Chessmas Slot

Chess and Christmas don’t usually mesh unless you’re a fan of playing board games during the holidays. But Elysium Studios and Swintt have found a way to bring them together in a one-of-a-kind online casino slot aptly called Chessmas.

As opposed to the elaborate imagery and mechanics, the gameplay remains straightforward through the fixed payline structure and left-to-right payout system. With unique features and a solid maximum reward on top of these perks, trying out this game was an easy yes in my book.

Check out our Chessmas slot review to see what you think about it. Read about the game’s theme, design, rules, and bonus round to make an informed decision.

The Chessmas slot’s design is one of my favorite parts of this holiday-inspired game. 

The 5x5 grid is shaped like a chessboard, laid out on a table, and surrounded by Christmassy elements, from children’s letters to Santa to Christmas tree sprigs. The symbols are crafted like intricate wooden toys, and the soundtrack swells with the cheerful jingle of bells.

In keeping with the chess theme, the game’s wild symbols move like classic chess pieces. However, the gameplay remains accessible thanks to the small number of paylines, simple payout mechanism, and low minimum bet limits.

It may sound a bit confusing when outlined like this, but the game’s easy to figure out once you give it a try. Play the Chessmas demo version at Casinos.com and experience it firsthand.

To play the Chessmas slot, you should first find it at the best online casinos that host it, check out the paytable, and calculate the optimal bet size for your budget.

The first step will be easy to carry out if you refer to our top lists. However, you might have to spend more time learning about the special features. Don’t skip the Help section like I did, as you won’t learn how the bonus symbols work through the Pays tab alone. Give yourself time to read the fine print, and you’ll have a better shot at maximizing your wins.

After this step, you can spin the reels and hope symbols will match across active paylines in groups of three, four, or five, as this will grant you immediate returns. 

The size of your prizes will depend on whether your scores feature low- or high-paying symbols and what bonus you’ve landed on the ribbon next to the main grid. 

The Chessmas special features add a fun and rewarding twist to its festive gameplay. The key is in the extra reel that spins on the red ribbon next to the main grid. It consists of only one symbol spot and features multipliers and high-paying symbols.

A figurine on the board will move based on your dice total, landing on different fields. Yellow fields with the X sign will show a bet multiplier that adds to your Total Bonus Win. Green fields with the X sign will multiply your Total Bonus Win. Other fields can add up to two free spins to your tally or grant you a bet multiplier.

There’s no Bonus Buy here, so you’re in for the long haul if you want to trigger the sweetest part of the game. As you’ll see, it wasn’t the easiest feat for me, but you might enjoy the challenge.

My experience playing Chessmas for real money was quite unique but not particularly rewarding. I found this game on a few of my favorite online casino sites and spent a solid ten minutes figuring out the paytable. Despite this, I was impressed with how the gameplay worked.

Multipliers popped up on every spin in the ribbon reel, and the vibrant visuals kept me hooked. Unfortunately, I didn’t pull in more than $0.10 per spin with smaller wagers. Betting $6, $10, and $20 proved a bit more fruitful. I saw plenty more wilds, landed wins every third spin, and topped my bankroll with around $120 over a short run.

I tried to push my luck with a $40 bet, hoping to keep the streak alive, but my fortune took a nosedive. While I did snag a sweet $400 win at one point, most spins were dry, and the slot bonus never triggered to give me a shot at the big bucks.

I can see myself returning to this game for the thrill of the design and features, but I’ll have to be smarter about budgeting.

While Chessmas scores high in design, it falls a little bit short in the stats department. With a 96.00% RTP, medium-to-high volatility, and a low hit rate, the game’s fun factor and max payout get lost in the shuffle. 

The 9,021x maximum reward doesn't carry the same weight if landing it in real-money gameplay feels like a stretch. However, it might not bother you as much – test it in Casinos.com demo mode and see what you think.

The Chessmas slot seems like a perfect Christmas game on the surface. It’s built on an original idea that combines chess with holiday cheer, includes tons of festive visuals, and packs several innovative features. 

However, an average RTP and low hit rate take away from the experience. The game takes more than it gives back, so the maximum prize feels more like a tease than a real possibility.

If you’re looking for a holiday slot offering more bang for your buck, here are a few options to consider:

• Santa’s Great Gifts by Pragmatic Play
• Wonders of Christmas by NetEnt
• Christmas Bonanza by Big Time Gaming

Casinos.com offers all these games in free-play mode for your convenience. Take advantage of it, choose your perfect holiday slot, and get ready for real-money prizes at top online casinos.