Holmes And The Stolen Pros & Cons
Holmes and The Stolen Stones delivers classic Aristocrat action with a proven track record. The choice-based free spins and stacked symbols create a good variety, but the RTP and max win won't impress everyone.
- 96.8% RTP is exceptional — highest of any Yggdrasil original title
- Shard collection system makes jackpot progression visible and session-engaging
- Five separate jackpots mean different players win different tiers regularly
- 3x multiplier in both standard free spins and Jackpot Free Spins provides meaningful non-jackpot upside
- Low-medium volatility suits longer sessions without significant bankroll drain
- Victorian detective theme executed with distinctive visual quality rare for a 2015 release
- $40 maximum bet is restrictive — the lowest ceiling among the slots in this batch
- No bonus buy — shard collection requires full organic session investment
- Jackpot collection (5 matching diamonds) is not guaranteed in a single Jackpot Free Spin entry
- 2015 graphics engine shows its age compared to 2023-2024 releases
Holmes and the Stolen Stones Slot Review
Most jackpot slots make the jackpot feel distant — a theoretical outcome attached to a product that plays like any standard slot most of the time. Holmes and the Stolen Stones by Yggdrasil Gaming, released in September 2015, built the jackpot into the core progression mechanic. Every win contributes gem shards to a collection system. When the collection fills a gem vault in the Warehouse Bonus Game, you enter Jackpot Free Spins. Collect five matching diamond stones in the same color during Jackpot Free Spins and one of five progressive jackpots is won. The jackpot is not a separate feature you wait to randomly trigger — it is the destination of a session-long progression system that starts the moment you spin.
The format is a 5×3 grid on 20 fixed paylines. 96.8% RTP — the highest of any Yggdrasil release in their original catalog. Low to medium volatility. $0.20 to $40 bet range. Five progressive jackpots colored yellow, red, green, blue, and purple, each building separately across the player network. Free spins include a 3x multiplier. The Warehouse Bonus Game is a gem vault selection system that serves as the bridge between regular play and Jackpot Free Spins. For a slot released in 2015, the progression architecture has aged better than almost anything from that era — Yggdrasil’s first major title remains one of their most mechanically distinctive releases.
| PROVIDER Yggdrasil Gaming | RELEASE DATE September 9, 2015 |
|---|---|
| GRID 5x3- 20 Fixed Paylines | THEME Victorian Detective Mystery - Sherlock Holmes, London, Gem Heist |
| RTP 96.8% - highest in Yggdrasil's original catalog | JACKPOTS 5 progressive jackpots - Yellow, Red, Green, Blue, Purple |
| VOLATILITY Low-Medium | MIN / MAX BET $0.20- $40 |
| SHARD COLLECTION Wins fill gem vaults - full vault = Warehouse Bonus | JACKPOT FREE SPINS 3x multiplier - collect 5 matching diamonds = jackpot |
| WAREHOUSE BONUS Select gem vaults to unlock Jackpot Free Spins | BONUS BUY Not available |
Key Features & Mechanics
💎 Shard Collection — Progression System Toward Jackpot Every Win Fills Gem Vaults — Full Vault Triggers Bonus
Below the reels, five colored gem vaults — corresponding to the five jackpot colors — display progressive fill bars. Every winning spin contributes gem shards to these vaults in varying amounts. The vault receiving the most shards from a given win fills faster. When one or more vaults reach full capacity, the Warehouse Bonus Game is triggered. The shard system persists across the full session: extended base game play with frequent winning spins builds the vaults progressively, meaning the Warehouse Bonus becomes more frequent the longer you play without triggering it. This is the mechanic that separates Holmes from generic jackpot slots — jackpot access is tied to a transparent, visible progression system rather than an invisible random trigger.
🏫 Warehouse Bonus Game — Select Vaults to Enter Jackpot Free Spins
The Warehouse Bonus Game is a selection game presented as a vault room containing the five colored gem containers. Players select among available vaults. A vault that was fully filled during the base game shard collection phase is guaranteed to award Jackpot Free Spins for the corresponding jackpot color — this is the primary Jackpot Free Spins path. Vaults that weren’t fully filled during base game play can still award cash prizes or additional picks in the Warehouse selection game. The number of picks available scales with how many vaults were close to full at the time of Bonus trigger. Fully filling multiple vaults during a single base game shard collection run can award multiple Jackpot Free Spin entries in the same Warehouse Bonus event.
👑 Jackpot Free Spins — Five Matching Diamonds Wins the Jackpot
Jackpot Free Spins operate on a standard free spin format with a 3x multiplier applied to all wins. The jackpot win condition is collecting five matching diamond symbols of the same color — corresponding to the jackpot color associated with the vault that triggered the feature. Diamond symbols land on the reels during free spins and accumulate in a collection display. Five matching diamonds of the target color awards the progressive jackpot for that color immediately. If the 12 free spins conclude without five matching diamonds collected, the free spins end with whatever payline wins accumulated — the jackpot is not guaranteed within a single Jackpot Free Spin entry. However, the 3x multiplier ensures standard payline wins during the feature are meaningful even without a jackpot outcome.
Symbol Values & Paytable
| SYMBOL | 3 OF A KIND | 4 OF A KIND | 5 OF A KIND |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Holmes (Top Premium)
|
4x | 20x bet | |
|
Watson
|
2.5x | 12.5x bet | |
|
Irene Adler
|
1.5x | 8x bet | |
|
Moriarty
|
1x | 5x bet | |
|
A, K, Q, J, 10 (5 types)
|
0.3-0.5x | 1-2x bet | |
|
Wild (Magnifying Glass)
|
Substitutes all standard | symbols - pays as highest matching | symbol |
|
Scatter (Locked Box)
|
Free Spins with 3x multiplier | ||
|
Gem Shard
|
Contributes to vault fill | on every win- colored by win | combination |
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Shard Collection system work exactly?
Five colored gem vaults are displayed below the reels at all times. Every winning combination on a spin contributes gem shards to these vaults. The color of shards and the quantity contributed depend on which symbols formed the winning combination — higher-paying combinations typically contribute more shards and to more vaults. The vaults fill progressively across the entire session. When one or more vaults fill completely, the Warehouse Bonus Game triggers. The shard amounts are not displayed as precise numerical values — you see the fill bars moving after each win. Sessions with frequent winning spins fill the vaults faster. The practical effect is that the longer a session runs without a Warehouse Bonus, the closer all vaults are to triggering — the system has a natural built-in progression guarantee.
Is winning the jackpot guaranteed when I enter Jackpot Free Spins?
No — the jackpot requires collecting five matching diamond symbols of the target color during 12 free spins. Diamond symbols of the target color land randomly on the reels during the feature. If five matching diamonds land before the 12 spins conclude, the jackpot is won immediately. If 12 spins complete without five matching diamonds, the Jackpot Free Spins end with payline wins only — the jackpot is not awarded that entry. Players can retrigger Jackpot Free Spins through the Shard system in subsequent play and attempt again. The 3x multiplier on all wins during Jackpot Free Spins ensures the feature delivers meaningful value even without a jackpot outcome.
Which of the five jackpots is worth the most?
All five jackpots are local progressives that grow independently through player contributions at the current operator. Their values at any given time depend on when each was last won and how much play has accumulated since. Yellow and red jackpots typically have lower values and win more frequently. Blue and purple jackpots accumulate longer between wins and reach higher values. Green sits in the middle tier. The exact current values of all five jackpots are displayed on the game screen before you start playing. Players who check the current jackpot displays and time sessions around higher accumulated values in the blue or purple tiers are using the most practical approach to jackpot session strategy available in this title.
What happens in the Warehouse Bonus Game?
The Warehouse Bonus Game is a selection game set in a vault room. You are presented with the five colored gem vaults and offered a number of selection picks. Vaults that were fully filled during the shard collection phase are guaranteed to reveal Jackpot Free Spins for the corresponding jackpot color. Vaults that weren’t fully filled may reveal cash prizes or additional picks. The number of picks you receive scales with how many vaults were near or at full capacity when the Bonus triggered. A session that ran long enough to fill multiple vaults simultaneously can enter the Warehouse with multiple guaranteed Jackpot Free Spin entries from the same event, allowing consecutive jackpot attempts across different colors.
Is Holmes and the Stolen Stones available at Canadian casinos?
Yes — Yggdrasil Gaming content is available at Ontario-regulated casinos and international platforms serving Canadian players. The 96.8% RTP is consistent across operators. The five progressive jackpots are local to each operator rather than networked globally — meaning the jackpot values you see at Jackpot City Canada are different from values at another operator, and each operator’s jackpots are won and reset independently. The $40 maximum bet is consistent across platforms. Bonus buy is not available. The minimum bet of $0.20 makes the slot accessible for any budget. Players seeking the blue or purple jackpots at higher accumulated values should check the in-game jackpot display before their session starts.
How does Holmes and the Stolen Stones compare to Vikings Go Berzerk?
Both are Yggdrasil Gaming titles with 96% range RTPs and distinctive progression systems. Holmes uses the Shard collection system feeding into five jackpots with low-medium volatility and a $40 max bet. Vikings Go Berzerk uses four individual Rage Meters feeding into sticky wild free spins with medium-high volatility and a $125 max bet. Holmes is more suited to longer, lower-volatility sessions where the jackpot progression builds gradually. Vikings Go Berzerk is better for higher-stake sessions where the sticky wild mechanic drives spike wins without jackpot dependency. The 96.8% RTP in Holmes is marginally higher than the 96.1% in Vikings Go Berzerk, and the five-jackpot structure gives Holmes more distinct win event types per session.