Go High Joker

Go High Joker Review

Ruby Play introduces you to a mischievous joker clown and his circus pals in Go High Joker slot, a retro-style release that fans of old-school cartoons will probably appreciate. The intro sets the tone from the start, with the Joker character beating his drum, and he’s perched above the reels like a puppet master with plenty of aces up his sleeve. While this is a relatively simple 3-reeler, you can look forward to a couple of bonus features that inject a dose of thrilling unpredictability into the classic gameplay.

Before we get to the heart of this thing, let’s cover the basics. You start by choosing your bet level between €0.05 and €500 per spin, catering to penny punters, high rollers, and anything in between. The game plays out on a 3x3 grid, and you win by landing 3 matching symbols across up to 5 paylines. The lucky number 7 symbol is the highest paying symbol, followed by a smiling star, an angry bell, a happy chap, a smart-looking apple, and a four-leaf clover. These symbols award 0.6x to 6x your stake for 3 of a kind wins.

Go High Joker Slot - Reels Screen

The Joker figures on the Wild symbol in Go High Joker slot, which makes sense, and the wild substitutes for any pay symbol to help complete wins. It also pays the same as the top-tier lucky number 7 symbol if you land 3 wilds on a payline. At random times, the Joker above the reels may think of a symbol and a multiplier, which can trigger the Keeper feature. This is a streak respins round, where you keep improving your win with the chosen symbol and wilds adding to the win multiplier.

The Go High bonus triggers from 2+ up arrows on the same spin, awarding indefinite free spins on a horizontal prize and jackpot reel located above the regular reels. With the top-tier Grand jackpot awarding 500x your stake, this feature is your best bet to crack the Go High Joker slot’s max win of 2,100x your stake. The RTP of this game is well above average, clocking in at a respectable 96.37 %, and the medium volatility makes for a somewhat forgiving gaming experience.

Go High Joker Features

Outside of wild symbols, Go High Joker Ruby Play boasts two different bonus features. One is randomly triggered, and the other requires at least two arrow symbols in view. Let’s dive in to take a closer look!

Keeper Streak Respins Feature

The Keeper feature can be randomly triggered at the start of any given base game spin, and a symbol and wild multiplier are then randomly selected. Only blanks, the chosen symbol, and wilds may appear during this feature, as it plays out on a new set of reels.

All instances of the chosen symbol and wild symbols become sticky when they appear, and the remaining positions respin. The feature ends when you land a blank-only spin or fill the grid with sticky symbols. The wild multipliers are then summed up and applied to your total win.

Go High Bonus Round

You trigger the Go High Bonus Round when you land at least 2 arrow symbols on the same base game spin, and the regular reels don’t spin during this feature. Instead, a horizontal reel atop the grid spins to deliver either smaller cash prizes or larger jackpot prizes. The cash prizes range from 1x to 20x your stake, while the Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand jackpot prizes award 15x, 40x, 100x, or 500x your stake, respectively.

The leftmost arrow activates first, spinning the top horizontal reel repeatedly until you hit a blank instead of a prize. Each time you hit a prize, the position turns into a blank, increasing your chances of hitting a blank. When that happens, you move on to activate the rightmost arrow, and the process repeats until you hit a blank again. The feature also ends if you manage to win all cash prizes and jackpots on the horizontal reel.

Go High Joker Slot - Go High Bonus Round

Go High Joker Bonus Buy (not UK)

Eligible players will find the Bonus Buy button on the left-hand side. It allows you to pay 50x your stake to gain immediate access to the Go High bonus round, guaranteeing at least 2 triggering arrow symbols on the spin that follows.

Theme & Graphics

The Go High Joker game is a throwback to the retro cartoons of the past, complete with charming characters like four-leaf clovers blowing kisses, angry bells throwing tantrums, cheerful whistling stars, and, not least, the mischievous Joker orchestrating everything from his position above the reels. The blue backdrop is reminiscent of the cartoon intros you may remember from your childhood (if you’re old enough), and the slapstick soundtrack fits the bill perfectly to create a whimsical and fun atmosphere.

Pros and Cons of Go High Joker

Our Verdict

While the nod to Hacksaw’s retro cartoon slot range seems obvious, Go High Joker does not come across as a copycat release. In this industry, inspiration flows as freely as the wild cards in the joker's deck, and most players, myself included, don’t mind as long as the game is good. Go High Joker is packed to the gills with charming, quirky characters, and the nostalgia is running strong all the way. I have no complaints about the charisma, in other words, and the gameplay is pretty solid stuff as well.

You have to take into account that this is a medium volatility caper that’s not aimed at high rollers and more “serious” gamblers. Taken for what it is, Go High Joker slot keeps you entertained with simple yet effective features and high-paced spins, all accompanied by that energetic and nostalgically enjoyable slapstick soundtrack. It’s hilarious to see how each symbol character reacts when part of a win, and especially the tantrum-throwing bell is a highlight.

The random streak respins feature breaks up the base game regularly, usually leading to a decent payout that will help keep you going. It’s a classic yet fun feature, and it’s always exciting to see what symbol and multiplier the Joker above the reel dreams up for you. Filling the screen didn’t seem all that hard, either, but payouts vary a lot depending on the multiplier and number of wilds you land. Still, a somewhat original take on the concept, adding to the ever-growing carnival of unique slot experiences.

The Go High bonus round is something I don’t think I’ve seen before, and I’ve played my fair share of slots over the years. The game might have been better served with regular free spins that triggered this feature frequently or guaranteed it at least once, I don’t know. Simply spinning a horizontal reel for cash prizes may be a tad too simple for some, myself included. However, I do like that it goes on indefinitely, with a win of up to 500x guaranteed per spin. Overall, Go High Joker is a highly playable and charming game to kill some time with, but it’s not for those chasing life-changing payouts.