Hugo’s Adventure (Play’n GO): Overview

Back in 1987, two Danes, Ivan Sølvason and Niels Krogh Mortensen, had a bold concept: an interactive video game TV show where viewers could influence the live broadcast in real time by steering the on-screen character using their telephones, without any noticeable delay. After building a working bespoke system and creating the character Hugo, the idea finally became reality in 1990. Hugo quickly turned into a huge success, later growing into a franchise and being licensed to more than 40 TV channels worldwide. Anyone who watched it back then likely remembers the exasperated kids hammering phone buttons, desperately trying to make the stubborn Hugo move the way they wanted.

Since that time, the Hugo media franchise has appeared in a wide range of video games, apps, books, films, and even rap albums. And thanks to Swedish software developer Play’n GO, he also fronts several casino titles. The first Hugo slot stuck closely to the TV show, but later releases placed the friendly little troll in different scenarios. In Hugo 2, for instance, he became a locomotive driver, while Hugo Goal showed him as a fairly hopeless goalkeeper. Of these, Hugo 2 is the only one we can genuinely suggest, although none of them have been especially impressive.

In the fourth instalment, Hugo’s Adventure, the universe around Hugo gets bigger. It includes a bonus game that sends him diving into the deepest waters in search of treasure, plus a free spins round that takes him sky-high. With high volatility, the slot runs on 5 reels and 10 fixed paylines, and it allows wagers ranging from 0.10 to $/€100 per spin.

Whenever a new Hugo slot arrives, discussion tends to flare up about the kid-friendly theme, which some players consider inappropriate. At a time when the casino industry is increasingly squeezed by expanding regulation, it’s either gutsy or reckless for Play’n GO to launch a game like this. Putting that aside, it’s difficult to argue that Hugo’s Adventure doesn’t look enjoyable. The art style follows the earlier entries, but you do get fresh environments to discover. Set against a postcard-perfect paradise backdrop, the reels feature A to 10 card symbols alongside higher-paying characters like the monkey repairman, eagle pilot, and stewardess Hugolina. Hugo is the top symbol, awarding 50 times your stake for landing five of a kind.

Hugo’s Adventure (Play’n GO): Features

Hugo’s Adventure comes with two main features. The first is the Underwater Adventure bonus pick game, triggered when 2 submarine bonus scatters land on reels 2 and 4 at the same time. Before you head off, you spin a golden submarine slot machine that can award up to 3 lives (hearts). After that, you pick underwater treasures, which may reveal cash prizes or cost you one life. When the bonus ends, you receive one spin on the submarine multiplier for each remaining life. This can build a multiplier of up to 20x, which is then applied to your total winnings from the bonus game.

The action ramps up when 3 airplane scatter symbols appear on reels 1, 3 and 5, unlocking the Air Ace Free Spins feature. You begin with 9 spins and 1 life, and you’ll want to watch for +1 heart balloon symbols, as these add an extra life to your total. If Hugo gets struck by an air mine instead, his life total drops by 1. You can also win additional spins, up to a maximum of 20.

That’s not all the free spins round has to offer. With the right luck, flying wilds can show up on the reels. These travel from right to left, shifting one position left on each spin until they disappear. On top of that, up to 4 x2 multiplier balloons can land per spin, creating a multiplier of up to 16x on a single payline. Ending the free spins feature with one or more lives still intact will automatically send you into the Underwater Adventure feature.

Hugo’s Adventure (Play’n GO): Verdict

Hugo’s Adventure is the most volatile Hugo slot so far and also the strongest entry in the lineup—though, admittedly, that bar hasn’t been set very high. As usual with these games, the bonus round mainly serves as a bit of extra variety. In practice, the real highlight is the free spins feature, which is genuinely enjoyable. It’s not only more entertaining than expected, but it also brings strong upside, with the possibility of winning up to 5000 times your stake.

If you liked the earlier Hugo titles, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this one even more. And even if the unattractive Scandinavian troll isn’t your thing, it’s still worth trying thanks to solid potential and well-designed features—unless, of course, the cartoon-style visuals put you off.

Don’t Miss

If you’re a fan of the lovable little troll, there are plenty of other Hugo releases to check out, including Hugo Cart, which features 4 base game features and a free spins mode where you can unlock extra characters.