Shark Wash (Relax Gaming) Slot Review

Shark Wash: Slot Overview 

Shark Wash is an unconventional, underwater-themed online slot by Relax Gaming, released on June 28, 2023. Set in a quirky oceanic car wash run by a crew of cheerful sharks, the game dips players into an original and lighthearted world—far from the intense vibes of deep-sea predator slots. With its cartoonish aesthetic, engaging features like Countdown Wilds, and a persistent win multiplier in the bonus round, this title offers a laid-back yet volatile experience. 

Despite its approachable appearance, Shark Wash is far from tame. With a high volatility rating (5/5) and a maximum win of 5,000x, it targets players who enjoy riskier gameplay with bursts of excitement. The game operates on a 5-reel, 4-row grid and offers 1,024 ways to win, ensuring constant engagement and solid win potential—even without an enormous jackpot cap.

Design and Graphics 

Shark Wash stands out with its bright, cartoon-inspired visuals. Set beneath the ocean’s surface, the reels are framed by seaweed-covered stone columns and flanked by jellyfish and coral reefs. The aquatic world feels playful and welcoming, enhanced by the cartoonish art style of the game’s characters: four distinct sharks representing a motley crew of “workers” and a shark boss, each bursting with personality.Symbols include sponge-like card suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades) as low pays, and the smiling shark team as premiums. The animation style is clean, fun, and fluid. Win animations are simple but effective, and the reels move smoothly, giving off the vibe of an underwater arcade game rather than a traditional slot. 

This visual presentation is likely to appeal to players who enjoy relaxing, humorous slots, and contrasts sharply with more intense shark-themed games like Razor Shark.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Shark Wash uses a 1,024 ways to win format, which means wins are formed when three or more identical symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right, starting from the first reel. There are no traditional paylines, which allows for more flexible win opportunities. 

The real kicker lies in the game’s Wild symbols and the Countdown Wild feature, which brings an exciting twist to standard spins. Wilds substitute for any symbol except bonus symbols and carry a countdown mechanism that ties into the win multiplier system. 

In terms of symbol value, 5-of-a-kind wins pay as follows: 

Low-paying card suits: 1.2x the stake 

High-paying shark symbols: 2.5x to 15x the stake 

With wilds in play and multipliers in effect, these values can scale dramatically—especially in free spins.

Sound and Music 

The audio complements the quirky aesthetic. You’ll hear bubbly underwater ambiance fused with cheerful, beachy background tunes that feel more Finding Nemo than Jaws. Sound effects for wins and cascades are whimsical and upbeat, keeping the mood light even when the gameplay intensifies. 

During free spins and major wins, the audio scales up appropriately to create anticipation, but it never veers into aggressive or distracting territory. The soundtrack is designed for casual, sustained play, echoing the game’s offbeat and comedic tone.

Bonus Features 

Countdown Wild Feature 

The Countdown Wild is the core innovation in Shark Wash. These wild symbols appear with a counter ranging from 1 to 5, which decreases by 1 with every cascade they’re involved in. Once a wild’s counter hits zero, it is removed from the grid—and its initial value is added to the Wild Meter. 

Here’s the twist: the Wild Meter is tied to a persistent win multiplier. The larger the value of Countdown Wilds removed, the higher the multiplier that gets applied to the total win of that game round. This adds a strategic layer and long-term payoff potential during the same spin sequence, particularly in free spins where it becomes persistent. 

Free Spins 

The Free Spins round triggers by landing 3 or more bonus symbols:3 Bonus Symbols = 7 Free Spins 

4 Bonus Symbols = 10 Free Spins 

5 Bonus Symbols = 15 Free Spins 

What makes this round really rewarding is that the Countdown Wild Multiplier is persistent throughout the entire bonus. That means instead of resetting after each spin, the multiplier continues to grow as more Countdown Wilds expire. 

Adding to the potential, each additional bonus symbol that lands during free spins grants +1 extra spin. This can lead to extended bonus rounds with escalating multipliers, creating thrilling crescendo moments. 

Buy FeatureIf waiting for the bonus isn’t your thing, Shark Wash includes a bonus buy option priced at 80x your stake. This instantly triggers the free spins round with the multiplier mechanic fully enabled. Notably, using this option increases the RTP to 96.5%, slightly higher than the base game’s 96.06%.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Shark Wash accommodates a wide range of betting preferences with a minimum bet of €0.10 and a maximum of €200 per spin, making it suitable for both casual players and high rollers. With its 1,024 ways to win, even modest bets can result in respectable wins. 

Here’s a quick breakdown: 

RTP (Return to Player): 

96.06% (base game) 

96.5% (bonus buy mode) 

Hit Frequency: 22.69%, offering a decent cadence of wins without being overwhelming. 

Max Win: 5,000x your stake, which—while lower than some Relax Gaming blockbusters—still offers a solid ceiling. 

Considering the volatility, it may take some time to reach the bonus round naturally, but the Countdown Wilds offer value in the base game through building multipliers.

Conclusion 

Shark Wash is a creative, fun-loving title that plays like a relaxed version of other intense underwater slots. While it doesn’t chase blockbuster max win figures or pile on advanced mechanics, it delivers its core concepts with polish and charm. 

The standout feature is the Countdown Wild mechanic, which ties directly into a persistent win multiplier—especially potent during free spins. This helps the game stand apart despite the familiar 5×4, 1,024-ways layout. Players can enjoy a playful slot that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still offers legitimate excitement and respectable payouts. 

The 5,000x win cap might not dazzle hardened jackpot hunters, and it’s unlikely to land on many top-10 lists for high volatility slots. But for what it sets out to be—a humorous, offbeat, mid-range game—it hits the mark well. Casual players, fans of Relax Gaming’s less intense releases (Jungle Jamboree, for example), or those interested in sticky wild multipliers will find plenty to enjoy.