Hidden

Extensive Review of Hidden Online Slot by ELK Studios

Developer: ELK Studios
Release Date: 2021
Theme: Mystery, Hidden Treasure, Ancient Ruins
Reels: 5
Rows: 4
Paylines: 1,024 ways to win
Volatility: High
RTP: 96.1%
Max Win: 25,000x your stake


Overview

Hidden by ELK Studios, released in 2021, is a mysterious and visually captivating online slot that invites players to explore ancient ruins, seeking hidden treasures in a jungle setting. The game features a 5×4 reel setup with 1,024 ways to win, making it an engaging and thrilling experience with significant potential for large payouts. Combining stunning visuals, intriguing mystery, and immersive gameplay mechanics, Hidden stands out as one of ELK Studios’ most unique and exciting slot offerings.

The high volatility nature of Hidden means that wins may be less frequent but can be substantial when they do occur. With an RTP of 96.1%, players are offered a fair return on their investment, although the high volatility means players should be prepared for some dry spells. What sets Hidden apart is its innovative features such as expanding symbols, free spins, and wild multipliers, making it not only an atmospheric experience but also one with exciting win potential. The game also boasts a massive max win of 25,000x your stake, ensuring players have the chance to hit significant payouts.


Theme and Visuals

The theme of Hidden revolves around the discovery of ancient treasures hidden deep in a jungle filled with secrets. The atmosphere is mysterious and evocative, with dense foliage, ancient ruins, and hidden artifacts surrounding the reels. The game’s soundtrack complements the theme with exotic, rhythmic beats that heighten the sense of adventure and intrigue.

The game’s symbols reflect the hidden treasure theme, featuring items like ancient idols, scrolls, treasure chests, and mystical creatures. The high-value symbols include an idol, a treasure chest, a snake, and a mysterious woman, while the lower-paying symbols are represented by the classic A, K, Q, J, and 10 cards, all adorned with tribal designs to match the game’s atmosphere.

The most important symbols in Hidden are the Wild symbol, represented by a golden treasure chest, and the Scatter symbol, represented by a glowing ancient artifact. The visuals are beautifully designed, with animations bringing the symbols to life and adding to the sense of discovery as players unlock hidden treasures and bonuses.

The background is set in a dense jungle, with the reels framed by stone columns and vines, enhancing the feeling of uncovering long-lost secrets. As you spin, the jungle’s mystery comes to life with every spin, giving the game an exciting and immersive atmosphere. The game is beautifully crafted, with high-quality graphics and smooth animations that ensure a visually rewarding experience.


Gameplay and Mechanics

Hidden uses a 5×4 reel layout with up to 1,024 ways to win, which means players do not need to land matching symbols on specific paylines but rather on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. This gives players a much higher chance to land winning combinations, especially during bonus rounds or when symbols expand to cover more positions on the reels.

Here are some key features and mechanics that make Hidden stand out:

  • Expanding Symbols:
    One of the most exciting features of Hidden is the Expanding Symbols mechanic. When a symbol lands on the reels, it can expand to cover an entire reel. This increases the chances of creating winning combinations, as expanded symbols can fill multiple positions, creating more ways to win. Expanding symbols are especially useful during the Free Spins round, where they can increase the potential for big payouts by filling the reels with high-value symbols. The game features a random Expanding Symbol that is chosen before the Free Spins round begins. During Free Spins, whenever that symbol lands on the reels, it will expand to cover an entire reel, giving players the opportunity to land massive wins.
  • Wild Symbol:
    The Wild symbol in Hidden is represented by a golden treasure chest. Wilds are highly valuable as they substitute for all other symbols (except for the Scatter) to help form winning combinations. Wilds can appear stacked on the reels, which increases the chances of creating large winning combinations, especially when the reels expand and cover more positions. Additionally, Wilds come with a multiplier attached, which increases the payout for any combination that they are part of. This feature can significantly boost the value of wins, especially in combination with expanded symbols and Free Spins.
  • Free Spins Feature:
    The Free Spins feature in Hidden is triggered by landing three or more Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. When the Free Spins round is activated, players are awarded a set number of free spins, during which the Expanding Symbols mechanic comes into full play. The Free Spins round can be retriggered by landing additional Scatter symbols during the bonus round, giving players even more chances to win. During Free Spins, a random symbol is chosen to be the Expanding Symbol, which can expand to cover entire reels whenever it lands. This significantly increases the win potential, as multiple expanded symbols can cover the reels, creating more ways to win and resulting in larger payouts. The addition of Wild multipliers during Free Spins further boosts the excitement and the chance to score big rewards.
  • Multiplier Feature:
    Hidden also incorporates a multiplier feature that enhances the game’s potential for large payouts. When Wilds land, they are not just substitutes but also come with a multiplier that boosts the payout for any winning combination they help form. This multiplier can make a significant difference, especially when combined with the Expanding Symbols during Free Spins or when multiple Wilds land on the reels.

RTP and Volatility

Tahiti Gold offers a solid RTP of 96.1%, which is in line with most modern slots. This RTP indicates that the game is designed to provide a fair return over the long term, though players should expect the high volatility to result in periods without frequent payouts. High volatility slots like Hidden offer the potential for large wins but require a bit more patience, as big wins are less frequent.

With high volatility, Hidden is best suited for players who enjoy the thrill of big wins and are prepared for longer dry spells. When the wins do come, they have the potential to be substantial, especially during the Free Spins round or when multiple Wilds and Expanding Symbols align.


Max Win Potential

One of the standout features of Hidden is its impressive max win potential. Players can win up to 25,000x their stake, which is a significant amount, especially considering the high volatility of the game. This potential is unlocked through a combination of Expanding Symbols, Wild multipliers, and the Free Spins feature. The game’s design allows for the possibility of landing huge payouts when the reels expand, and when high-value symbols land together with multipliers and Wilds, the payout potential increases exponentially.


Mobile Compatibility

Hidden is fully optimized for mobile play, ensuring that players can enjoy the game on smartphones and tablets with no compromise in quality or gameplay. The game retains its stunning visuals, smooth animations, and immersive sound design on smaller screens, with the user interface easily adjustable for mobile devices.

The controls are simple and intuitive, allowing players to adjust their bet sizes, trigger features, and spin the reels with ease. The mobile version of Hidden delivers the same excitement and opportunities as the desktop version, making it ideal for players who want to enjoy the game on the go.


Final Thoughts

Hidden by ELK Studios is an exceptional online slot that combines a rich, mysterious theme with thrilling gameplay mechanics and massive win potential. The game’s innovative features, such as Expanding Symbols, Wild multipliers, and Free Spins, provide a captivating experience filled with opportunities to win big. The high volatility adds to the excitement, while the stunning visuals and atmospheric soundtrack immerse players in a world of ancient treasures and jungle secrets.

With an RTP of 96.1% and a max win of 25,000x your stake, Hidden is a slot that promises both thrilling gameplay and significant rewards. Its combination of expanding symbols, wild multipliers, and a high-paying Free Spins feature makes it a highly engaging and potentially lucrative choice for players who enjoy the adventure and thrill of high volatility slots.

Pros:

  • High win potential with a 25,000x max win.
  • Beautifully designed with a captivating, mysterious theme.
  • Expanding Symbols and Wild multipliers add excitement and winning potential.
  • Free Spins feature with retrigger options and high-value symbol expansions.
  • Fully optimized for mobile play with a seamless gaming experience on all devices.

Cons:

  • High volatility may not be suitable for players seeking frequent, smaller wins.
  • New players may need time to fully grasp the Expanding Symbols and Wild multipliers.

Overall, Hidden is a must-try for fans of mystery-themed slots and players who enjoy high volatility slots with the chance of big payouts. With its rich theme, exciting features, and immersive atmosphere, it’s a slot that will keep players engaged and coming back for more.