Money Train (Relax Gaming) Slot Review

Money Train: Slot Overview 

Money Train is the game that kickstarted one of Relax Gaming’s most iconic slot franchises. Originally launched as a fresh take on the Western-themed slot genre, it helped cement Relax’s reputation for pushing creative, high-volatility mechanics into the spotlight. With a focus on its innovative Money Cart Bonus Round and a powerful maximum win of up to 20,000x your stake, Money Train quickly found an audience with players who crave unpredictable action and massive win potential. 

Set across 5 reels and 4 rows with 40 fixed paylines, Money Train offers more than just base game spins. It’s designed to keep players engaged with compelling bonus features, a dynamic reel expansion system, and a lineup of high-impact symbols. The ability to buy into the bonus feature for 80x your stake (where allowed) adds another strategic layer, and boosts the RTP from 96.2% to 98.0%—making this a serious contender in the realm of value-packed video slots.

Design and Graphics 

Money Train rides in with a gritty, classic Wild West aesthetic, transporting players to a dusty railway station in the middle of nowhere. The reels are mounted on the side of a steam-powered locomotive, complete with cogs, pressure valves, and iron-riveted panels that feel both rugged and mechanically precise. The backdrop shows arid deserts and train tracks fading into the horizon—an atmospheric touch that helps reinforce the Western frontier theme.Symbol design follows suit, featuring cowboy icons like Buffalo Bill lookalikes, a masked outlaw, a sheriff’s badge, and crossed shotgun wilds. The wild symbol stands in for all pay symbols and plays a crucial role in base game wins. The stacked character symbols give a bold, poster-style presentation that fits the genre perfectly, while animations for feature triggers and reel expansions are smooth and satisfying. 

The polished art direction avoids flashy distractions and instead builds a focused, cohesive environment where every win and bonus event feels grounded in the game’s dusty, dangerous world.

Gameplay Mechanics 

At its core, Money Train operates with standard slot mechanics in the base game: 

Wins form across 40 fixed paylines. 

Matching symbols land from left to right, starting at reel 1. 

Wilds substitute for all pay symbols. 

The highest-paying symbol awards 20x the stake for five of a kind. 

However, where the game truly shines is in its Money Cart Bonus Round, a respin feature that adds depth, drama, and significant win potential. This is triggered by landing bonus symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 during a base game spin. 

When this feature is activated, the game transitions from the base grid to a 20-position layout, each position acting as a container for special symbols and potential coin values. Here’s how it works: 

You start with 3 respins. 

Every new symbol resets the spin counter back to 3. 

The round continues until no more new symbols land, or the 20,000x cap is reached.

Sound and Music 

The soundtrack in Money Train is one of its most atmospheric elements. Players are greeted by a spaghetti Western-style score reminiscent of Ennio Morricone’s legendary compositions. It’s twangy, moody, and slow-burning—perfect for evoking dusty standoffs at high noon. 

During spins and especially in the Money Cart Bonus Round, the music intensifies, reinforcing the rising stakes with deep drum hits and tense guitar riffs. Sound effects such as the clinking of coins, the screech of metal wheels, and the whirring of train gears create a rich auditory backdrop. Altogether, the audio presentation enhances immersion and makes each big win or modifier activation feel like a cinematic moment.

Bonus Features 

The Money Cart Bonus Round is the central feature of Money Train and offers a compelling array of modifier symbols, each of which can significantly alter the outcome of a round.Modifier Symbols and Their Roles: 

Money Safe: Reveals a base x-bet value (e.g., 1x, 2x, etc.). 

Payer: Adds its value to all other symbols in view. 

Persistent Payer: Repeats the Payer effect every spin. 

Collector: Collects all values and adds them to its own value. 

Persistent Collector: Collects values every spin but does not collect its own value. 

Widener: Opens an additional reel, increasing the symbol space from 5 reels up to 7. 

Tumbleweed: A dud symbol that does nothing and doesn’t reset the spin counter. 

These modifiers can combine in powerful ways. For example, a Persistent Payer continually boosting values while a Collector accumulates them can lead to exponential growth, especially if a Widener expands the reel set to accommodate even more action. 

Strategically, players aim to land symbols like the Widener, which adds new reels and maximizes symbol capacity. The interplay between Collector and Payer types is also key to unlocking the full potential of the feature.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Money Train offers solid flexibility when it comes to stakes. Players can bet anywhere from €0.20 to €25.00 per spin, catering to both conservative and mid-range playstyles. 

The RTP is 96.2% during normal play.Activating the Buy Feature boosts the RTP to 98.0%, offering a strong edge for players who prefer direct access to high-potential rounds. 

The maximum win is 20,000x the stake, putting this slot firmly in the high-volatility category. 

It’s worth noting that while the base game can feel dry and slow due to the focus on reaching the bonus round, the inclusion of the Buy Feature helps alleviate this for those who want a more intense session.

Conclusion 

Money Train is the game that laid the tracks for what would become one of Relax Gaming’s most beloved series—and it still holds up exceptionally well. With its grimy, Western visuals, brooding audio design, and ingenious Hold & Win-style Money Cart Bonus Round, it offers a unique blend of traditional slot play and volatile, feature-driven action. 

The game may require patience to unlock its full potential—particularly for those playing without the bonus buy—but when it does, the interactive symbol effects and expanding reel set can lead to thrilling, edge-of-your-seat moments. The promise of 20,000x wins, paired with the strategic depth of collector and payer modifiers, means this title delivers the kind of high-stakes fun that slots fans dream about. 

For those who enjoy Western themes, long-form gameplay arcs, and the chance to unlock wild payouts through clever bonus combinations, Money Train is a must-play. It’s not just a historical benchmark for Relax Gaming—it’s one of the finest high-volatility bonus slots still rolling through the iGaming frontier today.