The Royal Express is a train-themed online casino slot developed by NetEnt, one of the most reputable game development companies in the industry. Released in 2015, this medium-variance game has become a popular choice among players seeking an immersive experience with moderate rewards.
Theme and Design
Upon entering the game’s lobby, players are transported to a nostalgic era of train travel, complete with vintage-style graphics and sound effects that perfectly complement the theme. The slot features a classic 5×3 grid layout, with each reel displaying various symbols related to trains, travelers, and scenic landscapes. The high-quality artwork Royal Express slot is reminiscent of early-20th-century posters, adding an air of elegance to the game’s overall aesthetic.
The game’s background image showcases a bustling train station at sunset, complete with steaming locomotives, pedestrians rushing to catch their trains, and vibrant street lamps casting long shadows across the platform. This immersive environment sets the tone for what promises to be an engaging gaming experience.
Symbols
As one would expect from a theme-driven slot machine, the Royal Express features several symbols that contribute significantly to its overall appeal:
- Low-paying symbols: Aces through 10s (value-1) and Jacks/Queens/Kings (value-0.2)
- Medium-paying symbols:
- Three train carriages in different colors (red, blue, green; value-5)
- Train conductors waving their caps (value-6)
- Couples relaxing on a hillside or strolling near the tracks (value-8)
- High-paying symbols: The game’s wild and scatter symbols are not listed here as they have separate explanations below.
The lower-value Aces through 10s pay up to x50 of the player’s total bet, while higher-ranking Jack/Queen/King combinations offer payouts ranging from x20 to x40. These figures reflect a standard medium-volatility model where low and mid-range wins are more frequent than high-stakes jackpots.
Payouts
Each winning combination in this slot pays out according to the paytable’s designated value for that symbol or group of symbols, adjusted by any multipliers triggered during gameplay (if applicable).
Since payouts can vary greatly depending on individual game conditions and choices made within the interface, we cannot provide exact figures without introducing specific parameters. Keep an eye open throughout our analysis as payout frequencies and magnitudes are discussed.
Wilds
In this slot, the conductor is depicted with a green uniform wearing no other identifying features beyond his headgear (also shown in red), while the woman passenger has brown hair. These images represent wild symbols whose purpose is to enhance gameplay through strategic combinations:
- Wild Substitution: Both conductors and women passengers replace any symbol missing from winning lineups.
- Multiplier Functionality: Not used within standard game states; will be addressed later when discussing bonus features.
Scatters
Two additional special icons appear during regular play, each offering its own unique function to players:
- The Blue Train Carriage
- Station Sign
While less visually distinctive than other slot machines on the market, these symbols introduce distinct gameplay dynamics and payouts that differ from basic combos created using standard or wild symbols.
Bonus Features
This part of our analysis might surprise you with some interesting mechanics found in medium-volatility slots:
- The Royal Express is famous for its innovative bonus rounds. Upon hitting three scatter icons anywhere on the reels, an additional mini-game starts.
- You will find that upon activation of a random "Station Bonus," one train car transforms into either 1x or 2x multiplier wild (the woman passenger).
