The Great Icescape in Demo Mode

The Great Icescape is a 5×5 slot with cascading mechanics and a progressive unlocking system (which is also creatively designed). The main feature of the game is its ice grid: at the beginning of each spin, 12 frozen positions are blocked (3 in each corner). When you get a winning combination, these symbols break the adjacent ice blocks, expanding the grid and triggering a re-spin.

Each win not only continues the action but also visually warms up the icy environment. The dynamics keep the player's attention, as each spin feels like a step towards unlocking the entire board. 

I would like to note the organic nature of the slot. The mechanics seem to flow into one another. There is no bonus round as such in the game, but there is a respin feature. Of course, the absence of a bonus round in the classic sense of the model is off-putting. But in the case of this slot, I urge you not to be fooled. Here, everything is done even better: the features complement each other, there are no sharp divisions between a monotonous base game and a promising bonus round, but instead, there is one continuous and interesting gameplay that is almost never boring. PG Soft has once again successfully pushed the boundaries by taking a risk. Once again, they have abandoned paylines in favor of ways to win. There are 3,125 of them here.

The game's RTP is 96.33%, which is a solid average. Add to this the medium volatility, which provides a balanced gaming experience, and you get a slot that can satisfy virtually any player, just as it satisfied me (because I had my doubts when I found out there was no bonus round).

Symbols

The visual appeal of the slot lies in its main character, a penguin, and his charming frozen friends. But by and large, this slot does not have any special symbols such as Wild or Scatter. This may also seem like a disadvantage, but in fact, this is where the creativity of the slot lies. Features are activated without the involvement of symbols. 

Nevertheless, the game has its own uniqueness in symbols.

There are also two key types of collectible symbols during Respins:

• Blue background symbols — collect 10 to increase the multiplier by +1.

• Purple background symbols — collect 10 to gain +1 extra life.

I think this is a much more creative way to work with slots than Wilds and Scatters, which no longer surprise anyone. 

Penguin

x5500.00

x4200.00

x350.00

Seal

x5300.00

x4150.00

x330.00

Squid

x5250.00

x4100.00

x325.00

Fish

x5200.00

x480.00

x320.00

A

x550.00

x440.00

x315.00

K

x540.00

x430.00

x310.00

Q

x535.00

x425.00

x38.00

J

x530.00

x420.00

x36.00

10

x525.00

x415.00

x35.00

9

x520.00

x410.00

x35.00

The game features three key features that are combined in a truly interesting way, have a common and coherent flow, and are activated in an unusual way (no activation symbols are needed here).

• Respin Feature — any main game spin with one or more winning combinations triggers a Respin. 

This keeps the action flowing continuously, with each chain reaction potentially unlocking new ways to win.

• Destroying Blockers — at the beginning of the main game, 12 blockers occupy fixed positions on the grid.

When a win occurs, each winning symbol destroys one blocker before the next Respin begins — gradually freeing more space for combinations.

• Bonus Respin Feature — once all 12 blockers are removed, the Bonus Respin Feature is triggered. You begin with 1 extra life and x2 multiplier.

During Bonus Respins:

1. Every winning combination grants another Respin.

2. All wins are multiplied by the current multiplier.

3. If you lose but have an extra life, one life is consumed, and you get another spin.

4. Collecting 10 blue symbols increases your multiplier by +1.

5. Collecting 10 purple symbols grants +1 extra life.

This feature can last impressively long, especially when multiple lives are accumulated, leading to explosive win chains. 

• Max Win — 50,000× your stake.

• RTP — 96.33%.

• Volatility — medium.

• Bet Range2 — $0.75–$225.

While the medium volatility means smoother balance swings, the massive x50,000 cap adds high-end fun — a rare combination that makes The Great Icescape uniquely balanced.

I started with a balance of 100,000 and a bet of just over $4. To say that the game impressed me would be an understatement. I liked that there were no Wilds or Scatters (it may sound strange, but these symbols get tiresome over time). Since there is no bonus round as such, the game feels more complete and seamless. I hit the Respin feature several times. It has a creative launch animation: a little penguin comes with a hammer and starts hitting snow houses. Thus, after 100 spins, I was able to come out with a decent profit. I ended up with a balance of $100,243.