Shamrock Holmes Megaways (Microgaming) – Review & Demo Play

Solving the Mystery with Shamrock Holmes Megaways

I start with the free demo for Shamrock Holmes Megaways or load the game at a casino, set a sensible budget, then pick a stake between 0.20 and 20 per spin. A quick tap on spin gets the reels going, and I keep an eye on the bet panel so I can adjust stakes without fuss. It pays to pace sessions, and this slot suits measured play, as the features can land in bursts that change a cold run fast.

Game Interface and Controls in Shamrock Holmes Megaways

Load Shamrock Holmes Megaways to see six reels centred on the screen, with the number of symbols per reel changing from two to seven on every spin. Above sits a four-position horizontal reel that feeds extra symbols into the middle four reels. The current Megaways for that spin shows at the bottom, while win animations pop across the grid when you hit a combo. It all feels tidy, and the top reel is the key to several features.

The credit and bet displays sit below the reels in Shamrock Holmes Megaways, and the control panel on the right holds stake selectors, autoplay, a fast spin toggle, and the paytable. I like that the paytable breaks out symbol values cleanly, so I can check payouts mid session. Setting a block of spins works well here, though I still dip in to nudge the stake when the top reel lines up, as that is often when the action spikes.

What Are the Symbols and Their Payouts in Shamrock Holmes Megaways

Open the paytable in Shamrock Holmes Megaways to see thirteen symbols, with eleven regular payers and two feature triggers. The low paying set is 9 to A card royals. Land six of 9, 10, or J to get 1x your stake, while Q, K, or A pay 1.5x for six of a kind. These royals fill space often, and in combination with Rolling Reels they can clear room for the premiums that carry the bigger payouts.

The higher value side in Shamrock Holmes Megaways takes cues from Irish folklore and the titular sleuth. The wildflower pays 2x for six, the shamrock pays 2.5x, the pixie with a pot of gold goes up to 5x, and Shamrock Holmes pays 50x for six on a payline. The wild is a golden W on a multicoloured panel, substituting for all except the scatter and symbols used in a respin. The gold coin scatter starts free spins.

Shamrock Holmes Megaways Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	6	x50
	5	x25
	4	x10
	3	x2
	2	x1
	6	x5
	5	x3
	4	x2
	3	x1
	6	x2.5
	5	x1
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.3
	6	x2
	5	x0.8
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.3
	6	x1.5
	5	x0.6
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.2
	6	x1.5
	5	x0.6
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.2
	6	x1.5
	5	x0.6
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.2
	6	x1
	5	x0.4
	4	x0.2
	3	x0.1
	6	x1
	5	x0.4
	4	x0.2
	3	x0.1
	6	x1
	5	x0.4
	4	x0.2
	3	x0.1
	Scatter
	Wild

How to Win in Shamrock Holmes Megaways

This is a Megaways slot, so in Shamrock Holmes Megaways the symbol count per reel shifts on every spin between two and seven. Wins form by landing three or more matching symbols across adjacent reels from the first reel, opening up as many as 117,649 ways to win. Rolling Reels remove winning symbols and drop new ones, letting you chain hits in one paid spin. When the grid opens up, those cascades can line up a tidy run.

Bonus Symbols and Features in Shamrock Holmes Megaways

Wilds in Shamrock Holmes Megaways appear on the extra horizontal reel above the main grid and stand in for any symbol other than scatters or those tied to a respin trigger. The position of that top reel matters, as a single W can complete a multi reel line that would otherwise fall short. It drops in enough to keep base game spins engaging, and when it lands early in a cascade the substitution can set up further tumbles.

Rolling Reels in Shamrock Holmes Megaways remove symbols from winning lines and pull new ones into place, which can trigger chain reactions. The Magic Forest Respins are the standout. Land three scatters on the reels with a pixie on the top reel for a 10,000 Megaways respin. Three scatters with Shamrock Holmes on the top reel give a 32,400 Megaways respin. Three scatters plus both Shamrock and the pixie deliver the full 117,649 Megaways respin.

Four scatters anywhere in Shamrock Holmes Megaways award ten free spins, and each extra scatter adds two more. The free spins round starts on a 2x multiplier that climbs by one after every successive Rolling Reels win, with no cap. Land three or four scatters during the feature to add three or four free spins. When the tumbles line up, that rising multiplier carries the round, and it is here that I have seen the game stretch.

Maximum Payout in Shamrock Holmes Megaways

The maximum payout in Shamrock Holmes Megaways tops out at 28,000x your bet, so a single lucky sequence can reach 560,000 at the 20 stake. The figure reflects what the maths model can deliver when respins, tumbles, and multipliers connect, though results will vary from session to session. I treat that number as a ceiling and focus on building good rounds, as the big totals I have hit came from a run of cascades rather than a single spin.

What Are the RTP and Volatility Ratings for Shamrock Holmes Megaways

The RTP for Shamrock Holmes Megaways is 96.44 percent, a shade above average for this style of game. The variance is high, so hit frequency feels lower, yet the potential per round is higher. That mix suits Megaways, where one chain can dwarf a quiet spell. I like to check the info panel before I start and set my stake with that in mind, as this slot rewards patience far more than frantic stake hopping ever will.

In play, variance shows. I have had long patches of dead spins in Shamrock Holmes Megaways, then watched a Magic Forest Respin set up a strong tumble that changed the session. That is the rhythm of this slot. Keep bets sensible, let Rolling Reels work, and look to the top reel for cues on when the grid is primed. When the multipliers climb during free spins, the swing can be sharp, which is why I pace my balance.