Mystery Jack Deluxe slot review

Mystery Jack Deluxe is a rather colourful Wild West train heist. The reel-set is a simple 3x3 but has 27 ways to win and some exciting payout possibilities. The “Mystery Jack" part of the title has to do with the jackpot prize, which is a 500x the bet in the best of all possible scenarios.

I decided to play it not only because of the “mystery prize.” Surprisingly, this three-reel slot offers more features than what is usual. For starters, there is free spins feature, a gamble feature, and a wild symbol. I resolved to just ignore the cartoonish graphics and give it a try.

Theme and Graphics

The background is set against a dry prairie in the middle of nowhere. This sounds like the perfect setting for a mean Wild West shootout, but that this game is not. The graphics on Mystery Jack Deluxe are simple enough to match all of those fruit symbols on the paytable.

The graphic design isn't that bad and actually works as a mix between a fruit slot and a wild west money heist theme. The only thing that I found appealing in this regard was the full banjo song that loops to infinity and back. It is a nice touch by Wazdan, but some 50 spins in and you'll reach for the mute button too.

Features

There are several details that set this game apart from most others in the three-reel category. For starters, the game has 27 ways to win, making it possible to achieve wins with three matching symbols that are set by standard paylines.

A wild symbol is another crucial aspect to the game, as it is a much-useful substitute for all but two symbols: mystery and bonus.

• Mystery Jack Deluxe Free Spins

  The bonus is triggered with three train cars that have the words Free Spins traveling on top. You start with nine free spins during which both the wild and the mystery symbols are present, as are all remaining symbols on the paytable.

• Mystery Symbol

  This is the title-giving symbol and it is rightfully called “Mystery”. It doesn’t provide a bonus feature, but I will treat it as one because it brings the biggest payout in the game, which is 500x your bet. This is in the best-case scenario, because being a “Mystery” symbol, it can return any amount between 500x and the smallest payout which is 1x the bet.

• Gamble Option

  A good share of the slots made by Wazdan have a gamble option. To activate the gamble game, you need to press the x2 button above the spin button and then go on to choose one of the two carts. Each good guess doubles your winnings up to that point. If the mean outlaw jumps from behind the cart, he robs you of your winnings on the spot.

Bets and Payouts

The game has a maximum win potential of 820x, which I don't think is a petty amount. Getting anywhere near this outcome is possible only in the free spins bonus, by a trifecta of getting the best amount from the mystery symbol payout, plus three wilds at 160x the bet, plus a win with three of the high-paying Red Bull symbols.

In terms of payout potentials, the game draws a fine line between high and low-paying symbols. The class of fruit symbols can reward you between 1x and 8x your bet, while the BAR, bull and Wild symbols pay 40x, 80x and 160x respectively.

The “problem” that I encountered was getting too many fruit symbols on the reels. The game has a total of eleven symbols in the low-paying category, which leaves little if any room for the high-paying symbols.

A theoretical return to player of 96.49% seems quite reasonable. Those players who do like to go for the high payouts can choose the volatility between low, medium and high.

Summary

This is one of the rare examples of a three-reel slot that can provide both a fun gameplay and a decent payout potential. Sure there are slots with 10,000x and more, but in this game you can choose the volatility and all of the symbols return the wager, at least.

I didn’t get three mystery symbols, so I can’t comment on the approximate rate at which this outcome may occur. Nevertheless, that is the chief feature of the game and I think it is one worth playing for.