Iron Bank 2

Iron Bank 2: Slot Overview

Released in 2020, Iron Bank was the first joint effort between software provider Relax Gaming and casino streaming community CasinoGrounds. It turned out to be the first of several, and here we are five years later for the fifth collaboration between the two gambling entities. The result is the sequel Iron Bank 2, which returns many of the original slot's components, while conducting a bunch of tweaks, such as delivering the three bonus rounds in standard, super and ultra versions, and giving gamblers a wide range of methods for potentially swaying how the game may or may not play out.

One of Iron Bank's high points was its exotic Cuban setting, which is presumably where we're heading back to for Iron Bank 2. Certainly, the palm trees are out, the cars are of the classic variety, the sun's shining, what more could you ask for? Well, if you're a bank-busting animal, then a bank chock full of riches ripe for the picking is top of the list. That would be the Iron Bank, which resides on the left-hand side of the base game screen, before being broken into or attempting to be broken into for bonus rounds. The graphics are bright, warm, and vibrant, making a second crack on the Iron Bank an appealing proposal.

A 6x4 matrix is where Iron Bank 2's gaming unfolds, and it uses a 4,096 ways to win pay system to evaluate winning combinations. One of the many choices facing players is bet selection, which ranges from $/€0.10 to $/€20. Mathematically highly volatile, the return to player clocks in at 96.1%.

On the paytable, we find 10-A card rank low pays, a suitcase, a harpoon, a glass and a cigar, an expensive piece of jewellery, and a bull. Card ranks pay 0.4x to 0.8x, while high pays award 2x to 50x for a 6 OAK winning combination. Wilds hit on all reels, substituting for all paying symbols, and they award 50x the stake when 6 wilds form a win.

Iron Bank 2: Slot Features

There is a lot of picking and choosing in Iron Bank 2, from the base game feature to its three bonus round modes, buys, and upgrade spins.

Base Game Feature

Players can choose which one of the two base game features may trigger. The Random Mystery feature adds up to 13 Mystery symbols to the reels, while the Random Wilds feature adds up to 4 Wild Multipliers to reels 2-5, covering the entire reel, carrying values of x2 to x10. They multiply each other when more than one is part of a win.

Free Spins

Landing 3 or more scatters triggers the bonus round, and players may choose between three modes - Multiplier Collect, Mystery Symbol, and Expanding Wilds. Landing 3 scatters awards the default feature, 4 scatters award super free spins, 5 scatters trigger ultra free spins, while 6 scatters award ultra free spins plus 2,000x the bet. In addition, before the reels stop, 1 to 3 scatters may be added at random, boosting the chance of triggering free spins. The Lucky Boost may trigger randomly at the start of any free spins mode, increasing the chance of winning big.

Multiplier Collect

This feature grants 7 free spins. In standard free spins, coconut crates land on reels 2-5, contributing 1-4 coconuts to the coconut gun above each reel. When a coconut gun gets 3 coconuts, +1 free spin is granted, and the wild multiplier on that reel grows by +1. A wild with a multiplier acts like a stack of as many wilds as the multiplier number. Wins including several wilds are multiplied by each displayed value. Super free spins build on this by guaranteeing 1 walking wild on the first spin, with a multiplier applied from the reel the wild lands on. The Wild Reel moves only on reels 2-4. Ultra free spins grant 2 walking expanded wilds on the first spin.

Mystery Symbol

Players start with 6 free spins in this bonus. During standard free spins, a symbol is randomly chosen at the start of the round to be the sticky mystery symbol. When it lands on reels 2-6, it sticks and converts to a persistent mystery symbol. All mystery symbols reveal the same matching symbol. The Super free spins add an extra row, while Ultra free spins add two rows. Extra free spins are awarded by collecting mystery symbols - +2 for the first six, then +2 for every 4 after that.

Expanding Wilds

For this feature, 6 free spins are awarded. During standard free spins, wilds landing on reels 3 and 4 expand to become fully stacked and award a respin. The wild multiplier increases by +1 each time a win includes the expanding wild. Multipliers start from x1 and do not reset even when leaving the reel after a non-winning round. Respins continue as long as a win is made or if a second wild lands on reel 3 or 4. Wins with both expanding wilds are multiplied by both multipliers on the wilds. In Super free spins, wilds landing on reels 2 and 5 are dragged onto reel 3 or 4, and the starting multiplier is x3. In Ultra free spins, all wilds will be dragged onto reels 3 and 4, and the multiplier starts at x6.

Feature Buy and Upgrade Spins

Buying free spins, super free spins, or ultra free spins is possible at a cost of 100x, 300x, or 900x the stake, respectively, then the bonus pick is made. Upgrade Spins is where players may activate Bonus Reels at 10x per spin, where only scatters may land for an increased bonus entry chance. Lastly, Enhanced Spins cost 1.5x the bet to increase the chance of scatters landing.

Iron Bank 2: Slot Verdict

It's interesting to go back to the original Iron Bank slot for a refresh to see what's stayed the same, similar, and what's been updated. One of the biggest changes is the sheer number of options players have at their fingertips. As well as the expanded feature buys, reflecting the standard, super, and ultra free spin varieties, there's also ante bet type options, and even the choice of which base game feature may or may not trigger. Where Iron Bank could deliver any of them at any time, Iron Bank 2 lets (or forces) players to pick either the Random Wilds or Random Mystery feature. If you're the sort of person who frets over choice, who goes to the supermarket and freezes before a beverage section containing hundreds of drink options, then Iron Bank 2 might trigger an overload.

Look past the choices, and what else is new are the different free spin tiers. As it usually goes, the more triggering scatters, the better things might end up. Baseline features are captivating on their own, and only get better the higher up the chain they go. Demoing the game might be a good way of choosing which feature to pick IRL, which might be tough, as each one has its merits. What they share is the ability to pop, especially combinable multipliers, but even sticky mystery symbols proved their worth. The game's paytable doesn't mention volatility, so it was unclear whether this differs between rounds; presumably it does, like it did in the original, but not totally sure. Either way, each bonus feature has a potency to it, and the game as a whole caps winning potential at a sizable 50,000x the bet.

After busting the bank, it feels like Iron Bank 2 is a strong follow-up to the original. It keeps the spirit, much of the core, embryonic gameplay, but tinkers with the rules to create a more intricate game with a boatload of options. If you liked the original, then part two is worthy of to-do list inclusion, as it caters for players who like a potentially explosive blend of mystery, wilds, and multiplicative derangement.