Money Mouse (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Money Mouse: Slot Overview 

Money Mouse, developed by Pragmatic Play, is a festive slot inspired by the Chinese New Year. As the name suggests, it features a lucky rodent character—a mouse—celebrating wealth and fortune. Released at the end of 2019, just in time for the Lunar New Year, Money Mouse is Pragmatic Play’s answer to the demand for Asian-themed slots with simple mechanics, vibrant visuals, and a trio of jackpots. 

The slot combines familiar elements from Pragmatic Play’s popular games like Wolf Gold, including Money Respins and Mega Symbols. While Money Mouse doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it delivers solid gameplay with features that cater to both casual and mid-stakes players. 

If you enjoy straightforward slot mechanics with opportunities to trigger jackpot prizes and free spins, Money Mouse offers a decent, albeit somewhat familiar, experience.

Design and Graphics 

Pragmatic Play delivers a vibrant design that immediately catches your eye. Set against a celebratory backdrop, the red-and-gold theme screams prosperity, which aligns perfectly with the Chinese New Year motif. The reels are flanked by traditional red lanterns, gold accents, and fireworks exploding in the background, creating a lively atmosphere. On the reels, the symbols include: 

• Low-paying royals (A, K, Q, J) styled in bold, red lettering. 

• High-paying symbols such as oranges, drums, and firecrackers. 

• A Golden Mouse Wild that substitutes for other symbols. 

• A Gold Coin scatter and a Money Symbol for the special features. 

Pragmatic Play has clearly focused on keeping the visuals festive and vibrant without overwhelming the screen. While the graphics are polished and bright, there’s little innovation here—it feels like a visually updated clone of earlier Pragmatic Play slots.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Money Mouse is played on a classic 5-reel, 3-row grid with 25 fixed paylines. The objective is to land matching symbols from left to right across any of these paylines. The betting range accommodates all types of players, with bets starting at €0.25 and going up to €125 per spin. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key symbols: 

• Wild Symbol (Golden Mouse): Appears on all reels and substitutes for other symbols except scatters and Money Symbols. 

• Scatter Symbol (Gold Tree): Triggers free spins when 3 or more appear on reels 1, 3, and 5. 

• Money Symbol (Lantern): Plays a central role in triggering the Money Respins feature. 

The gameplay flow is fast-paced, which suits the medium volatility. Wins occur frequently enough to keep things engaging but not so often that the excitement fizzles out.

Sound and Music 

Money Mouse’s soundtrack complements its festive theme perfectly. The background music is an upbeat, traditional Chinese tune, complete with gong strikes and celebratory drumbeats. It creates an immersive and celebratory vibe, making you feel as if you’re part of a New Year’s parade. 

Winning spins are accentuated with energetic sound effects, while features like Free Spins and Money Respins come with added audio flair to build anticipation. Though not groundbreaking, the sound design is polished and contributes positively to the overall experience.

Bonus Features 

Money Mouse is not short on features, though they lean heavily on familiar Pragmatic Play mechanics. Here’s a closer look: Free Spins Feature 

The Free Spins feature is triggered when 3 Gold Tree scatter symbols appear on reels 1, 3, and 5. When this happens: 

• You are awarded 5 free spins. 

• During the free spins, the middle three reels merge into a giant 3×3 symbol. 

If you land another scatter symbol during the free spins, you’ll receive 3 additional free spins, with no retrigger limit. This feature is visually striking and can lead to substantial wins, especially when the giant symbol aligns with high-paying or Money Symbols. 

Money Respin Feature 

The highlight of Money Mouse is the Money Respin feature, activated when 6 or more Money Symbols (Lanterns) appear on the reels. Here’s how it works: 

The triggering Money Symbols lock in place, and the rest of the reels clear. 

You receive 3 respins to land additional Money Symbols. 

Each time a new Money Symbol lands, it locks in place, and the respins reset to 3. 

The feature continues until no respins remain or all 15 positions are filled. 

Jackpots: 

The Money Symbols can contain fixed jackpot prizes: 

• Minor Jackpot: 30x your stake. 

• Major Jackpot: 100x your stake. 

• Grand Jackpot: 1,000x your stake, awarded when all 15 positions are filled with Money Symbols. 

The Money Respin feature is engaging, offering clear objectives and the potential for significant payouts.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Money Mouse provides a betting range that suits most players: 

• Minimum Bet: €0.25 per spin. 

• Maximum Bet: €125 per spin. 

The slot has a 96.00% RTP and medium volatility, meaning it offers a balanced mix of frequent smaller wins and occasional big hits. 

Here’s a quick overview of symbol payouts for a 5-of-a-kind win: 

• Low-paying Royals (A, K, Q, J): 0.2x to 2x the stake. 

• High-paying Symbols: Oranges, drums, and firecrackers pay between 4x to 20x the stake. 

• Wild Symbol: Substitutes for other symbols and adds more winning potential. 

• Jackpot Feature: Up to 1,000x the stake for landing the Grand Jackpot. 

The max win in Money Mouse is capped at 2,500x the stake, achievable through the combination of free spins and the Money Respin feature.

Conclusion 

Money Mouse is a visually appealing, festive slot with straightforward gameplay and entertaining features. While it lacks originality—borrowing heavily from Pragmatic Play’s Wolf Gold—it delivers solid, balanced gameplay that appeals to players who enjoy classic mechanics. 

The Free Spins and Money Respin features are the highlights, offering a mix of excitement and decent win potential. The trio of jackpots adds another layer of incentive, particularly for casual and mid-stakes players. 

However, Money Mouse may struggle to stand out in a crowded market of Asian-themed slots. Its familiar design and mechanics make it feel more like a polished clone than an innovative release. Players looking for unique features or groundbreaking gameplay might find it uninspiring.

If you’re a fan of Pragmatic Play’s previous slots or simply enjoy festive Asian themes, Money Mouse is worth a few spins. For players seeking something entirely new, this one might feel a little too familiar.