- Decent RTP
- Jackpot of 4000x
- Excellent graphics
- No free spins
- No turbo play
- Fixed paylines only
Contents
The game’s RTP is 96.11 per cent and its variance is high. It is based in the old American West but with a striking steampunk twist to the action. It features scatters and wilds, but no free spins.
Introduction
Spearhead Studios free slots are becoming a familiar feature in the online gaming world. Based in Marbella, Spain, the company is very new but is pursuing an energetic programme of portfolio expansion, so we can expect new free slots to appear frequently. Golden Engines takes the well-used Wild West setting that we’ve seen in games like Relax Gaming’s Money Train slot and transformed it into a well realised steampunk fest.
Golden Engines has a 5-reel, 4-column grid and 20 fixed pay lines. The minimum coin size is 0.01 and the maximum is 5.00. There are 20 fixed lines, so the minimum bet level is 0.20 and the maximum is 100. There are 10 regular symbols: a Johnny Depp lookalike Marksman, Death’s Head, Woman, Scissorhands, Gunslinger and Bazooka Man, and then the 4 playing card suits.
Theme, graphics and soundtrack
Judged on its design alone, Golden Engines is a remarkable achievement. The title page presents a fabulous teaser for what’s to come, with a picture of the main street in a Wild West town that looks like nothing you’ve seen before. The pipes, tanks and chimneys suggest that this is a steam-driven version of the Old West, and the presence of an arachnoid robot next to the skull of a longhorn steer clinches it.
Press play, and the ‘camera’ pans left and right before a giant mechanical spider descends to reveal a complex game grid with moving dials, wheels and cogs. The intricacy of the illustrations is impressive. The icons are good, particularly the playing card symbols with their detailed cutaways of internal machinery.
The soundtrack has elements of spaghetti music with pipes and rattles but with a Duane Eddy-ish guitar lead and occasional Cajun fiddle. You can tell they’ve put a lot of thought into this and it has paid off.

Golden Engines RTP and variance
The game’s RTP is 96.11%, which is just above the average of 96. The variance is high.
How to play Golden Engines
- Click the up and down arrows to the right of the coin value to change the bet settings. The bet will automatically apply to all 20 lines.
- Click the repeating arrows icon to call up the autoplay settings. Choose the number of autoplays from 5 to 100. Here you can also set a single win limit and commands to stop on any win, stop if the balance falls by a certain amount, and stop if the balance increases by a certain amount.
- Press stop to exit the mode at any time.
- Press the large Spin button or the space bar (if this option is set in the cog settings menu) to spin the reels with the current bet.
- Click on the 9-dot menu box to call up the reference page, which describes the different game components and gives access to your game history.
- The balance is displayed at the bottom right of the screen.
- All wins pay left to right. If there is more than one winning combination, only the highest win is paid on each win line.
- Always play gambling games responsibly, and if playing for money, make sure you stay within the limits of what you can afford to lose. When it stops being fun, you should stop playing.
Bet sizes and paytable wins
The bet size ranges from 0.20 to 100.
The paytable values range from 3x to 5x, and the top payouts are as follows:
Marksman
5 = 1000
Death’s Head
5 = 800
Woman
5 = 400
Scissorhands
5 = 200
Gunslinger
5 = 100
Bazooka Man
5 = 80
Spade
5 = 50
Heart
5 = 40
Club
5 = 30
Diamond
5 = 20
Scatter Symbol (Golden Engine)
This appears on reels 3, 4 and 5 and is also a wild. The wild symbol appears on all reels. Both scatter and wild symbols are sticky during respins.
Scatter symbols award a respin. During a respin, any new scatter symbol or a win will grant a respin. Three scatter symbols will trigger a 3x multiplier on a single spin win or a respin win. The maximum number of respins is 9.
Golden Engines bonus features
There are no special features apart from the scatters, wilds and respins.
Golden Engines review: Our verdict
For a game with limited extras, Golden Engines gives a pretty good account of itself. The RTP is reasonable, and the chance of the 4000x jackpot is enticing. Given the enormous effort they’ve put into the visuals and the soundtrack to create this highly original environment, it’s a shame there isn’t more variety in the play, but it’s reasonably diverting and it certainly leaves you wanting to know more about this surreal old town.
Disclaimer: Golden Engines trademark / license is owned by Spearhead Games. This site is not endorsed by Spearhead Games.
| Slot Name: | Golden Engines |
|---|---|
| Software: | Spearhead Games |
| RTP: | 96.11% |
| Volatility: | High volatility |
| Paylines: | 20 |
| Reels: | 5 |
| Min Bet (all lines covered): | $0.20 (USD) |
| Max Bet: | $100 (USD) |
| Top Win: | 4000 |
| Features: | Wild Symbol, Multiplier, Respins, High volatility, 5 Reels |
| Themes: | Wild West |
| Last Update: | 30/10/2021 |
FAQs
What is the RTP and variance of Golden Engines?
The RTP of the game is 96.11 and the variance is high.
What does RTP actually mean?
RTP means Return to Player. The calculation for each game indicates the average percentage a player could receive back. This average is based on calculations of all win levels, which means that the level of player losses will always outweigh any substantial wins. The average player’s return will generally be lower than the total stake.
What does variance mean?
Variance is a term originally used in poker that is now also applied to slots. It is an indication of the frequency and size of payouts. High-variance games will give big rewards but rarely, while low-variance games pay small and often.
Are the spin results genuinely random?
Yes. Random number generators are used to spin the reels. There is no requirement for any human involvement, and the algorithms make human intervention impossible.
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