Bust the Bank (Microgaming): Overview

Pulling off a bank robbery usually takes plenty of preparation. In most cases, everything is carefully mapped out: the exact date and time, the way in, and even the getaway car to escape with the cash. But in Microgaming’s classic 2013 release Bust the Bank, the would-be thieves seem to have skipped all that. As a result, it’s up to you to put your own wits to work and help them make the heist happen.

To begin with, let’s focus on how the game looks and plays. The setup features 5 reels and 3 rows. Alongside this, the developer has built in 243 Ways to Win across the grid. That’s always a welcome addition in a slot, since it increases the number of chances to connect winning combinations. The ways are fixed, but you can still adjust your total stake. First, you select a coin value ranging from 0.01 to 1. Then, you decide how many coins to play per spin, with options from one to 10. Altogether, this puts the betting range in Bust the Bank at 30 cents and up to 300€ per spin.

Microgaming is also widely recognized for delivering strong visuals in its slots, and Bust the Bank fits that reputation. Set within a bank vault, the game avoids the typical royal card symbols. Instead, you’ll see a fierce-looking police bulldog, followed by time-set dynamite and a security van icon. Next comes the bank symbol itself, which can pay up to 5 times your stake as the top return for 5 of a kind. After that, there’s the policewoman in the cop car, then her male partner. The biggest-paying symbols are the two bank robbers, with the man in the green cap awarding up to 50 times your stake for 5 on a full payline.

Finally, it’s worth highlighting that Bust the Bank includes its own Wild Symbol. Shown as the game’s logo, it substitutes for all standard symbols on the reels, making it a valuable tool for completing winning combinations during play.

Bust the Bank (Microgaming): Features

Bust the Bank doesn’t depend only on its base gameplay and presentation to keep players interested. It also comes packed with some genuinely exciting built-in features.

To give this vault raid a better chance of success, Bust the Bank includes several special mechanics. The first is the Safe Bonus feature. Through it, you can collect up to six prizes in a single spin. Watch for the bonus safe symbol landing on reel one or five. When it appears there, the safe opens and pays out a coin win. If it lands on any other reel, coins spill from the safe and replicate the coin award across every symbol positioned beneath it.

The slot also offers the Piggy Bank Bonus. Look for the piggy bank symbol appearing anywhere on the third reel. When it lands, the bonus activates and you simply click the piggy bank to break it open. Doing so awards the Smashing Wild Coin Prize.

Another detail to keep in mind is that the two robbers (known as Larry and Bob) can appear at random. Not as reel symbols, but as the characters themselves. When they show up, they’ll hand out bonus prizes to increase your winnings.

The game also features a Scatter Symbol, shown as a black bomb marked with a skull and crossbones –  landing 3 or more anywhere on the reels triggers 8 Free Spins. During this round, the first and last reels remain fully wild for the entire free spins feature, improving your chances of landing larger wins. If you hit the top symbol on the three middle reels, you’re guaranteed a payout of 450 times your stake. On top of that, whenever another scatter lands, you’ll gain an extra free spin in addition to the amount you currently have.

Bust the Bank (Microgaming): Verdict

It’s uncommon to find much to criticize in the earlier era of Microgaming slots, and Bust the Bank is no different. It’s a highly enjoyable game with a fun theme and polished graphics that support the story it’s trying to tell. Add in the strong set of special features, and Bust the Bank becomes a title that’s well worth playing.

With medium variance, the math model is fairly player-friendly and tends to deliver solid value for your money more often than not, which also makes it a decent choice for wagering. Its entertainment factor is excellent, and the soundtrack, sharp visuals, and flexible betting options only strengthen the overall package. Bust the Bank is a genuine classic that every slot fan should try at least once.