Jawbreaker

Jawbreaker: Slot Overview

Originally popularized in the early 20th century, the Gobstopper, aka "Jawbreaker" were famed for their ability to last a very long time, evolving from simple sugar balls to vibrant spheres with multiple flavors and colors, encapsulating the thrill of enduring sweetness. Leveraging this classic confectionary theme, iSoftBet's (or IGT as they are known as now) slot game Jawbreaker arrives amidst a somewhat curious slowdown in production following IGT's acquisition of the studio. With recent iSoftBet releases predominantly focused on formats like Hold & Win and Megaways, Jawbreaker emerges as a refreshing divergence, featuring a colorful, playful design that taps into the nostalgic essence of the timeless candy.

Set against a backdrop that mimics a dreamy, cosmic fantasy, Jawbreaker transports players to a universe filled with vibrant spiral galaxies and a shattered glass effect, enhancing the visual experience with an almost psychedelic flair. The game board itself is simplistic in design and is backed by a funky track (which oddly shifts to a rock track during the bonus), adding a lively and upbeat audio layer that complements the playful visual theme. Although the design doesn't stand out as particularly innovative or spectacular, it effectively supports the gameplay, providing a clear and uncluttered interface that gets the job done without distracting from the core gaming experience.

Moving on to setting up your game in "Jawbreaker," the betting range is designed to accommodate various budgets, starting as low as 20 cents and climbing up to a maximum of $/€20 per spin. Upon pressing the spin button, symbols cascade onto a 6x5 game area, employing a scatter paying system which deviates from traditional paylines. Mathematically, Jawbreaker is categorized as a medium volatile slot and boasts a default RTP of 96%. (or 96.04% with the side bet on which increases the bonus frequency).

The tumble mechanic deletes winning symbols from the reels after they have paid, then drops symbols to fill the empty spaces. Tumbles keep triggering as long as new wins keep appearing after the drop. Winning combinations start from the leftmost reel, and matching symbols must land on adjacent reels. When landing a winning scatter combination made up of 8-9 matching symbols, the payout is 0.25 to 4 times the bet, while the biggest scatter combinations of 12+ OAK are worth 0.50 to 25 times the bet. Lastly, up to 3 Jawbreaker multipliers of up to x5 can land on any spin - these multipliers multiply each other.

Jawbreaker: Features

Jawbreaker is equipped with a range of game enhancing features including Sugar Rush modifiers, a free spins round, and a Gumball Meter Trigger. However, it notably lacks a bonus buy option.

Sugar Rush Modifiers

Randomly on any spin, the Sugar Rush modifier can add between 1 and 6 coins to the Gumball Meter.

Gumball Meter

After each win and tumble, a new gumball will drop into the meter. If 6 tumbles occur in a single spin, the meter will fill and award 8 free spins.

Free Spins

During free spins, the flow for wins will be the same as the base game. However, all Jawbreaker multipliers that land in view are collected in the Jawbreaker meter and added together and the current multiplier (which does not reset) is then applied to any wins. Each spin with at least 1 multiplier will remove a layer from the Jawbreaker meter and players reach the core of the meter by removing 5 layers. If so happens, +3 free spins are awarded.

Jawbreaker: Slot Review

If Jawbreaker were a candy in the vast confectionery store of online slots, it would be that reliable but unremarkable gum ball - ok enough to give a try, but unlikely to cause any flavor revolutions. Clearly taking a leaf out of the recipe book of established hits like Pragmatic's Sugar Rush, this slot doesn't quite sprinkle enough innovation to spice up the familiar scatter-paying format. The Gumball Meter does throw a bit of a twist into the mix, yet it's more of a gentle stir than a vigorous shake. It's worth adding, though, that some players may actually prefer how the multipliers are utilised here as these apply to each win without the need to drop one on the table. This is a rather refreshing change from games like Gates of Olympus 1000, where you can stack up hefty wins only to find the multiplier frustratingly dormant.

Execution-wise, Jawbreaker gets the job done but sticks too closely to the generic mold. While the slot boasts the iconic Jawbreaker candy as its mascot, the rest of the presentation could be from any candy-themed slot off the shelf. It's a bit like going to a gourmet sweet shop and leaving with a bag of bulk bin treats.

For aficionados of scatter-paying slots, Jawbreaker might be worth a nibble, but don't expect it to crack your top ten. It's competently crafted, yet in the bustling candy shop of slots, it blends into the background, unlikely to pull you away from the more tantalizing options.