Back in mid-2023, Push Gaming released the game 10 Swords, which, as the title suggests, revolved around swords. Sword symbols could yield up to 5,000X the bet in winnings if ten of them landed simultaneously. The cherry on top with this release was the possibility of landing this win already in the base game, even though the bonus game provided significantly better conditions for this.
Now Push is back with a Christmas-themed slot, 10 Santa’s Reindeers, which takes inspiration from the prize ladder mechanic we saw in 10 Swords. We were curious to hear more about this upcoming slot release, so we contacted Aaron Braund, Game Designer at Push Gaming, to find out more.
1. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Aaron. Can you start by introducing our audience to your latest Christmas-themed release, 10 Santa’s Reindeers?
AB: 10 Santa’s Reindeers is a 5x3 reel slot with 20 paylines that features the “Instant Prize” collection mechanic. The Reindeer symbols are the stars of the show; landing 4 or more anywhere on the reels awards an instant win, climbing a ladder up to a 1000x win for landing 10 Reindeers.
There’s also special Jackpot Reindeers with an exciting 5000x prize up for grabs. Visually, the game is filled with festive cheer, including low-priority Christmas cookies, baubles, hot chocolate, and, of course, Santa as a high-priority character.
2. 10 Swords inspired this slot. What was it about 10 Swords that inspired Push to develop a Christmas-themed slot in the same style?
AB: The prize ladder mechanic is always a player favorite because the win potential is clear, and in this game, the player needs to keep an eye out for the Reindeer to climb the ladder. We wanted to translate the excitement of chasing that “10th symbol” into a holiday setting. Gathering all of Santa’s Reindeers for a punchy payout seemed festively fitting!
We’ve made this one to be gentle in keeping with the holiday season, so players can expect a mid-volatility experience.
3. We can see that the Bonus Feature is where things differ from the 10 Swords. Can you talk us through how it works and what exactly has changed?
AB: The Free Spins feature uses a progressive reel set rather than a static grid; while the base game is 5x3, the bonus can expand up to 5x7 with 60 paylines.
Players can progress by collecting the Scatter Symbols that can land during the feature. Collecting enough will unlock a row, award extra free spins, and give more room for the Reindeers to do their magic.
4. The Push-Up mods are being introduced in 10 Santa’s Reindeers. What are these mods, and how will they improve the gameplay?
AB: This feature allows the player to activate larger reels from the start of the spin. The advantage here is that there is more space for the Reindeer to land and more chances to trigger the bonus. We have two options in this game: a 5x4 and a 5x5 option, costing 2.5x and 5x, respectively.
5. Do you think there’s still a big appetite from players for Christmas-themed slots every year?
AB: During the festive season, players seek comfort and surround themselves in the holiday atmosphere. Seasonal games are always popular during this time, so we hope players find warmth and comfort in our own festive offering.
6. What’s your favorite Christmas-themed slot from Push Gaming, or any other studio?
AB: For me, it’s Fat Santa, one of Push Gaming’s OG Christmas games. Watching Santa chase pies during the feature and becoming an unstoppable holiday wild never gets old.
We want to thank Aaron Braund for participating in this interview and for sharing the valuable insights with us.
