Chukcha

Paying homage to the Chukchi people whose ancestral territory sits on the Russian side of the Bering Strait, in the Siberian Arctic, this five-reel, four-line slot keeps things chill. Play is very simple and enjoyable in this slot. With astronomical possible bet sizes, though, two different bonus games, and an arcade game-style interface, Chukcha has everything players need to stay warm and flush through those cold, Siberian winters.

Theme

The Chukchi Peninsula is one of the harshest places on planet Earth, and the people who live there are hardy indeed. Gaming symbols for this slot include many animals who might be found in the region: walruses, polar bears, fish, owls, Siberian huskies (which originated in this area and were first bred by Chukchi people), and moose. There are also symbols of a fur coat, a smiling, vaguely racist depiction of a Chukchi man, and what appears to be a parka-wearing tourist, staring at a map. A gaming symbol with the game title written on it triggers bonus games when three or more appear on the reels.

Sitting below the reels is a picture of two men merrily roasting fish over an open fire. The entire game is situated within a depiction of an old-style arcade game, and the interactive buttons sit on a lower level.

Betting Options and Functions

Paylines are adjustable in this Chukcha: players can choose between one, three, five, seven, and nine paylines with the top row of buttons (just below the main game screen). There is an auto-play function, which is limitless, and a button to toggle the bet size. Beware the “max bet” button in this slot: the minimum bet is just one credit per payline, but the top bet is a whopping 50,000 credits per line! The overall bet range, therefore, is from one to 450,000 credits: extraordinarily broad. There is a detailed pop-up menu that appears when players click the “help” button, which will explain the various payouts of the slot.

Features

For a simple game, Chukcha is packed with bonus features. Within base play, the tourist gaming symbol holds a special feature: when three or more appear on the reels, the player can click on one of the icons to reveal a win multiplier, increasing winnings as much as tenfold. There is also a “risk” feature to all wins: players can choose to go double or nothing with any win, by trying to choose a card higher than the dealer’s. This can be repeated ad infinitum, though the possibility of losing the entire win is always there.

Finally, there are two separate bonus games, triggered by the scatter symbol. In the first, a spear fisherman is directed by the player to one of the possible five holes in the ice, revealing the creature below. Different maritime species are worth different prizes, but play continues until that unfortunate moment when the fisherman finds a polar bear under the ice… ending the bonus game, and perhaps his life. The second game is a simple choice of two options: one holds a prize, the other holds nothing.

Our Take

Belatra Games continues a strong run of new releases with Chukcha. The simple, vintage design and flowing gameplay mask a surprisingly original set of bonus features. This is a solid game with an unique theme: it comes highly recommended.