The Grim Reaper — trace every soul through three ritual tiers

The Grim Reaper by Quickspin is a 5-reel, 3-row game with ten paylines. Its central loop combines Soul symbols with Wilds, locks them for Soul Respins and then applies Soul Collection. Free Spins add three escalating modes with upgrades at six and twelve collected Wilds.

Quickspin’s official page and game sheet are the evidence for this review. They do not show that a New Zealand casino offers the title, accepts NZD or enables Extra Bet and Buy Feature locally.

Verified configuration

The supplier lists four total RTP variants: 96.10%, 94.19%, 92.07% and 85.13%. Volatility is three out of five for the first three and 2.5 for the 85% version. The technical stake range is €0.10 to €100 with a €1 default.

The game sheet reports a 20.84% hit rate for the 96% model, with lower listed rates for reduced configurations. Hit rate is not RTP: one measures how often a round returns something under the simulation definition, while the other describes theoretical long-run return.

Maximum observed simulation results are 5,360x, 5,307x, 5,290x and a separate figure for the 85% configuration in a 100-million-spin sample. A simulation maximum is evidence about the tested model, not a prediction or guaranteed cap for an operator session.

Ten-line base game

Wins use ten fixed paylines. Check the active paytable for direction, symbol values and Wild substitution. A dramatic symbol animation does not change which line combinations qualify.

The Wild and Soul symbols have separate roles. A Soul carries a value. A Wild acts as the Reaper that collects those values after the respin sequence. A Soul visible without a qualifying collection is not a stored account balance.

The reference stake is in euros because the supplier sheet is not an NZD cashier. Use the total bet displayed in the live game and confirm the active denomination before each round.

Soul Respin sequence

When a cursed Wild and Soul symbol connect under the rules, Soul Respins start. Those symbols lock while the other positions respin. New Soul or Wild symbols also lock and continue the sequence. The respins end when no new qualifying symbol lands.

After the sequence, Soul Collection applies. Each Wild becomes a Reaper and claims the Soul values shown on the grid. The live paytable should clarify how several Wilds and Souls interact and whether each Soul is counted once.

In the base game, Quickspin describes Soul Respin as random. During Free Spins, the relevant Wild-and-Soul condition always activates it. “Always active” does not mean a Soul or Wild must land; it defines what happens when they do.

Three trigger levels

Three Omen symbols award seven Free Spins and The Gathering. Four award eight spins and Raise the Souls. Five award nine spins and Reaper Harvest. Free Spins cannot be retriggered in the ordinary scatter sense.

A Wild meter provides the extension path. Collecting six Wilds awards one extra spin and promotes the feature to the next tier. Reaching twelve awards another extra spin and promotes it to the final tier.

Record both the original Omen count and current meter. They explain why two visually similar bonus rounds can start with different rules.

The Gathering

The Gathering is the first tier. A Wild with a Soul guarantees the Soul Respin followed by Soul Collection. The mode retains the core collection loop without the later conversion or sticky-Wild upgrades.

At six collected Wilds, Raise the Souls is unlocked and one spin is added. At twelve total, Reaper Harvest is unlocked with another spin. Progress belongs to the current feature and should not be assumed to persist afterwards.

Raise the Souls

Raise the Souls begins directly from four Omen symbols or by collecting six Wilds. If a Wild lands without Souls, random ordinary symbols are consumed and replaced by Soul symbols. That prepares a collection opportunity under the current state.

The conversion is governed by the game, not selected by the player. Do not assume all symbols or the highest-value positions will change. The round history should show the resulting layout and credited amount.

Six additional Wilds promote the feature to Reaper Harvest and add one spin.

Reaper Harvest

The final tier starts from five Omen symbols or twelve collected Wilds. Each new Wild becomes sticky for the rest of Free Spins. Sticky Wilds can create repeat collection opportunities when Soul symbols appear.

Persistence increases the number of positions that may act as collectors; it does not guarantee Souls, high values or a profitable bonus. The feature ends when its remaining-spin counter reaches zero.

If a Wild arrives on the final spin, check whether the rules apply its collection before the feature closes. The round settlement, not the dramatic exit animation, is authoritative.

Extra Bet and Buy Feature

Extra Bet costs twice the normal wager. Quickspin says it increases the chance of Soul symbols and of triggering Soul Respins and Soul Collection. It is available only in the base game and cannot be used with Buy Feature.

The certain result is a 2x cost. No simple trigger percentage is published on the product page, so do not convert “increased chance” into a made-up frequency.

RTP versions and maximum language

Do not label the game “96% RTP” without confirming the deployed version. The official sheet describes four separate Game IDs and return totals. A lower configured version cannot be detected reliably from a short play session.

The reported 100-million-spin maxima belong to supplier simulation. The exact live maximum and any operator payout cap should be read in the deployed help and terms. Never use the largest result as a target or evidence that a feature is due.

Volatility at three out of five is a supplier classification, not a safety rating. Account affordability, feature cost and play speed still determine exposure.

Mobile and evidence checks

On a small screen, confirm that Soul values, Wild meter, remaining spins and total bet remain legible. Colour alone should not be the only way to distinguish a locked symbol. Use the game’s information control before starting a feature.

For a dispute, preserve the round ID, trigger count, collected-Wild thresholds, locked symbols, active RTP and final ledger credit. A screenshot can support the sequence, but the operator’s server record settles the account transaction.

Scope and comparisons

Nothing in the provider documents confirms local availability, NZD, casino licensing, withdrawal speed or bonus treatment. Those are operator-level claims.

Fire Tale uses sticky full-reel Wilds and a fusion meter. Epic Fish: Marlin Madness uses fish collection and three progressive navigation modes. The Quickspin guide explains how to separate supplier rules from casino terms.

Soul Respin settlement order

Soul Respins begin when the required Wild-and-Soul state is present. Those symbols lock while the other reels or positions respin. Every newly appearing Soul or Wild also locks and extends the sequence. The sequence ends on the first respin that adds neither type, after which Soul Collection is evaluated.

Record the opening Wilds and Souls, then add one row per respin with new symbols and remaining state. Do not collect values after every intermediate respin unless the help explicitly shows an award at that point. Quickspin’s public order places Soul Collection after the locking sequence.

Each Wild acts as a Reaper and collects Soul values. The result breakdown should establish whether several Wilds collect the same Souls once or apply another rule. The public wording supports the collection action but should not be extended into an unstated multiplier.

Three rituals and inherited mechanics

Three scatters award seven spins and The Gathering; four award eight and Raise the Souls; five award nine and Reaper Harvest. Quickspin says each level inherits the mechanics of the previous level. That means Raise the Souls includes the collection and respin behaviour of The Gathering, while Reaper Harvest includes both lower-tier rules plus sticky Wilds.

The Gathering guarantees Soul Respins and subsequent collection when any Wild and Soul state appears. Raise the Souls adds its replacement effect: when a Wild appears without Souls, random symbols are consumed and converted to Souls. Reaper Harvest adds persistence, making every new Wild sticky for the remainder of the free-spin feature.

These are cumulative feature states, not three unrelated games. A review should list inherited rules in every higher tier or link clearly to the previous tier. Otherwise, the final ritual can be misread as containing only sticky Wilds.

Wild Meter upgrades

The meter counts collected Wilds. Reaching six upgrades The Gathering to Raise the Souls and awards one extra spin. Reaching twelve upgrades to Reaper Harvest and awards another spin. Starting directly in Raise the Souls or Reaper Harvest through the trigger or purchase should be recorded separately from earning the upgrade during play.

The second threshold is cumulative at twelve Wilds. Once Raise the Souls is active through the six-Wild threshold, six more collected Wilds reach the final tier. Record the old count, new count, awarded spin and active ritual whenever a threshold is crossed.

Free spins cannot be retriggered through new scatter symbols. The two extra-spin awards come from meter progression. Calling them scatter retriggers would obscure the mechanism and make the history difficult to reconcile.

Extra Bet and purchase routes

Extra Bet doubles the base stake, raises the chance of Soul symbols and increases the chance of Soul Respin and Collection. It is limited to the base game, may vary by market and cannot be combined with Buy Feature. The source does not publish a simple probability multiplier, so 2× describes the price rather than a guaranteed doubling of trigger frequency.

The three purchase prices map directly to ritual entry: 45× for The Gathering, 100× for Raise the Souls and 250× for Reaper Harvest. Record starting scatter count, spins and tier. A direct Reaper Harvest purchase should begin with the inherited mechanics active, but the live help remains the source for the exact opening meter state.

Optional controls are configuration fields. Their absence can reflect market restrictions, and the four RTP families—96%, 94%, 92% and 85%—must be checked in the deployed information panel.

Grim Reaper feature worksheet

Start with trigger route, paid amount, initial ritual, spins and Wild Meter count. During each spin, record Wilds, Souls, replacement events, locked respin symbols, collected values and sticky positions. At threshold changes, add the extra spin and new ritual before evaluating the next state.

At settlement, compare ordinary line wins and Soul Collection separately. Preserve the round ID if the sequence stops unexpectedly. This worksheet mirrors the title’s cumulative ritual structure and avoids substituting rules from another collect-and-respin game.

Base-game random trigger versus guaranteed feature state

In the base game, Soul Respin is described as a random feature. A Wild-and-Soul layout shown before activation does not by itself explain whether the random condition has fired; the game must enter the locked-symbol sequence. Record the trigger banner or state change as well as the symbols.

During Free Spins, Soul Respin is always active under the published rules. That means an eligible Wild-and-Soul state should follow the feature sequence rather than wait for a separate random decision. This is a configuration difference between base play and the rituals, not evidence that the symbols have different paytable values.

Extra Bet modifies the base-game chance of Soul-related events, while entry into The Gathering makes the relevant feature behaviour part of free spins. Keeping those states separate prevents a base spin with Extra Bet from being described as equivalent to the lowest bonus tier.

Soul values and multiple Reapers

Every Soul carries a value. The public copy says each Wild becomes a Reaper and claims every Soul, but the exact treatment of multiple Wilds must be read in the active help and result breakdown. Do not multiply the Soul total by the number of Wilds unless the rules explicitly show that calculation.

For a transparent record, list the visible Soul values, their sum, number of Wilds and final collection award. If Raise the Souls converts ordinary symbols before collection, add the created Soul values only after replacement. If Reaper Harvest retains Wilds, distinguish a newly landed Wild from one already sticky on the grid.

This sequence also clarifies meter counting. The Wild Meter tracks collected Wilds under the feature’s definition; a persistent Wild should not be counted as newly collected on every later spin without a corresponding event in the history.

RTP and purchase-version evidence

Four RTP families are advertised: 96%, 94%, 92% and 85%. The deployed percentage and Game ID belong at the top of the review record. The source does not justify presenting 96% as the title’s single RTP.

Purchase controls can be disabled by market, and their mathematics may be disclosed separately inside the game. Record the active value before comparing the 45×, 100× and 250× routes. The route price identifies feature entry, not the amount returned or a guaranteed value of its starting ritual.

When an operator page omits the RTP, use the in-game information panel. A search snippet or screenshot from another casino cannot identify the current configuration because the artwork and rules can remain the same across several return settings.

Reconstructing an interrupted ritual

A dropped connection can hide the transition from Soul Respins to Soul Collection or from one ritual tier to another. Reopen the title through the same authenticated lobby and allow the server state to restore. Then compare the Wild Meter, sticky Wild positions, remaining spins and balance with round history.

For support, provide the round ID, stake, trigger route and last visible state. If the feature began through a purchase, include the 45×, 100× or 250× route. If it advanced through the meter, record whether the six- or twelve-Wild threshold had been crossed.

The missing animation is not itself evidence that collection failed. Conversely, a completed animation does not replace the settlement record. The final account entry and server round history determine whether the Soul values, line wins and extra spins were included.

Frequently asked questions

Who publishes The Grim Reaper?

Quickspin publishes the official product page and game sheet.

How many paylines are used?

The documented layout has ten fixed paylines across five reels and three rows.

What starts Soul Respins?

A qualifying combination of a cursed Wild and Soul symbol locks into the respin sequence.

How do the free-spin tiers upgrade?

The Wild meter upgrades at six and twelve collected Wilds, adding one spin at each threshold.

Which RTP versions are listed?

96.10%, 94.19%, 92.07% and 85.13%.

Is the game confirmed in New Zealand?

No. The supplier material does not prove availability at a New Zealand-facing casino.

Official sources

• Quickspin: The Grim Reaper
• Official The Grim Reaper game sheet

Bottom line: the reviewable structure is a locked respin, value collection and two measurable upgrades. The theme does not replace the meter, version or account evidence.

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 Quickspin, 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.