Oxygen 3

Oxygen 3 is an online slot developed by ELK Studios, released on April 7, 2026. It is the third title in ELK Studios' Oxygen series and takes players to the submerged ruins of Coral Creek – a mysterious setting where an advanced civilisation appears to have been swallowed by the ocean. The narrative frames the environment as a future lost to time, where sea creatures now inhabit the remains of a forgotten world.

The game runs on a 6-column by 7-row grid with a cluster pays mechanic and an Avalanche system that removes winning symbols and replaces them with new drops. Oxygen 3 builds on its predecessors with a deeper feature set, introducing the Clam symbol and its three linked features – the Pearl, the Squid, and the Starfish – alongside Exploding Wilds, Blaster Wilds, Oxygen Bubble multipliers, a Bonus game, a Super Bonus game, and the X-iter feature buy system. The maximum win potential sits at 25,000x the bet.

Oxygen 3 is set in the sunken depths of Coral Creek, where the remnants of an advanced civilisation rest on the ocean floor. The background features submerged ruins, flooded monorail structures, and glowing artefacts, all rendered in a deep blue palette with streaks of bioluminescent light filtering through the water.

Despite the post-apocalyptic setting, the visual tone stays playful. The symbol cast features cartoon sea creatures – including colourful fish, coral formations, and a large octopus – rendered with bold outlines and vivid colours that contrast against the darker background. Oxygen Bubbles on the grid glow with a blue hue, visually tracking multiplier growth.

Animations are fluid, with satisfying explosion effects when special wilds activate and cascades clearing the grid in quick succession. The audio design matches the underwater environment with an ambient, slightly eerie soundtrack layered with reactive sound effects during wins and feature triggers. Together, the art direction creates a distinctive atmosphere that sets Oxygen 3 apart from more conventional underwater-themed slots.

Oxygen 3 is played on a 6×7 grid. A winning combination requires five or more identical symbols connected horizontally or vertically. Only the largest connected cluster is paid out when multiple clusters of the same symbol are present.

To start:

• Set your bet using the Bet button. The range runs from 0.20 to 100.00 per round.
• Press Spin to begin a game round. Each bet is equivalent to 100 coins.
• Winnings are displayed in either coins or your selected currency – this can be adjusted in Settings.

The game uses an Avalanche mechanic. After a win, the winning symbols are removed, remaining symbols fall due to gravity, and new symbols drop in from above. This continues as long as new winning clusters form.

Auto Spin is available by holding the Spin button or using the Auto Spin button to set a number of automatic rounds. The game also offers a normal mode and a Bonus mode with bonus drops. The paytable is accessible at any time to review symbol values and feature rules.

Oxygen Bubble Multipliers

The first time a winning symbol is removed from a position, an Oxygen Bubble is created there. Each subsequent win on a position with an existing bubble doubles its multiplier value, starting at x2. Multiplier values carry over between bonus drops in Bonus mode. In the base game, all Oxygen Bubble multiplier values reset at the end of a game round.

Multiplier Strike

The Multiplier Strike feature can trigger randomly during any symbol drop or bonus drop. When activated, it places clusters of Oxygen Bubbles with multiplier values onto the grid before the next symbol drop. This feature can upgrade existing bubbles as well as create new ones.

The Clam

The Clam symbol acts as a Wild. When it forms part of a winning combination, it triggers one of three features after win evaluation: the Pearl, the Squid, or the Starfish. Only one Clam-triggered feature activates per win evaluation. The specific feature triggered is determined randomly.

The Pearl

The Pearl feature selects one payout symbol type from the grid. All symbols of that type become sticky. A redrop cycle begins where other payout symbols drop out and new symbols drop in. The cycle continues as long as at least one more symbol of the selected type – or a Wild – lands. When the cycle ends, a final win evaluation covers all sticky symbols on the grid.

The Squid

The Squid generates a Wild symbol on its current grid position, then moves to a new position. It repeats this cycle until it leaves the grid entirely, leaving a trail of Wilds behind with each step.

The Starfish

The Starfish rotates to point in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal direction, then removes payout symbols along that line. Any feature symbols in its path are activated. At the final position, the Starfish increases the multiplier value on that position. The Starfish repeats this cycle until it transforms into a Wild symbol.

Exploding Wild

The Exploding Wild is a special Wild that activates when it is part of a winning cluster, or when caught in the explosion radius of another Exploding Wild or a blast from a Blaster Wild or Starfish. Once activated, it explodes when no more winning combinations remain, clearing all payout symbols within two cone-shaped areas extending upward and downward, or left and right of its position. This forces a new symbol refill on affected positions.

Blaster Wild

The Blaster Wild is a special Wild that activates when it is part of a winning cluster or caught in the blast radius of another Blaster Wild, an Exploding Wild, or the Starfish. When activated, it converts all payout symbols within an X- or Plus-shaped pattern into identical symbols. Symbols already converted by a previous blast that are hit by a second blast become Wilds instead.

Bonus Game

Three Bonus symbols anywhere on the grid trigger the Bonus game, which includes 10 bonus drops. During the Bonus game, an Oxygen Meter fills with each winning combination. When full, the meter empties and upgrades a cluster of multipliers on the grid. All Oxygen Bubble multiplier values persist between bonus drops throughout the session.

Landing 2 additional Bonus symbols during the Bonus game adds +3 drops. Landing 3 adds +5 drops.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes – cost: 100x the selected bet via X-iter.

Super Bonus Game

Three Bonus symbols where at least one is a Super Bonus symbol trigger the Super Bonus game. This version features a Super Oxygen Meter that, when full, upgrades a larger cluster of multipliers compared to the standard Bonus game. The Super Oxygen Meter is persistent between drops throughout the Super Bonus session.

The Super Bonus game can also be retriggered under the same conditions as the standard Bonus game.

Bonus Buy Option: Yes – cost: 250x the selected bet via X-iter.

X-iter

X-iter is ELK Studios' feature-purchase system, offering five direct access options:

• Bonus Hunt – One game round with more than 3x the chance to trigger the Bonus game. Cost: 2.5x the selected bet.
• Mega Hunt – One game round with more than 6x the chance to trigger the Bonus game. Cost: 5x the selected bet.
• Clam Chowder – One drop that guarantees 3 Clam symbols on the grid. Cost: 25x the selected bet.
• Bonus Game – Direct entry into the Bonus game with 10 bonus drops. Cost: 100x the selected bet.
• Super Bonus – Direct entry into the Super Bonus game with 10 bonus drops. Cost: 250x the selected bet.

The minimum X-iter cost is 0.50 and the maximum is 25,000. All X-iter modes carry the same 96.0% RTP. X-iter can only be activated from the base game.

Wins in Oxygen 3 are determined by clusters of five or more identical symbols connected horizontally or vertically. The larger the cluster, the higher the payout. Payouts below are expressed as multiples of the total bet.

High-Pay Symbols (Fish & Octopus):

Low-Pay Symbols (Coral):

Symbols of size 2×2, 3×3, and 4×4 may appear during any symbol drop. Each large symbol counts as the number of 1×1 positions it covers – for example, a 2×2 symbol counts as 4 standard symbols.

Special Symbols:

• Wild (W): Substitutes for any payout symbol. A cluster made entirely of Wilds pays as the highest payout symbol.
• Exploding Wild: A special Wild that clears symbols in cone-shaped areas when activated.
• Blaster Wild: A special Wild that converts symbols in an X- or Plus-shaped pattern when activated.
• Clam Wild: Acts as a Wild and triggers the Pearl, Squid, or Starfish feature when part of a winning combination.
• Bonus Symbol: Three on the grid trigger the Bonus game or Super Bonus game.

Oxygen 3 uses a cluster pays mechanic. A winning combination requires five or more identical symbols connected horizontally or vertically. Only the largest cluster among connecting symbols of the same type is paid.

After each win, the Avalanche mechanic removes winning symbols. Remaining symbols fall to fill the gaps, and new symbols drop from above. This continues as long as new winning clusters form.

Each time a symbol wins on a position, an Oxygen Bubble multiplier is created or upgraded on that position. These multipliers apply to subsequent wins on the same position and double with each additional win there. The Multiplier Strike feature can also add or upgrade bubble multipliers before a drop, independent of player actions.

In Bonus mode, all multiplier values persist across drops, allowing them to compound and significantly increase payout potential over the course of the bonus session. The maximum total win per game round is capped at 25,000x the placed bet.

Oxygen 3 is the third title in ELK Studios' Oxygen series. The earlier entries – Oxygen and Oxygen 2 – share the same cluster pays grid format and underwater setting, but each instalment introduces a revised feature set. Oxygen 3 adds the Clam feature system with its three linked sub-features, the Exploding Wild, the Blaster Wild, and the enhanced Super Bonus game, making it the most feature-heavy release in the series to date.

Oxygen 3 is a high-volatility cluster pays slot with a well-developed feature set and a 25,000x max win. The Oxygen Bubble multiplier system, Clam-triggered features, and special wilds create multiple layers of interaction that can combine in meaningful ways during extended cascades. The 96.0% RTP is a clear improvement over earlier titles in the series.

The game suits players who are comfortable with complex mechanics and higher variance. Those looking for straightforward gameplay may find the overlapping features difficult to follow. The X-iter options make the bonus modes accessible without relying on chance, which adds practical flexibility.