Any time the world-class team at Evolution Gaming cooks up something new, it’s instantly newsworthy.

This is, after all, not only the firm that has brought us some of the best titles of recent years, but also one of the industry’s great innovators.

They routinely break new ground with innovative bonuses, fresh takes on classic games,

As such, it seems only appropriate that every serious gambling fan take note of their latest release: Extra Chili Epic Spins.

This latest offering comes with a lot to recommend it!

We’re talking about up to 20 free spins winnable per betting round; every single bet dialing up not one but five consecutive spins; a unique, augmented reality gamble wheel feature; fresh Mexican-themed design; as well as two more bonus features, each with multipliers and additional prizes.

If this sounds like an absolute must, we have to agree. What’s more, Evolution has been crushing it lately!

This is not only true in its normally exceptional role as a designer of new games, but also in its capacity of international deals with other top brands. So how does this, their most notable recent release, stack up to the competition?

Let’s take a closer look at what makes this title so special.

The great Live Slot experiment still kind of feels like a work in progress. While there have been some strong innovations by just about any measure – with notable contributions from Playtech, with their breakthrough Buffalo Blitz Slot standing out from the pack in a major way – it somehow still feels like this sector of the online gaming design world hasn’t quite hit its stride just yet.

At the same time, gameshow-style titles and wheel games have come a massive success story. These have become not only a major fan favorite, but also a surprisingly reliable site of innovation, where new ideas enter the game-space before being distributed throughout the industry.

It seems only appropriate, then, that Evolution Gaming has chosen the intersection of these two styles for this release.

Yes, the game strongly resembles a tv-style wheel game in its visual presentation. Its bonuses and gaming structure, though, are pure slot magic.

And it may yet be through this fusion-style presentation that live slot gaming finds its breakthrough! Given what we see here, it certainly seems a way forwards that shows great potential for more solid titles to follow in its footsteps.

One of the central charms of slot play has got to be its simplicity.

All of that strategic thinking that goes into placing bets in Blackjack, roulette, and baccarat? Total non-factors here. All gamblers have to do is select the size of their bet and hit ‘play.’ The broad betting range of $1-50 should help ensure that all kinds of players can play comfortably here, regardless of the size of their bankrolls.

A single wager sets you up for five spins in base play.

The goal is simple: hit three or more matching symbols on three or more consecutive reels, going from left to right. Some symbols are rarer than others, and those pay better when they line up. As in many slot, there is a much-beloved WILD symbol on the reels: this can substitute for any other gaming icon to form winning combinations.

(Please take note that the basic design of this game is based on the ‘Megaways’ mechanical model that drives many modern slots. This is why all of the reels have a different number of symbols on them – it allows for more (and more complex) ways to win.)

In terms of bonus features, there are a few outstanding options to be on the lookout for!

First of these is the large, wooden Crate icon that may appear on the screen between base play spins. It will reveal either a multiplier – a 2-5x stackable boost to any winnings for the rest of the round – or a letter: H, O, or T. If you succeed in spelling the word ‘HOT’ in any one betting round, the Free Spins and Gamble Wheel bonus features will appear after base play has concluded.

If not the Crate symbol, players may be so fortunate as to see the Piñata icon grace their gaming screens. It offers even better win multipliers – 10-20x – or the instant revelation of the word ‘HOT,’ which triggers the next bonus feature.

In the event that the word ‘HOT’ is spelled out during base play, all players who participated in the betting round are invited to enjoy 8 additional free spins. There is no wager to take part in this – hence the moniker – but they will be played on the same pay scale that the gambler was using during the base play that triggered the feature.

Both the Crate and Piñata bonuses may appear during bonus play, too, offering even stronger prizes than they did during base play!

The free spins feature may also be re-triggered, for a total of 16 free spins instead of 8.

Lastly, after all Free Spins are complete, it’s time to take in the Gamble Wheel bonus feature!

A wheel then appears split into red and purple sections. The player tries to successfully predict which of these two colors will result. A correct guess nets two more free spins! After those are complete, the feature repeats on a wheel with four colors. Once again, a correct guess yields an additional two free spins.

All in all, Evolution has indeed offered a special combination of slot and gameshow-style release here. It is a somewhat new formula, and it seems to have the potential to be a big winner going forward!

In terms of house edge, this slot comes with a solid RTP of 96.72%. This places the numbers game as stronger than most slots, but still weaker than table games like Blackjack and Roulette.

Finally, please keep in mind that this game was designed to have fairly large volatility! This means that it may take awhile to see any wins at all…

… but when those wins do arise, they might be very large indeed!

As such, we would suggest to play this title at the lowest bet level that can sustain your interest. You may have to tolerate some big bankroll swings in order to take full advantage of what this game has to offer, so anyone but the highest roller out there should stay away from the max wager.