Fruit machines are the ones that started it all, so we will be taking a look at a classically styled slot called Mystery Reels. To this date, Mystery Reels is one of the most successful titles from Red Tiger, and it has been remade in different variations. Our focus right now will be on the original game, so let’s see how it holds up to more recent releases.
From the first glance, Mystery Reels may seem like a very straight forward fruit slot, but as the name suggests, there are few mysteries, that make this slot more desirable than you think. We are talking about the bonus features, that make Mystery Reels more than just a fruit slot. This game also comes with a big 5000x max win, so it's getting clearer why this slot had and still has so many fans. Let the mysteries begin!
Mystery Reels Review
Game Layout: 5 Reels x 3 Rows
Design and Payouts
Visually, Mystery Reels isn’t the flashiest game. It’s a simple fruit machine that comes with a techno soundtrack, which only plays during the spins (It’s a common thing on older generation slots). Speaking of visuals, the game symbols are also not that 
majestic. They are your standard fruits like a Plum, Watermelon, Cherry, Grape and Lemon. Additionally to those comes the number seven and the bell symbol. All these symbols look almost like stickers, so they are quite two dimensional. In a way, Mystery Reels was created as a classical style slot, so all this feedback is not to be taken directly as something negative. If visuals and effects are important to you, then Mystery Reels might make you look elsewhere. But if gameplay is your priority, then keep on reading.
Very first fruits slot came with a 3x3 game layout, but Mystery Reels utilizes a more popular 5 reel design. This also guarantees 20 win lines. Volatility is medium-high, but the hit rate is very low. This means that Mystery Reels is a definition of a grind game. You can get many consecutive winless spins, so a betting strategy is a vital part of the game. Speaking of that, bets go from 0.20 to 20 EUR. But, if you play your cards right, a huge 5000x win is up for grabs. Seems like hard work does pay off in the end. Mystery Reels RTP is 95.19%.
Bonus Features
Here is the part that gives Mystery Reels its name. There are two bonus/special features on Mystery Reels. The golden apple with a question mark is the Mystery Symbol. Each Mystery Symbol comes with a randomly assigned number. It also hides one random game symbol, for example, the Bell or the Plum. The assigned number determinates how many clones of this symbol will be added and to which side.
The Wheel Bonus is triggered by one or more wheel symbols. Each bonus symbol corresponds to 1 wheel spin. So it is possible to trigger the bonus game with only one single bonus symbol. Of course, you will only get one spin, but it’s still quite generous. If you land 5 bonus symbol then you start with 5 wheel spins. The wheel comes with many different rewards, like an increased multiplier, additional spins or a doubled value for all the available multipliers. One of the wheel sections is a question mark, which is a random reward, like a multiplier or spins, etc. For some reason, wheel spins have always been very exciting so this is a great addition to the game.
Conclusion
Mystery Reels is a good balance between classical style and new generation slots. The visuals may not be all that stunning, but the Wheel Bonus and Mystery Symbols add a very fresh feel to what could have been a stale game. Gameplay-wise, the low hit rate can be extremely punishing, so it’s best to have a good betting strategy before you begin your session. Otherwise, the rewards that Mystery Reels bring are really satisfying, so in the end, it might be worth your time. This slot has been remade into a Megaways version as well, so if original Mystery Reels experience is too plain for you, then maybe you will have a better time on the successor.
