The Rainbow Riches series is the most popular Barcrest product. The studio made its name known with these games. Their Celtic theme and the different gameplay features across the range made Rainbow Riches a hit for all players, including me. And, while most of them are pure slot games, the studio likes to experiment from time to time. It did so with Rainbow Riches Leapin’ Leprechauns, which sits somewhere between scratchcards, instant games, and video game platformers.

If you’re like me and you’ve spent years of your life as a kid playing Super Mario, this one feels similar. You won’t be collecting coins and surfing on turtles. This leprechaun jumps up high to the sky in 5 spin cycles, after which you need to pay to continue. There are no bonuses or anything of the sort since this isn’t a slot to begin with.

Specs-wise, the game has an RTP of 96.10% with medium volatility. There are no lines to pick from or any other feature borrowed from slots. You just pay for your leaps, hit the play button, and have fun with this shamrock adventure. Read my Rainbow Riches Leapin’ Leprechauns review to learn more about this peculiar platformer.

Rainbow Riches Leapin’ Leprechauns is surely a visual delight. The series fans will surely recognize the central character from all the other Rainbow Riches slots. He’s the main character here, leaping on patches of green Earth while trying to avoid the dangers. You’ll have obstacles on the way up in the form of snakes, the unlucky number 13, or cracked mirrors – all bearers of bad luck.

Conversely, the power-ups include a leprechaun’s magic hat and a four-leaf clover. Your goal is to use power-ups to pass the obstacles. The leprechaun jumps with a nice animation from one floating island to another. The game’s easy to play since it will present a pop-up window where you can set the bet, after which the game starts immediately.

Before you embark on this leapin’ adventure, you’ll have to place a stake. You can choose from 10c to $2 per spin. That kind of range won’t excite high rollers, but you need to remember that this isn’t a slot game altogether. Keep in mind that once you choose your bet, it’s active for 5 consecutive spins. This is a feature borrowed from Slingo games, where there are usually 10-12 spin cycles.

The premise of the game is simple. You hit the jump button to land on those floating patches of green earth. Some are to the right, and others are to the left. The goal is to get as high up the screen as you can. It won’t be an easy ride. On my way up, I experienced fatal obstacles in the form of cobras, broken mirrors, and the number 13, which immediately killed the leprechaun. He’ll fall down to the ground if he jumps on a floating patch with an obstacle.

The good news is that you have power-ups to help. Think of these as Mario’s mushrooms that make him bigger or the superstar, which makes him invulnerable. You can collect balloons, a magic leprechaun hat, a heart, or a horseshoe to pass the obstacles unscathed.

After your 5 initial leaps, you’ll have a chance to continue jumping for a price. It’s the same as in Slingo games, where you can continue for a specific price depending on how close you are to completing Slingo games. For each successful jump, the bonus award is 0.5x the total stake.

There’s no bonus round in RR Leapin’ Leprechauns. Your goal is to get as high up as possible and claim the cash prizes on your way there. Those include a rainbow, a pot of gold, coins, and four-leaf clovers. These prizes range from 0.50x to 100x your bet. Every obstacle ends the game immediately, so you’ll have to start from all the way down there.

I can honestly say that Rainbow Riches Leapin’ Leprechauns was a fun and refreshing experience. It reminded me of the Nintendo days I enjoyed as a kid and all those silly platformers I used to play. It’s a blast from the past in a completely new way, of course, because you’ll be playing for real money. You don’t get any extra lives, and you can’t cheat your way to the top wins.

Those looking for a slot will be disappointed. This game is nowhere near it. It’s closer to all those instant games that are currently popular at many casino sites but more fun, in my experience.

Rainbow Riches Leapin’ Leprechaun is a medium volatile game. The RTP is set to 96.10%, and the maximum win is 250,000 credits.

Rainbow Riches Leapin’ Leprechauns takes the concept of slots, scratchcards, and slingo games to a whole new level. It’s a leapin’ leprechaun adventure that players will certainly enjoy. It’s a fun addition to the Rainbow Riches slot series, allowing Barcrest to explain uncharted territories. It’s a bit unfair that you lose by facing an obstacle, but those power-ups can help.

The winning potential is low compared to the best Rainbow Riches. That’s something to keep in mind. But if you’re looking for a fun and different shamrock bonanza, it’s a great pick. Those looking for alternatives should take a look at Rainbow Riches Pick’n’Mix. You can also always go for the original Rainbow Riches slot if you’re more interested in a spinning experience.