Last Updated on July 19, 2026 by Maurya
Few slot sequels manage to improve on a cult classic, but Esqueleto Explosivo 2 is one of the rare exceptions. Released by Swedish studio Thunderkick in early 2020, this Day of the Dead-themed cascading slot took everything players loved about the 2014 original — the singing mariachi skulls, the exploding wilds, the escalating multiplier — and rebuilt it with sharper maths, higher volatility and a far more serious win ceiling.
Having put this game through hundreds of spins in both demo and real-money modes over several years, I can say it remains one of the most distinctive slots in Thunderkick’s catalogue. This review breaks down exactly how it plays, what the numbers really mean for your bankroll, and who should (and shouldn’t) be spinning it in 2026.
Esqueleto Explosivo 2 Slot Info
Esqueleto Explosivo 2 is a five-reel video slot with 99 fixed paylines, built around a dropping-symbols (avalanche) mechanic rather than traditional spinning reels. It carries a default RTP of 96.13%, high volatility, and a maximum win of 5,000x your stake. Bets typically range from around £0.10 up to £100 per spin, depending on the casino. The game was developed by Thunderkick, a Stockholm-based studio licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission, and it runs flawlessly in-browser on desktop, tablet and mobile with no download required.
One important note on RTP: like many modern providers, Thunderkick supplies operators with alternative RTP configurations. Some casinos run this game at reduced values below the 96.13% default. Before depositing, open the in-game info screen at your chosen casino and verify which version you’re playing — it takes ten seconds and genuinely matters for your long-term returns.
Theme, Design and Soundtrack
Slot themes are usually window dressing. Here, the presentation is half the reason people keep coming back. Esqueleto Explosivo 2 is set against a twilight Mexican street scene during Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead festival. Instead of standard reels, colourfully painted sugar skulls drop down the screen in stacks, and this is where Thunderkick’s attention to detail shines: the skulls sing.
Every winning combination triggers a burst of a cappella mariachi harmony from the skulls involved, and as your multiplier climbs, the music swells with it. Chain several cascades together and the soundtrack builds into a full celebratory crescendo that makes big win sequences feel like an actual event rather than a number ticking upward. It’s one of the best examples of audio design driving player experience anywhere in the industry, and it holds up remarkably well six years after release.
Visually, the sequel is a clear upgrade on the 2014 original. The animation is smoother, the skull designs are more detailed, and the exploding wild effect — a golden skull detonating and vaporising its neighbours — has genuine punch. On mobile, the portrait layout is clean and thumb-friendly, which matters given how many sessions now happen on phones.
How Esqueleto Explosivo 2 Plays
The core loop is simple to learn but has real depth. Symbols drop into place on a 5×3 grid, and wins pay across the 99 paylines. Winning skulls then explode and disappear, new skulls fall into the empty spaces, and the sequence repeats for as long as new wins keep forming — a classic cascade system.
The engine of the whole game is the Mucho Multiplier. Every winning drop increases your win multiplier one step along the ladder: 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x and finally 32x. Because each cascade doubles the multiplier rather than adding to it, long chains escalate quickly. A modest line hit at 1x becomes serious money if the same sequence is still running at 16x or 32x.
The second key mechanic is the Explosivo Wild. This golden skull substitutes for all paying symbols, and whenever it lands — whether it forms part of a win or not — it explodes, destroying all eight surrounding symbols (scatters excepted) and triggering a fresh drop. Crucially, an Explosivo Wild explosion also bumps the multiplier up a level. This means a wild landing on a dead spin can single-handedly resurrect it, clearing the board, raising the multiplier and giving you a free shot at a paying combination at improved odds.
The paytable itself is deliberately top-light. The pink skull is the premium symbol, followed by yellow, green, purple and blue. Individual line wins are small on paper, which catches new players off guard — but that’s by design. This game’s payouts come from multiplied chains, not single hits. Judging it by the base paytable is like judging a boxer by his handshake.
Free Spins: Where the Real Volatility Lives
Landing three or more scatter symbols triggers the free spins round, awarding ten free spins plus two extra for every scatter beyond the third. This is where Esqueleto Explosivo 2 separates itself from its predecessor and from most cascade slots on the market.
During free spins, every Explosivo Wild you collect counts toward upgrading your Mucho Multiplier’s starting level. Collect enough wilds and the multiplier ladder no longer resets to 1x between spins — it resets to 2x, then 4x, and so on, while also awarding an additional free spin with each upgrade. Push deep enough into the feature and you can reach a state where every single spin begins at a boosted multiplier, meaning even routine cascades pay at 8x, 16x or 32x.
In practice, this creates a beautifully tense risk curve. Most bonus rounds end modestly — that’s the nature of high volatility — but the sessions where wild collection snowballs are genuinely spectacular. My best result during testing came from a bonus that upgraded three times, finishing with a chain that ran the multiplier to 32x on consecutive spins. Those outcomes are rare, but they’re the reason the 5,000x cap exists, and unlike many slots that advertise a ceiling nobody ever touches, documented max wins on this game do exist across community big-win databases.
In some regulated markets outside the UK, casinos also offer a bonus buy option letting you purchase direct entry to the free spins. UK players won’t see this due to Gambling Commission rules, but if you’re playing elsewhere, be aware that buying bonuses on a high-volatility game like this can burn through a bankroll at frightening speed. Treat it as the highest-risk way to play, because it is.
RTP, Volatility
The headline 96.13% RTP is respectable and sits comfortably around the industry average, but the volatility profile is what defines your session. Thunderkick rates this game as high volatility, and the play experience confirms it. Expect long stretches of small or dead spins punctuated by cascade chains that deliver most of your returns in concentrated bursts. The hit frequency feels reasonable because cascades create the sensation of constant action, but meaningful wins — the kind that move your balance — cluster heavily around multiplied sequences and the bonus round.
For bankroll planning, that has practical consequences. This is not a slot for stretching £20 across a long evening at £1 spins. A sensible approach is to size your bet at a fraction of your session budget that allows at least 150–200 spins, giving the variance room to breathe and giving you a realistic chance of reaching the free spins, where the game’s expected value is concentrated. Personally, I drop my usual stake by one or two levels when playing Esqueleto Explosivo 2 compared with medium-volatility titles, and I’d suggest most players do the same.
Esqueleto Explosivo 2 vs the Original: Is the Sequel Better?
For returning fans of the 2014 game, the short answer is yes — with one caveat. The sequel raises the multiplier ceiling from 32x being theoretical decoration to a genuinely reachable feature state, adds a proper free spins round (the original famously had none), lifts the max win into serious territory, and modernises the audio-visual package. The caveat is volatility: the original was a gentler, lower-variance experience. If you loved the first game precisely because it was a relaxed, musical grind, the sequel’s sharper swings may feel harsher. If you found the original charming but toothless, the sequel fixes exactly that complaint.
Strengths and Weaknesses: An Honest Assessment
On the positive side, Esqueleto Explosivo 2 offers a genuinely distinctive theme executed with craft, an elegant multiplier system where every mechanic feeds every other mechanic, a free spins round with real progression and tension, a competitive default RTP, and superb mobile performance. The audio design remains best-in-class.
On the negative side, base game wins can feel punishingly small before multipliers kick in, and the high volatility will frustrate players seeking steady returns. The 5,000x cap, while healthy, now trails the 10,000x–50,000x ceilings fashionable among newer releases, and the availability of reduced-RTP versions at some casinos means players must stay vigilant. There is also no jackpot element for those who want lottery-style top prizes.
Where to Play and How to Test It First
Esqueleto Explosivo 2 is widely distributed across licensed casinos in the UK, Europe and other regulated markets. My strong recommendation — as with any slot — is to start in free demo mode, which most casino sites and Thunderkick’s own game pages offer. Spend fifty spins learning how the multiplier ladder and Explosivo Wilds interact before wagering real money. When you do choose a casino, stick to operators licensed by your local regulator (the UKGC for British players), confirm the RTP version in the game’s info panel, and check withdrawal terms before depositing.
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
Six years on, Esqueleto Explosivo 2 remains a benchmark for how to build a cascade slot. The mechanics interlock beautifully, the presentation has personality that most modern releases can’t touch, and the free spins round delivers genuine escalation rather than a reskinned base game. It won’t suit players who need frequent mid-sized wins or chase 20,000x ceilings, but for anyone who enjoys multiplier-driven volatility wrapped in the best audio design in slots, it’s still an easy recommendation in 2026. The singing skulls have earned their encore.
Responsible Gambling
Slots are entertainment, not income, and the house edge means the game pays out less than it takes in over time. Set a deposit limit before you play, never chase losses, and stop when it stops being fun. If gambling is causing you problems, free confidential support is available — in the UK, contact GamCare via the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit BeGambleAware.org. You must be 18 or over to gamble in the UK.
FAQs
What is the RTP of Esqueleto Explosivo 2? The default RTP is 96.13%, though some casinos operate lower configurations, so always check the in-game info screen.
What is the max win? The maximum win is capped at 5,000x your total stake.
How do you trigger free spins? Land three or more scatter symbols to award ten free spins, plus two extra spins per additional scatter.
Is Esqueleto Explosivo 2 high volatility? Yes. Wins are concentrated in multiplied cascade chains and the bonus round, so expect significant swings.
Can I play it on mobile? Yes — the game is built in HTML5 and runs smoothly in any modern mobile browser with no app required.
