What type of game is Space Evader Gold?

Space Evader Gold is a trail-based instant win game from Microgaming. Instead of spinning reels, you roll dice to move an alien along a 47-space path toward its spaceship. It is a board game format rather than a slot.

What is the RTP of Space Evader Gold?

Space Evader Gold has an RTP of 97%, which is higher than the typical 94-96% range for most online slots and instant win games.

How many dice rolls do you get per game?

Each game of Space Evader Gold gives you 8 rolls of the dice. You can extend this if you land on Continue spaces, which award extra rolls beyond the base 8.

What is the maximum win in Space Evader Gold?

The maximum win is 10,000x your bet. This is achieved through the Jackpot Spinner, which activates when you get the alien to its spaceship. The spinner wheel can pay between 40x and 2000x, with the jackpot at the top.

What does the Golden Crystal space do?

Landing on the Golden Crystal space sends your alien directly to the spaceship, skipping all remaining trail spaces. This immediately triggers the Jackpot Spinner regardless of how many dice rolls remain.

Is Space Evader Gold different from the original Space Evader?

Yes. Both games use the same 47-space trail and 8-roll structure. The key difference is that Space Evader Gold replaces the fixed end prize with a Jackpot Spinner, adding variability to the payout when you reach the spaceship.

Space Evader Gold Review - Microgaming Trail Game

Provider	Microgaming

Space Evader Gold is a trail-based instant win game from Microgaming, released in November 2015. Rather than spinning reels, you roll dice to move an alien character along a 47-space path toward its waiting spaceship. It is a sequel to the original Space Evader and keeps the same core concept but replaces the fixed end prize with a Jackpot Spinner that introduces genuine variance at the finish line.

How the Trail Works

Each game gives you 8 rolls of the dice. Your alien starts in the bottom-right corner of the screen and must navigate a winding path to reach the spaceship on the other side of a ravine. The trail runs to 47 spaces because there is no direct route.

Bets run from £0.50 to £10 per game. There are 10 jackpot zones positioned along the trail - yellow number spaces that pay a multiplier based on your stake. The last yellow space you passed when the game ends is your prize, regardless of how far short of the spaceship you fall. So even a failed run that reaches jackpot zone 7 pays out.

The other space types change your trajectory:

- Continue spaces award an extra dice roll, extending your run beyond the base 8
- Jump spaces send you forward to the next matching colour space
- Green Teleporter spaces move you from the first teleporter directly to the second
- Skull and crossbones spaces end your game immediately, regardless of rolls remaining
- Golden Crystal space sends you directly to the spaceship, bypassing all remaining trail

The skull spaces are the threat. Land on one with 3 rolls to spare and the game is over. The Continue spaces are the lifeline that can push a run well past the 8-roll base limit. A Turbo button speeds up the dice animation if you want to cut through sessions quickly.

The Jackpot Spinner

Reach the spaceship - either by walking the full 47-space path or hitting the Golden Crystal shortcut - and you trigger the Jackpot Spinner. The wheel contains a range of prize values and wherever it stops is your payout. Maximum is 10,000x your bet. Multipliers on the wheel range from 40x up to 2000x, with the jackpot at the top end.

There are no wilds, no scatters, and no free spins rounds. Space Evader Gold is stripped to its mechanics. The tension comes entirely from dice probability and which spaces you land on, not from reel outcomes.

Graphics and Atmosphere

The alien is small and green with red antennae, yellow eyes, and what appear to be boxing gloves. The planet surface shows rocks and vegetation. The spaceship in the distance looks exactly like a flying saucer. Microgaming kept the visual style deliberately simple - this is not a game built around cinematic presentation. Sound design and animation are functional rather than flashy, which suits the board game format.

RTP and Volatility

The RTP on Space Evader Gold is 97%, sitting well above the 94-96% range typical of most online slots. Volatility is low, meaning shorter losing runs and more frequent smaller multiplier wins during play. Big payouts from the Jackpot Spinner require getting the alien home, which is not guaranteed in any given game - but the 97% RTP reflects better long-term return compared to most reel-based alternatives.

Space Evader vs Space Evader Gold

The original Space Evader uses the same trail format with an identical 47-space path and 8-roll mechanic. The Gold version replaces the fixed end prize with the Jackpot Spinner, which introduces variability at the finish line. Getting the alien home in the original delivers a predictable prize. In Gold, the spinner decides - higher ceiling but less certainty. That single change significantly affects how completing a run feels.

Is Space Evader Gold Worth Playing?

If you play standard slots most of the time, Space Evader Gold is a genuine change of pace. The board game format means no auto-spin and no near-misses on reels. Each game is an 8-roll sequence with real stakes - every dice result either moves you closer to the jackpot or ends your run. That structure creates a different kind of engagement than 5-reel slots.

The 97% RTP is the strongest argument for this game versus alternatives. The 10 jackpot zones on the trail mean short runs still pay something, while low volatility combined with a 10,000x max win gives it a profile suited to players who want regular returns with occasional large spikes.

For more Microgaming instant win titles, see Triangulation, Whack a Jackpot, and Lucky Numbers. For space-themed games, Space Wars and Fluffy in Space take different approaches to the theme. See our full Microgaming games page for the complete catalogue, and our casino reviews for sites where Microgaming titles are available.