Polar Heatwave - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Introduction

You have never seen a snowscape quite like this, even if you have played similarly themed games such as the Polar Paws slot, as Polar Heatwave has penguins and polar bears getting ready for their sunny summer holidays. The five reels and ten paylines seem fairly simple; however, if you are lucky enough to trigger the free spins, you could see sticky wild reels, multipliers, and even paylines that pay both ways. 

Theme, graphics & soundtrack

Strictly speaking, this isn’t an Arctic-themed slot. There are penguins but as every naturalist knows, penguins are found at the South Pole. There are polar bears too, however, so this icy-looking slot has taken the most iconic animals from the world’s coldest extremities and put them in the same place. It has then combined them with something you definitely wouldn’t expect: a heatwave with blazing sun and the chance for a summer holiday. The graphics are breathtaking, with each card symbol carved in glittering ice and animal symbols brightly coloured with a cartoon exuberance that still has 3D realism. Each animal comes in both winter and summer dress for a fun contrast. The reels are set above the rise and fall of the sea, with icebergs bobbing constantly in the water and snow drifting from above, reflective of one of Earth’s most beautiful environments. The lively music is also likely to bring a smile.

Polar Heatwave RTP and variance 

The RTP is often one of the first things you look at when searching for free play slots, as it helps you to set realistic expectations for your returns and therefore your budget; however, remember that it is only a guideline based on theoretical averages. The 95.5 per cent figure for Polar Heatwave is a little lower than we would like, and there is still room for deviations higher and lower depending on the random whims of the slot. The medium variance means that wins should be fairly balanced in terms of size and frequency, although again there are no guarantees.

How to play Polar Heatwave

Do you have your winter coat and your sunscreen? Let’s look at a few tips on how to play:

1. Start to the top right, where you will find the menu button. This will take you to the paytable, from where you can navigate to the game rules. This is the best way to find out everything you need to know.
2. The menu also contains a link to the settings page. You will find separate on/off buttons for both the sound effects and the ambient sound, or you can slide the volume control so it is louder or quieter. There are also buttons for quick spin and using the spacebar to spin.
3. A link to the game history enables you to keep track of your wins, making it easier to stick to your budget. 
4. Back on the main screen, there are two more buttons next to the menu. One is for the sound and the other is for full-screen mode.
5. You will want to adjust your bet before you start playing. You can do this using the plus and minus symbols in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.
6. There is a plus sign towards the middle of the screen, next to the spin button. Clicking this will open the controls for quick play/turbo, max bet, a link to autoplay, and a link back to the settings. 
7. In autoplay, you can set between 10 and 1,000 automatic spins or keep it going indefinitely. You can maintain control by setting it to stop on any win, your single win limit or your loss limit; alternatively, go back to the main screen and the regular spin button for one spin.
8. As with all Dragon Gaming free slots, we recommend playing in demo mode before deciding whether to play for real money at an online casino. Always play responsibly.

Bet & win sizes

You have a minimum bet of 0.10 and a maximum bet of 5.00. This is not a bad range, although high rollers may want more.

Wins come when you match three, four or five symbols across a payline, with the highest payouts coming from five matches:

• Diamonds, spades, hearts, clubs = 150
• Seagull = 300
• Seal = 450
• Polar bear = 1,000 

Max-win 98,100x

Volatility Medium

Top RTP 95.50%

Polar Heatwave free spins

The blazing sun of the bonus symbol will trigger free spins:

3 symbols = 10 free spins
4 symbols = 15 free spins
5 symbols = 20 free spins

During the free spins round, you collect more bonus symbols to increase the temperature on the thermometer. Every four bonus symbols will unlock a new level of bonus:

Level 1 = 1 sticky wild reel + 1 free spin
Level 2 = 2x multiplier + 1 free spin
Level 3 = 2nd sticky wild reel + 2 free spins
Level 4 = Win both ways + 2 free spins
Level 5 = 3rd sticky wild reel + 2 free spins

Polar Heatwave review: our verdict

Polar Heatwave is a stylish-looking slot with an intriguing take on its theme. The real excitement comes from the opportunity to move through different levels during the free spins round, which more than makes up for the lower RTP. 

Disclaimer: Polar Heatwave trademark / license is owned by Dragon Gaming. This site is not endorsed by Dragon Gaming.