The Runemakers DoubleMax Slot

Okay, I need to clear up one issue before I delve into the main review. The Runemakers DoubleMax game was actually made by Bang Bang Games, a partner of the much larger software company Yggdrasil. Despite this, The Runemakers DoubleMax looks and feels like a Yggdrasil slot, but that is by the by, and we can now all move on and into the more detailed aspects of this slot review. 

To note, you will not only learn about the software's performance and gaming features but also have full access to the official demo of this game. You can play this on any mobile device without the need to download it. You don’t have to register, and at Casinos.com, you can also find the real money online casinos that supply The Runemakers DoubleMax in its original format. 

So, The Runemakers DoubleMax game is designed around Norse mythology and comes in gorgeous coloring of blues and links. The slot itself is massive and comes with a 6x6 layout. This is a Cluster Pays game, so there are no set paylines. Throughout the play and relative to what features you trigger, the game's design will change dramatically, which is a great touch. 

The first point that needs to be made is discussing how a cluster pays slot game functions. So, The Runemakers DoubleMax does not have paylines, which means that wins can only be made by formed clusters of symbols; whether they cluster vertically or horizontally doesn’t matter. There need to be five or more matching symbols within a cluster to constitute a win. 

When a win is triggered, the symbols that made the cluster explode and vanish from the game. The symbols placed above them fall into their former place. Then, new symbols enter the game from above to fill all vacant space. This is called a cascade, and it helps to form consecutive wins. This means as new symbols form in new positions, win after a win can be made without your game balance depleting. 

Before you play, you need to set the wagering cost you pay per spin. Prices range from $0.20 to $50. When you set the cost or bet amount, you can select spin to start the game.

The basics of this game are above. Despite how it may look, there is nothing complicated about playing The Runemakers DoubleMax. The game is virtually automated, anyway. You win, and the rest is left up to chance. 

The game comes with other special features that can help maximize your game time and your money. 

Now, the game title alludes to a DoubleMax, so what is it? The DoubleMax is essentially a multiplier. When you produce a winning cluster, should any win form thereafter, it will be multiplied to increase the win value. The multiplier is double the amount; there's no surprise there. However, this action of multiplying wins continues win after win until there is no win.

The Runemakers DoubleMax also includes Mystic Mysteries. During symbol replacements, a.k.a. the cascade, the Mystic symbols may fall into the reels. Once one or more drop into the game, they will reveal a matching symbol to help potentially boost wins. 

The game does come with a free spins bonus feature. This is triggered by landing 3+ scatter symbols. In turn, you will receive seven free spins. However, before you play these spins, a mini-game allows you to gamble those spins for more. The mini-game allows you to win up to 11 free spins. If you lose this game, you can wind up losing all spins and exiting the bonus round. 

If you find the game to be somewhat of a bore, then you can skip the main game and buy your way into the bonus round at a cost. Now, this is not cheap, and the amount is 125x the value you are paying to spin. There is also no guarantee that activating the buy bonus slots feature will win you enough money to recoup what you initially spent.

Firstly, I’m not the biggest fan of Yggdrasil and their minion studios. Often, their games are kind of boring. They nearly all come with high volatility, and not much happens. Even with this game, sizable clusters have very low returns, reaching at most a 10x return on what you are betting if you land 14 or more cluster symbols. It’s pretty average at best.

I played this game in its demo mode, as you can do right here in this review. I set my cost of spins at $2 and played 50 spins. The game played as I imagined it would. It feels more like style over substance, and in the end, when my balance was negative, I was happy that I would never have to see this game ever again.

The maximum amount that The Runemakers DoubleMax pays out is 15,000x the amount you’re paying per spin. This means at $50 per play, the jackpot would be $750,000. This is why the volatility of the game is programmed to a high volatility limit. The RTP or Return to Player is rated 96%, which is a fairly typical theoretical payback rate. 

I can see the appeal of the game, but all the elements that Bang Bang Games have put into this are nothing new. The DoubleMax feature is a Yggdrasil stamp on some of their games. These include Double Lucky Mushrooms DoubleMax, CleoPatrick DoubleMax, and Wise Catch 2 DoubleMax.

However, games like this and from this developer just ain’t my thing. If you like mythological games, then my top suggestions are as follows: Viking Runecraft Apocalypse by Play’n GO, Power of Gods: Valhalla by Wazdan, and Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake by Play’n GO.

You can play the official demos of these slots at Casinos.com, where you can also join the best casinos online that offer these games in their real money format.