Playing Zombie Hoard - First Impressions
Zombie Hoard is a cartoonish zombie-themed slot from Slingshot Studios, published through Microgaming and released back in March 2019. It runs on a 5x3 grid with just 9 paylines, which felt quite stripped back when I first loaded it up. The visuals have an old 8-bit comic vibe to them, lighthearted and not remotely scary. Think retro zombie humour rather than horror.
Betting runs from 0.09 up to 45 pounds, so the max stake is on the low side. If you are a high roller looking to push big bets, this one probably is not for you. I spent a good couple of hours on it at mid-range stakes and found the base game fairly quiet, with most of the action geared towards building up to the free spins feature.
Zombie Hoard RTP, Volatility and Max Win
The RTP sits at 95.29%, which is a touch below the 96% industry average. Volatility is medium, so you are not going to see enormous dry spells, but the peaks are moderate too. During my session the balance ticked along without any dramatic swings, which felt about right for a medium variance game.
Max win tops out at 2,388 times your stake, or 107,460 coins at the highest bet. There is no progressive or local jackpot attached. Decent enough for a casual session, but do not expect life-changing numbers here.
Zombie Hoard Symbols and Paytable
The paytable splits into lower value symbols and higher value ones, and the lower value symbols can appear with tokens attached to them. That token mechanic is central to how one of the bonus triggers works, so keep an eye on them. The wild substitutes for all other symbols and does its job, though nothing fancy beyond that. The brain symbol acts as the scatter and is the key to triggering free spins the traditional way.
Symbol Payouts
| Symbol | Payout |
|---|---|
 | Wild |
| 5 → x133.33 | |
| 4 → x44.44 | |
| 3 → x6.66 | |
 | Scatter |
| 5 → x100 | |
| 4 → x25 | |
| 3 → x3 | |
| 2 → x1 | |
 | 5 → x55.55 |
| 4 → x17.77 | |
| 3 → x5.55 | |
 | 5 → x44.44 |
| 4 → x13.33 | |
| 3 → x4.44 | |
 | 5 → x27.77 |
| 4 → x8.88 | |
| 3 → x3.33 | |
 | 5 → x8.88 |
| 4 → x3.33 | |
| 3 → x1.66 | |
 | 5 → x8.88 |
| 4 → x3.33 | |
| 3 → x1.66 | |
 | 5 → x6.66 |
| 4 → x2.77 | |
| 3 → x1.33 | |
 | 5 → x6.66 |
| 4 → x2.77 | |
| 3 → x1.33 | |
 | 5 → x4.44 |
| 4 → x2.22 | |
| 3 → x1.11 | |
 | 5 → x4.44 |
| 4 → x2.22 | |
| 3 → x1.11 |
How Zombie Hoard Bonus Rounds Work
Free spins are the only bonus feature, but there are two separate ways to trigger them. The first is through token collection. Lower value symbols can carry tokens, and each one gets stashed away as a single free spin. Once you hit 30 tokens, the feature fires automatically. It takes a while to fill that meter, but you are guaranteed at least 30 spins when it pops.
The second trigger is the classic scatter route. Land 3, 4 or 5 brain scatters and you can get up to 34 free spins. This version comes with super stacked wilds across all reels and a 2x multiplier on every win. In my testing the scatter trigger was the more rewarding route, though it did not land often. The token collection felt more like a slow burn safety net.
Having only one bonus mechanic is limiting, and I did notice long stretches of unremarkable base game spins. The payoff when free spins finally hit was satisfying enough, especially with those stacked wilds filling entire reels during the scatter-triggered round. But variety is not this game's strength.
Zombie Hoard on Mobile
I tried Zombie Hoard on both my Android phone and an iPad. The simple graphics actually work in its favour on smaller screens - everything loads fast and the controls feel responsive. No issues switching between desktop and mobile mid-session. It is a lightweight game that runs smoothly on pretty much any device.
Is Zombie Hoard Worth Playing
Zombie Hoard is a straightforward, no-frills slot that leans heavily on its free spins feature. The dual trigger mechanic is a nice touch, and getting 30-plus spins each time gives you a proper run at building wins. But the low max bet, below-average RTP and lack of any secondary bonus features hold it back. If you want a casual zombie-themed session without too much complexity, it does the job. Just do not expect fireworks.
In-Game Screenshots
Zombie Hoard FAQ
Zombie Hoard — Comparison
| Game | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95.29% | Average | x2388 | 7 | |
| 96.31% | Average | x400 | 5 | |
| 96.18% | High | x2400 | 5 | |
| 96.2% | High | x25000 | ||
| 96.24% | 94.24% | 92.24% | Low | x2500 | 7.8 | |
| 96.08% | Average | x1000 | 4 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 96.24% | Average | x6000 | 8.5 | |
| 96.06% | Average | x800 | 5 | |
| 96.18% | High | x8000 | 6 | |
| 96.03% | Average | x357 | 5 | |
| 96.19% | High | x4000 | 6 | |
| 96.01% | 94.02% | 92.03% | 86.89% | High | x20000 | 8.5 | |
| 95.72% | Low | x3423 | ||
| 94.8% | High | x7150 | 5 |
