Piggy Riches Begins: Expanded Slot Review
Originally launching in 2010, the Piggy Riches franchise proved that wealth, luxury, and cartoonish extravagance never truly go out of style. Red Tiger’s new instalment, Piggy Riches Begins, continues this legacy while branching off into its own evolutionary direction. cc6 Rather than revisiting classic free spins with multiplying wilds, this entry adopts a modern Hold and Respin style bonus and a progression mechanic that changes the tone and pacing of the entire experience. The result feels familiar yet fundamentally different—almost like a reboot of piggy sophistication.
A Fresh Yet Familiar Visual Identity
Piggy Riches Begins leans more toward the glossy look of Piggy Riches Megaways and Piggy Riches 2 Megaways rather than the 2010 original. The once-iconic payline-number frame is gone, replaced by a clean 5×4 setup and a luxurious mansion backdrop that seems to sag in the middle for comedic effect. Beyond the mansion are fountains, topiary plants shaped like dollar signs, and shimmering pools that reinforce the piggy family’s extravagant lifestyle. cc6 Overall, the art direction blends charm with classic Red Tiger polish.
Betting Range and Slot Layout
The fixed 1,024 ways to win structure offers a streamlined gameplay loop compared with the chaotic reel multiplication of Megaways. Bets begin at $0.10 and cap at $4, positioning Piggy Riches Begins as a more accessible entry for casual players while still delivering high volatility action. The maximum RTP, sitting at 96.01%, slightly edges out the values seen in previous releases, giving players a fairer long-term return if they’re willing to embrace the swings.
Symbol Design and Payouts
The symbol set blends playful wealth motifs with traditional slot icons. cc6 The lower-value symbols consist of card royals (10–A), while premiums include piggy hats, watches, dollar bundles, and steel safes. Premium symbol wins climb all the way to 10x the stake for a five-of-a-kind, and while that may seem modest, the game’s true win potential lies in the Hold and Respin bonus and the escalating wilds system.
Expanding Wild Mechanics
Wilds appear exclusively on reels 2, 3, and 4 as 1×1 symbols at Level 1. Each triggered Hold and Respin round gradually increases their height—from 1×2 to 1×4—as the player levels up. These towering wilds can fill entire reels, significantly boosting hit frequency during higher-level play. cc6 Watching the wild pig grow older, richer, and more pompous as the game progresses adds a charming narrative layer.
Cash, Prize, and Collector Symbols
Cash symbols carry random values that scale with your current progression level. If fewer than six Cash or Prize symbols appear, a Collector symbol landing on reel 5 can scoop up all values instantly. But if 6+ symbols land, the highly coveted Hold and Respin bonus automatically triggers. Collectors that land during the bonus become sticky, continually scooping up Cash values and freeing up spaces for new symbols—a clever and rewarding twist.
Multiplier Symbol Mechanics
The Multiplier symbol, also appearing on reel 5, affects only standard line wins, not Cash values. At higher levels, these multipliers can skyrocket up to x1,000, potentially turning an otherwise modest win into something explosive. cc6 Importantly, a Multiplier and Collector can never land together, eliminating the possibility of unfair stacking but preserving strategic buildup.
The Four-Level Progression System
Piggy Riches Begins introduces one of its biggest innovations: a four-stage progression track that increases wild height, Cash values, Prize symbol tiers, and maximum multipliers. Leveling up occurs each time the Hold and Respin feature triggers during Levels 1–3.
- Level 1: Wild 1×1, Cash 1x–3x, Multiplier up to x10
- Level 2: Wild 1×2, Cash 1x–5x
- Level 3: Wild 1×3, Cash 1x–10x
- Level 4: Wild 1×4, Cash 1x–20x, and new Prize symbols (Mini 25x, Minor 250x, Major 1,000x, Mega 20,000x)
By Level 4, the board becomes dramatically more volatile and more rewarding. cc6
Hold and Respin Bonus Breakdown
Triggered by landing six or more Cash/Prize icons, this feature locks all visible values and grants three respins. Every new symbol resets the counter. Vacant spots can fill with:
- Cash symbols
- Prize symbols
- Collector symbols
- Blanks
Collectors play a crucial role by collecting all Cash values upon landing and unlocking those spots for future symbols. The feature ends when the grid is full or respins run out, delivering the total accumulated value—sometimes hitting huge totals thanks to Prize icons.
Thematic Evolution and Franchise Identity
One of the most enjoyable aspects is how Piggy Riches Begins ties its mechanics to narrative progression. Each wild level shows the pig character aging, gaining wealth, accessories, and status. By Level 4, the pig resembles the original 2010 rich gentleman, visually linking the past to the present. cc6 This thoughtful design reinforces the “Begins” title, suggesting not a reboot but a re-imagined backstory or alternate origin for the beloved characters.
Final Verdict: A Confident, Modern Reboot
Piggy Riches Begins delivers more than expected. While it doesn’t replicate the traditional free spins format or the Megaways chaos, its progression system adds a surprisingly addictive long-term goal. The Hold and Respin feature is engaging, the Prize symbols bring huge potential, and the evolving wilds keep gameplay feeling fresh even after long sessions. It is, in essence, a polished fusion of old charm and modern slot innovation—an evolution that respects the past while forging its own gold-rimmed path.
