| Updated: Nolimit City is a truly innovative and cutting-edge software studio that focuses on producing engaging gaming content with an abundance of distinctive features. Folsom Prison is an ideal example of the studio’s tendency to deviate from standard slot themes while employing captivating and rewarding game mechanics.
The slot explores the hardships of life behind bars, drawing inspiration from California’s second-oldest prison of the same name. Folsom Prison provides casino enthusiasts with a broad betting range, from as little as $0.20 to as much as $100, or up to $120 with the xBet feature enabled.
Folsom Prison boasts an RTP of 96.07%, as well as a host of rewarding bonus mechanics, including xWays, xSplit, Cockroach, Walk the Line Bonus, the Chair, Meet Your Maker, and Nolimit Bonus Buy.
Folsom Prison Theme, Graphics, and Sounds
Folsom Prison is Nolimit City’s second take on the theme of correctional facilities, following the hit release San Quentin xWays. The software provider uses a muted and gloomy color palette to depict the prison environment, perfectly matching the theme and overall mood.
The first thing players notice upon loading the slot is the abundance of bars across the playing grid. Aside from creating a striking visual effect, these bars serve another important function. When the base game begins, only reels 1 through 4 and rows 2 and 3 are unlocked, while the remaining positions stay behind bars. Players can unlock them by revealing a Wild, Scatter, xSplit, or xWays symbol in the available positions. The grid can therefore expand to a 4-6-6-6-4 configuration, with the number of paylines reaching 3,456.
Folsom Prison also boasts an original soundtrack created specifically for the game. It is reminiscent of Johnny Cash’s famed 1968 performance at California’s Folsom State Prison.
Folsom Prison Symbols and Payouts
Bet values in Folsom Prison range from $0.20 to $100, or up to $120 when the xBet feature is enabled. This section covers the payouts associated with the slot’s regular symbols, based on a $1 bet.
The lower-paying regular symbols consist of card symbols ranging from 10s to Aces. The remaining regular symbols are represented by inmates accused of crimes ranging from racketeering, robbery, and extortion to vehicular homicide.
Starting with 10s, matching 3 to 5 identical symbols yields awards ranging from 0.1x to 0.3x the bet. Jacks deliver payouts of 0.1x to 0.5x the wager for 3-, 4-, and 5-of-a-kind combinations. Queens pay 0.1x to 0.6x the bet for 3 to 5 matching symbols. Three to five Kings award 0.2x to 0.8x the stake. Finally, Aces grant prizes ranging from 0.2x to 0.9x the bet for combinations of 3 to 5 symbols.
Nolimit City once again showcases its dedication to originality by naming the five inmates that serve as the higher-value regular symbols. Fresh Meat pays 0.3x to 1x for 3 to 5 matching symbols. Backstabber awards 0.3x to 1.1x the bet for 3 to 5 identical symbols. The Fixer offers 0.4x to 1.2x the wager for 3 to 5 matches. Landing 3 to 5 Shivy Impala symbols returns 0.5x to 1.4x the stake. Finally, Shankman provides the top multipliers of 0.6x, 1.2x, and 2.5x for three-, four-, and five-of-a-kind combinations.
Folsom Prison features two Wild symbols: the regular Wild and the Cockroach Nest. Both can substitute for all other symbols except the Scatter. Wilds can appear on any reel except the first.
The slot’s Scatter symbol depicts the prison itself and is emblazoned with 1880, the year of its establishment. We will examine the Scatter’s functions in the next section of this review.
Folsom Prison Bonus Mechanics
In addition to its innovative themes, Nolimit City is known for the variety of unique gaming features found in many of its hit releases. Folsom Prison is no exception, offering several engaging bonus mechanics.
Toast Bet
The first game feature, the Toast Bet, allows players to add 20% to their wager in exchange for a guaranteed Scatter symbol on reel 2.
Scatters and Free Spin Rounds
Scatters land only on the middle two rows of reels 2 through 5 in the base game and exclusively on reel 5 in the Walk the Line bonus game. They serve several important functions. Players who land 2 Scatter symbols in the base game unlock the middle two rows of reel 5. If only 2 Scatters appear, they transform into one of the following features: xWays, xSplit, Wild, or Cockroach Nest. If 3 or 4 Scatters land in the base game, one of the following bonus modes is activated: Walk the Line or the Chair.
Landing 3 Scatter symbols activates 8 rounds of the Walk the Line free spins. During this bonus game, the reels adopt a 2-4-4-4-2 configuration, and players are guaranteed to land at least one Cockroach Nest Wild symbol. If another Scatter appears during the feature, players receive 3 extra spins and an upgrade to the next bonus round, the Chair.
Revealing 4 Scatters in the base game launches at least 8 spins of the Chair. An extra spin is granted for every Scatter affected by the xSplit feature. The reel configuration during the Chair bonus round is 4-4-4-4-4, and players are guaranteed at least three Cockroach Nest Wilds.
Cockroach
As much as players may loathe cockroaches, they have never been as sought-after as they are in Folsom Prison. These critters are vital for achieving bigger wins. Depending on whether Walk the Line or the Chair is active, players are guaranteed at least 1 or 3 cockroaches on each spin. The insects then scuttle across the reels, spreading multipliers to various symbols.
xWays and xSplit Symbols
The xWays and xSplit symbols are unique to Nolimit City slots. xWays can appear anywhere on the grid, whereas xSplit lands only on the central two rows of reels 2 through 5. The xWays symbol can transform into 2 to 4 regular symbols, thereby increasing the number of ways to win. In turn, the xSplit symbol splits the entire row, doubling the number of ways to win, and then transforms into two Wilds. Split Scatters grant an additional free spin when triggering a bonus round, while split Cockroach Nest Wilds increase their multiplier by one.
Meet Your Maker
Obtaining the slot’s maximum prize of 75,000x the bet triggers the “Meet Your Maker” scene.
Bonus Buy
Folsom Prison allows players to choose from five Bonus Buy features, priced between 68x and 784x their current bet. In return, they gain immediate access to one of the two bonus games. The Bonus Buy menu is located on the left-hand side of the reels, just above the payout description button and sound controls.
In addition to these options, players can use the Autoplay feature to set a predetermined number of automatic spins. A Turbo mode is also available for a faster game pace.
Closing Thoughts
As a relatively small company, Nolimit City has carved out a niche in the iGaming industry by exploring themes that other developers might overlook. It has also implemented several unique gaming mechanics that are both captivating and rewarding, resulting in the fascinating gameplay found throughout its titles. Folsom Prison is fully optimized for mobile play, allowing casino enthusiasts to enjoy it while on the go.