Esqueleto Explosivo 3 (Thunderkick) Slot Review

Esqueleto Explosivo 3: Slot Overview 

Thunderkick’s Esqueleto Explosivo series has become a cult favorite in the world of online slots, known for its explosive skull symbols, Day of the Dead aesthetics, and musical flair. With the release of Esqueleto Explosivo 3 on October 23, 2024, the studio takes its colorful franchise to new heights. This latest installment switches to a cluster pay system on a 5×5 grid, bringing a significant structural evolution and revamping the iconic Mucho Multiplier mechanic. 

Following up from Esqueleto Explosivo and Esqueleto Explosivo 2, the third entry turns up the heat with enhanced volatility, more explosive gameplay, and a fresh, vibrant energy that perfectly fits its theme. While the RTP is 94.22%, slightly lower than its predecessors, the feature-rich mechanics, high-paced action, and a potential max win of 7,500x ensure there’s still plenty of firepower under the hood.

Design and Graphics 

Set against a traditional Mexican town square aglow with festive lights and paper lanterns, Esqueleto Explosivo 3 bursts with vivid color and cultural charm. The 5×5 reels are framed by adobe buildings adorned with garlands, while fireworks light up the night sky. In true Thunderkick fashion, the design is both highly detailed and brimming with character.Symbols are limited to six uniquely colored skulls, each with their own cheeky facial expressions and mariachi hats. The overall aesthetic captures the celebratory spirit of Día de los Muertos, paying homage to its cultural roots with style and respect. Each winning cluster triggers an explosion, sending skulls flying off the reels in a blaze of color, allowing for dynamic and engaging animations that never grow stale. 

Thunderkick has once again managed to balance visual flair with functional clarity—something crucial in a cluster slot where screen space can quickly become overwhelming.

Gameplay Mechanics 

At its core, Esqueleto Explosivo 3 revolves around cluster pays. Instead of traditional paylines, wins are formed when five or more matching symbols are connected horizontally or vertically. Winning symbols are removed, and new ones tumble down in an Avalanche mechanic, allowing multiple win chains from a single spin. 

Every cluster triggers a symbol removal event followed by a potential wild drop. These can be standard wilds or Explosivo Wilds—a unique feature that clears surrounding symbols in a 3×3 grid, paving the way for fresh wins and additional avalanches. 

The heartbeat of the game is the Mucho Multiplier, displayed beneath the reels. Starting at x1, it doubles with every Avalanche sequence, progressing through a trail of x2, x4, x8, x16, and up to x32 in the base game. In the free spins mode, it can soar to a staggering x1,024. The multiplier resets at the end of each game round (unless you’re in bonus mode). 

This layered system adds significant depth to what initially appears to be a simple cluster game, giving it both tempo and tension.

Sound and Music 

One of the most iconic elements of the Esqueleto Explosivo series is its use of music, and the third entry cranks up the volume—literally and figuratively. The soundtrack is driven by an energetic mariachi band, and each winning skull sings a musical note before exploding off the reels. The harmony is fun, clever, and completely in sync with the game’s joyful mood. 

As multipliers build and Explosivo Wilds start to trigger chain reactions, the tempo picks up, giving a palpable sense of momentum. Combined with the visual effects and fireworks, the soundscape helps generate genuine excitement during win streaks and free spins. 

Even after prolonged play, the music doesn’t become grating—a testament to Thunderkick’s attention to audio design.

Bonus Features 

Explosivo Wild 

The Explosivo Wild can be added randomly during a win, during an Avalanche, or as a fixed drop in some modes. When it lands, it clears a 3×3 area around it—excluding other high-paying symbols, wilds, or scatters. This not only makes space for more symbols to fall in but can also activate Avalanches, helping players advance the Mucho Multiplier track quickly. 

Mucho Multiplier 

The Mucho Multiplier is a progressive trail located below the reels. It doubles with every successful Avalanche:Base game: x1 to x32 

Free spins: up to x1,024 

The multiplier resets after each spin in the base game but is persistent and can be extended in free spins, making it the core mechanic for hitting the game’s higher payouts. 

Free Spins Bonus Game 

Triggered by landing 3 or 4 scatter symbols, the bonus game awards 10 or 12 free spins, respectively. Each extra scatter adds +2 free spins. During the round: 

The Mucho Multiplier starts fresh and can reach up to x1,024 

The multiplier doesn’t reset between spins 

Landing 2–4 additional scatters during the round awards +3 to +7 free spins 

Explosivo Wilds collected during the bonus increase a collection meter 

Every 3 Explosivo Wilds collected: the multiplier trail is doubled and +1 free spin is granted 

After 5 fills, no more Explosivo Wilds can be collected, placing a soft cap on this feature’s benefit 

The potential here is immense, especially when multipliers align with larger cluster wins. 

Bet+ & Feature Buy 

Esqueleto Explosivo 3 includes multiple Bet+ options:Bonus Boost (1.5x bet): Each spin is 2x more likely to trigger free spins 

The Enrico Show (2x bet): Guarantees an Explosivo Wild on the initial drop 

Bonus Boost Plus (3x bet): Each spin is 5x more likely to trigger free spins 

Additionally, players can purchase instant entry to the free spins round with Feature Buy, costing 75x the stake for a guaranteed bonus trigger. 

These modifiers help reduce grind, offering players faster access to the game’s high-potential bonus mode.

Betting Options and Payouts 

The slot accommodates a wide range of players with bets starting at €0.10 and reaching up to €100 per spin. Whether you’re a casual player or a high roller, Esqueleto Explosivo 3 caters to your style. 

Payouts via clusters are scaled: 

5-symbol clusters pay between 0.2x to 1x 

15+ clusters can pay between 20x and 150x 

These payouts are decent, but true power comes from stacked wins amplified by the Mucho Multiplier. With the potential for multipliers up to x1,024 in free spins, the modest cluster values can turn into big wins. 

The maximum win is 7,500x, achievable through a combination of massive clusters, multiplier stacking, and successful Explosivo Wild triggers. The game features high volatility, meaning big wins are possible but not frequent—suiting players who enjoy chasing substantial rewards over steady trickles.

Conclusion 

Esqueleto Explosivo 3 is not just another sequel—it’s a full-on celebration of everything that made the original games successful, now adapted for modern audiences who crave more complex mechanics and bigger win potential. 

The introduction of cluster pays, an expanded Mucho Multiplier (now up to x1,024), sticky multipliers in free spins, and an explosive wild-clearing mechanic create an intoxicating mix of unpredictability and reward. It’s fast, fiery, and full of life, matching its Day of the Dead theme with high energy and top-tier audiovisual design. 

While the RTP is a touch below average at 94.22%, the excitement, pacing, and the ability to modify gameplay through Bet+ options and a feature buy make this one of Thunderkick’s most entertaining releases to date. 

Whether you’re a fan of the series or a newcomer looking for a high-volatility cluster slot with plenty of personality, Esqueleto Explosivo 3 is a fiesta worth joining.