Shogun of Time

Shogun of Time Slot Review

Shogun of Time is a slot available through Microgaming Online that blends ancient Japanese imagery with a futuristic, neon-lit twist, centred on a female samurai warlord and her cybernetic alter ego. Set in a reimagined version of Tokyo, it takes a straightforward approach to slot design, built around a reel-expansion gimmick rather than a heavy feature list.

Theme and gameplay feel

The presentation mixes traditional samurai motifs — helmets, face masks, chest-plates — with a neon cyberpunk backdrop, giving Shogun of Time a distinctive two-worlds look even if the underlying gameplay stays fairly conventional. It's a game that leans on its visual contrast more than an elaborate bonus structure.

What the RTP means for you

The return to player is set at 96.0%, which lands right in line with the wider online slot market. That's a fair, middle-of-the-road figure — not a standout in either direction — so players can expect broadly typical long-run returns compared with similar titles.

Volatility explained

Shogun of Time carries a medium volatility rating, putting it between the frequent small wins of low-variance slots and the rarer, bigger swings of high-variance ones. It's built for a reasonably balanced session rather than long dry spells or huge spikes.

Grid, features and max win potential

The base game actually starts players off short a reel: the grid begins with only 4 reels in play, and landing a four-of-a-kind combination triggers a Reel Split Re-spin, locking the existing reels and adding a 5th reel into the middle of the grid for a re-spin at the fuller structure. The free spins round is where the full 243-ways structure comes into play: landing 3 or 4 scatters awards 8 or 16 free spins respectively, all 5 reels active, wins paying both ways, and the middle reel locked as a fully stacked wild for the duration. Regular symbols include neon-styled royals alongside coins, fans, chest-plates, face masks and samurai helmets, with the top-paying symbol worth 12x the stake for a full line of five. The wild substitutes for all regular symbols and shares the same top value. Maximum win potential is capped at 2,717x the stake, with a cash cap of €271,174 applied to the biggest hits.

Betting range

Stakes run from 10p up to £100 a spin, giving a wide range for different budgets.

Verdict

Shogun of Time keeps things relatively simple, with its reel-building mechanic and locked-wild free spins round doing most of the heavy lifting rather than a sprawling feature set. The 2,717x max win is on the modest side for a modern release, but the fair 96.0% RTP and medium volatility make it a reasonably approachable option for players who like a clear, easy-to-follow structure. Worth trying the free demo on johnessyslots.com to see the Reel Split Re-spin in action before playing for real money.