Casino Game Review: Skeleton Key (IGT)

min read
Skeleton Key online slot loading screen.
BetMGM Dec 06, 2023, 12:04 AM

Skeleton Key promises an enthralling adventure filled with mystery symbols, plenty of prizes, and immersive gameplay mechanics. Developed by International Game Technology (IGT), the game features expanding reels and multiple bonus features, delivering all of the perks of Las Vegas slot machines in an accessible format you can play on the go.

Game Overview

Like all IGT slot games, Skeleton Key combines the convenience of the best online slots with the thrilling simplicity of the classics. The game is designed with a 5×6 reel layout, but an exciting twist comes in the form of half the reels being hidden by a mysterious fog.

The visuals, animations, and sound effects have a distinct style, with every design element tying into the theme of hidden treasures in caves of mystery. Reel expansion and bonus symbols can improve your odds of winning significantly, leading to a variable return to player (RTP) of 92.43–96.49%.

Unlike jackpot slots, the biggest prizes come from the slot’s bonus features. If all reels are active in the bonus round of the game, you have the chance to win 83,333x the maximum bet. Thanks to reel expansion, free spins, wilds, and multipliers, there’s a wide range of features that improve your odds of winning, making every spin an enticing experience.

How To Play

Can you play slots online for real money while enjoying Skeleton Key? The answer is a resounding “Yes.” All you need to do is launch the game on mobile or desktop, bet 0.01–300 coins, and cross your fingers, hoping for a favorable outcome. You can also set the game to autoplay for up to 50 consecutive spins, cutting down the time between spins so you can focus on the fun.

The paytable screen, accessed from the main menu, will tell you every symbol’s value and the multipliers of larger combos. All of the requirements for activating bonus features are described clearly, along with any unique mechanics triggered by specific symbols.

Graphics

Online casino games like Skeleton Key focus on charming art design rather than complex graphics. The game’s overall presentation is one of high quality and thoughtful style, with a stunning color palette and intricate, hand-drawn symbols that stand out visually.

In the background, a dark cave full of riches rounds out the adventurous atmosphere, with an eerie fog above the reels covering the top section of the base game. It’s an original theme that uses well-crafted artwork to produce a unique look without the need for elaborate and time-wasting animations.

Features

Feature-wise, you can expect a generous variety of modern mechanics from Skeleton Key, from wilds and free spins to reel expansion. The base game has 243 paylines, but there’s also a MultiWays Extra feature that allows you to combine matching symbols on all the reels. 

Gemstones, chalices, and treasure chests grant the highest payouts, while standard card values make up the bottom half of the paytable. Scatter symbols are blue padlocks, wilds are represented by a question mark, and the skeleton key expands the reels by removing the foreboding fog.

Wild symbols can substitute for any other symbol. Scatter symbols grant free spins, and the skeleton key symbol unlocks 7,734 ways to win. Whenever a skeleton key appears, the reels expand, and all keys disappear. Every subsequent spin reduces the reels by one, but you can retrigger the expansion by landing additional skeleton keys.

Bonuses and Jackpots

Casino games with online features don’t need jackpots to keep players interested. Skeleton Key is similar to other well-known IGT slots like Lots of Likes, especially when it comes to top prizes. The biggest wins are triggered through several bonus features that can all be active at once. The most notable bonus is the free spins feature, activated with at least three scatter symbols.

If you can land 3–5 scatters, you get up to 30 free spins. Two or more bonus symbols during free spins grant additional rounds. With expanded reels during free spins, you stand the chance of winning up to 25 million coins. What’s more, wilds and skeleton keys are active, so you can retrigger free spins (and bonus symbols) spin after spin if you’re lucky.

Similar Games

Looking for a different theme? Ice Heist is another hit IGT title to consider. The game is a heist-themed escapade with top-paying combinations and random spin bonuses, wrapped up in a refined graphic style and thrilling background music.

If you prefer slots with traditional jackpots, Treasure Box Dynasty, also by IGT, offers four jackpots to chase, with the highest prize being 10,000x the bet. The game features a theme of luck and fortune brought to life by charming graphics, with Multiways wins, free spins, and plenty of bonuses to enjoy.

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Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGM’s superior product and game library.

Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGM’s superior product and game library.