Columbus Deluxe slot by Novomatic

How to play Columbus Deluxe comes down to one decision made before anything moves: the size of the stake. Every figure in the Columbus Deluxe paytable is a multiple of it, so changing the stake rescales the whole table at once.

To read a result in Columbus Deluxe, follow the 10 lines from the leftmost reel: the pay is for identical symbols in an unbroken run, and each line pays its best combination only.

Columbus Deluxe keeps its own paytable one click away, and that is where to check Columbus Wild rather than trusting a summary. The values shown move with the stake, so the table always matches the spin you are about to make.

The Columbus Deluxe grid is 5 reels, 3 rows and 10 paylines. Wins are read left to right from the first reel, and only the highest combination on each line counts, so a second Columbus further along the same line adds nothing. Columbus is the top symbol, a crowned queen sits under it, and the card ranks below those are what most Columbus Deluxe spins return.

The wild here is Columbus Wild — the navigator substitutes for any symbol. That is the single most important line in the Columbus Deluxe paytable, because it is what turns a near miss into a paid line. Top end on Columbus Deluxe is 1,218× the total bet, and nothing on the base grid gets close to it — the number assumes Columbus Wild lines up.

On Columbus Deluxe one entry does the heavy lifting — Free Games: caravels open a run of free games. So the honest way to read Columbus Deluxe is as two games stacked: the base grid, which ticks over, and the feature, which does not.

There are three things worth waiting for in Columbus Deluxe, starting with Columbus Wild. None of them fire often; all of them change the shape of a Columbus Deluxe session when they do.

Columbus Wild. The paytable entry reads: the navigator substitutes for any symbol. Columbus Wild does not fire often on Columbus Deluxe, and the game is built on the assumption that you are waiting for it.

Free Games: caravels open a run of free games. On Columbus Deluxe this is the difference between a flat session and one you remember, so it is worth knowing what Free Games looks like before it arrives.

Gamble. The paytable entry reads: double a win by calling the colour of a face-down card, counted against the same line bet you staked. Watch for the Gamble trigger rather than the reels — on Columbus Deluxe it is easier to miss than you would expect.

None of these fire on demand, and that is the point: Columbus Wild is worth having a balance left for, and the rest of Columbus Deluxe is the wait.

A spin on Columbus Deluxe costs the line bet multiplied by 10 lines. Halving the line bet halves the Columbus Deluxe spin and every number in its paytable at the same time — the two move together. Note that 1,218× the total bet is a multiplier, not a rand figure. It holds at every stake, which is what makes Columbus Deluxe comparable with the games either side of it in the lobby.

Treat Columbus Deluxe as a medium-volatility game — it sits in the middle of the catalogue, neither a grinder nor a long-shot. An RTP you find for Columbus Deluxe on another site describes that casino's build of the game, not this one. Novomatic lets the return be set per operator, so the only binding number for Columbus Deluxe is the one in its own info panel — open it before you read anyone's table, including ours.

There is no reason to ladder the stake on Columbus Deluxe: each spin stands alone, and its paytable scales linearly with whatever you set. Columbus Deluxe lets autoplay run until Columbus Wild lands, which is the sensible configuration — there is nothing on its base grid worth watching spin by spin.

Size the stake on Columbus Deluxe so the balance covers a few hundred spins — that is roughly the window in which the game shows you what it does. A limit set before Columbus Deluxe loads is worth more than one set at the end of a losing run; the tools for it are in your account.

If you are clearing a bonus on Columbus Deluxe, note that slots contribute 100% of the wagering requirement — the full terms are on our bonus page. What to watch in Columbus Deluxe is Columbus Wild: how often it arrives sets the pace of a session more than any other number.

A dry stretch on Columbus Deluxe is not a signal. Columbus Wild does not become more likely because it is overdue, and betting as though it does is the fastest way to shorten a session. The responsible gaming page collects the limit tools and the independent support contacts in one place, and they apply to Columbus Deluxe as to every other game here.

Columbus Deluxe suits a player who wants a game that pays often enough to stay interesting without flattening out. The natural companion in our lobby is Gonzo's Quest; the family of mechanics is close, the feel is not.

Gonzo's Quest is the near neighbour, and either is a reasonable opening. Columbus Deluxe is the better one when you want a game that keeps showing you something. Full specifications for Columbus Deluxe — the 5 reels, 3 rows and 10 paylines, volatility, the top end (1,218× the total bet), the feature list and the release year — are in the table at the top of this page.

Gonzo's Quest