2x for five matches.
What stands out is that Sidewinder carries three separate wild symbols plus a special symbol. All three wilds substitute for regular pay icons, and during my sessions they appeared frequently enough to patch together wins that would otherwise have been dead spins. The special symbol ties into the bonus mechanics and is worth watching for.
Three of a kind on the lower symbols only returns 0.4x, so do not expect much from small hits. The real money sits with the premiums and the wilds working together, especially when the reel set expands. I found the paytable easy to read after a couple of glances.
Symbol Payouts
| Symbol | Payout |
|---|---|
 | 5 → x8 |
| 4 → x5 | |
| 3 → x2 | |
 | 5 → x7 |
| 4 → x4 | |
| 3 → x1.5 | |
 | 5 → x6 |
| 4 → x3 | |
| 3 → x1.2 | |
 | 5 → x5 |
| 4 → x2 | |
| 3 → x1 | |
 | 5 → x4 |
| 4 → x1.5 | |
| 3 → x0.8 | |
 | 5 → x2 |
| 4 → x0.8 | |
| 3 → x0.4 | |
 | 5 → x2 |
| 4 → x0.8 | |
| 3 → x0.4 | |
 | 5 → x2 |
| 4 → x0.8 | |
| 3 → x0.4 | |
 | 5 → x2 |
| 4 → x0.8 | |
| 3 → x0.4 | |
 | 5 → x2 |
| 4 → x0.8 | |
| 3 → x0.4 | |
 | Special |
 | Wild |
 | Wild |
 | Wild |
How Sidewinder Bonus Rounds Work
The core mechanic in Sidewinder revolves around the reel expansion. The grid can grow from 243 ways up to 1,125 ways to win when the sidewinder feature triggers, and that jump in ways makes a real difference to how often winning combinations connect. During my testing, the feature fired at a reasonable rate - not constantly, but enough to keep sessions from going stale.
The three wild types each play a different role in how bonuses build. When wilds land across the expanded grid, multi-way wins stack up quickly. I had a few spins where two or three wilds landed at once on a full 1,125-way layout and the total came back surprisingly strong for a slot with a modest max win cap.
Sidewinder RTP, Volatility and Max Win
Sidewinder runs at an RTP of 96.02%, which is right on the average mark for Microgaming titles from that era. Volatility is rated as average, and that matched my experience - wins came in steady clusters rather than long droughts followed by massive spikes. The max win sits at 1,360x your total bet, which is modest but realistic for this volatility level.
Final Thoughts on Sidewinder
After spending a good stretch with Sidewinder, I came away thinking it is a clean, well-built slot that does not try to overcomplicate things. The expanding reel set from 243 to 1,125 ways gives it a genuine hook, and the triple wild setup keeps base game spins more interesting than most average-volatility titles manage. For UK players who want a straightforward session without chasing massive variance, it fits the bill.
The 1,360x cap will not excite anyone hunting huge payouts, and the slot does show its age compared to more recent Just For The Win releases. But as a dependable mid-range game with a fair RTP and enough mechanical depth to stay engaging, I still reach for it now and then when I want something familiar that does not drain the balance too fast.
In-Game Screenshots
Sidewinder FAQ
Sidewinder — Comparison
| Game | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96.02% | Average | x1360 | ||
| 96.03% | High | x1210 | ||
| 96.03% | High | x50 | ||
| 96.02% | Average | x2717 | ||
| 96.03% | High | x6411 | ||
| 96.02% | Average | x2717 | ||
| 96.03% | Low | x14400 | 5 | |
| 96.01% | Average | x300 | ||
| 96.08% | Average | x2522 | ||
| 96.12% | High | x1000 | 6 | |
| 96.01% | Average | x300 | ||
| 96.03% | Average | x1968 | ||
| 96.02% | Average | x2500 | ||
| 96.02% | Average | x1360 | ||
| 96.03% | Average | x824 | ||
| 96.01% | Average | x250 | ||
| 96.03% | High | 6.3 | ||
| 96% | Low | x18480 | 8 | |
| 92.01% | Average | x8000 | 4 | |
| 96.34% | High | x10000 | ||
| 97.15% | Average | x10000 | ||
| 96.31% | High | x4600 | ||
| 96.23% | High | x10000 | 7 | |
| 96.73% | High | x50000 | 6 | |
| 92.10% | Average | 6 |
