Overview
Space Wars is an older sci-fi slot from NetEnt, built on a 5x4 layout with 40 fixed paylines. It goes for a daft, light alien look rather than serious space drama, and the big idea is simple, every win gives you a cloned-symbol respin. I found it easy enough to jump into, but it definitely feels like a dated game.
Most of the action hangs on that one feature, so don’t come in expecting loads of extras. It has a medium volatility feel, a 96.75% RTP, and a max win of 1000x stake. Fair enough for a casual spin, but I’m not entirely sold on it for longer sessions.
What are the bonus features?
Gets straight to the point here, because there really is only one proper feature, Cloning Pod Respins. After any win, the winning symbol is shown in the cloning pod and dropped back onto the reels as stacked symbols for one free respin. It sounds decent on paper, and now and then it helps, but it can also fizzle out fast.
Wilds are part of the setup too, and they substitute for regular symbols. They only land on reels 2 and 4, though they often come stacked, which is handy. My issue is the respin does not carry on after another win, so you get one extra shot and then it is back to the base game. That makes the whole thing feel a bit stingy.
Bonus Buy Options
After every winning spin, the winning symbol is cloned and placed back on the reels in a free respin. The feature ends after that single respin, even if it wins again.
How to play
5 reels and 4 rows give you 40 paylines, and wins land with 3 to 5 matching symbols from left to right. Only the highest win on each payline counts, though wins on different lines add together. The top symbol is a red crystal, then you have ten alien symbols underneath it, with the better ones paying from 25x down to 3.12x for five of a kind, and the lower-value lot paying 1.5x to 1x.
Bets run from 0.40 to 200 per spin, with 10 bet levels and coin values from 0.01 to 0.50. I do like that it works properly across mobile, tablet and desktop, and the controls are dead simple. There’s Quick Spin, autoplay and the usual info pages, so getting settled in takes no time at all.
Symbol Payouts
Ryan Cole’s Verdict
Review Summary
Feels like one of those slots that has a neat idea but never fully runs with it. I quite like the stacked symbols and the cloned respin concept, and for a relaxed session it is not bad if you want something straightforward. Still, the base game can drag a bit, and the respins too often lead to nothing much.
Lacks free spins, lacks a bonus game, and the 1000x ceiling is hardly massive. So for me, Space Wars is only worth a go if you fancy an old-school NetEnt slot with simple rules and no fuss. Fine for a quick dabble, mate, but I would not plan a long evening around it.
