Fire in the Hole

Fire in the Hole Casinos

Nolimit City continues their hot streak, and for this, they have decided to tackle a well-trodden slot theme – the classic mining adventure. But in true Nolimit City fashion, they didn’t just follow the crowd; they ripped up the rulebook and let their creativity run wild. At first glance, Fire in the Hole xBomb might seem like your typical mining slot, but don’t be fooled. Once you start playing, you’ll realize this is a big, gritty, and unpredictable beast that’s ready to blow at any moment – just like the dynamite it’s themed around, or the feisty dwarf who makes appearances when things really start heating up.

The action kicks off on a 6-reel, 3-row grid with 486 ways to win. But hold on, because that’s just the beginning. Below the active play area lie three dormant rows filled with empty positions, just waiting to spring to life. At first glance, the setting might seem a bit more laid-back compared to Nolimit City’s usual high-octane themes—no prison breakouts, punk chaos, or post-apocalyptic wastelands here.

Instead, you’re greeted with a heavy, plodding soundtrack that sets a moody tone, while glowing lanterns cast flickering light on an old mine shaft held up by timber beams. The atmosphere is thick, but don’t let it fool you—Fire in the Hole xBomb has plenty of explosive potential hidden beneath its surface. Close your eyes, and you can almost picture burly dwarves hammering away at rocks, searching for treasure, or forging weapons deep within these caverns.

Betting options range from a modest 20 p/c to a more daring $/€50 per spin, catering to both casual players and high rollers alike. But be warned—this slot packs a punch with volatility cranked up to 10 out of 10. Nolimit City isn’t kidding when they call it extreme. Before you grab your virtual pickaxe, take note of the RTP, which can vary. Ideally, you’ll want to play with the preferred 96.06% configuration. Other key stats? A hit rate of 1 in 4 spins and some serious potential for big wins—which we’ll dive into more in the verdict.

In Fire in the Hole xBomb, payouts are awarded for matching symbols from left to right, regardless of the row. The symbols kick off with five boxed 9-K icons—noticeably dropping the usual Ace. Then come the premium symbols: pickaxes, rope, boots, a satchel, and a lantern. Land six of a kind with these premium symbols, and you could pocket between 1.75 to 7.5 times your stake.

Fire in the Hole xBomb: Slot Features

Fire in the Hole xBomb is where Nolimit City unleashes their brand-new xBomb feature, a game-changer that spices up the gameplay along with a suite of other thrilling features like Collapsing Mine, Wild Mining, and the highly-anticipated Lucky Wagon Spins. For those in regions where it’s allowed, there’s even a feature buy option to dive straight into the action.

Let’s start with the Collapsing Mine feature, which is essentially an advanced cascading system. Your journey begins with a 3-row setup, but as the game progresses, each collapse activates an additional row, expanding the grid up to a maximum of 6 rows. This happens when you land a winning combination, when an xBomb Wild explodes, or through the Wild Mining feature. Winning symbols disappear to make way for new ones, which fall into place, potentially triggering a chain reaction of wins. When all 6 rows are in play, you’ve got a massive 46,656 ways to win.

Now, about that xBomb feature—no, it’s not connected to the Tom Jones classic, but it’s definitely a hit in its own right. xBomb Wild symbols can substitute for any symbol except scatters to help complete winning combinations. When they explode, xBomb Wilds remove all adjacent regular symbols and boost the win multiplier by x1 for the next collapse. These wilds detonate whether they’re part of the winning combo or not, and they’ll even trigger a collapse if there’s no win on the board, provided the Wild Mining feature doesn’t step in first.

Speaking of Wild Mining, this feature kicks in when 3, 4, or 5 identical symbols align horizontally but don’t form a winning combination. Those triggering symbols are then removed, and you’ll get 1, 2, or 3 wilds added to the middle of the alignment. What happens next? The rest of the active area explodes (except for scatters or wilds), and a new collapse follows, giving you another shot at a win.

But the real showstopper here is the Lucky Wagon Spins bonus feature. When you trigger this bonus, the game moves to a new grid where the number of starting rows depends on how many scatters triggered the feature—3, 4, or 5 scatters get you 2, 3, or 4 starting rows, respectively. You’ll begin with 3 spins, which reset every time a coin symbol lands. Above the grid, 6 wagons display different prizes and modifiers on each spin, and whatever prize appears above a landing coin is yours. Prizes and modifiers include:

• Coin values ranging from x1 to x100.
• Multipliers that boost all coins below them.
• Dynamite symbols that add value to coins, unlock blocked rows, and activate collect chests.
• Bag symbols that gather all coins on a reel and add them to the triggering coin.
• Chest symbols that collect all values on the reel and clear all occupied positions, except the dwarf symbol.
• Dwarf symbols that collect all values on the reel and stack them onto the triggering coin, repeating this process on each subsequent spin.

When collect chests are active on the bottom row, they gather the value of all coins above them with every spin. Think of this feature as a supercharged hold-and-win mechanic, packed with modifiers that can lead to some jaw-dropping rewards.

For players who prefer to skip the base game and head straight to the bonus action, Nolimit City offers a feature buy option. You can choose from three options, costing 60x, 157x, or 500x your bet, which will award you 3, 4, or 5 bonus symbols, respectively. These options also come with an RTP boost to 96.07%, 96.2%, or 96.96%, depending on your choice.

Fire in the Hole xBomb: Slot Verdict

After a powerhouse start to 2021 with the releases of San Quentin xWays and East Coast vs West Coast, Nolimit City shows no signs of slowing down, dropping yet another explosive hit. This time, they’ve delivered the intensely volatile and high-potential Fire in the Hole xBomb, a slot that reinforces their status as a heavyweight in the gambling world. You might think at some point the momentum would falter, that it’s impossible for a studio to keep cranking out success after success.

But judging by Fire in the Hole xBomb, Nolimit City isn’t even close to running out of steam. Their creativity is still bubbling over, and they’ve laid down yet another gauntlet for their competitors. First off, kudos to Nolimit City for breathing fresh life into the mining genre. Through a mix of captivating audio-visuals, massive win potential, and clever gameplay mechanics, they’ve crafted a mining experience that feels unique. It’s a true testament to their design prowess when a studio can take a theme as well-worn as mining and make it feel both innovative and engaging.

As for the new xBomb feature, it’s a perfect fit for a mining game. Much like the popular xNudge Wilds, xBomb Wilds bring multipliers into the mix and are key to unlocking those bigger wins. Seasoned players might notice a touch of Money Train 2 inspiration in the Lucky Wagon Spins feature. While it might not have the same frenetic energy without all the gunfire, Lucky Wagon Spins compensate with higher potential payouts. Starting with just three spins, the feature has the potential to snowball into something massive, much like a runaway freight train. Special symbols and Collect Chests are crucial in maximizing the bonus game’s potential, which, when fully unleashed, can reach a staggering 60,000x your stake. Importantly, the max win can be hit during any phase of the game, though it’s more likely to occur during Lucky Wagon Spins triggered by five scatters.

There’s no doubt that players will flock to Fire in the Hole xBomb in droves. The mining theme has always been a fan favorite, and there’s a sizable crowd of hardcore gamers eager to test their mettle against whatever wild ride Nolimit City has in store. But let’s be clear—Fire in the Hole xBomb isn’t your typical leisurely romp through a mine. This is a gritty, high-stakes expedition through a treacherous shaft, where danger lurks at every corner, ready to crush the unprepared. There’s no canary in this mine to warn you of the risks, but for those who can handle the pressure, there’s a treasure trove waiting to be unearthed.