Sparkling Joker X UP (Alchemy Gaming) – Review & Demo Play

Sparkling Joker X UP: Slot Overview

Sparkling Joker X UP is the latest stop in Alchemy Gaming's X UP run, and I can feel the recycled maths from Chronicle of Olympus II - Hades under the hood. The set-up is 5x4 with 1,024 ways to win from left to right, very high volatility, and a default RTP of 96.05% with a 25.33% hit rate. Stakes run from 0.20 to 50. The clubbier, risque joker theme goes for a glitzy, late-night vibe, anchored by a female jester front and centre.

In play, Sparkling Joker X UP feels familiar, but the wild multipliers keep base spins alive. Wilds can carry x2, x3, or x5 on substitution, which adds bite to simple 5-of-a-kind ways wins. The X UP ladder is the driver, asking you to collect tokens and tee up a stronger free spins multiplier. That slow build creates tension, then scatters can cut through the grind and drop the round when the trail is hot. It's a straightforward, punchy loop.

Symbols in Sparkling Joker X UP

The paytable in Sparkling Joker X UP runs from five gems at the low end (suits included: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades), up through cards, dice, 7s, a big diamond, and the joker premiums. Five of a kind pays 0.8x to 4x the bet across the board, while wilds land on all reels and can pay up to 5x the bet for five wild ways. Wilds substitute, and when they help form a win they may add an x2, x3, or x5 multiplier.

Sparkling Joker X UP Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	5	x4
	4	x2.4
	3	x1
	5	x3
	4	x2
	3	x0.8
	5	x2
	4	x1.5
	3	x0.7
	5	x1.8
	4	x1.2
	3	x0.5
	5	x1.6
	4	x1.2
	3	x0.5
	5	x1.2
	4	x0.8
	3	x0.3
	5	x1
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.3
	5	x1
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.3
	5	x0.8
	4	x0.3
	3	x0.2
	5	x0.8
	4	x0.3
	3	x0.2
	Scatter
	5	x100
	4	x20
	3	x2
	Wild
	5	x5
	4	x3
	3	x1.5

Sparkling Joker X UP: Slot Features

Sparkling Joker X UP rolls out the same package seen in that Hades instalment: the X UP feature, free spins with a persistent win multiplier, the Upsizer, and a bonus buy. The devil is in the scatter mix. Red, Blue, and Diamond scatters each have a role, feeding the X UP trail and either nudging you towards better multipliers or launching the bonus. It's a tight loop that can swing from steady collection to a sudden trigger when the right pair lands.

In the base game, Red scatters can land on all reels and are the staple. Two Reds collect one X UP token and advance the multiplier ladder. Blue scatters only appear on the far left and right in the base game; two Blues permanently upgrade one multiplier level from the top of the trail. Diamond scatters also sit on the outer reels in both phases, and two Diamonds in the base game trigger free spins with the highest current X UP multiplier.

There's a neat twist when the entire trail has turned blue via upgrades: any subsequent pair of Blue scatters doubles the top level to x25. That top end is capped well below some X UP cousins, which matters for ceiling hunters, but the path towards it is clear and readable. As a grinder, I like knowing where the power sits, and the three-scatter system gives you multiple levers to pull while chipping away at tokens.

Free Spins in Sparkling Joker X UP

Landing three Red scatters in the base game triggers eight free spins with the active X UP multiplier. There's also a scatter pay kicker: 3/4/5 Reds award 2x, 20x, or 100x the bet on the trigger. In the round, the maths shifts up a gear because every win leans on that pre-banked multiplier. Blue scatters are absent here, so progress hinges on Reds and Diamonds, which means the round focuses on extra spins and pushing the multiplier to its ceiling.

During free spins, two Reds award +2 spins and an X UP token, keeping the ladder moving. Two Diamonds add +2 spins and jump the win multiplier straight to the trail's top level, which is where big totals come from. Wins still flow on 1,024 ways, and wild multipliers can combine with the active X UP value for spicy lines. It's streaky, but when the upgrades line up the round can produce a lively burst.

Upsizer in Sparkling Joker X UP

When free spins trigger, Sparkling Joker X UP offers the Upsizer. You can pay a calculated cost to activate a higher free spins multiplier before the round starts. The more X UP tokens you've banked, the lower the price for each option, so pre-collecting pays off if you like front-loading risk. I've used it to bump middling ladders into a proper shot at the cap when the base has been generous with tokens.

Bonus Buy in Sparkling Joker X UP

There's a straight bonus buy too. From the base game you can purchase free spins with the x25 multiplier active for 200x the stake. It's the quickest path to the best version of the round, though tokens cannot be collected during free spins when you buy in. For testing purposes, I liked the clarity: high cost, top multiplier, no faff. Max win is 5,000x, so expectations should be set to sharp bursts rather than marathon paydays.

Sparkling Joker X UP: Slot Verdict

I've ploughed through a few X UP games now, and Sparkling Joker X UP sits on the samey side. The joker skin is garden variety, even with the sparkle, and the maths is recognisably cloned. That said, the features can come together rather nicely. The three-scatter dance keeps me on my toes in the base game, and free spins with a primed ladder and wild multipliers can whip up entertaining spurts. Graphically it's tidy, with that clubby sheen doing enough work.

For me, the cap and x25 top multiplier put it in the mid-pack for X UP potential, and the very high variance means barren patches are part of the deal. Max 5,000x will feel light compared to a lot of other X UP slots, but the path to the peak is clear, and the ride can still deliver flashes. If the package clicks with you, more power to it; if you wanted a shake-up, this is a repeat performance with sparkle.