Reel Rush 2 Review
NetEnt's Reel Rush 2 arrived in November 2019 as a direct follow-up to one of the studio's most beloved fruit machines, and it came with a meaningful upgrade in almost every direction. The max win doubled to 5,000x stake, the reel grid can expand from a narrow 1-3-5-3-1 configuration all the way to a full 5x5 layout with 3,125 ways to win, and the single bonus feature of the original gave way to eight distinct reel modifiers delivered by a train running beneath the reels.
The bet range runs from $0.20 to $40 per spin, making it accessible across most bankroll sizes without quite reaching the high-roller ceilings of some NetEnt contemporaries. RTP is set at 95.53%, which sits a touch below the studio's standard 96% benchmark — worth noting before you load up. Volatility is rated medium-high, meaning the base game can run quiet before the bigger swings arrive.
This review breaks down every spec, every modifier, and what the expansion mechanic actually means for how the game plays in practice.
How the Expanding Grid Works
The most distinctive mechanical element of Reel Rush 2 is how it handles its reel layout. The game opens on a 1-3-5-3-1 configuration — effectively a diamond-shaped active area — with only 45 paylines in play. Symbol blocks obscure parts of reels 1, 2, 4, and 5, capping the win potential until those blocks are removed.
Blocks get cleared through the respin system and via the Block Breaker modifier, which fires a gun to break two to four blocks per trigger. Each block removed increases the active payline count, and clearing every block on the grid unlocks the full 5x5 layout with 3,125 ways to win. That progression from 45 to 3,125 ways is the spine of the entire game — the respins with increasing win ways feature is what drives it.
For players used to fixed-ways slots, the escalation here feels more earned than arbitrary. You're watching the grid physically open up, and the jump in potential is real: the difference between 45 paylines and 3,125 ways is not cosmetic. Reaching the full layout before free spins trigger is the scenario where the biggest wins become plausible.
RTP, Volatility, and Max Win
Reel Rush 2 carries a published RTP of 95.53%. To put that in context, NetEnt's Starburst runs at 96.09% and Gonzo's Quest sits at 95.97% — so Reel Rush 2 trails both of those well-known titles by roughly half a percentage point. It also falls below the 96% threshold that many players use as a rough benchmark. That gap is worth factoring in over long sessions, even if it won't be noticeable across a short play.
The game is rated medium-high volatility, which aligns with the expanding-grid mechanic: the base game can cycle through quiet stretches while the modifiers build toward a full-grid state, and the bigger returns are concentrated in the Super Free Spins phase where the progressive multiplier is active. The max win of 5,000x stake is roughly double what the original Reel Rush offered, and it positions the sequel competitively among NetEnt's own catalogue — though it falls short of the studio's higher-ceiling titles like Divine Fortune (up to 3,000x in base jackpots, with total potential beyond that) or the 10,000x+ ceilings now common in third-party releases.
Hit frequency is not published by NetEnt for this title. The RTP range feature listed in the specs suggests the game may operate across multiple RTP configurations depending on the casino, which is standard practice for NetEnt but means the 95.53% figure is the baseline to check at your specific operator.
Eight Reel Modifiers Explained
The eight modifiers are the mechanical core of Reel Rush 2 and what separates it from a straightforward fruit slot. They trigger at random during any spin, delivered visually by train carts running along the bottom of the reels. Each modifier does something distinct, and several can stack within a single spin.
The Multiplier Boost raises a progressive multiplier by 1x per trigger — it can fire multiple times in one spin, so the multiplier can climb quickly in the right sequence. Symbol Multiplier attaches a 5x, 10x, 15x, or 20x multiplier to a randomly selected symbol (excluding the wild), applying to every win that symbol contributes to. Symbol Upgrade promotes a randomly chosen symbol one tier up the pay table. Random Wilds drops one to three wild symbols onto the reels. Block Breaker removes two to four symbol blocks, directly expanding the active grid. Extra Super Tokens adds three to fifteen tokens to the Super Token Meter. Second Chance grants a respin on a losing spin. Extra Free Spins adds one spin during the free spins or super spins phase only.
The interaction between these modifiers is what generates the game's variance. A Block Breaker followed by a Multiplier Boost on the same spin, for example, simultaneously opens the grid and raises the multiplier — the kind of compound trigger that makes the medium-high volatility rating feel accurate. Players who prefer predictable base-game patterns may find the randomness of the modifier system frustrating; those who enjoy watching systems interact will find it engaging.
Bonus Game and Super Free Spins
The free spins round in Reel Rush 2 is triggered via scatter symbols and plays out on the full 3,125-way grid, removing the block-clearing requirement that defines the base game. That alone makes the feature materially more valuable than base-game play, since every spin has the full win-ways count active from the start.
Beyond standard free spins, the Super Token Meter — filled by the Extra Super Tokens modifier — can trigger Super Free Spins, which layer in the progressive multiplier. The multiplier accumulates across the Super Spins phase, meaning later spins in the sequence carry a higher multiplier than earlier ones. Additional free spins can be awarded during the feature via the Extra Free Spins modifier, extending the window for the multiplier to build.
The mystery symbol mechanic also operates within the feature, adding a layer of symbol-standardisation that can convert portions of the reels to a single symbol type — a meaningful boost when it lands on a high-value symbol across a full 3,125-way grid. The combination of a full grid, progressive multiplier, and mystery symbol conversions is where the 5,000x max win becomes reachable, though reaching that ceiling requires an alignment of several favourable outcomes within the same feature trigger.
Bet Range and Practical Playability
The minimum bet of $0.20 and maximum of $40 per spin place Reel Rush 2 in a mid-range bracket. It's accessible enough for casual sessions without being a micro-stakes-only game, but the $40 ceiling means it won't satisfy players who regularly bet above that level — some NetEnt titles extend to $100 or higher.
The medium-high volatility combined with the block-clearing mechanic means bankroll management matters more here than in a flat-ways slot. The base game can run through a sequence of low-return spins while the grid is partially open, and the significant upside is concentrated in the free spins phase. Players running shorter sessions on smaller budgets may find the base game feels thin before a feature triggers; the game rewards patience more than it rewards brief play.
The game runs across all standard platforms — desktop and mobile — without a dedicated app requirement, which is consistent with NetEnt's standard HTML5 deployment. The 5-reel, 5-row layout at full expansion is clean enough to read on a mobile screen, though the modifier animations add visual complexity that some players may find easier to follow on a larger display.
Who Reel Rush 2 Is Best For
Reel Rush 2 suits players who want mechanical depth in a fruit-themed package. The eight modifiers, expanding grid, and Super Free Spins multiplier give it more moving parts than most slots in the Fruit / Candy category, and the escalation from 45 paylines to 3,125 ways creates a clear progression arc that rewards extended play.
The medium-high volatility and 95.53% RTP make it a reasonable choice for mid-stakes players who can absorb base-game variance while waiting for the feature. It is less suited to players looking for frequent small wins — the hit frequency is unpublished, but the volatility rating and mechanic structure both suggest the base game is not a high-frequency experience.
Players who enjoyed the original Reel Rush will find the sequel familiar in theme and structure but materially more complex in its feature set. The doubled max win and progressive multiplier in Super Spins represent a genuine upgrade, not just a cosmetic refresh.
Final Verdict
Reel Rush 2 holds up as one of NetEnt's more mechanically considered fruit slots. The expanding grid mechanic gives the game a clear internal logic — every spin is either building toward or retreating from the full 3,125-way layout — and the eight reel modifiers provide enough variety to keep the base game from feeling static between feature triggers.
The 95.53% RTP is the one spec that requires an honest acknowledgement: it is below the NetEnt average and below the 96% threshold many players use as a floor. That said, the 5,000x max win and the progressive multiplier in Super Free Spins give the game a meaningful upside that partially compensates for the lower return rate, particularly for players targeting the feature rather than grinding base-game returns.
One mild observation: the base game pacing can drag in stretches where modifiers fire without clearing enough blocks to open the grid, creating sequences that feel like marking time before the real action starts. That is a design trade-off inherent to the expanding-grid concept rather than a flaw, but players expecting consistent mid-session engagement should factor it in. For those willing to work with the mechanic, Reel Rush 2 delivers a structured and rewarding session when the full grid and Super Spins align.
- +5,000x max win — double the original Reel Rush
- +Eight distinct reel modifiers with meaningful mechanical differences
- +Full 3,125 ways to win when grid is fully expanded
- +Progressive multiplier active during Super Free Spins
- +Mystery symbol mechanic adds additional win potential in features
- +Wide platform compatibility via HTML5
- -95.53% RTP is below NetEnt's typical 96%+ benchmark
- -Hit frequency not published by NetEnt
- -Base game can feel slow between modifier triggers
- -$40 maximum bet may be low for higher-stakes players
Best for
Reel Rush 2 is a feature-dense sequel that earns its reputation. Eight reel modifiers, a progressive multiplier in Super Free Spins, and a 5,000x ceiling give it genuine range. The 95.53% RTP is slightly below average for NetEnt, but the medium-high volatility and expanding win-ways mechanic make it one of the more mechanically interesting fruit slots the studio has produced. Best suited to players who want structured escalation rather than pure volatility spikes.











