Online slot machines should generate excitement, especially when you land winning combinations. Thunderkick has captured this feeling with its online casino games that fill your leisure hours. From Dionysus Golden Feast to Full Moon Romance, this independent casino game supplier brings a wild imagination to the industry.
Thunderkick ploughs the route of video slot games, bringing quirky themes most providers would rather avoid. However, the strategy has worked well for the company, as players end up with vibrant, feel-good slot games. A significant number of its games belong to a series, and you can learn more about them through the free mode.
It takes wild imaginations to create kick-ass content like Thunderkick does. This review will look at what began in a tiny studio and how it has grown today. Most importantly, you’ll see the top Thunderkick slots and their bonus features.
By Adiela de Bruyn - Last modified 2024/05/14 - Estimated reading time: 11 minutes.
Thunderkick launched in 2012 as an independent supplier of games to online casinos. Its game and platform development occur in-house. That might sound limiting, considering the era where most game developers have joined larger companies.
A group of engineers from NetEnt started Thunderkick, injecting their original ideas into game development. These guys have ensured that Thunderkick slots are HTML5-enabled and available for iOS and Android devices. You can load the free slots, Wild Heist, Golden Cats, Flame Busters, Toki Time, Greenhat Peak, etc., to see for yourself.
Thunderkick creates its slots in Sweden, its base of operations. However, its slots have traversed to different parts of the world through online casinos. They are available in South Africa and ready for free or real-money gameplay.
This company has a small development team of about 50 employees. Hence, we don’t expect back-to-back releases.
Despite its relatively small size, Thunderkick continues to develop its slot series. You can expect more slot games, although we don’t know the release frequency.
License and Registration
Creating quirky slot games and pushing them around the world requires a credible license. Fortunately, Thunderkick holds two highly-rated licenses and appears in several casinos and game studios. The licenses are as follows:
The UK Gambling Commission
The Malta Gaming Authority
Thunderkick is also recognized in Canada. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario licenses it.
These licenses are enough to play Thunderkick video slot games without worrying. However, you must play at licensed casinos to take full advantage of the bonus features, winnings, and gameplay.
Awards and Recognition
Thunderkick knows how to incorporate human nature into its games. Some video slot games might look cartoonish, but the fun from the first spin is irresistible. Then, imagine the feeling when you trigger the bonuses and edge closer to the maximum win potential.
These efforts have earned Thunderkick several rewards in the video slot game industry. The awards and recognitions include the following:
Best Mobile Game of the Year: Flame Busters
Best Low Volatility Game of the Year: Frog Grog
Best New Slot: Midas Golden Touch
Thunderkick scooped these awards at the VideoSlots Awards. Besides these, the slot game provider has earned two nominations. These are the Best Game Provider of the Year (Bigwinboard Awards) and the Best Online Slot of the Year (Bones & Bounty and The Wildos).
Midas Golden Touch is among the company’s most popular slot games. We won’t be surprised if Thunderkick scoops up more awards as the year rolls by. Notwithstanding, the slot game industry has become more competitive, with companies ramping up their slot release frequencies.
Top Game Features of Thunderkick
Bonuses and gameplay are often the distinguishing factors among online slots. Some slot games battle for the highest RTP (return-to-player) while others battle to give the highest payout. Similarly, Thunderkick has features that differentiate its slots from the rest.
You might see these features in other slots. We like how Thunderkick sticks to proven gameplay in their slot games. Still, we would’ve loved to see some groundbreaking bonus elements that make each spin unique.
The following are typical features of Thunderkick games:
Multipliers
Avalanches, cascades, and dropping symbols
Variable paylines
Free spins
Wilds
Respins
Scatter symbols
These are typical features in most slot games. However, Thunderkick adds quirky graphics and themes that keep the heat going as you play. The slot games can occupy your holiday season or leisure hours with non-stop action.
A few Thunderkick games as shown on their website.
Popular Thunderkick Casino Games
Thunderkick has over 70 slots in its catalogue. You can play these games with a minimum deposit of R5. Of course, casinos may have different minimum deposit amounts.
With that in mind, here are some Thunderkick games you should try:
Falcon Huntress
Birds on a Wire
Wild Heist at Peacock Manor
Midas Golden Touch Reborn
Esqueleto Explosivo
Esqueleto Explosivo 2
Esqueleto Explosivo 2 Reborn
Beat the Beast
Jaguar Temple
Divine Lotus
The Berzerker Hack & Slash Edition
Dionysus Golden Feast
Carnival Queen
Pink Elephants
Pink Elephants 2 Reborn
Fortune Cats Golden Stacks
Would you join the hunt with the Falcon Huntress or settle with the Birds on a Wire? Let’s review the top Thunderkick slots.
Midas Golden Touch
Thunderkick explores the legend of King Midas in this 5x3 slot game. Some games have movie tie-ins, but we don’t mind some legends in our hands.
Midas Golden Touch takes us on an adventure to find the lost gold. You’ll face off against the medium to high volatility and 15 paylines. The bonus wild multiplier can boost your win up to 32 times.
Making the big bucks in this slot boils down to the free spins and sticky respins. The latter can help you hit the maximum win of 10,100x.
This slot game’s graphics are not cartoonish like Pink Elephants or other cartoon-based slots. It shines brilliantly with gold touches set within a gold temple. However, Thunderkick returns to the basics with this slot game, unlike the Carnival Queen.
Other slot providers have explored this theme, like the wild heist themes (Wild Heist at Peacock Manor). However, we rate Thunderkick highly for its graphics and respin bonus feature.
The Dionysus Golden Feast is another Greek-themed slot you can play.
1429 Uncharted Seas
Thunderkick did not hold back on the RTP percentage of this game. It has one of the highest (98.5%) among the provider’s video slots.
Warm up and prepare yourself to join the European explorers on the hunt for the new world. The hunt provides a map, but you must skillfully interpret it with your spins. You can spin the reels for free to learn as much about the game as possible.
1429 Uncharted Seas has two bonus elements - the expanding wilds and the free spins. The expanding wilds are present in the base game. Hence, your spin can hit some mega wins.
You don’t need expert knowledge to join the explorers in this game. Of course, you won’t wager an intellectual battle with the mighty sphinx. Nonetheless, you’ll need the free spins to win big in this game.
The low volatility helps provide frequent wins. Trigger the bonus game to earn free spins and move closer to clinching the game’s 670x maximum win.
Flame Busters
This game might not appeal to modern players. However, playing it now brings a retro feel, like you were in a casino hall with slots. You’ll find the same feeling when playing Pink Elephants.
Flame Busters has 5 reels, 3 rows, and 243 paylines. Its maximum win is 5,280x, with high volatility.
The alarm bell scatter symbol activates the bonus game. Nonetheless, you’ll have several base action bonus elements to boost your wins. The fire symbols are available.
This game includes a floor structure in its bonus game. The bonus game begins with free spins, but you can climb to the next floor and enjoy better-paying symbols.
Esqueleto Explosivo
This slot game performed well enough for Thunderkick to make two more slots in the series. The others are the Esqueleto Explosivo 2 and the Esqueleto Explosivo 2 Reborn.
Esqueleto Explosivo has low volatility, a 96% RTP, a 700x maximum win, and 17 paylines. The symbols are skull-like which contrasts with other slots that stay with gold or other shiny elements. You’ll still find gold elements, but nothing too mind-blowing.
Looking past the graphics reveals a game with dropping symbols and multipliers as bonus elements. The dropping symbols feature is present in the base action and bonus game. You can get more wins from a single spin and stay long enough to hit the maximum multiplier of 32x.
This game misses out on free spins. That would’ve been a vibrant bonus offer to add to the quirky feel of playing the slot. Nonetheless, Thunderkick incorporates the dropping symbols so well that it negates the absence of free spins.
You can play this slot for free to learn more about it. We also recommend other Thunderkick slots in the series.
Pink Elephants
We wouldn’t mind jumping on Beat the Beast Mighty Sphinx, Jaguar Temple, Divine Lotus, and other Thunderkick slots in this review. Notwithstanding, you can play their free versions to learn more about them. In the meantime, let’s explore Pink Elephants.
This game has several slots in its series. It has 6 reels, 4 rows, high volatility, and an 8,200x maximum win. You can play for free or place real-money bets for a minimum deposit of R5.
Pink Elephants has 4,096 paylines. The base action doesn’t carry much excitement. However, things heat up in the bonus game with free spins.
You can trigger more spins through the elephant bonus feature. It adds an extra spin, while the scatter symbols add two extra spins.
Triple Christmas Gold
Today might not be a holiday season, but the Triple Christmas Gold. The low RTP (94.67%) isn’t too encouraging. However, the game has a 5,000x maximum win and 27 betways.
This slot has a classic feel when you play. The layout looks like a retro slot machine, with gold elements to spice up the visuals. Some casinos allow up to R1,800 in bets with an affordable minimum deposit.
While most 2022 games strive to incorporate modern elements, Triple Christmas Gold holds steady with its retro looks. It has a bonus round that brings up to 8 free spins and multipliers. Most importantly, you can buy the bonus round outright.
Barber Shop Uncut
This title wraps up our section on Thunderkick Slots. It has a 97% RTP, a 2,355x maximum payout, and 40 paylines.
Barber Shop Uncut brings free spins to its bonus round. The graphics are simple compared to other games in their class. You’ll find barber tools in the symbols.
Thunderkick adds a respin bonus to the gameplay. However, the inwinity spin bonus takes the shining spot. The reels will continue spinning until you win.
This Thunderkick slot sets itself apart from other games with the inwinity spin bonus. That is enough to capture reserved players. Again, you can play the title for free to see how the bonus works.
Mobile Compatibility
You don’t need to worry about the mobile compatibility of Thunderkick games. The company is fully onboard with HTML5 for its games, ensuring players can play them on mobile devices.
Conclusion
Thunderkick has created a niche for itself despite its relatively small development team. The company specializes in online slots. While some slot providers have shown interest in expanding to other categories, Thunderkick seems fine with slot games.
Play these titles with a budget if you are not playing for free. We recommend the free versions when testing a new title. Most importantly, use responsible gaming tools in your gameplay.
Regulated casinos offer limits, self-assessments, and self-exclusion. Remember, play games for fun and entertainment. Don’t expect to use them as a source of income.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thunderkick
Does Thunderkick offer free titles?
You can play free titles on the Thunderkick website. Alternatively, register with casinos that support the free versions.
How do I start playing Thunderkick titles?
Register with a licensed online gaming platform. Play the free versions or fund your account to place real-money bets.
Can I activate free spins with Thunderkick?
Casinos can provide free spins to players for Thunderkick titles. Alternatively, you can trigger in-game free spins to continue the gameplay. Play the title and land the bonus symbols.
Is Thunderkick legal in South Africa?
The company does not have a license with South African regulators. However, it holds licenses from the UK and Malta. You can play its games at online casinos.
What are the best Thunderkick games and where do I find them?
The best Thunderkick titles include Pink Elephants, Sword of Shoguns, Sword of Khans, Rex the Hunt, Riders of the Storm, Gods of Rock Reborn, etc. You can find these games on the official website. However, you must register with a licensed online casino to play them for real money.
Author and fact checker: Adiela de Bruyn
Expertise: Online casino reviews, player insights, and marketing strategies.
Experience: 10+ years. Former croupier, casino enthusiast, and contributor to South Africa's online gambling regulations.