Thunder Screech (Play'n Go) Slot Review

Thunder Screech: Slot Overview 

Released on February 11, 2021, by Play’n GO, Thunder Screech is an outdoor-themed online slot game that draws inspiration from the serene beauty of the North American wilderness. Unlike many Play’n GO releases that often push high volatility and explosive gameplay, Thunder Screech takes a more laid-back approach, offering players a calming yet rewarding experience. The game leans heavily into nature-based symbolism and pairs its scenic setting with a healthy serving of features such as sticky wild multipliers and free spins. 

Set against a tranquil forest backdrop, Thunder Screech provides a unique presentation among modern slot games. The title, intriguingly, carries a double meaning: while it resonates with Native American cultural elements, it also refers to an experimental 1950s aircraft known as the Republic XF-84H “Thunderscreech”—one of the loudest planes ever built. Thankfully, the game is far more peaceful than its namesake, offering a much quieter escape into the wild. 

Let’s dive into the heart of this game and explore how it performs in terms of visuals, features, mechanics, and payout potential.

Design and Graphics 

Visually, Thunder Screech delivers a gorgeous autumnal landscape that exudes peace and tranquility. The background is a colorful forest scene complete with changing leaves and crisp blue skies—a picture-perfect setting ideal for an immersive nature-themed experience. The wooden-framed reels are subtly integrated into the environment, with the game title perched high above on carved timber, exuding rustic charm.The symbols are where the game really sets itself apart. The low-paying symbols are standard 10 to A royals, but even these have been stylized to resemble pieces of wood, as though hand-carved by a forest artisan. The premium symbols include lesser-used wildlife such as beavers, skunks, otters, crows, and foxes—animals not typically featured in slot games, which adds a refreshing twist to the theme. 

Animations are minimal but effective. Thunder Wilds animate with a subtle spark of energy, and the transition into the bonus features is smooth and fitting to the game’s calming pace. Overall, it’s a visually cohesive and charming slot that leans into its thematic elements with grace.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Thunder Screech operates on a 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines, making it very accessible for all types of players. The gameplay is deliberately simple, but the inclusion of special features such as wild multipliers and free spins helps maintain interest. 

Wins are awarded from left to right, with a minimum of three matching symbols needed for a payout. The base game can feel a bit slow, but that’s intentional—the experience is more about immersion and the build-up to features rather than constant action. A Call feature can randomly trigger on any base game spin, adding 5 to 9 wilds to the reels to significantly boost winning chances. 

Play’n GO has set the volatility to medium, rated 6/10, which provides a well-balanced experience. It’s not too punishing for casual players, yet still has enough bite to reward persistence.

Sound and Music 

The audio in Thunder Screech complements the visual tone perfectly. Instead of a bombastic soundtrack or intense sound effects, the game features a relaxing ambient score that emphasizes chirping birds, rustling leaves, and soft woodwind melodies. These subtle sounds create a sense of peace and immersion, grounding players in the natural setting. 

The sound effects for wins and feature triggers are gentle and fitting—there are no jarring noises here. The Strike feature introduces a bit more intensity with a dramatic flourish, but it never disrupts the overall peaceful soundscape. For players who appreciate audio design that supports the game’s atmosphere rather than overpowering it, Thunder Screech excels.

Bonus Features 

Despite its easy-going nature, Thunder Screech offers a trio of bonus mechanics that enhance its appeal:Wilds and Call Feature

The Thunderbird totem acts as the wild, appearing only on the three central reels. It substitutes for all symbols except the scatter. At random, the Call feature may activate, summoning 5 to 9 wilds onto the grid to help form winning combinations. 

Strike Feature

Randomly activated, the Strike feature upgrades all wilds to Thunder Wilds, which are sticky and trigger respins. These wilds carry a multiplier that starts at x1 and increases by +1 on each respin, up to x3. If multiple Thunder Wilds are part of the same win, their multipliers combine, up to a maximum of x9. This can lead to some highly rewarding chain reactions during base or bonus rounds. 

Free Spins

Landing 3 dreamcatcher scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 awards 5 free spins. During this bonus, all wilds are upgraded to Thunder Wilds, guaranteeing one to land on every spin. The Strike feature is also triggered automatically in each spin of the bonus round, creating a cascade of wild respins and increasing multiplier potential. It’s worth noting that free spins cannot be retriggered, and scatter symbols do not appear during the bonus or Call/Strike features. 

These features may not be overly complex, but they interact well, delivering excitement during both the base game and bonus rounds.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Thunder Screech is flexible when it comes to stakes, offering a minimum bet of €0.10 and a maximum of €100 per spin, accommodating all bankroll sizes. The game’s RTP is set at 96.20%, assuming you’re playing the default version. However, RTP can vary, so players should always check which version they’re playing. 

The maximum win is 5,000x the stake, which aligns with Play’n GO’s typical upper range for medium-volatility games. Hitting that top payout is rare (probability estimated at once in 100 million spins), but it adds an exciting top-end potential. Premium symbol payouts range from 10x to 75x the bet for five-of-a-kind combinations, with wilds and multipliers playing a crucial role in reaching bigger wins.

Conclusion 

Thunder Screech might not reinvent the wheel, but it certainly knows what it wants to be—and does it well. This is not a high-octane, pulse-pounding slot meant to deliver explosive hits every few minutes. Instead, it’s a more meditative and scenic slot, focusing on serene visuals, atmospheric sound design, and simple but engaging gameplay mechanics. 

Its medium volatility ensures a fair balance between wins and risk, while the sticky Thunder Wilds with multipliers add an enjoyable layer of excitement during both the base game and the bonus rounds. While it won’t satisfy thrill-seekers looking for volatility extremes or high-frequency features, it offers something rare in today’s slot market: a calm, thematic experience with enough gameplay depth to stay interesting. 

Whether you’re drawn in by the lush autumn forest setting, intrigued by the symbolism, or just want a slot that won’t give you whiplash from every spin, Thunder Screech by Play’n GO is a worthy choice. For players who value atmosphere over adrenaline and enjoy nature-themed games with a spiritual edge, this slot could very well be your next favorite escape.