Drill the Thrill (NowNow Gaming) – Slot Review
Drill the Thrill is a mining-themed slot set deep underground, where players join a team of miners in search of valuable treasures hidden beneath the earth. The game features symbols such as miner characters, pickaxes, lanterns, helmets, dynamite, and valuable coins, creating a classic gold-rush atmosphere.
The theme is closely integrated into the gameplay through the Silver and Golden Drill symbols, which represent powerful mining equipment used to uncover hidden riches. Expanding reels, Coin symbols, Jackpot prizes, and the Hold & Win feature all reinforce the feeling of drilling deeper in pursuit of increasingly valuable rewards. Overall, Drill the Thrill combines traditional mining imagery with modern slot mechanics, delivering a treasure-hunting adventure centred around expanding reels, jackpot collection, and underground riches.
Drill the Thrill is played on a 5-reel layout with variable reel heights of 3-4-4-4-3, offering 4,608 ways to win. The game features medium volatility, a 96.32% RTP, and a maximum win potential of up to 10,000x the stake. Bets range from £0.10 to £100 per spin.
Drill The Thrill Symbols & Pay Table
There are 16 symbols in total. Low-paying symbols are represented by card ranks, while premium symbols include Helmets, Lanterns, Pickaxes, Dynamite, and Miner characters. The Miner is the highest-paying symbol, awarding up to 2x for five of a kind.
Special symbols include Silver Drill Wilds, Golden Drill Wilds, Coin symbols, Jackpot symbols, and Free Spins Scatters. Both Drill symbols act as expanding Wilds and substitute for all regular paying symbols. The Silver Drill can appear only on reel 1, while the Golden Drill can land on reel 5 after the Silver Drill feature has been activated. Scatter symbols appear exclusively on reels 2, 3, and 4.
Drill The Thrill Features & Mechanics
Drill It Hard Feature
Landing a Silver Drill on reel 1 triggers the Drill It Hard feature. The Silver Drill expands to cover the entire reel, transforming reel 1 into a stacked Wild. Reels 2, 3, and 4 then expand from their standard height of 4 symbols to between 5 and 8 symbols, increasing the number of ways to win.
Following the expansion, Coin and Jackpot symbols may appear alongside regular symbols on the expanded reels.
Coin Symbols
Coin symbols carry instant cash values ranging from:
1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x, 10x, 20x, 50x, or 100x the stake.
Jackpot Symbols
Jackpot symbols award fixed prizes:
- Mini: 10x
- Minor: 100x
- Major: 500x
- Grand: 2,500x
Golden Drill & Hold & Win
After the expanded reels settle, reel 5 has a chance to land a Golden Drill. If the Golden Drill does not appear, all regular wins, Coin values, and Jackpot prizes are paid immediately and the feature ends.
If the Golden Drill lands, it expands to cover reel 5, creating a second stacked Wild reel. Any Coin and Jackpot symbols on reels 2, 3, and 4 become sticky, triggering the Hold & Win feature.
The Hold & Win starts with 3 respins. Empty positions become Void symbols, while Coin and Jackpot symbols remain locked in place. Every new Coin or Jackpot symbol that lands resets the respin counter back to three. The feature ends when no respins remain or when all available positions are filled.
If all positions are filled, or if the total value of collected Coin and Jackpot symbols reaches 10,000x the stake, the maximum win is awarded instantly. Otherwise, all collected Coin and Jackpot values are added together and paid at the end of the feature.
Blast Zone Bonus
Landing 3 Scatter symbols triggers the Blast Zone Bonus and awards 5 Free Spins. During the feature, reel 1 is permanently occupied by a Silver Drill on every spin, guaranteeing that the Drill It Hard feature activates throughout the bonus round.
All base game mechanics remain active, including reel expansion, Coin symbols, Jackpot symbols, and the potential to trigger the Golden Drill Hold & Win feature. Free Spins cannot be retriggered.
Conclusion
Drill the Thrill delivers an entertaining mining-themed experience built around expanding reels, stacked Wilds, and Hold & Win mechanics. The Drill It Hard feature keeps the gameplay engaging, while the chance of landing both the Silver and Golden Drills adds excitement to every bonus sequence.
The Hold & Win feature is the clear highlight, offering opportunities to collect Coin and Jackpot symbols while chasing the game’s 10,000x maximum win. The Blast Zone Bonus further enhances the action by guaranteeing access to the core feature on every free spin. Be sure to try out this game on launch and check out our exclusive casino offers.