| RTP | 96.16% | Reels | 6 |
| Volatility | High | Rows | 4 |
| Min bet | C$0.1 | Max bet | C$100 |
| Max win | 25.000x | Paylines | 4096 |
| Wild Symbol | Yes | Scatter Symbol | Yes |
| Bonus Game | Yes | Progressive Jackpot | Yes |
| Free Spins | Yes | Autoplay | Yes |
One of the most exciting new releases of 2025 was Thunderkick’s Carnival Queen 2 slot. It’s the direct sequel to the developer’s original Carnival Queen, released in early 2019. Key changes from the original include a larger game grid, more dynamic gameplay, a reel expansion feature, and increased winning potential. The developer has also incorporated Explosive Wilds and an Infinite Multiplier, further enhancing the game’s appeal. This new version undoubtedly retains the atmosphere of the original, but with increased intensity and appeal.
Carnival Queen 2 is better suited to experienced players who are willing to take risks and can handle long gaming sessions. While it’s not that beginners have nothing to offer, unlocking the full potential of the slot machine with a small bankroll will be significantly more challenging. Ultimately, however, it’s up to you to decide if the game is profitable for your playing style and budget. My goal is to explore all the game’s features, which I’ll do later in this review.
In Carnival Queen 2, the developer has revisited the already popular theme of carnivals and street festivals. You’re once again greeted by colorful costumes, crowds of spectators, fireworks, music, and a festive atmosphere. However, the graphics have been improved compared to the original, with the addition of numerous new visual effects and animations. The game has undeniably improved, especially for those who appreciate high-quality graphics.
The sound quality also remained excellent. The lively carnival music will make even long gaming sessions less boring, and the original sounds of the game board will remind you of your big wins.
Let’s talk a little about the mobile version of the game. The interface adapts to all screen sizes; you can play on a tablet or smartphone without restriction. The graphics remain high quality and are just as good as the PC version. All the controls are located exactly where you want them.
Carnival Queen 2 features a revamped payout system. The game uses a 6-reel grid. However, the reels are dynamic, with a random number of symbols appearing on each reel. Each spin can display between 2 and 6 symbols. Depending on the symbol combination, you activate a certain number of paylines, from 5,040 to 117,649. The number of active paylines is displayed to the left of the game board.
A winning combination consists of 3 to 6 identical symbols on a payline. The crown has the highest value and now forms a winning combination with two or more symbols on a payline. All winning combinations start on the leftmost reel, and the symbols must be on adjacent reels.
Before you start, you can select a bet between $0.10 and $100 per spin. Before a new spin, you can adjust the bet within the same range. The higher the bet, the greater the potential winnings, but the risks also increase.
The crown and carnival participants are highly rewarding symbols, awarding multipliers ranging from x0.3 to x10. However, the frequency of these combinations is low.
Low-paying symbols are traditionally represented by playing cards. Their multipliers range from x0.1 to x1.5. Since these combinations occur more frequently, they allow you to stay in the game longer. It’s important to note that with the progressive multiplier and cascading reels, even low-paying symbols can generate large wins. We’ll discuss this further later in this review.
Let’s examine the main bonus features of the Carnival Queen 2 slot machine, which have undergone numerous changes.
After each win, the symbols disappear from the board and new symbols fall, allowing you to create a winning chain in a single spin.
Wild symbols that contributed to a win explode. After an explosion, all symbols on the same reel and one random symbol on each other reel disappear from the game board. New symbols replace them, triggering a cascade of symbols. The reel containing the Exploding Wild expands by one row, up to a maximum of seven. A maximum of two Wild symbols can appear simultaneously.
This is one of the main features of this slot machine. Below the grid, you can see the current multiplier; initially, it’s always x1. When a win occurs and a cascade is triggered, the multiplier increases by 1, up to x2, x3, x4, and so on. Each new cascade increases the multiplier by 1. In the base game, at the start of a new spin, the multiplier returns to x1.
To activate the free spins, you must collect at least 3 Scatter symbols on the board. You will receive 12 free spins + 4 additional spins for each additional bonus symbol.
The key feature of the bonus round is that the progressive multiplier doesn’t reset between rounds. If you’re lucky enough to hit a long series of cascades, your winnings will be substantial.
You can instantly activate the bonus game with significant progressive multipliers. A standard bonus round requires a bet of 100 times your stake, while the enhanced bonus game requires a bet of 175 times your stake. During the enhanced bonus round, the number of active paylines is at least 10,000.
This feature allows you to activate boosters of a certain amount to enhance your gaming experience and increase your potential winnings.
The high volatility of the Carnival Queen 2 slot makes it an ideal choice for high rollers. You can take risks and win big, or opt for the main bonus round to instantly unlock the slot’s full potential. The infinite multiplier is available from the base game, regardless of the amount or frequency of your bets. This means that beginners can also play profitably, even with a small bankroll.
The return to player (RTP) rate of 94.18% is below average. This proves once again that the game is aimed at high rollers, as the RTP is higher during the bonus round.
The Carnival Queen 2 slot machine is an enhanced version of an already popular title. The game offers increased winning potential and is packed with new features, while retaining its original atmosphere. However, like the original, the slot machine maintains its high volatility and is more appealing to high rollers. Beginners can also discover the game’s potential, but doing so with a small bankroll is more challenging.