Beef up the Bonus Slot

Hoofing into town is this spectacular treat from High Limit Studio. Fresh from the expert creators who have combined everything we love about their original slots., into this hot game. There’s lots to like with a max win of 5,000x your bet plus 4 further hefty jackpots. The intrigue really comes from the plentiful bonus features though. The Link & Win upgrade trail has Multipliers worth up to 1,030x and Re-spins. 

Overall the game packs a serious punch in a world of slots which often leaves me feeling bored. The only downer is that some of you may find the special features a bit too tricky to understand. 

Should You Play Beef Up the Bonus?

Yes! If you are looking for something more than your average online slot then this will serve you well. It presents enough challenges and bonuses to keep even the most ardent fans interested. You can’t argue with 5 jackpots, huge Multipliers, 2 Wilds and plenty more. The betting range presents a low minimum amount so even if you're on a budget, you can still get in on the action.

Powerful Gameplay

There’s a lot going on within this online slot, so my first step was to explore the rules. The grid is made up of 5 reels, 3 rows and a 1,2 and 3 metre (Link & Win Upgrade Trail) at the top which can be filled in the base game. 

I think the betting range is wide enough for most regular players. It comes in at €0.20-40 though high rollers may wish for something bigger.

I discovered there are 20 fixed paylines and a plethora of symbols and extras. The main ones are all Wild West themed with high-medium payouts as follows. These amounts are based on a max bet spin:

I found the lower values to be the regular card Royals:

A Beefy Storyline

Is there really a story to this online slot? You are playing alongside an angry bull to help win money - it doesn’t get any simpler.

High Limit Studio, an arm of Games Global launched this game in Spring 2024. The developer wanted to incorporate all of the feedback from its original slots, to make this title as good as possible. 

A Thrilling User Experience Straight Out of the Wild West

The graphics are bold and the whole experience is punchy. Even as a seasoned slot pro, it took me a while to figure out the flow though. When I’m playing in my own time, I usually open up a casino game and bang, I’m spinning. But with this one, you really have to be sure of the mechanics first. 

The game controls are straightforward and even though a lot is happening - the layout is simple. I like the pop-ups throughout the gameplay which reminded me of the symbols I needed for wins/bonuses. 

The soundtrack is straight out of an old-school Western. I half-expected to see Clint Eastwood wandering in at one point! It all adds to the immersion though and I didn’t find it repetitive. 

Beef Up the Bonus Wilds and Bonuses

Alrighty, there are a LOT of extras to get through so stick with me here!

There are 2 Wilds, a Coin and the raging Bull. The former can only appear during the free spins though. I landed the Bull Wild numerous times on reels 2 and 3 but he can land on 4 and 5 too. Both Wilds substitute all symbols except the Scatter, Wheel, Beef Up and Link & Win symbols.

• Wheel Feature

These symbols can land on reels 1,3 and 5 during the base game. I managed to land 3 where I was presented with a free spin. My prize was another try at the Link & Win level 1. But it can also give direct access to the free spins or deal out one of the 5 jackpots.

• Link & Win Upgrade Trail

This relates to the metre across the top of the game which can be filled with the Beef Up symbols. I did quite well on this one. 6 symbols appeared randomly on other base game symbols which got me into Level 1.

Level 1

This kicks off with 6-14 Link & Win symbols which are held in place to give 3 Re-spins. In my round, I also got additional L&W’s which stuck in place. The maximum you can win in this is 50x but I got 20x my bet which I was happy with.

Level 2

I landed 20 of the Beef Ups and got into this tier where all rules from Level 1 apply. Except for the fantastic addition of a 50x Multiplier which held on one of my positions. You may be luckier than me though and get the 60x or 70x. 

Another Multiplier came into play of 5x which held onto my other blank positions. You can get a 2x or 3x though. The total upgrade is active until you lose or get 40 Beef Ups for level 3.

Level 3

The main rules of this are the same as Level 2 but there are more Multipliers. Landing Link & Wins will also increase these. The largest Multiplier you could get is a huge 1,030x! The same 2x,3x, and 5x extra Multipliers apply and can increase to 145x.

Meaty Free Spins

I triggered this with 3 Scatters and scooped 10 free spins. You can get an extra 3 though if you land more Scatters. The symbol itself also pays the following with the minimum bet:

The Coin Wilds are Stacked in this round and appear one reel after another from left to right then back again. This continued throughout all free spins and served up a good win for me. You can also get into the Link & Win features directly this way.

How To Play Beef Up the Bonus

Are you already raring to go? Here are a few quick steps to start playing:

1. Check out the paytable, payline pattern and other useful info before you begin.

2. Top up your balance to ensure you have enough funds for your session.

3. Choose your bet by clicking on the coin icon and using the +/- buttons.

4. Click the spin button and that’s all it takes. Good luck!

What’s the RTP of Beef Up the Bonus?

This is 96.01% which makes the game just above the average which I base my RTP ratings on. The volatility is medium so this means you can expect regular but moderate prizes from this online slot. 

I played my rounds on the full spectrum of bets: €0.20 - 40.00. Though the majority of my wagers were in the middle of this range.

Beef Up the Bonus: My Top Tips To Help You Get More

You can create a prize by landing 3,4 or 5 matching symbols on any of the 20 active paytlines. Line wins start on the left reel and pay l-r on adjacent reels. The game's 5 jackpots can only be won through the Wheel feature. 

• Play a variety of bet sizes - if your budget allows. All of your wins in the free spins will be calculated using the bet which you entered the round with.

• Get used to the game before you play with real money. This means trialling it as a free slot with a virtual balance. You’ll build your confidence and understand the mechanics much better.

• Play responsibly. This online slot has the potential to deliver powerful wins which may sway your judgement. Always play within a predetermined budget and session time.

• Visit the Paytable and learn each symbol’s significance and value. This awareness will allow you to grab more value out of each play and every individual round. 

My Personal Experience of Playing Beef Up the Bonus

I had a great time on this game and it gave me more wins than I initially expected. 

• I triggered the free spins naturally and got a medium-sized win from this. 

• The first time I got onto Level 1 of the Link & Win Upgrade was naturally, just 4 spins from the beginning of the game. This gave me a smallish win. I then got back into the L&W through the Wheel feature. This time I completed level 1 and got to level 2 - where the round was then over for me. My wins from all of the Link & Win upgrades were very good and the Multipliers came through well for me.

• My base game wins were mediocre, just small amounts here and there which were dotted throughout the sessions.

How I Tested Beef Up the Bonus

I used my Samsung smartphone for the majority of my spins but did try out a few rounds on a DELL laptop. There was little difference between the two experiences, and the game adapted swiftly to the smaller screen. I landed my bonus features on the laptop though which visually were more satisfying thanks to the larger screen.

Beef Up the Bonus vs Other Wild West Themed Slots

Here are some of Beef Up The Bonus' Wild West themed peers for comparison;

Slot	Developer	RTP	Max Win	Theme	Bonus Features
Dead or Alive	NetEnt	96.8%	12,000x your stake	Gritty Wild West	Free spins and sticky wilds
Wild Wild West: The Great Train Heist	NetEnt	96.7%	50,000 credits	Gritty Wild West	Free spins, regular wilds, expanding wilds, x2 multiplier wilds and Spreading wilds

My Final Thoughts

I found Beef Up the Bonus to be highly entertaining. It certainly isn’t your everyday slot and the extra bonuses appealed to me. The Link & Win feature is spectacular and I love the different levels with powerful Multipliers. 

But if you don’t hit a bonus feature, is this online slot still as entertaining? Well I think so and for me, the Wheel, Free Spins and L&W happened frequently during testing. The volatility ensures the potential of decent-ish wins regularly and this was true for my sessions.

Visually the game is attractive and I like the cartoon animated symbols. The only bugbear is that it might be too much to understand for newbies. But the paytable and instructions are simple so it should not take too long to get the measure of things. 

I strongly recommend this game, but be sure to familiarise yourself with the rules first.