Break Away is a hockey-themed video slot developed by Microgaming (Games Global) featuring 5 reels, 3 rows, and 243 ways to win. Released in 2012, this medium volatility slot combines sports excitement with innovative mechanics including Rolling Reels, Smashing Wilds, and free spins with growing multipliers.
Break Away brings the intensity of ice hockey to the reels with a comprehensive feature set that has kept players engaged since its 2012 release. Developed by Microgaming and now distributed through Games Global, this slot stands as a testament to enduring game design that prioritizes gameplay mechanics over flashy graphics. The 243 ways to win system creates frequent winning opportunities, while the layered bonus features provide depth that rewards both casual sessions and extended play.
The Break Away slot machine transports players to a professional ice hockey arena, complete with authentic sound effects including crowd cheers, sports chants, and arena music. Unlike many sports-themed slots that rely solely on visual theming, Break Away integrates its hockey concept into the core mechanics through features like the Smashing Wild, where hockey players crash into reels to create winning opportunities. The game's longevity in an industry known for rapid turnover speaks to its solid mathematical model and engaging feature triggers.
This review examines every aspect of Break Away, from its symbol structure and paytable to the intricate workings of its bonus features. Whether you are evaluating this slot for the first time or seeking deeper strategic insights, this analysis provides the technical details and practical observations needed to understand what makes Break Away a persistent favorite among hockey and slot enthusiasts alike.
Break Away operates on a 5-reel, 3-row configuration with 243 ways to win, meaning any matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right create winning combinations regardless of their vertical position. This system generates more frequent wins compared to traditional payline structures, though individual win amounts tend to be smaller to compensate for the increased hit frequency.
The game's RTP stands at 96.29%, which falls within the industry standard range and indicates that over extended play, the slot returns approximately 96.29% of all wagered amounts to players. The medium volatility rating suggests a balanced distribution between win frequency and win size, making Break Away suitable for players who prefer steady gameplay without the extreme swings associated with high volatility slots.
Betting flexibility accommodates various bankroll sizes, with minimum bets starting around 0.50 credits and maximum bets reaching up to 250 credits per spin, though exact ranges may vary by casino platform. The maximum win potential reaches 2,114x the total bet, translating to a theoretical maximum payout of 105,000 coins under optimal conditions with the highest bet levels and feature combinations.
The symbol hierarchy in Break Away reflects the hockey theme with a mix of equipment, players, and arena elements. Understanding the paytable is essential for recognizing valuable combinations and setting realistic win expectations.
The highest-paying standard symbols feature various hockey players in action poses, with the premium player symbols delivering the largest payouts for five-of-a-kind combinations. The mid-tier symbols include the referee, hockey helmet, ice skates, and the ice rink itself. Lower-value symbols are represented by the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine, which adds authentic arena atmosphere while filling out the paytable's lower tiers.
All standard symbols require at least three matching icons on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel to award a win. The ways-to-win system means that symbols can appear in any position on their respective reels and still contribute to winning combinations, significantly increasing the frequency of wins compared to fixed payline games.
The Break Away logo serves as the Wild symbol and appears stacked on reels 3, 4, and 5. With over 40 wild symbols distributed across the reels, these icons substitute for all standard symbols to complete winning combinations. The stacked nature of these wilds means that entire reels can fill with wild symbols, creating multiple simultaneous winning combinations across the 243 ways to win.
The flaming hockey puck functions as the Scatter symbol and is the key to triggering the free spins feature. Unlike standard symbols, scatters pay regardless of their position on the reels and do not need to appear on adjacent reels. Landing three, four, or five scatter symbols anywhere in view activates the free spins bonus with varying numbers of spins awarded based on the scatter count.
Break Away distinguishes itself through three primary features that work independently and in combination to create varied gameplay experiences. Each feature adds a distinct layer of excitement and win potential to the base game and bonus rounds.
The Rolling Reels mechanic activates after any winning combination in both the base game and free spins mode. When a win occurs, all symbols involved in that winning combination are removed from the reels and replaced by new symbols falling from above. This cascade continues as long as new winning combinations form, allowing multiple consecutive wins from a single initial spin.
During base game play, Rolling Reels provide additional winning opportunities without multipliers. However, in the free spins feature, consecutive rolls activate an increasing multiplier trail that significantly enhances win potential. The Rolling Reels feature cannot trigger during the Smashing Wild feature, as the guaranteed wild reel takes precedence in those instances.
Break Away operates on a ways-to-win system rather than traditional paylines, awarding wins for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. The betting range accommodates both casual players and high rollers, with minimum bets starting at 0.18 credits and maximum bets reaching 250 credits depending on the casino platform.
The slot features medium volatility with an RTP of 96.29%, providing a balanced gameplay experience with regular smaller wins punctuated by occasional larger payouts. The game is built using HTML5 and JavaScript technology, ensuring seamless performance across desktop, mobile, and tablet devices without requiring downloads.
The Smashing Wild is a randomly triggered feature that can activate on any base game spin. When triggered, an animated hockey player crashes into reel 2, 3, or 4, transforming the entire reel into a wild reel. This guarantees at least one winning combination, as a full wild reel combined with the 243 ways to win ensures multiple symbol matches across the remaining reels.
The transformed wild reel remains in place for all subsequent Rolling Reels that result from the initial guaranteed win, creating extended winning sequences. This feature only activates in the base game and represents one of the slot's most exciting moments, as the guaranteed win combined with potential rolling reels can produce substantial payouts from a single spin.
Landing three, four, or five scatter symbols triggers 15, 20, or 25 free spins respectively. The free spins feature introduces several enhancements that significantly increase win potential compared to base game play. Most notably, the Rolling Reels feature during free spins includes a progressive multiplier trail that increases with each consecutive cascade.
The multiplier progression works as follows: the first consecutive roll applies a 2x multiplier, the second applies 3x, the third 4x, the fourth 5x, and from the fifth consecutive roll onward, all wins receive an 8x multiplier. In the Deluxe version of Break Away, the feature includes Growing Wilds, where wild stacks on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 increase by one wild symbol with each spin, progressively filling more reel positions with wilds as the feature continues.
Free spins cannot be retriggered during the bonus round, meaning the initial scatter trigger determines the total number of spins available. The combination of multipliers, Rolling Reels, and stacked wilds makes the free spins feature the primary source of significant wins in Break Away, with the potential to reach the game's maximum payout during extended cascade sequences with high multipliers.
While slot outcomes are determined by random number generators and cannot be influenced by player skill, understanding the game's mechanics allows for more informed betting decisions and realistic expectations. The medium volatility of Break Away suggests that bankroll management should balance between the frequent small wins and the patience required to hit the more substantial bonus features.
The 243 ways to win system creates a higher hit frequency than traditional payline slots, meaning players will see winning spins more regularly, though individual wins may be smaller relative to the bet size. This makes Break Away suitable for extended play sessions, as the regular wins help sustain bankroll levels between bonus feature triggers.
The free spins feature represents the primary opportunity for significant wins, particularly when Rolling Reels create extended cascade sequences that activate the higher multiplier levels. The 8x multiplier available from the fifth consecutive roll onward can transform modest symbol combinations into substantial payouts, making the free spins feature the focal point of the game's win potential.
Despite its 2012 release date, Break Away maintains visual clarity and thematic consistency that continues to appeal to players. The color palette emphasizes frosty blues and ice whites, creating an authentic hockey arena atmosphere. Symbol designs clearly distinguish between different player positions and equipment types, ensuring that even during rapid Rolling Reels sequences, players can easily track winning combinations.
The audio design deserves particular recognition, as the sound effects and background music significantly enhance the hockey theme. Crowd reactions respond to wins with appropriate cheers, while the soundtrack maintains an energetic pace that mirrors the intensity of a live hockey match. The audio cues for feature triggers, particularly the Smashing Wild activation, provide clear feedback that enhances player engagement without becoming repetitive or intrusive.
Break Away utilizes HTML5 technology, ensuring full compatibility across desktop browsers, mobile phones, and tablets without requiring separate downloads or apps. The game automatically adjusts its interface to fit different screen sizes while maintaining all features and functionality. Touch controls on mobile devices feel responsive, with clear buttons for bet adjustment, spin activation, and accessing the paytable.
Performance remains consistent across platforms, with smooth reel spins and Rolling Reels animations that do not lag or stutter even on older mobile devices. The game loads quickly and maintains stable performance during extended sessions, making it equally suitable for quick mobile gaming sessions or longer desktop play.
Microgaming released Break Away Deluxe as an enhanced version of the original slot, introducing several mechanical refinements while maintaining the core hockey theme and feature structure. The Deluxe version includes the Growing Wilds feature during free spins, where wild stacks progressively increase in height with each spin, creating more wild coverage as the bonus round continues.
The Deluxe version also adjusts the free spins trigger, awarding 12 free spins for three or more scatters rather than the tiered 15, 20, or 25 spins in the original. However, the Growing Wilds and enhanced multiplier trail in the Deluxe version often result in higher average payouts during the bonus round despite the reduced spin count. Both versions maintain the 96.29% RTP and medium volatility, making the choice between them largely a matter of preference regarding feature presentation rather than mathematical advantage.
Break Away is available at numerous online casinos that feature Games Global content, including established platforms like LeoVegas, Jackpot City, and various other licensed operators serving Canadian and international markets. Most casinos offer both real money and demo play options, allowing players to test the game's features and mechanics before committing funds.
When selecting a casino for playing Break Away, verify that the platform holds appropriate licensing from recognized gambling authorities, offers secure payment methods including options like Interac for Canadian players, and provides responsive customer support. Many casinos include Break Away in welcome bonus packages and free spin promotions, though players should review wagering requirements and terms before accepting bonus offers.
Break Away remains a solid choice in the sports-themed slot category more than a decade after its release, demonstrating that well-designed mechanics and balanced mathematics can outlast graphical trends. The 243 ways to win system creates engaging base game play with frequent small wins, while the layered bonus features provide sufficient depth to maintain interest through extended sessions. The combination of Rolling Reels, Smashing Wilds, and multiplier-enhanced free spins creates varied gameplay that avoids the repetitive feel common in simpler slot designs.
The medium volatility and 96.29% RTP position Break Away as an accessible option for players seeking entertainment value without the extreme risk associated with high volatility progressive slots. The maximum win potential of 2,114x provides meaningful upside without creating unrealistic expectations, and the feature trigger frequency ensures that bonus rounds occur regularly enough to sustain engagement.
For hockey fans, the authentic theming and sound design add an extra layer of enjoyment, while slot enthusiasts who prioritize mechanics over theme will appreciate the well-implemented feature interactions and cascade systems. Whether played in its original form or the enhanced Deluxe version, Break Away delivers a complete slot experience that justifies its continued presence in casino game libraries.
Break Away has an RTP of 96.29%, which is within the industry standard range. This means the game returns approximately 96.29% of all wagered money to players over extended play, though individual sessions will vary significantly due to the game's medium volatility.
Free spins are triggered by landing three or more flaming hockey puck scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. Three scatters award 15 free spins, four scatters award 20 free spins, and five scatters award 25 free spins. The free spins feature includes Rolling Reels with progressive multipliers up to 8x.
The maximum win in Break Away is 2,114x the total bet, which translates to a theoretical maximum of 105,000 coins when playing at the highest bet levels. This maximum is typically achieved during the free spins feature when Rolling Reels create extended cascade sequences with high multipliers.
Yes, Break Away is fully compatible with mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. The game uses HTML5 technology and automatically adjusts to different screen sizes while maintaining all features and functionality without requiring downloads or separate apps.
The Smashing Wild is a randomly triggered base game feature where a hockey player crashes into reel 2, 3, or 4, turning the entire reel wild. This guarantees a win and the wild reel remains in place for all subsequent Rolling Reels that result from the initial winning combination.
Rolling Reels activate after any winning combination, removing winning symbols and replacing them with new symbols falling from above. This continues as long as new wins form. During free spins, consecutive rolls activate increasing multipliers from 2x up to 8x on the fifth and subsequent rolls.
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