Outer space isn't really a theme that hasn't been represented enough in slot games: there are plenty of titles featuring aliens and astronauts, stars and spacecraft. What hasn't been done properly yet is celestial bodies as classic slot fruit symbols. This is where 10 Celestial Fruits by Atomic Slot Lab comes in to fill the niche in a more than decent way. Let's take a look at this tempting new title, no telescope required.
General overview
10 Celestial Fruits is a medium-volatility game with a 5x3 grid, 10 paylines, and a default RTP of 95.52%. Instead of the run-of-the-mill royal symbols, there are six succulent low-paying fruits designed to resemble celestial bodies, three high-paying classic slot symbols: bars, bells, and sevens, and finally a shiny diamond star which is also the ultimate star of the game. Fruit symbols don't just look appealing and attractive, they also appear convincing in their dual role as both fruits and planet(oid)s. The game's background is simple but effective, showing two colorful cosmic nebulas, a perfect backdrop for a title like this.
Features and Mechanics
Some say good gameplay needs no fancy sophisticated mechanics to be gripping and entertaining, and this is often true. In 10 Celestial Fruits, one simple feature is enough to do the trick and hold your attention well. The diamond star symbol is wild, only appears on reel three, and carries a handy multiplier of 2x, 3x, 5x, or 10x. On top of that, it also triggers the Wild Streak feature: landing a win with the star wild starts a hold and respin feature with three respins.
When that occurs, all triggering symbols are locked in place and other positions start spinning as individual reels. The feature plays out the way we're all used to: you start with three respins and try to accumulate sticky triggering symbols, while the respins counter is reset back to three whenever you land another triggering symbol. You may think it's good to have as many triggering symbols as possible so you can land them easier to retrigger the respins, but that may not always be the case. If your triggering win was formed with, for example, sevens only, and you manage to land sevens in all positions except the one with the star wild, your win is additionally multiplied by 2x.
Appearance and experience
The space theme defines the visuals, of course. Due to the slot face in the foreground, the nebulas in the background can't be seen entirely, but you simply know they're there thanks to the vibrant colors that were used for them. What does stand out and is hard to overlook, however, are planetary fruits. Since symbols are the most looked-at thing in a slot game, they really need to be diverse, recognizable and appealing, which is something they do accomplish here. Oranges have sun-like coronas, lemons have rings like Saturn does, while grapes look like an asteroid cluster in front of a cloud of cosmic dust that looks similar to Orion or the Southern Ring nebula. It's a pleasure to look at them and while that may not be the main retention factor for a slot game, it is an important one, especially when there are gazillions of slots on the market with mediocre or even sub-par visuals. When it comes to the quality of artwork, few studios can compete with Atomic Slot Lab, a reliable provider of slots with top-notch visuals.
The same applies to the sounds in the game: those of the reels stopping are short and clipped, familiar and established, while the background music is spacey, ethereal, unworldly in a pleasant way, and it almost makes you feel like you're drifting freely across the universe.
Our final verdict
The overall impression is of a game that was essentially meant for a specific set of players, namely those who value blessed simplicity over excessive complexity, but its appeal rose above its initial scope, as it also works really well for those new to slots and still learning the ropes. Its versatility and appeal to both beginner and veteran players should make it a staple of game portfolios globally and a popular go-to game for those moments when you simply want to spin mindlessly for a bit and avoid all the intricacies that plague modern trends in slot mechanics. It's a no-brainer for players and operators alike, and we mean it in a good way: for players as a game that delivers reliable fun and excitement, and for operators as a strong title that can remain evergreen and future-proof. Contemporary currents in slot gaming can be fickle, and betting on dayflies can be a double-edged sword, which is why games that capture the essence of slots without unnecessary bells and whistles (such as this one) will always be in demand. It's unpretentious, delightful, and chill, and more often than you can imagine, this is all you need in a game.
Here's more information about the title.
