Crystal Ways

Crystal Ways Review

The Crystal Ways slot was released by the Italian developer Mondoplay about a year ago as part of its debut batch of games. It comes with a Bothway mechanic and an extremely simple gameplay that can quickly mesmerize even the most experienced players. The slot is also packed with expanding wilds and wild respins, and features no complex bonus rounds.

If all that sounds familiar, then you are among the millions of players who admire the iconic Starburst. Crystal Ways is more or less inspired by this slot legend and comes as a result of new technology. Many of the elements are identical, including the max win and symbol designs. My review covers all aspects of the game, but if you prefer, there is a Crystal Ways free play link above to directly run the demo!

Mondoplay - Slot Developer

Mondoplay is part of Mondogaming, a sportsbook software developer established in 2006. The online casino subsidiary was founded in 2024 and already has 19 released or scheduled for release games, including the Crystal Ways online slot. Mondoplay is based in Italy and has ADM, MGA, and ONJN licenses. It is also certified for fairness of gaming results by iTech Labs.

Slot Theme And Storyline

Crystal Ways is designed in Classic style with multicolored gems, BARs, Big Sevens, and expanding wilds with respins. Red curtains on the back suggest a stage where the gold-framed grid manifests. All symbols come with gold decorations, and the overall artwork is quite impressive. The graphics and animation effects are also up to par.

Despite the spectacular visual presentation, the Crystal Ways slot follows a retro line. Mondoplay has tried to place it as close as possible to older slot releases, like Starburst. The audio package and the way winnings are visualized are the best examples for that. In general, the game covers the high standards set by the Italian studio!

Crystal Ways Slot Rules And Gameplay

The Crystal Ways game has a standard grid with 5 reels and 3 rows, and features 10 lines. They pay from left to right and right to left for combinations starting from the leftmost and rightmost reels. That doubles the odds for scoring regular symbol wins, especially with the help of wild symbols.

The Crystal Ways slot offers a limited betting range between €0.10 and €50 per spin. However, strategy experts will appreciate the 37 stake levels available. The game is also packed with useful technical features, like Autoplay and Turbo Spin. However, bonus boosts are not part of the package, so you need to carefully decide what strategy to use.

Symbols And Paytable

The bothway paylines and the presence of a wild symbol set the scene for a familiar scenario. And indeed, the paytable offers retro slot symbols and multicolored gems. They all pay for 3, 4, or 5 on a payline, and the game is missing scatters or any other bonus symbols. Before continuing further with my Crystal Ways slot review, check out the featured cash prizes:

How To Play Crystal Ways Slot At An Online Casino?

Crystal Ways is available across the markets where Mondoplay is active. You can find a list with top-rated casino sites, verified by SlotCatalog’s team of experts. In order to start a new gaming session, you’ll need to find a suitable platform. Here is a brief of all the steps:

• Select a licensed Crystal Ways casino site
• Create a new account and verify your identity
• Make a deposit and claim a fair bonus deal
• Find the Crystal Ways slot among other games
• Start the title, adjust your bet, and spin the reels

Crystal Ways Bonuses And Special Features

Crystal Ways by Mondoplay has only one bonus feature, but it has achieved a legendary status among slot enthusiasts. It is triggered 100% randomly and can easily bring the max win. Then again, the lack of extra features is a pity and shows no desire for upgrades from the provider. Here is what to expect:

Respin Feature

The Crystal Ways bonus round requires a Four-Colors Wild in view. These symbols can appear on any row but only on reels 2, 3, and 4. Wilds expand to cover the whole column and become sticky. Each one triggers a respin after the win is evaluated, if any. In case another wild appears during the respin, all wilds are held, and a new respin is awarded. The total number of possible respins is 3.

Crystal Ways RTP, Volatility And Max Win

The Crystal Ways RTP is 96%, which looks sufficient at first glance, given the slot’s medium levels of volatility. However, both indicators are weaker compared to Starburst. The NetEnt masterpiece has 8 RTP versions between 90.05% and 99.06%, but the most common is 96.09%. Moreover, the game features low volatility!

This makes the Mondoplay slot slightly ineffective in keeping the player in the game. Payouts are less frequent and may open gaps in smaller budgets. Moreover, the Crystal Ways max win is 500x the bet, which is identical to the space-themed slot by NetEnt. While such a win cap is normal for a low-variance game, it is rather poor for a medium volatility title.

Crystal Ways Demo Version And Free Play

If you feel excited to try the game, you can start with the free Crystal Ways demo. As always, SlotCatalog provides a free play mode with no strings attached. It is the best way to test a new game or polish your skills over familiar mechanics. The demo is always the most recommended way to build your strategy.

Play The Game On Your Mobile

Crystal Ways is an HTML5 online slot and is perfectly playable on both Android and iOS. Mondoplay understands the requirements of the market and crafts only content compatible with all platforms. Instead of downloading a mobile app, you can play Crystal Ways game via any browser, and I recommend Chrome and Safari.

Strategy & Tips For Winning

As I mentioned earlier, you can use 37 different betting options to build a Crystal Ways strategy. Keep in mind that there is no system that guarantees only wins. I’ve found that being on the safe side and properly managing your finances while playing is more important. Here are some tips that will help you achieve that:

• Don’t underestimate the Crystal Ways free play practice
• Choose only licensed and verified casino sites
• Keep your emotions under control and don’t wager recklessly
• Play the Crystal Ways slot machine with fair bonuses
• Set activity limits and always stay within your budget

The 200 Spins Crystal Ways Experience

Crystal Ways paid good wins during my test session, but I was unable to experience its full bonus potential. I witnessed only twice more than wild and in both cases, they landed together. Still, I cashed out multiple wins of over 30x and 50x the bet. The final result of my 200 spins was a loss of about 25% of my balance. I played with flat bets.

Pros And Cons Of Crystal Ways Online Slot

Similar Slots To Try

If you enjoy games like Crystal Ways by Mondoplay, you will love the following alternative slots:

• Starburst - a legendary game by NetEnt with low volatility and a high RTP rate. It pays up to 500x via branded Expanding Wild Respins and a both-way payout system.
• Crystal Furnace - an Eyecon variant of NetEnt’s game with more spectacular visuals. Get up to 3 consecutive respins with expanding wilds and win both ways.
• Starlite Fruits - a medium volatile slot by Neon Valley Studios with a max win of 2,500x the bet. It offers the same mechanics but also a Jackpot Game with 4 fixed prizes.

Final Thoughts

Classic slots with wild symbols and modern features like expansions and respins were extremely popular 5 - 10 years ago. In recent times, providers prefer to offer games with no features or with complex minigames, like Free Spins and Hold & Win. The Crystal Ways slot, however, will have its moments.

Mondoplay has modified the mechanics slightly, adding more balance and security in the volatility segment. On the other hand, that makes the win cap look less impressive (500x). At the end, it is all up to how frequently wilds will land and how many extra wilds will appear during respins. Perhaps being patient will pay off once again!