HippoPop (AvatarUX) Slot Review

HippoPop: Slot Overview 

HippoPop, released on May 31, 2021, is part of AvatarUX’s growing PopWins series—a lineup of innovative slots built around the popular expanding reels mechanic. Developed under the Yggdrasil Masters Program, this high-volatility title combines vibrant African-inspired themes with the engaging PopWins feature, offering players an exotic adventure filled with expanding reels, multipliers, and free spins. 

At its core, HippoPop offers 5 reels and the ability to expand up to 8 rows high, creating a massive 65,536 ways to win. It has an RTP of 96.1%, a minimum bet of €0.20, and a maximum bet of €40, making it accessible to a wide range of players. While it doesn’t reinvent the PopWins mechanic, HippoPop stands out thanks to its visual flair and huge winning potential, boasting a maximum payout of an incredible 157,590x the stake—one of the largest in the PopWins lineup.

Design and Graphics 

HippoPop takes a bold approach with its fusion of African wildlife and psychedelic Art Deco influences. The design draws inspiration from Alebrijes, brightly colored fantastical animals from Mexican folk art, but reimagined through a lush, tropical jungle lens. This combination creates a unique aesthetic that sets HippoPop apart from other titles in the series.The reels are populated with a range of vividly colored animal symbols, including frogs, fish, birds, flamingos, zebras, and cats, topped by the majestic golden hippo—the game’s highest-paying symbol. Even the lower-paying card royals (J–A) are given a neon-styled glow to blend seamlessly into the exotic atmosphere. 

Animations are smooth, and the PopWins expansions are accompanied by glowing visual effects that highlight the game’s dynamic nature. The backdrop immerses players in a fantastical jungle, complete with surreal hues of green, purple, and gold that suggest an otherworldly safari. Overall, HippoPop’s graphics are both whimsical and stylish, offering a visual treat for fans of creative slot design.

Gameplay Mechanics 

HippoPop uses the familiar PopWins mechanic, which has become AvatarUX’s signature. Every winning spin triggers the following process: 

Winning symbols pop from the grid. 

New symbols replace them, expanding the reels in height. 

The process repeats until no new wins occur. 

The base grid starts at 5 reels by 3 rows, with 243 ways to win. As reels expand up to 6 rows in the base game, the number of paylines grows substantially. During the free spins, reels can extend to the full 8 rows high, unlocking the maximum 65,536 ways to win. 

Wins are awarded both left-to-right and right-to-left, effectively doubling the chances of hitting combinations. This pay-both-ways system works in tandem with PopWins to create highly volatile yet rewarding gameplay. 

Symbols are divided into tiers: 

Low-paying: J–A card royals. 

Medium-paying: frogs, fish, and birds. 

High-paying: zebras and cats. 

Super high-paying: the golden hippo. 

Values aren’t enormous individually, but thanks to the PopWins system and pay-both-ways mechanic, these payouts are effectively boosted, especially during free spins with multipliers. 

This core gameplay makes HippoPop all about chaining wins together to expand reels and unlock the big bonus rounds, keeping players hooked through the excitement of watching the grid grow spin after spin.

Sound and Music 

The soundtrack of HippoPop perfectly complements its jungle-meets-psychedelic theme. The audio mixes tribal rhythms with modern electronic elements, creating an upbeat and atmospheric soundscape. Drumbeats, chimes, and ambient jungle effects punctuate the action, while celebratory audio cues highlight significant wins or reel expansions. 

The music escalates during bonus rounds, layering in more intensity to build anticipation as multipliers and reels climb higher. Much like the visuals, the sound design feels lively, colorful, and exotic, immersing players in an otherworldly jungle adventure.

Bonus Features 

HippoPop’s bonus features are centered around its free spins mode, enhanced by the gamble wheel and multipliers.Free Spins 

To trigger free spins, all reels must reach 6 rows high in the base game. 

Players are awarded 5 free spins initially, with the option to gamble for up to 12 spins on the bonus wheel. However, losing the gamble forfeits the feature entirely, adding a risk-reward element. 

Free spins start on a 5×3 grid but can expand up to 5×8 reels, unlocking the maximum 65,536 ways to win. 

Each win increases the multiplier by +1, which does not reset between spins. This allows multipliers to build significantly over time. 

Unlocking reels to 8 rows also awards +2 additional free spins. 

Hippo Symbol Boost 

One unique feature of HippoPop is that when reels reach 6, 7, or 8 rows high during free spins, the hippo symbol payouts are doubled, tripled, or quadrupled respectively. This makes the top-paying hippo symbol incredibly valuable in bonus play. 

Bonus Buy OptionFor players in jurisdictions where it’s allowed, HippoPop offers a Bonus Buy feature costing 85x the stake. This grants direct entry to free spins with 5 spins and a multiplier of 2x–4x, or players can gamble to boost the number of spins and the starting multiplier, with the chance to start as high as x10 multiplier.

Betting Options and Payouts 

HippoPop provides flexible betting suitable for a wide range of players: 

Min Bet: €0.20 

Max Bet: €40 

RTP: 96.1% 

Volatility: High 

Max Win: 157,590x the stake 

The potential here is staggering. While regular wins occur often enough to maintain interest, the real draw of HippoPop lies in its free spins round with massive multipliers and reel expansions. The combination of PopWins, pay-both-ways, and enhanced hippo payouts ensures explosive potential, making this one of AvatarUX’s highest-paying games to date.

Conclusion 

HippoPop is a vibrant and highly rewarding entry in AvatarUX’s PopWins series, offering players an exotic jungle adventure with psychedelic flair. While it doesn’t introduce major innovations compared to earlier titles like CherryPop or PapayaPop, it refines the formula with a unique theme, engaging visuals, and the potential for truly astronomical wins. 

The highlight of the game is undoubtedly the free spins feature, where multipliers climb without limit, reels expand to 8 rows, and hippo symbols unleash colossal payouts. The addition of the gamble wheel provides extra risk and excitement, though it may frustrate more cautious players. 

With a maximum win potential of 157,590x the stake, HippoPop is a slot that commands attention. Its high volatility ensures heart-pounding gameplay, and while dry spells can test patience, the rewards for perseverance can be extraordinary. 

For fans of the PopWins mechanic, HippoPop offers everything you’d expect: expanding reels, massive multipliers, and thrilling bonus features. For newcomers, it’s an excellent introduction to what makes AvatarUX’s games so engaging. While some may find the theme a quirky mix of influences, the polished execution ensures HippoPop remains one of the standout titles in the PopWins range.