Lucky Cat

Lucky Cat (Platipus) Review

We always say that low-volatility slots are best suited for beginners and those who don’t want to take big risks. But experience shows that most gamblers come to online casinos in search of big wins, which is why an increasing number of providers today offer high-volatility games. Platipus also leans toward this approach, which is why its Lucky Cat, released in 2019, features high volatility and offers substantial prizes through its jackpot feature. Let’s get this out of the way: the 95% RTP is this game’s weak point, but few are likely to notice it since the current market average stands at 96%.

When you launch Lucky Cat, you’ll see a fairly standard 5x3 grid where you can form winning combinations across 25 betways that are always active. As in many other similar games, you simply line up identical symbols to win prizes with multipliers listed in the paytable. As is customary, any winning combination must start from the leftmost reel. You can bet between 0.25 and 50 euros per spin. And if you decide to play at the maximum bet, you could theoretically win 215,000 euros, since the maximum multiplier here is x4,300. Platipus has also added a coin collection feature and four jackpots, with the Grand Jackpot peaking at 200,000 euros, so this slot will keep you on your toes.

Lucky Cat Reels Screen

The entire symbol set in Lucky Cat consists of 12 icons, with A, K, Q, J, and 10 capable of forming winning combinations worth x20. If you form sequences with themed symbols such as the golden koi fish, a gold bar, the laughing Buddha, and, of course, the maneki-neko (lucky cat) itself, you’ll receive bigger payouts with a multiplier of up to x280. Platipus has also added a cherry blossom that acts as a Wild, a lotus that serves as a Scatter, and Bonus symbols that trigger respins and the jackpot system.

Lucky Cat Features

At first glance, it seems like we’re dealing with yet another simple, classic slot about Eastern luck. But in reality, Lucky Cat hides a unique bonus mechanic featuring a four-tiered jackpot system. Essentially, everything here is built around a single bonus mode with respins that’s available to you right in the base game.

Wilds

The blooming cherry blossom that lands on the grid is a Wild that can substitute for regular symbols. Given this feature, it essentially helps you form winning combinations more often. However, according to the slot’s rules, the far-left reel is off-limits to the Wild, so you won’t see the cherry blossom on it. Unfortunately, this slightly increases the volatility for payouts for lower-paying combinations.

Scatters

Unlike the cherry blossoms, the pink lotus flower, which acts as a Scatter, can land on any cell on the grid. But if you’re used to Scatters as the symbols that trigger free spins, you’re in for a bit of a disappointment here. That is, Platipus hasn’t included a classic free spins mode in its Lucky Cat slot. On the other hand, Scatters here can form winning combinations without being tied to paylines or even the reels. For example, three of these symbols appearing on any cells will award a x2 multiplier. And winnings from lotus combinations are added to regular line prizes instead of replacing them, which is also an advantage.

Coin Chain Feature and Jackpots

Sometimes you’ll see gold coins landing on the reels in stacks of two or three icons in a row. If you see six or more of them on the grid at the same time, the title awards you with respins. At the start, you’ll get to play 3 additional rounds without placing a bet. Each cell spins separately from the others, as if it were its own reel. If another Bonus symbol lands on any cell during a respin, the respin counter resets to three. This means that, theoretically, respins can last indefinitely. You’ll also notice that all coins that triggered the Coin Chain feature remain in their places until the very end of the bonus round.

Any coin can have a value ranging from x50 to x250. But instead of a multiplier, it may also display one of the four jackpots available here. You can win the first three (Major, Minor, and Mini) multiple times during the same respin round. The Grand jackpot, however, is awarded only if you manage to fill the entire grid with coins. If the respins end, you’ll simply receive the sum of all the values on the screen. And as we mentioned earlier, the second possible outcome is filling the entire grid with Bonus symbols, which, of course, happens quite rarely.

Lucky Cat Win Screen

Theme & Graphics

With one paw raised in the air and the other holding a gold coin, the golden maneki-neko (lucky cat) is the main character of this game. And this comes as no surprise, since Lucky Cat is designed in the spirit of Eastern talismans of luck and prosperity. Since this is far from the newest release, don’t expect top-notch graphics or cinematic animations. Still, it’s worth noting that the symbols are neatly drawn and look pretty good. You’ll also notice a soft glow around winning combinations and how the special icons slightly animate when they appear in the game. So it’s not as if Platipus neglected the visual aspect, but graphically, Lucky Cat isn’t exactly setting new standards. On the plus side, it runs well on smartphones, so you can enjoy it on the go even on a slightly outdated device.

Lucky Cat Free Play

Given the game’s high stated volatility and the somewhat opaque jackpot system, you should definitely try out the Lucky Cat free play version first. You can launch the Lucky Cat demo right here on our SlotCatalog website without making any deposits or even registering. At the start, you’ll receive a fairly large balance of free credits that you can use for bets of various sizes. So don’t miss the chance to see how the game plays out and how coin collection works during respins so you can plan your budget properly when you come time to place real bets.

Pros & Cons of the Lucky Cat Slot

Our Verdict

If simple combos aren’t enough for you and you’re looking for a game that features the coin-collecting mechanic that’s become popular in recent years, as well as the chance to win a substantial jackpot, Lucky Cat is a solid choice. We thoroughly tested it over long sessions at various bet levels, and the high volatility claimed by the developer was fully confirmed. At the same time, we hardly noticed that the RTP here is actually 1% below the market average. Still, from a technical standpoint, this game is clearly aimed at players willing to endure long stretches without major payouts for the chance to trigger respins with jackpots.

Let’s say right away that it’s quite difficult to determine the actual trigger frequency of the Coin Chain feature, which is the heart of this game. So don’t be lazy and give the Lucky Cat reels a spin in demo mode, since you can do so risk-free on SlotCatalog. The system of independent reel spins during respins and the cumulative reset of the counter when new Bonus symbols appear are perhaps the most impressive and useful bonuses here. The grand jackpot looks impressive on paper, but it seems it will be quite difficult to hit. So start with low bets and mentally prepare yourself for many rounds to have a chance to collect valuable coins.

In terms of its feel and the structure of its bonus feature, Lucky Cat resembles other respin slots centered on financial luck that feature a progressive jackpot system. For example, as we spun its reels, we couldn’t help but think of 88 Fortunes by Funky Games and Dragon Chase by Quickspin. Ultimately, if you enjoy leisurely collecting bonus symbols and aren’t chasing frequent but small wins in the base game, Lucky Cat is definitely worth giving a try.