Siberian Storm slot review

Siberian Storm slot: the shape of the grid comes first

Most slots use a rectangle. Siberian Storm, from IGT, uses a diamond: the outer reels show three symbols, the next pair show four and the centre reel shows five. The frame is set against an icy landscape, with white tigers, amber-eyed cats, claw marks and blue and red gem-like icons filling the reels. It is one of the better-known animal slots from the land-based world.

That shape is not cosmetic. It produces the game’s 720 ways and changes how wins form, because the middle reels hold more symbols and have more influence on each result. The next section works through the numbers.

Where 720 ways comes from, and why both directions matter

Ways-to-win games multiply the number of symbols on each reel. Here that is 3 × 4 × 5 × 4 × 3 = 720. IGT calls its version MultiWay Xtra, and the twist is that wins pay from left to right and from right to left. A run of three tigers starting on reel 5 and moving inward pays just as a run starting on reel 1 does.

Paying both ways roughly doubles the number of chances to connect, but the paytable is balanced to account for it, so it does not make the game more generous overall. It mainly changes the rhythm: more small hits from either side. Our ways to win entry and the guide to paylines vs ways cover the mechanic in general.

A win counted from both ends on the same spin is possible when a long match covers the middle. The help screen explains how the game handles overlaps; check it if you want to understand an unusual payout.

Wilds and stacked symbols on Siberian Storm

The wild symbol lands on the three middle reels, where the most symbols sit. It substitutes for regular symbols to complete ways wins but does not replace the bonus symbol. Because reel 3 alone shows five positions, a wild there can sit in the path of many ways at once.

Symbols also land in stacks, filling several positions on a reel. On a ways game, a stacked premium symbol multiplies the number of winning combinations quickly: two tigers on reel 2 and three on reel 3 means six ways for that pairing before reel 4 is even counted. Our stacked symbols entry explains why stacks matter more on ways games than on line games.

The Siberian Storm free spins trigger

Free spins are triggered by the tiger-eye bonus symbol appearing on each of the five reels at once. That is a harder condition than the familiar three scatters anywhere, which is why the feature can feel scarce. A trigger awards eight free spins, and landing the full set again during the round adds more, up to the limit shown in the help screen.

1. A tiger-eye bonus symbol lands on reels 1 to 5 in the same spin.
2. Eight free spins are awarded at your current stake.
3. The 720-ways, both-directions system stays in place.
4. Another full set of bonus symbols during the round adds more spins.
5. Winnings from the round are added to your balance when it ends.

There is no way to buy into the round in Great Britain. See our free spins feature and retrigger entries for how rounds like this compare across games.

Siberian Storm RTP: why the version you get matters

Siberian Storm is available in versions from 92.52% to 96%. That spread is wider than on most modern slots, and the cost difference is real. The casino decides which version to run, and the game’s help screen shows it. Our explainer on why RTP differs between casinos covers why operators choose different settings.

On the same play, the low version costs nearly twice as much as the high one in theory. If the help screen shows a figure near the bottom of the range, the same budget will usually stretch less far. For more on reading these numbers, see our RTP range entry.

Medium volatility: what a Siberian Storm session looks like

Siberian Storm is rated medium volatility. With 720 ways paying both directions, small hits come along often, and many of them return less than the stake. UK rules stop the game from celebrating those as wins, and the net position display shows where you actually stand. The bigger results depend on stacked premiums and on free spins, whose five-reel trigger makes them uneven in arrival.

A simple way to plan: at 50p a spin, £40 covers 80 spins before any returns. Medium volatility means you will usually see a mix of returns along the way, but the balance tends to drift down, more quickly on a low-RTP version. Our volatility guide and slot budget guide explain how to set a stake that fits a game’s swings.

Max win on Siberian Storm

We have not been able to verify an official maximum win multiplier for Siberian Storm from IGT, so we do not quote one. What is certain is how UK stake limits shape any prize: £5 a spin is the most a player aged 25 or over can stake, and £2 for those aged 18 to 24, so any multiple of stake is scaled by those limits. The largest results would come from stacked tigers across the reels during free spins.

How to play Siberian Storm step by step

1. Open the help screen and note the RTP version running at your casino.
2. Set your stake; there are no lines to choose, as all 720 ways are always active.
3. Spin. Each spin takes at least 2.5 seconds, with no autoplay or turbo in Great Britain.
4. Check wins from both directions: the game highlights each winning way.
5. Watch for the bonus symbol on all five reels to trigger free spins.
6. Keep track of the net position display throughout the session.

You can try Siberian Storm in demo mode at many UK casinos after age verification. Our free slots page explains the rules.

Siberian Storm compared with other animal slots

IGT’s own Wolf Run is the obvious stablemate, while WMS’s Raging Rhino and Playtech’s Buffalo Blitz are the best-known big-grid wildlife games from other studios.

Siberian Storm’s both-directions pay and diamond grid make it the most distinctive of the four. The 4,096-ways games swing harder; Wolf Run is calmer and line-based.

Siberian Storm pros, cons and who it suits

It suits players who like busy reels and a medium pace, provided the casino runs a version near the top of the range. If the help screen shows the lowest figure, a game from our high RTP slots list will give more play for the same budget.

Where to play Siberian Storm in the UK

Search for Siberian Storm in a licensed casino’s IGT section and check the RTP before depositing. Casumo gives new customers 50% up to £100 on a £20+ first deposit (opt in, 10x wagering within 7 days, £5 max bet); Coral gives 100 free spins at 10p on selected games after a £10 slots bet, with no wagering on winnings; 10bet matches 100% up to £25 with 10x wagering on slots within 3 days. 18+, T&Cs apply.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.