Zombie Circus

Zombie Circus is a thematic horror-circus video slot developed by Relax Gaming, first released in October 2018. The game casts the player into a macabre carnival where undead performers—zombies, clowns, fortune tellers—take center stage. One of its defining innovations is its “Zombie Waves” pick mechanic preceding the Free Spins, which lets players choose how many spins they receive and which symbols become wild, adding a strategic layer before bonus play.

In essence, Zombie Circus combines a familiar 5×3 layout with a twist: a pre-bonus zombie pick stage that influences wild symbol behavior during Free Spins. While the base game is relatively straightforward, the bonus sequence gives the slot its identity—and gives players some control over their bonus parameters.

Zombie Circus presents a dark carnival atmosphere, complete with decrepit tents, flickering lights, and fog drifting across the backdrop. The reels are overlaid on this haunted big-top setting, adding depth to the scene. Symbol art embraces a blend of undead spectacle: zombified clowns, fortune tellers, ringmasters, and knife throwers, each caricatured with decay and theatrical flair. Lower symbols are stylized playing cards (10, J, Q, K, A) twisted into eerie designs.

Animations include glowing eyes, twitching limbs, and transitions when symbols become wilds. In the bonus stage (Zombie Waves), zombies walk toward the player for selection, then collapse or transform when unveiled. Wild conversions flash with light and morphing effects. The audio supports the visual tone via echoing carnival music, creaking wood, distant moans, and sharp cues when features activate—creating a theatrical horror ambience.

Start by selecting a wager between €0.10 and €100, which covers all 10 paylines. Press Spin or use Autoplay. Winning combinations are formed by identical symbols appearing consecutively on active payline positions (from leftmost reel). The Wild (Golden Stage / Wild symbol) substitutes for regular symbols (but not Bonus / Scatter).

To trigger the bonus, scatter symbols (carousel / bonus icons) must land on reels 1, 3, and 5. Before entering Free Spins proper, the Zombie Waves pick stage occurs: stacked bonus symbols on reel 5 determine how many “waves” you’ll play (2–4 waves). Each wave gives a pick: one zombie reveals a free spins count, subsequent waves convert regular symbols into extra wilds. Once waves are done, the Free Spins round begins with the selected wild conversions in effect. Retriggers may occur by landing further scatter symbols in Free Spins. All rules, symbol values, and feature details are available via the “i / info” menu.

Zombie Waves (Pick Stage)

Triggered when scatter symbols land on reels 1, 3, and 5. The number of stacked bonus icons on reel 5 determines how many “waves” are available (2, 3, or 4). In each wave, the player picks from zombies to reveal a prize. The first wave always sets the Free Spins count; subsequent waves convert regular symbols into wilds for the Free Spins round.

Bonus Buy Option: No

Free Spins with Symbol-to-Wild Conversions

During Free Spins, the symbol(s) selected in the Zombie Waves stage are permanently converted to wilds for the entire duration, enhancing substitution potential. Retriggering is possible by landing additional scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5, which add new waves and thus may convert further symbols into wilds.

Bonus Buy Option: No

Below is a representative payout table, based on publicly documented values (5-of-a-kind) for regular symbols:

Additional details:

• Wild acts as a substitution symbol and does not carry its own line payout.
• Scatter / bonus icon must land on reels 1, 3, and 5 to trigger the Zombie Waves stage, not necessarily part of paylines.
• Stacked bonus icons may occur on reel 5, influencing wave count.

Wins are resolved along 10 fixed paylines: matching symbols must align on active paylines from the leftmost reel. The Wild substitutes for regular symbols to complete combinations. The central winning mechanics occur within the Zombie Waves + Free Spins feature: selected symbols are transformed into wilds, boosting substitution coverage during Free Spins. Retriggering during Free Spins adds further symbol conversions. Thus, most significant wins depend on triggering the bonus and optimizing symbol conversion, rather than base game combos alone.

Relax Gaming has not published a direct sequel to Zombie Circus. However, the concept of combining pick-bonus mechanics with symbol conversions appears in titles like Templar Tumble (symbol upgrades) or Vikings Go Berzerk (treasure chest picks). Among zombie-themed slots, Zombie Circus differentiates itself via the wave pick + symbol conversion mechanics in a relatively compact 10-payline environment. It remains a unique title in Relax’s roster rather than spawning variants.

Zombie Circus is a thematically rich slot that leverages creative bonus mechanics to uplift a relatively simple base structure. Its strengths are:

• High RTP (96.92%), above industry average.
• Zombie Waves pick stage, giving the player control over free spins count and wild conversions.
• Symbol-to-wild conversion during Free Spins, enhancing substitution potential.
• Retriggering allows further bonus flexibility.

Its limitations include a modest maximum win (commonly ~500×), reliance on a single bonus path, and a relatively narrow feature set compared to modern multi-feature slots. Some sources note the base game is “slow” or lacking in frequent action.

Zombie Circus is best suited for players who appreciate interactive bonus mechanics, mid-to-high volatility, and thematic immersion over sheer mechanical complexity.