Introduction to 3 Bandits
3 Bandits is a casino slot fromFantasma Games that takes us to an old Wild Western town that is at least big enough for three cowboys. Fantasma Games delivers on a pretty standard Western Cowboy theme, but balances it out with a pretty fun gameplay loop centered around Progressive Levels, be it in the base or bonus game. The titular 3 Bandits take the role of the three different types of Collector Symbols, as this is, at its core, a Coin and Jackpot Collect game, and the Progressive Levels are there to unlock new Collectors and other nice bonuses. All in all, the core mechanics of the game aren’t all that unique, nor is the theme, but Fantasma Games has made a solid enough package to intrigue us. On top of all of this, there’s another Progressive Meter in the Free Spins feature, which comes with even more fun bonuses such as Win Multipliers up to 10X.
3 Bandits, while not the most original theme or gameplay loop, comes with a fun package of coin-collecting mechanics and Progressive Levels with additional fun bonuses.
Theme, Gameplay, & Payouts
3 Bandits is a video slot from Fantasma Games with 6 Reels, 4 Rows, and 4,096 ways to win. You can choose between making a Min.bet of 0.1 and a Max.bet of 3,000. 3 Bandits comes with a slightly higher-than-average RTP of 96.18% and high volatility. However, do take note that the game comes in multiple versions with lower RTPs at 94.02% and 92.02%, and that, at the time of writing, information on the max win has not been published.
As mentioned earlier, the playing grid is centered in the middle of a Wild Western town, built from decorated wooden beams. At the top of the playing grid, a Progressive Meter can be found, which contains the 3 types of Collect Bandits, which will unlock as you play the game. You can play the game on most notepads, mobiles, and desktops.
The lower-paying symbols are J, Q, K, and A. Creating a win with 6 of the same symbols will pay out 1X to 1.2X the bet. The higher-paying symbols include cowboy essentials such as boots, a hat, whiskey, a horse, a golden horseshoe, and a sheriff’s badge. Landing a win with 6 of the same symbols pays out 2X to 5X the bet. Then we have the Special Symbols, which include Wilds, Scatters, Coin, Jackpot, three types of Collects, and a Coin Accumulator Symbol, but more on these in the next section.
Special Features & Mechanics
What is the max win in the slot 3 Bandits?
The information for the max win is currently not published.
What features are available in the slot 3 Bandits?
The features are Wild Symbols, Coin Collect, Bandit Meter, Free Spins, and Feature Buy.
Wild Symbols
Wild Symbols help form winning combinations by being able to substitute for all symbols except Scatter, Coin, Jackpot, Collect, or Coin Accumulator Symbols.
Coin Collect
The Coin Collect mechanic is split into various Special Symbols, which allow you to cash out on various Cash Prizes, and the symbols are as follows:
Coin Symbols = Lands with a random Cash Prize value ranging from 0.5X to 10X the bet. Needs a Collect Symbol to pay out.
Jackpot Symbols = Jackpot Symbols act as Coin Symbols in the game, but with preset prizes ranging from Mini (10X), Minor (25X), Major (100X), and Mega (1,000X).
Collect Bandit = A regular Collect Symbol, collects all values of Coin Symbols on the reels and pays them out. At the start of the game, it can only land on reel 6.
Boost Bandit = Will increase the value of all Coin Symbols on the reels with its random Boost value, ranging from 1X-10X, before collecting and paying out.
Multiply Bandit = After landing, it selects a random number of Coin Symbols, which will then be multiplied by a random value ranging from 2X to 100X before collecting and paying out.
Coin Accumulator = Can land anywhere on the reels and will collect all values of Coin Symbols on the reels, adding to itself, and it can also be collected by other Collector Bandit Symbols, but cannot be boosted or multiplied.
Bandit Meter
During the base game, the Bandit Meter will be displayed above the playing grid, which will award additional bonuses and Bandit Collector Symbols. The Bandit Meter progresses by landing any type of Coin Collecting Bandit Symbols, and the various levels are as follows:
Level 1 = The starting level when you first enter the game, unlocking the regular Collect Bandit, but you can only land on reel 6.
Level 2 = Awarded by landing 3 Collect Symbols and unlocks the possibility for all Collect Bandits to be able to land on reel 1.
Level 3 = Awarded by landing 4 additional Collect Symbols, unlocking the Boost Bandit Symbol.
Level 4 = Awarded by landing 5 additional Collect Symbols, unlocking the Multiply Bandit and Scatter Symbols.
The Bandit Meter will keep its progress and won’t reset after unlocking all levels.
Free Spins
By landing 3 Scatter Symbols, you will be awarded the Free Spins feature with 10 spins. During the bonus game, landing any type of Collect Bandit Symbols will be added to the Progress Meter, where every 3rd Collect Symbol will award +5 spins and a new Win Multiplier, starting at 1X and going up to 10X.
Feature Buy
Through the Feature Buy, you can instantly trigger the bonus game for a price based on the current bet.
100X = Awards the Free Spins feature with all Bandit Meter bonuses unlocked.
Final Thoughts on 3 Bandits
Fantasma Games is an interesting studio, as their releases are often a bit of a coin flip when it comes to themes, as sometimes they’re genuinely interesting, unique, or fun, such as the Fortune Llama series, Banana X, or Shadow Summoner Elementals. However, when the coin lands on the other side, we get some pretty typical, unoriginal settings and themes, as in 3 Bandits. Not to say that’s a bad thing, just that we know that the studio can deliver on great concepts that are fun to check out. But, to say all of this, we don’t hate 3 Bandits, just wish it was a bit more unique, as when games come with these common themes, they really need to make an impact to stand out.
Gameplay-wise, 3 Bandits doesn’t try to innovate or dabble in anything unique, instead relying on a solid package that offers a good gameplay loop. While a bit slow at the start, the base game Bandit Meter is a great addition to keep players engaged until they max out the levels, and even when it’s maxed out, there’s the addition of Scatter Symbols, which in turn unlocks the Free Spins bonus game. The way it has been built up is genius when viewed from a player engagement and retention perspective, but it also offers enough fun bonuses, in the form of Double Chance and new Collector Symbols, to keep us content along the way. So, even while simple, the base game offers a great gameplay loop, however, at the cost of maybe feeling a bit too weak on the first few spins, as the paytable for regular symbols and Coin Symbols isn’t all that impressive. Then there’s the Free Spins feature, which comes with its own Progressive Levels, which, while simpler in concept, offers all we need in the form of additional spins and Multipliers. All in all, 3 Bandits delivers on a fun and interesting gameplay loop, but it can feel a bit too slow at the start, and with its already not-very-engaging theme and setting, it can have a hard time really capturing players from the get-go.
3 Bandits is a Wild Western release from Fantasma Games centered on its Progressive Reels and Cash Collect mechanics, with a bunch of fun bonuses along the way.
