5k Gold Mine

4ThePlayer are back with another unique idea, and this time they’re teaming their originality with Dream Drop Jackpots – brainchild of Relax Gaming. We’re digging for gold today, both literally and metaphorically, as we leave behind the picturesque landscape of 3 Lucky Leprechauns and head to the Old West in 5k Gold Mine Dream Drop – complete with a distinctive Trail Bonus, the first of its kind from the team at 4ThePlayer. With a fixed RTP of 94.0% (which will involve a jackpot contribution), this highly (5/5) volatile release is capable of producing wins up to 5,500x bet – excluding jackpots.

5k Gold Mine Base Game

Everything visual in 5k Gold Mine screams ‘4ThePlayer’. There’s no dark take on a mining experience in this release, comparatively to the likes of Fire in the Hole or Dead Canary from the team at Nolimit City. Instead, things are bright and colourful, with crates of gold, barrels, diamonds, dynamite, a prospector, and even a friendly yellow canary to the side of the reels. That might all pass by you though, since attention is immediately given to the Trail Bonus itself – sitting proudly around the edge of the reels, complete with a 5,000x bet gold square. The whole thing almost looks like a board game, adding a distinguishing look to the game – much better than the trail only appearing when activated, or being in a completely different area. A western track ties it all together, working with the sound effects to add character.

5k Gold Mine Offers Players 1,024 Ways to Win

5k Gold Mine Base Features

Taking place across 5 reels, wins are formed on 5k Gold Mine by matching at least 2 or 3 symbols on adjacent reels, beginning with the leftmost reel. Each reel holds 4 symbols with winning combinations happening in any position, forming 1,024 ways to win. Symbols available begin with non premiums, with 10s, Js, Qs, Ks, and As, awarding wins between 0.20 and 0.30x bet for 3 of a kind matches, increasing to values between 1 and 1.50x bet for 5 of a kind wins. At the premium end, pickaxes, lanterns, hard hats, and leather satchels filled with gold nuggets make up the action, awarding wins between 0.50 and 0.80x bet for 3 of a kind wins, increasing to values between 2 and 3x bet for 5 of a kind matches. The prospector acts as the highest paying symbol and the only to pay across 2 ways, awarding wins of 0.50, 1, 2, or 4x bet for 2, 3, 4, or 5 of a kind respectively. Finally, dynamite Wild symbols are available to substitute for all symbols except Gold Rush Scatters.

Land Gold Rush Scatters to Play on the Gold Rush Trail

Alright, so the main thing to look out for in 5k Gold Mine are the aforementioned Gold Rush Scatters. Each time at least 1 Gold Rush Scatter lands in view, you have an opportunity to play on the Gold Rush Trail – the track around the edge of the reels, which contains a small silver cart. The starting point on this trail is the centre position of the bottom track.

Gold Rush Scatters also contain carts, which spin to reveal one of the following outcomes:

• Move – move around the trail the revealed number of steps in the specified direction.
• Collect – win the current trail prize, then return to the starting position.
• Restart – return to the starting position.
• Cash Prize – win a cash prize.
• Dream Drop – win the Dream Drop Jackpot game.

When Collect is revealed, the current trail prize will be the prize of the track position upon which the cart currently sits. Available prizes are:

• Cash Prizes – each position contains a number, represented as a bet multiplier.
• Free Spins – 1o spins are awarded.
• Dream Drop Jackpot game.
• Mystery Prize – choose from 3 green gems to reveal a cash prize, collect, 10 Free Spins, the Dream Drop Jackpot game, or directions to move a certain number of steps in the specified direction.

Collect must be revealed in order to be awarded the prize you have landed upon. Progression around the Gold Rush Trail is stored per bet level.

Through Gold Rush Scatters Players Can Move Around the Trail, Trigger Cash Prizes, Trigger the Dream Drop Jackpot Game, Return to the Start, or Collect Trail Prizes, Including Cash, Free Spins, or Mystery Prizes

When the Dream Drop Jackpot game is triggered players will be taken to a new screen with a smaller track. This track only contains positions marked Rapid, Midi, Maxi, Major, or Mega. The centre of the track will spin to reveal a direction, and a number of steps that your cart will move. When Collect is revealed, the Jackpot behind your cart will be awarded.

There are 5 possible Jackpots, each taking up a different number of positions on the track:

• Rapid (6/18 track positions) – €1 seed
• Midi (5/18 track positions) – €5 seed
• Maxi (4/18 track positions) – €100 seed
• Major (2/18 track positions) – €25,000 seed
• Mega (1/18 track positions) – €500,000 seed

You are guaranteed to win one Jackpot in the Dream Drop Jackpot game.

5k Gold Mine Dream Drop Jackpot Game

5k Gold Mine Bonus

Free Spins can be triggered through a Mystery Prize or by revealing Collect when on the Free Spins square of the trail. In either instance, 10 Free Spins are awarded. During Free Spins, Gold Rush Scatters continue to land, although now they either award a cash prize or directions to move a certain number of steps in the specified direction.

When a trail position is landed upon, its value or feature is automatically collected during Free Spins – there is no need to actually land ‘Collect’. The cart will also not be reset back to the starting position after collecting. Players can trigger an additional 5 or 10 spins by landing on the specified squares, in which case the re-trigger will be automatically granted. The Dream Drop Jackpot positions are removed during Free Spins.

Unlock Additional Spins As You Move Around the Gold Rush Trail

Players in appropriate regions can take advantage of the following Buy Feature options:

• 10 Free Spins – 100x bet
• Gold Rush Trail Mega Spin (5 Gold Rush Scatters with guaranteed collect) – 150x bet

When buying either feature the cart will be reset to the starting position for the start of the feature, and returned to its previous position in the base game after the feature has ended. During the Mega Spin, Dream Drop Jackpot positions are removed and cart positions are not reset between each Scatter reveal.

The maximum win available in 5k Gold Mine is 5,500x bet (excluding jackpots), If the sum of a single game round exceeds this, the game round will end and 5,500x bet will be awarded.

5k Gold Mine Free Spins

First Impression

We frequently hear feedback from players that there just isn’t enough happening in the base game of a lot of recent slot releases, but 5k Gold Mine turns this on its head – lending more proof to where the name ‘4ThePlayer’ came from. What’s interesting is that there isn’t just excitement when you collect Free Spins or any of the other prizes available, including Dream Drop Jackpots, but more a continued anticipation as you eagerly await ‘Collect’ – especially when you’re on one of the positions with the largest values. For example, after landing on the 5,000x position, what felt like the world’s slowest roll made sure I knew I was on the cusp of greatness.

Free Spins are where things get really exciting, with progression around the board and positions not resetting between each collect. Mystery prizes, cash prizes, and additional spins all pave the way for things to kick off. When the right movement occurs, the highest value position could see you land 5,000x bet in one fell swoop – with wins up to 5,500x bet available in total (excluding jackpots).

Finally, maths is highly (5/5) volatile and RTP is fixed at 94.0%, including a currently unknown jackpot contribution. We aren’t sure yet if a regular 5k Gold Mine will be available without Dream Drop Jackpots, but if there is one RTP will undoubtably be higher in that version.

It might takes a few spins to work out the collection mechanic, but once you get going 5k Dream Drop proves to be an exhilarating journey around one of the most unique boards we’ve seen.

*The screenshots taken of games reviewed on this site are taken from Demo Play, as reviews are often written before games are released for real play.