Growing reels and progressive multipliers spice up the free spins bonus
Cons
Unknown max win probability
Shifting Seas slot overview
Shifting Seas – Game studio Thunderkick is back to its true self in this pirate-themed slot where the Special Wilds and Free Spins can bring you wins of up to 15,000x your bet per spin
Still, the high quality, as seen on these mentioned slots, has not always been there on all their other new releases.
The potential was always there, though, and we are pleased to see that Thunderkick is back with another entertaining slot worthy of their brand.
But before we discuss its features and potential, be aware that Shifting Seas has been released with four different Return To Player (RTP) versions, ranging from 96.15% to 90%, which affect the average payout from acceptable to very poor.
Best UK Casinos to play Shifting Seas
If you want to play Shifting Seas for real money, we have selected some excellent UK online casinos for you.
New players who make a first deposit are eligible for a welcome bonus.
Welcome Offer: 200 Cash Spins on Fishin’ BIGGER Pots of Gold
Fun and pleasant atmosphere
Over 4,200 slots with the highest RTPs
Slots, bingo, and live casino games
New customers only. Up to 200 spins over 4 day period from first deposit & spend of £10. Max 50 spins each day on Fishin’ BIGGER Pots of Gold at 10p per spin for 4 consecutive days. Deposit & spend £10 each day for 50 spins. Spins credited upon spend of £10 each day. 18+ Full T&Cs apply.
Ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New players. Opt in & deposit £10 in 7 days & wager 1x in 7 days on any casino game (excluding live casino and table games) for 100 Free Spins. Wagering contributions vary. Free Spins worth 10p each on Big Bass Splash. 3 day expiry. 18+. Full bonus terms and conditions apply.
Good RTPs on NetEnt, Nolimit City and Thunderkick slots
18+ New UK players only | 23 No Deposit Spins Winnings Have 10x Wagering Requirements | Max Cashout on No Deposit Spins is £100 | Cash Spins Winnings Are Wager-Free | No max cash out on Cash Spins | Eligibility is Restricted for Suspected Abuse | Skrill Deposits Excluded | Spins Values Are £0.10 Per Spin | All Spins Expire in 48 hours |
The best and preferred RTP version of Shifting Seas will pay back an average of 96.15% to players.
Unfortunately for players, most online casinos offer their players one of the lower RTP versions.
These pay an average of 94.18%, 92%, or 90% back to the players.
Choosing a lower-paying RTP version can dry out your balance quicker, giving you fewer spins and fewer chances to hit the big win.
But do not worry, as the CasinoWizard is here to guide you toward the best RTP versions of slots, including Shifting Seas.
RTP comparison for Shifting Seas
Finding the best RTP versions of slots is not easy, as these can vary from casino to casino.
Some online casinos might offer the best RTP versions on one slot but not on others. That´s why the CasinoWizard has made it his mission to make players’ decisions easier by presenting you with the casinos that offer the best RTP version of a specific game.
You can now easily choose among the casinos listed here that offer players the 96.15% RTP version of Shifting Seas for your country.
Whether we like it or not, the Return to Player, or RTP, of a slot significantly impacts a lot of crucial elements that come with playing slots.
The RTP is another term for the average percentage that a slot pays back for each stake. So, when a slot has a 96% RTP, it will pay back, on average, 96p for each pound staked. As you can imagine, the higher the RTP, the better it is for you, the player, as this will result in:
More spins before your money runs out
More spins = more chances to win
Increased playing time for the player
More value for money for the player
A lower profit margin for the casino
History of RTP and online slots
In the “old days”, all online slots had a default RTP, meaning the Return to Player was the same for each slot, no matter which online casino you played it in. However, since around 2020, due to regulations, increased Gambling Taxes and rising costs, online casinos started pressuring slot providers to release slots with different RTP configurations.
In effect, the online casino now had a choice: it was now able to offer its players a lower-paying RTP version. You could be playing a specific slot with a 96% RTP at casino A, and play the same slot with a 94% RTP at casino B, without even knowing it. The slot may look and feel the same, but the maths model underneath, which is the heart and soul of a slot, may be different, with all the negative consequences that come with it.
An example in real numbers
To illustrate the difference between playing a high-RTP slot versus playing the same slot but with a lower RTP, we have done some calculations.
Let’s take, as an example, one of the most popular online slots ever made: Book of Dead by Play’n GO. It has five possible RTP configurations: 84.18%, 87.25%, 91.25%, 94.25%, and 96.21%. Of course, other slots have different payout percentages, so results will vary.
We have calculated for Book of Dead, per RTP configuration, how many spins it takes to run out of money, based on theoretical losses (house edge) per spin, a starting balance of £100 and a stake of £1 per spin.
Book of Dead RTP
Theoretical Playtime
House Edge
96.21%
2,612 spins
3.79%
94.25%
1,721 spins
5.75%
91.25%
1,131 spins
8,75%
87.25%
776 spins
12.75%
84.18%
625 spins
15.82%
As you can see in our calculations, there are huge differences in the number of spins when you compare the different RTP configurations. The difference between the 96.21% RTP and the 94.25% RTP version is over 900 spins!
Conclusion
Playing with a higher Return to Player increases your chances of winning and playing time. So, when you want to play an online slot, always try to find a casino that offers it at the highest payout setting.
Why RTP is important when playing slots
Playing with a higher Return to Player increases your chances of winning and playing time.
Gameplay and features
Shifting Seas is a highly volatile slot played on a 6-reel and 4-4-3-3-2-2-row game panel.
Bets start from 10p and go up to £2 (aged 18-24) and £5 (for those aged 25+) per spin.
The ways-to-win vary as, after each win, the reels expand, contributing up to 117,649 ways.
The slot uses an avalanche mechanic where winning symbols are replaced by new ones until no more wins occur.
The Special Wilds adds a fun layer to the base game and Free Spins.
Features explained:
Shift Wins = After each win, the rightmost reel is removed and replaced by a new reel on the leftmost side. The new reel is increased with +1 in height up to 7 symbols high.
Special Wilds = There are three different Special Wilds in the game that are activated once they are pushed out of the grid.
Wild Surge: 1-3 symbols transform into wilds.
Boost Shift: A new reel is added to the grid with copied symbols from the reel next to it.
Symbol Rush: 4-8 symbols on the reels transform into identical symbols.
Free Spins = In Shifting Seas, there is no need to land a certain number of Scatters on the reels to trigger the Free Spins.
Instead, you need to have the Bonus symbol pushed out of the grid. You are then rewarded with 8 Free Spins. If the task is replicated during the feature, you win another +4 spins.
During the Free Spins, you may land a Wild Reel. After each win, the Wild Reel moves one position to the right. When pushed out of the grid, it reappears on the leftmost reel with an +1 increased multiplier and +1 extra spin.
What is the maximum win on Shifting Seas?
The max win on Shifting Seas is capped to an impressive 15,000x stake.
We are still waiting to see a max win on Shifting Seas being showcased on YouTube or Twitch, but this might take some time as slot streamers cannot buy the Free Spins in this slot.
CasinoWizard’s verdict: 8 out of 10
If you are interested in trying out a different but entertaining slot while having a chance to win big, Shifting Seas is what you’re looking for.
It’s great to see game studio Thunderkick releasing high-quality slots again, and we are sure this game provider has much more to offer.
Remember to choose a good UK online casino that offers the best RTP version, as the difference between the highest and lowest version is a huge 6% average payout.
Find more high-RTP slots
Find online casinos that offer the highest-RTP versions of your favourite slots using the handy search bar below.
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