Cowabunga Dream Drop Slot

Should You Give Cowabunga Dream Drop a Go? Here's My Honest Opinion

Honestly, my opinion of Cowabunga Dream Drop is mixed. It has a lot going for it, but there is one major drawback I must draw your attention to —otherwise, you won't obtain a true picture of what it is like to play. Okay, let's take a deeper dive with a more honest reaction to Cowabunga Dream Drop. Yes, it ticks a lot —and I mean a lot— of playability boxes for me, but there is one elephant in the room that I need to talk about. What do I mean? It boils down to the return to player rate (RTP) that this game offers, and with Cowabunga Dream Drop, this is a lowly 93.99%. That's much, much lower than I would seek out in a typical video slot.

For instance, Fruit Shop and Divine Fortune Megaways have an RTP of over 96%. Yes, I know that these figures won't be important to a lot of gamers interested in what this particular slot has to offer, but it is something I consider. And yes, I also know that there are titles out there with similar features that have lower RTPs, like Gold Frenzy, with 93.32%. All I am saying is that I think a slightly more generous RTP for Cowabunga Dream Drop could have elevated it from a good game to a very good game, indeed. Relax Gaming, the people behind this title got so much right but missed what I think is needed for a true classic of the video gaming genre.

How Do You Place Your First Wager With Cowabunga Dream Drop?

To place your first bet on Cowabunga Dream Drop, all you need to do is:

1. Log on to your casino account.

2. Add credit, if necessary, and then find the game from the other video slots.

3. Set your wager level to something you're happy with – I'd advise starting low to begin with.

4. Spin the reels.

Now is as good a time as any to tell you that winning combinations of the five reels provide you with a maximum win of up to 6,000 times your stake from the get-go, which is pretty generous. However, I must also point out that there are two versions of Cowabunga Dream Drop with different maximum wins. Let me explain. There is the normal version, which is what I played and what this review is based on.

There is also a so-called Dream Drop Exclusive version. This second one features Relax Gaming's exclusive jackpot feature. If you aren't sure what this is, then all I have to tell you is that Dream Drop is their version of a progressive jackpot. I didn't find that the lack of a progressive jackpot in the version I played diminished my playing experience whatsoever. Despite this, you might want to know that this feature in the Dream Drop Exclusive version of the game can trigger a jackpot spin during any normal spin. I understand that it will trigger when you have at least one of the DD symbols on all five of the reels.

My Initial Reaction to Playing Cowabunga Dream Drop

Hand on heart, my initial reaction to Cowabunga Dream Drop wasn't that great. I suppose this was because I thought it was going to be a bit juvenile, what with 'Cowabunga' being in its title. I soon overcame this impression, though, and rapidly started to engage with the game's straightforward five-reel layout. The most positive thing that stood out for me was the game's theme. Perhaps I just haven't played enough games set on tropical islands with great surf. In truth, though, it is the game designers' execution of their chosen theme that makes such a difference.

Everything seems to work together to create the overall effect they were after. Literally, the only criticism I had after spinning the reels a few times was the low RTP rate and, later on, the somewhat limited number of bonus games. In fairness, this didn't bother me much to begin with, so I admit, that's a little harsh.

Design Features I Responded to in Cowabunga Dream Drop

I always think simplicity is the key to good game design, and Cowabunga Dream Drop doesn't disappoint in this regard. No one is going to play it and be confused about what is going on. There is also enough novelty in the game that it isn't too much like anything else I've played. The balance between familiarity and freshness is always hard to pull off, but Relax Gaming casinos have managed it. Even better, I liked that I could play the demo version to get to know how it worked and how I could trigger the in-game features before placing a real bet.

The Narrative in Cowabunga Dream Drop: My Thoughts

There's plenty to shout about with Cowabunga Dream Drop's design, but as a narrative, it might let some gamers down. That's not the case with me, though, because I am not the sort of player who responds to storylines — in slot games, anyway. The theme is explored well enough through the symbols, which all have an aquatic theme, such as the shark and the gnarly surfer dude. Other than that, there's not much to say, so I think we should move on.

Let's Focus on Bonus Games in Cowabunga Dream Drop

Leaving the Dream Drop Exclusive progressive jackpot aside for a moment (because I didn't play that version of the game), there are five main features and bonus games to talk about. The main bonus game you encounter with Cowabunga Dream Drop is Free Spins, so I will start with them. These trigger by landing two Scatter Symbols. I found they came along reasonably frequently, awarding me with five Free Spins each time. I retriggered this feature by landing another Scatter Symbol on the fifth reel, awarding me one more Free Spin each time this happened. I soon discovered that when Free Spins were in play, the middle three reels were always synchronised and expanded to seven rows.

That expanded reel part of the game can also be triggered at random during the normal game. I found this happens when two or three of the middle contain the same symbols in the same order, synchronising them. When this happens, the middle reels expand, but I found that the amount they expand is anything from four to seven rows.

When I got a red and white lifebuoy appear, this triggered the game's Wild feature. On a few occasions, I was able to obtain a winning combination with five Wild Symbols all at once. This led to a direct payout of twice the value of the bet, so I was happy with that! I also got the randomly triggered Nudge feature a few times while playing. When this kicks in, the reels stop and then nudge downward, supposedly to improve a winning combination, but it rarely worked out for me that way. Perhaps this was just bad luck on my part?

Finally, the non-Dream Drop Exclusive version of the game I played had a Feature Buy option. I only used it once experimentally, but it is worth mentioning. With Feature Buy, you get five Free Spins without having to hit a qualifying combination. It costs six times your bet but could be worth it, I suppose.

My Take on the Technical Aspects of the Game

I've already mentioned that the RTP of 93.99% isn't my idea of great return potential, but what I haven't yet revealed is that the Feature Buy option alters this figure considerably. Yes, when you buy your Free Spins, the RTP rate reflects your adventurous streak, a bit like trying to surf a wave that's larger or faster than one you've ridden before. Under this playing condition, the RTP rises to 96.27% —not bad for a medium to high volatility game. That's something that may put your view of Cowabunga Dream Drop into an entirely new perspective. It certainly did for me when I found out after checking the game's documentation to write this review.

My Lowdown on Cowabunga Dream Drop

I like playing Cowabunga Dream Drop, and there's not much negative to say about it. The graphics, audio, and game theme all lend themselves to the sort of journey I like to be on when playing a game for the first time. Am I saying this title will be one I'll keep returning to again and again? Probably not after a few years —but for now, yes, it is something I've gone back to, and what's more, I've enjoyed playing it, even after multiple revisits. The lack of a progressive jackpot isn't a big problem for me because the Feature Buy option and the increased RTP more than make up for this.