Jolly Roger 2: Overview

Following a long break, developer Play’n GO returns to their 2012 pirate slot Jolly Roger. In the sequel, Play’n GO have packed in a huge range of extras—more than a seasoned pirate could count—and the visuals have been upgraded dramatically. There are also a few respectful callbacks to the original that longtime fans should notice. If you’re set, it’s time to sail into a feature-heavy adventure with instant wins, random multipliers, and free spin bonus games.

On the presentation side, Jolly Roger 2 is clearly a major step up from the first game. Anyone familiar with the original will immediately see just how big the upgrade is. Jolly Roger 2 runs on a semi-transparent 5-reel, 20-payline layout aboard a ship on open water, with cannons primed for action. A bold, cinematic soundtrack ties everything together and suits the swashbuckling scenes unfolding on the reels.

With stakes from 20 p/c to $/€100 per spin across all devices, the performance stats are very much in line with what you expect from Play’n GO. A default RTP of 96.20%, medium to high volatility, and a 5,000x potential make for a sturdy set of numbers from this studio.

The paytable includes 10 – A royals, then higher-value symbols like skull rings, skull crucifixes, diamonds, and treasure chests. Top symbol payouts range from 5 to 10 times your stake for landing five of a kind. The skull and crossbones wild pays the same as the treasure chest on a payline. Wilds also substitute for any symbol in the game except scatters.

Jolly Roger 2: Features

Much like NetEnt’s pirate slot Rage of the Seas, there’s a lot going on here. We’ll keep it as straightforward as we can, though with this many mechanics it’s easy to lose track—no wonder pirates relied on treasure maps.

To start, the Compass feature sits above the reels and triggers randomly. When it activates, it applies a multiplier of x2, x3, x5, x8, or x10 to the current spin.

Players who enjoyed the original Jolly Roger’s pick-style gameplay should like the Bonus Quest feature, triggered when 3 scatters land on reels 1, 3, and 5. You choose from 12 scrolls until three matching bonus features appear. There are 4 bonuses in total: Instant Prizes, a Bottle of Rum Free Spin, Treasure Hunt, and Battle Free Spins.

Instant prizes award a single payout worth 2x to 20x the bet. Note that the compass feature can also activate here, boosting the prize by up to x10.

The Bottle of Rum Free Spin is a single free spin where 5 rum bottles appear once the reels stop. You pick bottles until the poisoned one is revealed, then the outcome is calculated. Each safe bottle selected turns a random reel completely wild. As before, the compass feature may also apply, adding up to an extra 10x.

The Treasure Hunt starts with 10 free spins. Under the reels, a map shows a boat, an ‘X’, and a set number of moves. Each map symbol that lands on the reels advances the boat one space on the map. When the boat reaches an ‘X’, a chest is uncovered that grants 2 or 3 free spins and an upgrade. Upgrades include win multipliers, symbol upgrades, and symbol to wild transformations. There are 7 chests in total to dig up. After all have been collected, the remaining free spins play out while the active modifiers stay in effect.

Battle Spins don’t come with a fixed free spin count, so the feature can continue for an extended time. Instead, you receive three lives, and the mode ends once they’re used up. Chosen at random, your opponent will be either a Privateer Ship or a Merchant Ship. There are three Privateer Ship types—Dutch, British, or Portuguese—and each provides a different reward when beaten. Battles are played on a 3×3 grid using pirate and privateer coins, and whichever side lands the most coins wins that round.

Defeating a Privateer grants an extra life (up to 3), plus you receive one spin with the compass feature and a reel of stacked wilds. You also earn the relevant Opponents Victory Reward:

• British – all high paying symbols are upgraded to treasure chests.
• Portuguese – up to 2 symbol types turn wild.
• Dutch – three adjacent reels display the same symbols.

If you lose a fight against a Privateer Ship, you lose a life. You still receive a free spin featuring a stacked wild reel, but there’s no Opponents Victory Award and no compass multiplier active. Merchant ships are always defeated, though you don’t gain a life for it. The next free spin includes a reel of stacked wilds, but again there’s no compass multiplier or Opponent Victory Reward.

Jolly Roger 2: Verdict

Jolly Roger 2 feels worlds apart from the original. It’s like putting a Koenigsegg Agera next to the first Audi Quattro. Over the top? Maybe—but spend some time with Jolly Roger 2, then jump back into part 1, and the progress in slot design becomes obvious.

It’s also good to see some links between the two titles. In the first game, the bonus action often revolved around picking chests or selecting dig spots for prizes. The sequel keeps that choice-driven feel alive through scroll picks and rum bottle selections.

Beyond the expanded bonus content, the base game keeps a decent pace as well. That comes from reasonably regular (though often smaller) wins, the occasional modifier, and plenty of two-scatter near-misses to maintain momentum. The bonus games are the main attraction, and Play’n GO has put together a strong set of features worth chasing. Because Battle Free Spins aren’t capped, they can run for quite a while, extending the sequence as wins accumulate. Still, even the more modest Instant Prize or Bottle of Rum Free Spins can deliver, particularly when the compass feature triggers alongside them.

For pirate-themed slots, it’s hard to top Jolly Roger 2. It looks sharp, sounds excellent, and offers several appealing bonus modes. Play’n GO captures the high-seas vibe and supports it with a dependable math model. The main drawback is that it may not appeal to players who want more traditional bonus rounds. Considering the jump from part 1 to part 2, it also leaves you wondering just how much slots will evolve in the years ahead.