The Marketplace Slot
The Marketplace is a 5-reel video slot from Booming Games. No download is required of the title, which is fully instant-play and can be enjoyed on a brace of devices, including Android, iPhone and various tablets: if you’ve got a working internet connection, you’re good to go. The Marketplace is set on a traditional fruit stall, and your aim, as ever, is to locate matching symbols on the 5x3 grid. All combinations pay left to right except the scatter, which pays in any configuration you find it.
If you’re familiar with titles from the Booming Games platform, you’re sure to be nodding your head in recognition of some classic tropes in The Marketplace. The game is characterised by wilds, scatters and a double-or-nothing gamble game, although there is another bonus to look forward to in the form of a level multiplier. More on that later. For now, let’s take a look at the appearance of the game and ask the key question: would you buy fruit from this marketplace?
A Stall On The Continent
Forgive us for making assumptions, but we believe the market stall in question exists on the continent, perhaps in Italy (the moustachioed proprietor looks a little like the Dolmio man). Call it a hunch. We suppose it’s neither here not there, though.
First, let’s get a few particulars out of the way. Like almost all Booming Games titles, The Marketplace has a minimum coin value of 0.03 and a maximum value of 3. This is the amount you can stake on each of the 25 paylines. Of course, you don’t have to play all 25 lines – that’s just the maximum. You can play on any number, from one to 25.
You’ll find the Settings button in the top left-hand corner. This is where you can mute the jaunty, continental music, cancel the game audio (the sound of the reels spinning and also the audio that accompanies winning combinations) or set the number of autoplay spins you wish to play.
Every icon on the 5x3 grid sits inside a wickerwork basket. The grid is set in front of a narrow cobbled alleyway, and there are boxes and baskets of fruit littered around. The aproned proprietor stands off to the right-hand side, looking severe.
Icons on the reels include bananas, pineapples, tomatoes, watermelons, strawberries and cherries. There’s also a Ratatouille-esque rodent clutching a berry – he acts as the scatter icon and yields free spins. More on the free spins later, but be aware that the scatter is also linked to some handsome pay wins. We’re talking about 375 for three, 1,500 for four and the 37,500 grand prize for five.
The wild, which is able to replace all other symbols, is the cherry. It pays 150 for three, 1,500 for four and 15,000 for five.
Other top-paying symbols include the watermelon, which is 750 for four and 2,250 for five. It’s also the only icon in the game which pays out for a combination of two, though the sum is pretty modest at 15. The tomato is the humblest paying symbol, offering 21 for three, 225 for four and 600 for five.
Note, all of the above values are accurate if you’re playing at max bet, with all 25 lines in play.
Levels and Multipliers
When three or more scatters appear anywhere on the grid, you’ll be rewarded with ten free spins on the first level. During Level 1 spins, if three scatters or more appear again, you’ll be entitled to further free spins in Level 2.
Be aware that Level 2 free spins start only after all Level 1 Free Spins are complete. Level 2 wins also come attached with a 2x multiplier.
The same rules as above apply for Level 3, only Level 3 winnings aren’t doubled: they’re tripled! All free spins winnings are added to your running balance.
Double or Nothing
After any win, you can hit Gamble to activate a Double or Nothing round. Thereafter, you can gamble up to ten times in a row, or until your winnings total 10,000. Simply choose between two pieces of fruit.
At any time, you can halt the gamble by hitting Collect or Exit. Be aware, though, you can’t access the game during Autoplay.
The Verdict
The Marketplace is a decent addition to the Booming Games suite, even if it’s mostly identical to other games the provider has released like Cherry Bomb. The inclusion of a level multiplier is the only real difference, and the lack of a popular slot theme may hurt the game.
