Here we will take a look at ELK Studios, a Swedish provider. When developing its games, the company is based on “quality, not quantity”. Therefore, the gaming arsenal of the provider is not huge and is about 50 slots, but each game is filled with beautiful graphics. Moreover, the slots from ELK have unique game mechanics, for which players worldwide so love the provider.
Also worth noting is the high level of creative energy and excellent understanding of the market, which allowed the company in a short time to release many products that have no analogues in the industry. Besides, it has earned a reputation as one of the most original developers.
The Best Casinos With The ELK Provider
Currently, the provider actively cooperates with more than 500 online casinos around the world, promoting its products. That is why ELK Studios slot machines are widely represented in most different gambling clubs. Especially for you, we have compiled a list of the best online casinos where the games of the provider are available:
ELK Studios provider began its activities in 2013 in the Swedish capital Stockholm. For almost ten years of active development, the provider released about 50 slots. Each slot has a specific atmosphere, filled with beautiful graphics and excellent sound and many innovative mechanics.
The company has made a name at exhibitions such as ICE London. ELK has also won several prestigious awards, such as Game of The Year. This award was achieved by winning the 2017 EGR Operators Award for its Wild Toro slot. It hasn’t forgotten about getting key licenses from regulators like the UKGC, MGA and ONJN.
The company’s successes have been highlighted more than once by getting into various business rankings. For example, in 2019, Di Gassel ranked ELK 9th in the rating of fast-growing companies in Sweden. It is also noteworthy that many slots have an exciting feature, X-iter, which is the company’s own development. It represents various special spins, guaranteed 100% win, or the activation of some mechanics.
Provider history in dates
As mentioned, the company’s story began in 2013.
On October 14, 2013, their first slot, The Lab, was released. And two months later, on December 14, 2013, the second slot, Electric Sam, was released, developed in partnership with Frozen and Coca-Cola Commercial.
On February 17, 2014, game provider ELK Studios first appeared at ICE London.
November 14, 2015, entered the Deloitte fast50 Sweden ranking, placing 4th among the fastest-growing companies. In the same year, game producer ELK Studios receives its first license from UKGC.
In 2019, ELK got a license from MGA and two years later from ONJN.
On March 21, 2021, their first slot with its own X-iter feature was released. It was possible to use this feature in the Bompers slot for the first time.
Provider ELK these days
These days, slot vendor ELK Studios continues the original vector of development. The provider focuses on the quality of each product, carefully considering the idea and creating interesting mechanics and proprietary features.
It also actively promotes its slots with marketing events such as ELK Complete, allowing operators to hold tournaments in the provider’s games. This stimulates players to rank high and receive extra prizes for doing so. In addition to tournaments, the provider also has individual tasks for some slots. By completing these tasks, the player is rewarded with good prizes.
What Does Elk Studio Offer?
Despite not having the most extensive range of slots, game developer ELK Studios boasts various products. And in all its games, you will find both high-quality software and excellent adaptation of games for mobile devices. We want to analyze the main technical aspects of the provider a little bit more.
Software quality
All slots from ELK Studios are based on modern HTML5 architecture. Most of its games use an element of WebGL, thanks to which it is possible to introduce a large number of interesting game mechanics. Moreover, it improves the quality of the elaboration of graphic and sound components, providing a pleasant picture and a comfortable game.
Range of games
ELK Studios focuses heavily on the thematic range, trying to meet the needs of players from all over the world. That’s why in the games of the provider, you can find wholly different themes, from Spanish Corrida, in Wild Toro series slots, to post-apocalyptic Nitropolis.
Software Reliability
Careful software testing before it is released is the primary tool against various bugs and crashes. Placing games on the provider’s servers eliminates the possibility of third parties interfering and influencing the result. And the presence of licenses from key regulators confirms the fairness of the game and the reliability of random number generators.
Adapting for mobile devices
The provider supports the current trend of optimizing games for mobile devices. Therefore, it is possible to play its products from a computer and mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets.
ELK Licenses
ELK Studio has numerous licenses from the most respected regulators. Here are some of them:
License from UKGC (UK) number 40844
License from MGA (Malta) number MGA/B2B/605/2018
License from ONJN (Romania) nr.821/15.05.202
ELK Studio Vendor Features
Elk slots have some unique characteristics, such as special mechanics and branded features. Players will also be pleased with the nice maximum multipliers, which exceed x10000 of the bet in some games.
Another pleasant fact will be that the provider is available to buy a bonus game in most of the games. Also, a unique X-iter feature allows you to get guaranteed winnings or activate an improved bonus.
Basic mechanics
1
X-iter
The proprietary development of ELK provider allows you to buy a guaranteed activation of one of the mechanics or trigger an improved bonus. Presented in slots such as Wild Toro 2, Nitropolis 2 and many others.
2
Big Symbol
There is a chance of falling out big symbols during each spin, with sizes 2×2,3×3,4×4. The mechanic is presented in slots Katmandu Gold, and Voodoo Gold.
3
Silver/Gold Matador
A special wild symbol. Its appearance triggers free spins, during which the symbol is moved to the left until it disappears from the playing field. In addition, the gold symbol has a multiplier that increases the winnings of the line. Presented in the Wild Toro 2 slot.
4
Nitro Reels
Unique mechanics, replacing 2 cells of the reel and holding up to 12 identical symbols. Presented in slots series Nitropolis.
5
Avalanche
Avalanche mechanics remove played symbols and replaces them with new ones that fall on top of the reels. Presented in many slots of ELK provider, for example, in Voodoo Gold.
Maximum multipliers in slots
The maximum multipliers in ELK slots are not very large compared to rivals. But on the whole, they are pretty pleasant and reach x12500 from a bet.
We have prepared a table of 5 slots with the highest multipliers.
Game
Maximal multiplier
Chi
x12500
Illogicool
x10000
Katmandu Gold
x10000
Wild Toro 2
x10000
Zulu Gold
x10000
Buy bonus feature
Many slots from ELK available “Buy Bonus Feature” and a particular X-iter function. We have prepared a list of the five most popular slots with the possibility of buying a bonus game for you.
Illogicool. The bonus game can be bought for x100 and x500 of the bet, as well as available 3 X-iter features:
100% winnings cost x5 of the bet.
Three wild symbols cost x10 of the bet.
Activation of the Troubles feature costs x25 of the bet.
Katmandu Gold. Bonus games are available at x100 and x500 of the bet.
Wild Toro 2. Bonus games are available for x100, x250 and x500 of the bet. There are also 2 X-iter features:
100% winnings will cost x5 of the bet.
One wild symbol costs x25 of your bet.
Book of Toro. There are 3 types of bonuses available in the game, with a cost of x50, x100, and x500, as there are 2 functions X-iter:
Spin with a guaranteed Mummy symbol is worth x10 of your bet
Spin with a guaranteed wild symbol Toro is worth x25 of the bet
Nitropolis 2. 3 types of bonus game with a cost of x100, x200 and x500, as well as available 2 functions X-iter:
100% winnings will cost you x5 of the bet
Three spins with 6 Nitro Booster mechanics will cost you x25 of the bet
Provider RTP
The developer’s average RTP is 96.2%. The deviation from this value in the provider slots is slight, but we decided to make a table for you with 3 slots in which the provider declared the highest level of RTP.
Game
RTP, %
Ho Ho Tower
96,40
Taco Brothers Saving Christmas
96,40
Wild Toro
96,40
And also reviewed three games with the lowest RTP:
Game
RTP, %
Nitropolis 2
95,00
Tropicool
95,00
Dream Diver
95,00
ELK Distinguishing Characteristics
In general, ELK Studios is unique and has many distinctive features. First and foremost, we can refer to the variety of game mechanics, some of which are similar to the mechanics of other providers and some own developments. The high level of graphics and sound design is also worth noting so that the gameplay is saturated and does not get bored. And of course, an important feature is the average RTP and high volatility, which, together with good maximum multipliers, are risky gamblers like.
Games By ELK Studios
Now we would like to look at some of the most popular slots of the provider.
Illogicool
Futuristic slot with a maximum multiplier of x10000 of the bet. During regular spins, several exciting mechanics are presented, such as:
Troubles. “Fluffy” symbols are fixed to the cells and turn them into one type of symbol after the end of the spin, provided that two adjacent Troubles are rolled.
Cool Reel. An additional reel is located on top of the playing field, from which new symbols fall if the field has a match.
Monster Wild. When participating in a winning combination turns the entire reel into a wild.
There are two types of scatters in the game, regular (gold) and super (fluffy). On a hit of 3+ scatters, one of the two types of bonus games is triggered.
During the bonus game, a progressive multiplier is applied to each winning. In the case of the regular bonus game, it is equal to x1. In the super bonus game, from x5 to x30, depending on the number of scatters collected.
Also, two new symbols are added to the game during the bonus spins, namely Extra Drops, which add free spins, and Multipliers, which increase your progressive multiplier.
It should be noted that the slot features an X-iter with which you can buy a win-win spin or activate one of the mechanics, as well as buy one of the two types of a bonus game.
Wild Toro 2
Take part in the Spanish Corrida, and challenge for a maximum multiplier of over x10000 of the bet. A number of interesting mechanics are available in the game, such as:
Respin Trigger. On a hit of one of the 4 special characters (3 matadores and a bull), free spins are triggered, in which the symbol is shifted to the left until it leaves the reel. In addition, 1 line is added to the playing field from above.
Toro Goes Berzerk. On a roll of the special symbol Toro (bull), it also shifts to the left, increasing its multiplier by 1 for each spin. In the second case, it rushes toward the matador, leaving the wild symbols behind, applying its multiplier to winnings, and adding to its value the multiplier with the matador.
It should be noted that there are four types of wild symbols in the game:
Wild – the classic wild symbol.
Silver Matador is the usual wild with no multiplier but expands the playing field and triggers a series of re-spins.
Gold Matador – has a random multiplier and expands the playing field, shifting to the left in repeated spins.
Toro is a “bonus” symbol that activates Toro Goes Berzerk’s mechanic.
The slot also presents a feature X-iter, with which you can buy a win-win rotation or activate one of the four mechanics.
Nitropolis 2
A sequel to the famous Nitropolis with updated mechanics and the X-iter function. A number of mechanics are available during regular spins, such as:
Nitro Reels – replace two squares and contains 4 to 12 symbols of the same type.
Winning Respin – all played symbols, including those in Nitro Reels, re-spin, creating the possibility of even more winnings.
Nitro Booster – a special line located above the reels where various features can drop out.
There are eight varieties of these functions:
Respin. All Nitro Reels and bonus symbols remain in place while the rest of the playing field rotates.
Both Ways. All lines play both ways.
All Wild. All Nitro Reels will contain only wild symbols.
All Premium. All Nitro Reels will contain only expensive symbols.
All Match. All Nitro Reels will only contain symbols to the left.
Nitro Wild. The wild symbol appears when multiple Nitro Reels appear on the same reel.
Nitro Upgrade. If you have several Nitro Reels on the same reel, they improve, and an additional symbol appears.
Nitro Match. All Nitro Reels roll with the symbol to their left.
An appearance of 3-6 scatters is required to start the bonus game, after which 10-25 free spins begin. All Nitro Reels remain in place during the bonus, and Nitro Booster is activated more often, giving different combinations of the bonus game. Also available for purchase are 3 types of bonus games with a cost of x100, x200 and x500 of the bet.
It is noteworthy that the game also has a feature X-iter, with which you can buy a bonus or a guaranteed win spin, as well as 3 spins with 6 active boosts Nitro Boost.
Providers with similar mechanics
ELK Studios is rightfully considered one of the most creative providers, so it’s hard enough to find a replacement. But if you want to try something new but on a similar theme, you should pay attention to Play’N’Go and Push Gaming.
Pros And Cons Of ELK
In the modern market of the gambling industry, it is difficult to find something exciting and unusual, so the games from the ELK Studios received a hearty welcome. They combine beautiful graphics and interesting themes, as well as unique mechanics, designed without looking back at their rivals. Attention to detail in development has done its job. Although the provider has a relatively small number of slots, each is memorable for a long time and keeps the gambler returning to the provider’s games again. Now we would like to present the pros and cons of the provider in a clear form.
Pros
Creative development and unusual mechanics
Variety of bonus games
International licenses
Patented X-Iter feature
Cons
A small number of slots
No table, live and jackpot games
Conclusion
Creative energy and game variety are two words that can briefly describe the ELK provider. It is thanks to the vector on the development of their own ideas, rather than blindly following the market, the company, in a short time, could gather a large community and form a solid reputation. I would like to mention the unique mechanics again in most developers’ slots. Thanks to this, the gameplay, especially during the bonus game, becomes intense and amazing, making us return to our favorite games of the provider.
Final score: 8,5/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What is fascinating about ELK?
Foremost, ELK is attractive by its creative approach to developing slots. And not only from a graphical point of view but also from gaming. Just look at the X-iter feature that allows you to buy win-win spins or activate one of the mechanics.
Does the provider have any licenses?
Yes, the provider has key licenses from UKGC, MGA, ONJN and others.
What is the provider’s average RTP and volatility of its slots?
The average RTP is 96.25%, and the volatility in most slots is high, so the provider is great for risky players who like to catch high winnings.
Are the slots adapted for mobile devices?
All the provider’s products are perfectly adapted for cell phones or tablets so that you won’t have any problems even on older devices.