Depths of Fortune (AvatarUX) Slot Review

Depths of Fortune: Slot Overview 

Released on July 31, 2024, Depths of Fortune is a captivating slot from AvatarUX, a studio best known for its signature PopWins mechanic but now demonstrating that it can create equally compelling experiences outside of its trademark style. Here, the action unfolds in the uncharted abyss of the deep sea, where fortune seekers chase treasure in an eerie, almost alien environment. 

Unlike many AvatarUX games, Depths of Fortune does not use PopWins. Instead, it introduces two innovative mechanics — the Loaded Reel and the Hold & Win bonus game — that bring a fresh dynamic to the studio’s portfolio. With a 5-reel, 4-row setup and the potential for up to 16,807 ways to win, this slot offers a solid mix of modern features and tried-and-true payout systems. 

The game’s math model delivers a medium volatility experience, striking a balance between frequent moderate wins and the chance for large payouts. The RTP is 96%, competitive with other premium slots, and the maximum win potential reaches 20,000x the stake, making it one of AvatarUX’s most lucrative non-PopWins releases. Betting ranges from €0.10 to €100, ensuring accessibility across a broad spectrum of players.

Design and Graphics 

Depths of Fortune immerses players in a shadowy underwater world where human divers scour the ocean floor for riches. The backdrop shows a murky, industrial-looking portal peering into the deep sea, evoking a mix of steampunk and Jules Verne-inspired design. It has shades of Nolimit City’s Das xBoot with its gritty machinery and metallic pipework, but it stands on its own thanks to the eerie setting and inventive character art.The reels themselves are filled with 10 pay symbols. The low-paying icons are standard card ranks (10–A), designed in a stylized, mechanical font to suit the theme. The high-paying symbols are five character icons, depicting rugged sailors, captains, and treasure hunters. The premium symbols can pay 2x to 5x the bet for a five-of-a-kind combination, delivering satisfying returns when boosted by the game’s features. 

Visual flourishes keep the action exciting: cascading reels cause symbols to collapse and trigger new chances, while the Loaded Reel lights up dramatically when rewards are activated. The bonus round’s grid, filled with coins and glowing rewards, adds to the sense of diving deep into hidden treasure chambers. Overall, the presentation is both atmospheric and stylish, offering a refreshing break from AvatarUX’s more colorful, cartoonish games.

Gameplay Mechanics 

At its core, Depths of Fortune runs on a 5-reel, 4-row layout that can expand thanks to the Loaded Reel mechanic, offering up to 16,807 paylines. Wins are triggered by landing three or more matching symbols across adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost side. 

Cascading Wins 

Each winning combination triggers a cascade mechanic, where winning symbols are removed, and new ones fall into place. This not only gives multiple chances to win from a single spin but also helps activate features from the Loaded Reel. 

Loaded Reel 

The Loaded Reel sits to the left of the main grid and plays a crucial role in shaping gameplay. At the top of the Loaded Reel is the Trigger Zone. Whenever reward symbols land in this zone, they activate, unleashing one of several enhancements: 

Trigger Zone Expansion – Expands the Trigger Zone by one cell, making future activations more likely. 

Grid Expansion – Expands the main reels upwards by up to three positions, unlocking more ways to win. 

Multiplier – Applies a multiplier to the current win. 

Lower Pay Upgrade – Converts low-paying symbols into higher-paying ones. 

Wilds & Colossal Wilds – Adds wilds or oversized wilds to the reels, boosting hit potential. 

This system creates constant anticipation, as each cascade can push rewards toward the Trigger Zone, chaining together thrilling outcomes.

Sound and Music 

The audio design of Depths of Fortune is carefully crafted to match its dark, mysterious underwater setting. The soundtrack carries a sense of tension and unease, with low, pulsing notes and mechanical hums that reflect the steampunk machinery aesthetic. 

Sound effects add to the immersion: reels cascade with metallic clinks, multipliers activate with sharp bursts, and coin features ring out with a satisfying jingle. The overall atmosphere is less playful than many AvatarUX titles, instead leaning into a serious and adventurous tone that complements the game’s theme of treasure hunting in perilous depths.

Bonus Features 

Loaded Reel Rewards

The Loaded Reel is active throughout both the base game and bonus game, offering enhancements that can completely reshape the grid. Its ability to expand reels, apply multipliers, or add wilds makes it a central feature of the slot and a consistent source of unpredictability. 

Hold & Win BonusThe highlight of Depths of Fortune is its Hold & Win bonus round, triggered by landing at least 5 Coin symbols on the reels. The feature takes place on a grid filled with blanks, coins, and special reward icons. 

Key mechanics include: 

Cascading Coins: Coin symbols cascade to the lowest available position. 

Values: Coins have values ranging from 1x to 100x, while Colossal Coins can be worth up to 5,000x. 

Lives System: The bonus begins with 3 lives, reset to 3 each time a new coin lands. 

Loaded Reel Enhancements: New rewards continue to activate, offering upgrades and modifiers. 

Additional rewards include: 

Coin & Colossal Coin – Standard and oversized coins with high values. 

Coin Upgrade – Boosts existing coin values. 

Extra Lives – Adds up to 3 more respins. 

Collect – Gathers all visible coins on the grid. 

Collect & Multiply – Collects all coins and multiplies them by a given multiplier value. 

This creates a dynamic and escalating bonus game where potential keeps growing with each cascade. 

Xpress Buy Options 

For players who want direct access to features, the Xpress section offers multiple buy-in choices:Fully Loaded – 5x the bet, guarantees no blanks on the Loaded Reel. 

Bonus – 60x the bet, starts with 5 coins on a 5×4 grid. 

Bonus Plus – 120x the bet, starts with 6 coins on a 5×5 grid. 

Bonus Premium – 240x the bet, starts with 7 coins on a 5×6 grid. 

Bonus Max – 500x the bet, starts with 8 coins on a 5×7 grid. 

These options allow players to customize their risk and reward level, appealing particularly to high-volatility enthusiasts.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Depths of Fortune is designed with a wide betting range, accommodating both casual and serious players. Bets start at €0.10 and climb to a maximum of €100 per spin, giving ample flexibility. 

The RTP is 96%, though alternative lower-RTP versions may be deployed by operators. Its medium volatility means the game delivers a steady mix of moderate wins while still offering chances for massive payouts, especially in the Hold & Win round. 

Payout breakdown: 

Low-paying symbols (10–A): 0.5x–1x the bet for five of a kind. 

High-paying character symbols: 2x–5x the bet for five of a kind. 

Wilds: Substitute for all regular symbols, helping to connect wins. 

The real allure lies in the game’s 20,000x max win potential, which, at maximum stakes, equates to a jaw-dropping €2,000,000 payout.

Conclusion 

Depths of Fortune marks a bold step for AvatarUX, proving the studio’s ability to create engaging slots beyond its beloved PopWins line. With its Loaded Reel and Hold & Win mechanics, the game offers a fresh and exciting experience that keeps players hooked with constant potential for expansion, multipliers, and cascading wins. 

The design leans into dark, steampunk-inspired underwater exploration, and the audio builds tension perfectly. Meanwhile, the combination of cascading wins, grid expansions, and escalating multipliers ensures that gameplay remains engaging from start to finish. The Hold & Win bonus, in particular, stands out as a feature packed with variety and winning potential. 

With a 20,000x max win, 96% RTP, and a versatile bet range of €0.10–€100, Depths of Fortune offers both casual players and high-rollers something to chase. It might not rival some top-tier heist or train-themed games in terms of raw power, but it delivers a highly polished and original take on deep-sea treasure hunting. 

For players seeking something different from AvatarUX’s usual style yet still packed with excitement, Depths of Fortune is a must-try.