Space Wars: cartoon aliens and a wild feature that lands often

An old-school space battle

Space Wars is one of NetEnt's earlier video slots, and it still has the charm of that period: chunky cartoon aliens, laser sound effects and a starfield behind the reels. The aliens come in several colours and shapes, each one a symbol, with the bigger, more elaborate creatures paying more. It plays on five reels with a generous number of paylines, so small wins land often.

The Space Wars wild feature

Instead of a free spins round, Space Wars puts its energy into a wild feature that can trigger in the base game. When it happens, the screen fills with action and wilds are added to the reels to help lines connect. It is a deliberately frequent feature, which keeps sessions lively even when the big wins are not coming.

The paytable explains exactly how the feature is triggered and how many wilds it brings. With no separate bonus game, everything you need to know is on that one screen.

How to approach the demo

Space Wars free play comes with 1,000 virtual credits, no download and no sign-up. Because the feature is in the base game, you get a fair picture fairly quickly:

• Play 150 spins at a stake equivalent to £0.20.
• Count how many times the wild feature triggered and what each one paid.
• Compare your balance swings with a slot built around free spins: you'll see how a base-game feature smooths things out.

Who it is for

Space Wars suits players who like constant movement on screen and dislike long waits for a bonus. If you need a dramatic free spins round, you won't find one here. Fans of retro cartoon art will enjoy it regardless, and it makes a light break between heavier games. The same game runs for real money at the casinos below.