• Home
• News
• Slot Review: Crusader by ELK Studios

Slot Review: Crusader by ELK Studios

The new Crusader slot from ELK Studios is an interesting take on the traditional theme of the Crusades. It focuses on one specific aspect of the Crusades, namely, the armored warriors’ battle against the Mamluks for the ancient city of Acre, Israel. So yes, the audience for this slot will be fairly niche. However, you don't need to be a history buff to enjoy the Respins and Free Spins that are up for grabs. Crusader can be played at ELK Studios online casinos.

Slot Specs

Crusader is a 5-reel, 4-row, 26-payline slot that’s playable on all devices. Bets range from .20 to 100 per spin and the RTP is a decent 96.1 percent. The background of the slot is dark and somber, matching the mood of the many Crusaders who fought terrible battles, including starvation and freezing winter nights.

Reel symbols include lower-paying A, K, and Q royals and higher-paying religious symbols, a shield, treasure chest, dagger, and chalice. The latter is the highest-paying symbol, rewarding 10x the stake for five of a kind. There is also a wild Crusader symbol that only appears on reels 1 and 5.

Crusader Wilds

When the Crusader wild lands partially in view, a Respin is triggered until the wild gets nudged down and fully in view. If two Crusader wilds cover both reels at the same time, the Free Spins bonus round is triggered and players win 8 free spins.

During the Free Spins round, the Crusader wilds remain locked in position and a new, arrow symbol is added to the reels. The arrow is the Expansion symbol, and whenever it lands, players get one free spin and the reels expand by an extra row. The max expansion is 12 rows and 98 ways-to-win.

Bottom Line

Crusader from ELK Studios is a good attempt at something new, but the max win of 2500x the stake is somewhat limiting. Similarly, the site’s serious mood is fine for players who thrive on intrigue and adventure, but for those who prefer light-hearted games, the slot may be too dark. The main action is in the Free Spins round, which isn’t struck so easily. Fortunately, there are potential intermittent wins from the Respins that are granted when partial Crusader wilds land in view.