Horror Hotel (Relax Gaming) Slot Review

Horror Hotel: Slot Overview 

Horror Hotel is a quirky, spooky-themed online slot by Relax Gaming, launched on January 25, 2023, that combines eerie aesthetics with entertaining mechanics. Inspired by the 2021 hit Santa’s Stack, this title repurposes the core engine for a darker, gothic setting, transforming a Christmas classic into a Halloween-worthy horror tale—albeit with a humorous twist. Think more Hotel Transylvania than The Exorcist. 

Set in a graveyard overlooked by a haunted mansion, Horror Hotel introduces players to a 6×6 cluster pays grid filled with vampires, mummies, werewolves, and mad scientists. Wins are formed when five or more matching symbols land adjacent horizontally or vertically. The game thrives on its Mystery Symbol mechanic and cascading cluster wins, supported by a Free Spins round that evolves as you progress. 

With a maximum payout potential of 20,000x the bet, high volatility, and RTP values up to 96.5% when using the buy feature, this title offers a chilling thrill for cluster slot enthusiasts who crave engaging bonus play and slick presentation.

Design and Graphics 

Despite its horror theme, Horror Hotel is more playful than terrifying. The reels are set in a moonlit graveyard outside a spooky hotel on a hill. The color palette leans into purples, blues, and greens, with mist swirling through the background and cartoon-style tombstones and trees adding character.Symbols are delightfully grotesque in a fun, comic-book style. The four high-paying symbols include: 

Vampire 

Frankenstein’s monster 

Werewolf 

Mummy 

Lower-paying symbols consist of potion bottles in different colors. All are designed with strong visual contrast, ensuring they stand out clearly during cascading sequences. The game also features wilds and scatter symbols—the latter represented by a creepy hotel door. 

The user interface is clean and intuitive, with the “Buy” button easily accessible for quick entry into the bonus round. Animations are smooth, particularly during cascades, symbol conversions, and free spins.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Horror Hotel operates on a 6×6 grid and uses a cluster pays system. Wins are awarded when five or more identical symbols land in a connected group. The higher the cluster count, the higher the reward, scaling up to 5,000x the stake for clusters of 35+ symbols. 

After a winning cluster forms, all involved symbols—wilds included—are converted into mystery symbols. Then: 

A respin is triggered. 

All non-winning symbols are cleared from the board. 

Mystery symbols drop to the lowest positions, and new symbols fall into place above them. 

Once settled, all mystery symbols transform into the same pay symbol, potentially forming a new cluster and repeating the feature. 

This core Mystery Symbol Respin feature is active during both base gameplay and free spins, adding substantial replay value.

Sound and Music 

The audio design strikes the perfect balance between spooky and playful. The background music is a mix of haunting melodies with mysterious piano keys and distant howls—fitting for the graveyard theme. Sound effects amplify the fun factor, with eerie door creaks, bubbling potions, and satisfying clicks for cluster formations and symbol transformations. 

During free spins, the tempo subtly picks up, creating heightened suspense as the multiplier climbs. The overall audio complements the visual design without becoming oppressive or overly dramatic.

Bonus Features 

Mystery Symbol FeatureThe most prominent feature in Horror Hotel, this mechanic ensures that every cluster win converts the involved symbols (including wilds) into mystery symbols. After a board clear and respin, they drop, reformat, and potentially reconvert for chain wins. 

This looping mechanism offers consistent suspense and frequent win potential. It’s somewhat reminiscent of Beast Mode or Plunderland from Relax Gaming’s previous catalog. 

Free Spins 

Triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols in a single spin: 

3 scatters = 5 free spins 

4 or 5 scatters = +1 spin each 

Each additional scatter beyond the first three grants +1 spin 

During free spins: 

A wild is added to the grid on the first spin. 

Each new free spin adds another wild symbol. 

A win multiplier is introduced and starts at 1x. 

This multiplier increases by +1 with every cluster win and does not reset until the round ends. 

Landing additional scatters during the round awards +1 spin. 

This progressive nature—adding wilds and building multipliers—makes the bonus feature exceptionally dynamic and rewarding. 

Buy FeatureFor those seeking instant thrills, Horror Hotel includes a bonus buy option priced at 100x the total stake, guaranteeing at least three scatter symbols on the next spin. When activated, the RTP increases to 96.5%, compared to 96.17% in the base game. 

This purchase shortcut is perfect for players who want to focus solely on high-volatility bonus rounds without waiting for natural triggers.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Horror Hotel accommodates a wide range of players with its flexible stake range: 

Minimum Bet: €0.10 

Maximum Bet: €50 

Max Win: 20,000x 

Volatility: High (5/5) 

Hit Frequency: 16.10% 

RTP: 96.17% (96.5% with bonus buy) 

Payouts are based on cluster size: 

5-symbol clusters: 0.1x to 1x the bet 

35+ symbols: 500x to 5,000x the bet 

The wild symbol pays no value directly but contributes significantly to cluster wins and feature triggers. The high volatility means that while wins may be less frequent, they can be large—especially during free spins when wilds and multipliers align.

Conclusion 

Horror Hotel proves that you can mix horror themes with lighthearted gameplay to create something uniquely engaging. With its blend of eerie fun and strategic depth, Relax Gaming has created a game that appeals to fans of both casual and hardcore slots. The persistent Mystery Symbol Respin feature and evolving Free Spins round with progressive wilds and multipliers ensure there’s always something to look forward to. 

While it doesn’t reinvent Relax’s formula—borrowing ideas from Santa’s Stack, Beast Mode, and Plunderland—it successfully reimagines them in a different setting, giving Horror Hotel its own personality. The design is polished, the audio is immersive, and the gameplay keeps you on your toes without feeling overwhelming. 

If you’re after a darkly whimsical cluster slot with high win potential, Horror Hotel deserves a reservation on your next play session. Whether you’re in it for the 20,000x potential or the spooky laughs, this is one stay that could pay off big.