Farmstead Fortune: crates, Level-Up rules and verified RTP

Farmstead Fortune is recorded by PG Soft as catalogue ID 2118946 and code farmstead-fort. The current English game-information document is version 1.0.r9, updated 4 August 2026. It describes a 5×5 collapsing-reel game whose ordinary four-symbol clusters lead into two crate-opening features rather than conventional line wins.

The primary documents establish a 96.76% theoretical RTP, high session volatility and a 10,000× maximum win. They do not establish that a New Zealand account can launch the game, that an operator uses this exact build, or that the euro-denominated default limits will be offered in another currency. Those deployment questions remain separate.

Verified specification

Field	PG Soft evidence	Scope
Catalogue identity	ID 2118946 · farmstead-fort	Studio catalogue
Document revision	1.0.r9 · updated 4 August 2026	English information PDF
Layout	5 rows × 5 columns	Main game
Win rule	4+ matching symbols touching horizontally or vertically	Main game paytable
Reel behaviour	Collapsing reels	Main game
Overall RTP	96.76%	Documented configuration
RTP split	56.99% main · 39.77% Bonus Feature	Documented configuration
Hit rates	31.25% overall · 30.42% main · 0.83% feature	Simulation summary
Volatility	High	Session classification
Maximum win	10,000× total bet	Advertised and simulated ceiling
Default euro limits	€0.20–€100	Reference defaults, not an NZ promise
Platforms	iOS, Android, HTML5, macOS, Windows	Technical support list

The PDF also lists bet sizes 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 with levels 1–10, and an optimal portrait resolution of 1080×2340 at 19.5:9. These parameters explain how the supplier models its reference build; the actual cashier currency and permitted stake need to be read inside the deployed game.

How the main paytable works

A paid spin begins on 25 symbol positions. A win needs at least four matching symbols joined through horizontal or vertical contact. Diagonal contact alone does not complete a combination. Each symbol in a qualifying combination is paid according to the live paytable, then all winning symbols disappear and new symbols fall into the empty positions.

The process continues while another qualifying combination forms. That means a single paid spin can contain several cascades, but a cascade is not a new wager. When checking history, keep the parent spin and every collapse under one round ID so that intermediate awards are not accidentally added twice.

The Wild substitutes for ordinary symbols but not the Scatter. PG Soft states that Scatters appear only on reels one, three and five. The PDF contains the authoritative symbol-value table; values should be read in cash at the selected total bet because the article cannot safely transplant a payout from one stake or currency display to another.

Mini Bonus Feature: the random crate sequence

The Mini Bonus can trigger randomly during the main game and begins with three bonus spins. Every position is initially covered. The feature seeds a selected ordinary symbol into the middle of the grid: one on reels two and four, and three on reel three.

On each feature spin, covered positions next to already revealed positions open. Revealed cells show either the selected symbol or a blank. Whenever a new selected symbol appears, the counter resets to three. The feature ends only after the counter reaches zero and the accumulated win is settled.

This feature should not be described as the Scatter bonus. Its entry is random, its 5×5 board remains smaller, and it does not use the Level-Up or multiplier symbols documented for the main Bonus Feature. Keeping the two paths separate prevents a reader from expecting the larger rules whenever a crate sequence appears.

Bonus Feature: expansion to 7×7

Three Scatters anywhere trigger the documented Bonus Feature with three spins. The board expands to seven reels and seven rows, all initially covered. The game selects one high-paying crop—Pumpkin, Corn, Onion or Bell Pepper—and places five examples around the middle: one each on reels three and five, plus three on reel four.

Adjacent covered cells are opened on each spin. A revealed cell can contain the chosen crop, a Level-Up symbol, a multiplier from 2× to 100×, or a blank. Each new crop, Level-Up or multiplier resets the remaining-spin counter to three. This hold-and-respin-style reset is central to the feature: “three spins” describes the starting counter, not necessarily its final length.

Multiplier symbols substitute for the selected crop. A Level-Up changes all visible symbols except multipliers into the next higher-paying crop. When Pumpkin is already the selected symbol, Level-Up cannot appear because there is no higher crop in the documented sequence. At expiry, the game pays qualifying combinations with the available multiplier treatment.

Reading Level-Up without guessing

The safest audit uses two screenshots for every Level-Up event: one immediately before transformation and one after. Label every occupied cell and identify its prior crop. The transformation should advance each eligible symbol by one paytable tier; it should not be reported as a universal multiplier.

Next separate substitution from multiplication. A multiplier symbol can stand in for the selected crop, while its printed factor affects the final feature settlement. These are two roles, and the round history should show how they combine. If several multiplier symbols appear, use the deployed rules to establish whether factors add, multiply or apply to separate clusters rather than importing arithmetic from another game.

RTP and hit-rate interpretation

The overall 96.76% is a long-run simulated ratio, not a session forecast. PG Soft attributes 56.99 percentage points to the main game and 39.77 to the Bonus Feature in this configuration. The split sums to the overall value but does not mean a player receives either component on demand.

Likewise, the 31.25% overall hit rate describes the supplier simulation. It does not reveal average win size, feature waiting time or the probability of reaching 10,000×. High volatility means outcomes can be distributed unevenly despite a relatively visible stream of cluster reactions.

The PDF labels 10,000× as both simulated maximum exposure over one billion spins and the advertised highest win. If the main or Bonus Feature reaches that amount, the round ends. A promotional “5000×” graphic elsewhere in the PDF should not override the formal summary and rule section; the versioned rules explicitly state the 10,000× cap.

Feature Buy and territorial limits

Version 1.0.r9 documents a Feature Buy menu that can purchase the Bonus Feature at the displayed price. That proves the control exists in the reference rules, not that it is legal, enabled or priced identically in every market. A New Zealand-facing article must verify the actual operator screen before saying the button is available.

The same caution applies to autoplay and Turbo Spin. The control guide describes them, but operators or local settings can disable controls. Record their state rather than treating a global manual as a promise.

Mobile and interruption checks

The reference build supports modern mobile and desktop platforms, with portrait presentation prioritised. On a phone, check that the 7×7 expansion remains legible, covered and revealed cells are distinguishable without colour alone, the selected crop is named, and the three-spin counter does not obscure the total bet.

Interrupt one lawful preview by rotating the device or switching apps. On return, the chosen crop, opened cells, multipliers and remaining counter should match server history. A visual reset with an intact result is an interface issue; missing or irreconcilable history is a stronger reason to stop.

Evidence worksheet for one bonus

Create a 49-cell diagram. Mark the five seeded crops, then record every opening in order. Use C for the chosen crop, L for Level-Up, M plus its factor for a multiplier, and a dash for blank. Beside each event write the counter before and after the reset.

At settlement, list the final crop tier, substituted positions, multiplier values and credited amount. Compare the sum with both feature summary and wallet movement. The worksheet is not a strategy or prediction; it is a way to test whether the interface explains the finished calculation.

What remains operator-specific

This review does not confirm New Zealand availability, 22Bet availability, NZD staking, a local demo, a bonus contribution rate or a feature-purchase price. It also does not claim that 96.76% is the only certified RTP. Open the in-game help from the intended account and match title, ID or code, version, RTP and total stake before relying on the numbers.

Final assessment

Farmstead Fortune is mechanically defined by discovery rather than conventional Free Spins: a random 5×5 Mini Bonus and a Scatter-triggered 7×7 board both reveal covered cells, but only the larger feature adds crop selection, Level-Up and factors up to 100×. The distinction is clear in PG Soft’s primary rules and should stay clear in any review.

The source quality is strong for identity, configuration and feature order. The missing piece is deployment. A reader can verify the reference build from this page, but should treat currency, control availability and local access as unanswered until the actual account supplies them.

Official and related sources

• PG Soft Farmstead Fortune game information PDF
• PG Soft official catalogue
• PG Soft catalogue guide
• Responsible gambling guide
• Corrections policy

How to verify the version you can actually open

A provider page proves that a title exists and describes the supplier's intended rules. It does not prove that a casino accepts players in New Zealand, that the title is enabled for a particular account, or that the highest published RTP is the version in the lobby. Treat availability, operator eligibility and product configuration as three separate checks.

Start with identity, then configuration

Open the game only through the authenticated casino lobby. The information or help panel should identify PG Soft, the exact title and the active mathematical return. Compare the reel or grid layout, paylines or cluster rules, named features and symbol behaviour with the official product material. Similar artwork or a matching title is not enough when the help file is missing or inconsistent.

When the supplier publishes several RTP values, report all of them as configurations. Do not assume the highest option is deployed. RTP is a theoretical long-run measure across a very large number of rounds; it is not a refund rate for one player and cannot predict the next result. Volatility is different: it describes how unevenly results are distributed on the provider's scale.

Read stake controls as money, not interface decoration

Provider sheets often quote a reference range in euros. That range does not establish New Zealand-dollar support or the limits in a specific account. Before a paid round, identify the total amount that will leave the balance. If the interface separates denomination, coins and lines, verify the combined total. If Extra Bet is active, calculate its full cost before pressing spin.

Feature-buy prices are multiples of the current bet, not promised returns. A 100x purchase at a $1 stake costs $100; at a $2 stake it costs $200. Availability can vary by market and some mathematical configurations may not support the control. If the live help does not explain the price, delivered feature and active RTP, leave the option unused.

Keep simulation figures in their proper scope

A game sheet may publish a maximum result observed in a large simulation. That is not automatically the contractual maximum payout and never describes a likely session. Preserve the provider's wording, sample size and configuration. Check the live rules for a binding cap and the operator terms for any separate payout limit. Do not turn an extreme result into a promotional headline.

Audit a disputed round

If an animation freezes or a connection drops, do not repeat the wager immediately. Reopen the game through the authenticated lobby and inspect round history. Record the time, total stake, balance movement and round identifier. The result can be settled by the gaming system even when the device never displays the final animation. Send evidence through verified operator support; never disclose a password, recovery phrase or one-time code.

Read the paytable as a calculation document

The paytable should explain what creates a win, which symbols substitute, where special symbols can land and how multiple awards combine. For line games, confirm direction and active paylines. For cluster games, confirm adjacency, minimum group size and the order of collection. For respins, identify what remains locked, what resets the counter and what ends the feature. A graphic effect can illustrate those rules but cannot replace them.

Separate addition from multiplication. Several prize values may be added before a multiplier applies, while reel-specific multipliers can sometimes multiply together only when each reel participates in the same win. Reconstruct one low-stake result from game history. If the arithmetic cannot be matched to the help file, stop and ask the operator rather than guessing.

Do not confuse hit frequency with a profitable round

Provider sheets can publish hit frequency or category probabilities. A hit simply means a round returned a qualifying amount; it can be smaller than the stake. “Big”, “Mega” or “Epic” thresholds are provider reporting categories, not promises. They are useful for comparing mathematical versions only when definitions and samples are the same.

Random outcomes do not become due after a long gap. A feature that appeared repeatedly in a demo or marketing clip has no obligation to repeat in a funded session. Previous rounds do not create a debt from the next random result.

Confirm market and device behaviour independently

A title can exist in the supplier catalogue while an operator disables it for a territory, currency, device or bonus. Language localisation is not evidence of legal availability. Confirm the operator's identity, accepted countries and current lobby separately from the provider review.

On mobile, verify that balance, total bet, feature state and help remain visible without overlap. On desktop, check that browser zoom does not hide a purchase control or change the apparent denomination. Mathematical configuration should not change merely because the screen changes; if the help shows another RTP, treat it as a different deployment and record it.

Keep a compact evidence record

For any fact used in a review, save the title, provider, official URL, document date when available, access date and exact territorial scope. For a live session, add the operator domain, Game ID, RTP, currency and a non-sensitive screenshot of the help panel. This makes later corrections possible when a supplier updates a sheet or an operator changes configuration.

Missing information should remain missing. Do not estimate an RTP from results, convert a euro reference range into an operator's NZD limit, or treat another casino's configuration as evidence. A transparent “not confirmed” is more useful than a precise-looking number without the correct source.

Use limits that survive the feature design

Collection meters, expanding grids, sticky symbols and near misses can make a session feel unfinished. Unless the rules explicitly preserve progress, the visible state has no value after the round or feature ends. Set a money limit and time limit before launch, count feature buys immediately, and stop at the limit even when a meter appears close to an upgrade.

No random game is an income plan. Do not borrow, use essential funds or raise the stake to recover a loss. If play stops feeling recreational, use timeout, deposit-limit or self-exclusion tools and consult the site's responsible gambling guide.