Katmandu Gold

About Katmandu Gold

Katmandu Gold is the fifth entry in ELK Studios' Gold series, following the explorer Kane from Ecuador and Tahiti to the Himalayas. Released in December 2020, it takes the avalanche mechanic the series is built on and adds something the earlier games did not have: a grid that grows as you win.

The reels start six wide and four deep for 4,096 ways. Every winning avalanche adds a row, and at full stretch the grid runs nine deep for 531,441 ways. A progressive multiplier climbs alongside it during the bonus round. Maximum win is 10,000x stake, the highest in the series.

How to Play Katmandu Gold

Wins pay left to right from reel one across adjacent reels. The number of active ways depends on how tall the grid currently is, running from 4,096 at four rows up to 531,441 at nine. Stakes at Midnite start from £0.20 per spin.

Any win triggers an avalanche. The winning symbols are paid, then shatter and disappear, new symbols drop into the gaps, and a row is added to the grid. That sequence repeats while wins keep landing. Once a drop produces no win, the grid resets to four rows. Landing three or more bonus symbols opens the Free Drops round.

Katmandu Gold Features

• Avalanche: Winning symbols are removed and replaced from above, so a single spin can produce a chain of wins.
• Expanding Grid: Each winning avalanche adds a row, taking the grid from 6x4 and 4,096 ways up to 6x9 and 531,441 ways.
• Grid Reset: Once a drop produces no win, the grid returns to four rows, so height has to be built within a single spin sequence.
• Big Symbols: Oversized symbols landing at 2x2, 3x3 or 4x4, covering large sections of the grid and pulling combinations together.
• Expanding Win Symbols: Marked with gold arrows. When part of a win they grow along the arrow's direction, replacing every symbol in their path.
• Ice Climber: A special symbol that helps push the grid higher during a sequence.
• Wild Symbol: Substitutes for everything except the bonus symbol and the Ice Climber.
• Free Drops: Triggered by 3, 4, 5 or 6 bonus symbols, awarding 10, 15, 20 or 25 rounds.
• Progressive Multiplier: During Free Drops, each X-marked bonus symbol raises a persistent win multiplier by one.

Katmandu Gold RTP, Volatility and Key Info

Before you spin, the figures worth knowing on Katmandu Gold:

• RTP: 96.20%
• Volatility: Medium to high
• Reels: 6 reels, 4 rows expanding to a maximum of 9
• Ways to win: 4,096 up to 531,441
• Max win: 10,000x stake
• Minimum stake at Midnite: £0.20
• Mobile: Available on iOS and Android
• Provider: ELK Studios
• Release date: December 2020

Katmandu Gold Theme and Symbols

The reels sit between carved temple pillars with the Himalayas behind them and a low sun on the horizon. As avalanches land and the grid grows taller, the camera pulls back to take in the extra rows, which is a small touch but makes the expansion feel like something happening rather than a number changing. ELK scored it with drums and strings that build through a sequence.

Card ranks from J to Ace fill the low-value positions. Above them sit four elemental symbols for earth, air, fire and water, then turtles, tigers, dragons and Kane himself at the top of the paytable. Six of the top symbols pay between 2x and 4x stake, which is modest, so the game relies on the grid and the Big Symbols to build combinations rather than on individual symbol values.

Games Like Katmandu Gold

• Pirots: ELK Studios' collection game where birds gather matching gems on an expanding grid.
• Book of Toro: Another ELK title with walking wilds and stacking expanding symbols.
• Gigantoonz: A Play'n GO grid game with oversized Mega Symbols.
• Bonanza Megaways: The Big Time Gaming original with cascading reels and a variable grid.
• Honey Rush: A Play'n GO cluster game with a meter that resets each spin.

Katmandu Gold FAQs

What is the RTP of Katmandu Gold?

The RTP is 96.20% at Midnite.

Who developed Katmandu Gold?

ELK Studios developed the game and released it in December 2020. It is the fifth title in the studio's Gold series.

How do you win on Katmandu Gold?

Land matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. The number of active ways depends on the grid height, running from 4,096 up to 531,441.

How does the grid expand?

Every winning avalanche adds a row, taking the grid from four rows up to nine. Once a drop produces no win, it resets back to four.

What is the maximum win on Katmandu Gold?

The maximum win is 10,000x stake, the highest in the Gold series.

What are Big Symbols?

Oversized symbols that land at 2x2, 3x3 or 4x4 size, covering large sections of the grid and helping pull winning combinations together.

How do you trigger the Free Drops round?

Land three or more bonus symbols. Three, four, five or six award 10, 15, 20 or 25 rounds respectively.

Can I play Katmandu Gold on mobile?

Yes. The game runs on iOS and Android via the Midnite app or mobile browser.