What to Expect from Steam Squad
You are invited to board a rather precarious-looking flying machine in Steam Squad, a steampunk adventure from Red Tiger. This game takes you high into the clouds on a 6x6 grid, where the usual paylines have been completely abandoned. Instead, you win by landing 10 or more matching symbols anywhere on the screen, utilising a Scatter Pays system that feels modern and engaging.
The design relies on a mix of futuristic technology and 19th-century steam power. You start your journey drifting through the sky, but the setting shifts to a mysterious underwater realm during the bonus rounds. It creates an immersive atmosphere that should appeal to anyone who enjoys sci-fi or industrial themes. The visuals are sharp, featuring cogwheels and pipes that perfectly frame the action.
Mastering the Winning Wipeout
The standout mechanic here is the 'Winning Wipeout', which flips the traditional cascading wins logic on its head. When you land a winning combination, those symbols remain locked in place while all non-winning symbols are removed from the grid. New symbols then tumble down to fill the empty gaps, giving you a chance to improve your existing win or add to the cluster.
If these new symbols match your current win, they also lock in place, and the process repeats immediately. This continues until no new matching symbols appear or the grid is entirely full. It is a satisfying loop that allows a single spin to evolve into a much larger payout without you needing to press the spin button again, making every successful round feel like a mini-event.
Steam Squad Symbols and Paytable
The paytable is split clearly between low-value gems and high-value character symbols. The lower tier consists of five colourful gems in purple, blue, green, red, and gold, which appear frequently to keep the bankroll ticking over. For bigger wins, you will want to see the crew: a dog, a scientist, a lady, and an older male captain, all equipped with steampunk goggles.
You need at least 10 matching symbols to trigger a payout, but the rewards increase significantly if you manage to land 20 or more of the same kind. The highest-paying character can award up to 25 times your stake for a full screen. Interestingly, Red Tiger has chosen to omit the Wild symbol entirely, so you must rely solely on the Scatter Pays mechanic to form your winning combinations.
Symbol Payouts
| Symbol | Payout |
|---|---|
 | Scatter |
 | 20+ → x25 |
| 17+ → x12 | |
| 15+ → x8 | |
| 12+ → x4 | |
| 10+ → x3 | |
 | 20+ → x20 |
| 17+ → x10 | |
| 15+ → x6 | |
| 12+ → x3 | |
| 10+ → x2 | |
 | 20+ → x15 |
| 17+ → x7.5 | |
| 15+ → x5 | |
| 12+ → x2.5 | |
| 10+ → x1.5 | |
 | 20+ → x12 |
| 17+ → x6 | |
| 15+ → x4 | |
| 12+ → x2 | |
| 10+ → x1.2 | |
 | 20+ → x10 |
| 17+ → x4 | |
| 15+ → x2 | |
| 12+ → x1.2 | |
| 10+ → x0.8 | |
 | 20+ → x7.5 |
| 17+ → x3 | |
| 15+ → x1.5 | |
| 12+ → x1 | |
| 10+ → x0.6 | |
 | 20+ → x7.5 |
| 17+ → x3 | |
| 15+ → x1.5 | |
| 12+ → x1 | |
| 10+ → x0.6 | |
 | 20+ → x5 |
| 17+ → x2.5 | |
| 15+ → x1.2 | |
| 12+ → x0.8 | |
| 10+ → x0.4 | |
 | 20+ → x5 |
| 17+ → x2.5 | |
| 15+ → x1.2 | |
| 12+ → x0.8 | |
| 10+ → x0.4 |
Steam Squad Bonus Features Explained
The base game is spiced up with several random modifiers. 'Amplifiers' sit above each reel, displaying multipliers ranging from 2x to 100x. If you fill a whole reel with winning symbols, you unlock that multiplier. There is also a 'Power Up' feature where a winning symbol might clone itself to fill a reel, and a 'Booster Row' that can increase multipliers or help continue a wipeout sequence.
Landing three or more Scatter symbols triggers the Free Spins round, transporting you underwater. Here, the Booster Row is always active, moving to different positions on every spin. Crucially, whenever you fill a reel, all the multipliers above the grid increase by +1, and they do not reset between spins. This escalating potential makes the bonus round the best opportunity to get close to the game's maximum win.
RTP, Volatility and Betting
Steam Squad runs on a medium-high volatility math model, meaning wins might not occur on every spin, but they can be decent when they land. The Return to Player (RTP) sits at a fairly standard 95.64%, which is typical for Red Tiger slots. You can place bets ranging from 10p up to £20, catering to both casual players and those with a slightly higher budget.
Despite the high variance, the maximum win is capped at around 3,235x your stake. While this is respectable, it is lower than some other volatile slots on the market. However, the hit rate is nearly 30%, suggesting that you will see winning combinations form reasonably often. For those impatient to see the main event, there is a distinct option to buy the bonus for 70x your stake.
Final Verdict
This slot offers a refreshing twist on the popular Scatter Pays genre. The 'Winning Wipeout' feature creates a unique rhythm where you are rooting for symbols to stay rather than disappear. While the maximum win might feel a bit conservative for a volatile game, the sheer number of modifiers and the engaging steampunk theme make up for it. It is a solid choice if you want innovative mechanics without overly complex rules.
In-Game Screenshots
Steam Squad FAQ
Steam Squad — Comparison
| Game | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96.64% | Above average | x3235 | 6 | |
| 95.72% | High | x23579 | 7.5 | |
| 96% | High | x10500 | 7.5 | |
| 96.25% | High | x21000 | 7.5 | |
| 95.68% | High | x2484 | 8 | |
| 91.7% | Low | x25900 | 7 | |
| 95.72% | Above average | x2649 | 6.5 | |
| 95.8% | Above average | x2813 | 7 | |
| 95.68% | High | x9883 | 6.5 | |
| 95.74% | High | x15138 | 6.5 | |
| 95.71% | High | x2523 | 7.5 | |
| 95.65% | Above average | x6125 | 6.5 | |
| 92.08% | High | x19894 | 6 | |
| 95.69% | High | x12864 | 7 | |
| 96% | High | x10500 | 7 | |
| 95.68% | Average | x1530 | 7 | |
| 95.73% | High | x22307 | 7 | |
| 95.73% | High | x6962 | 6.5 | |
| 95.74% | High | x20482 | 8 | |
| 95.73% | Low | x11059 | 6 | |
| 96.02% | High | x2640 | 7 | |
| 96% | High | x21000 | 8 | |
| 95.68% | High | x10806 | 8.5 | |
| 95.68% | High | x2372 | 6.5 | |
| 95.73% | High | x2135 | 8.3 |
