Our Review
Balloon by Smartsoft Gaming is a cartoonish crash game with a quirky balloon theme. It comes down to only one thing, cashing out before that balloon pops.
And I like it a lot!
The game mechanic of Balloon is something completely new.
Let’s see how party props and crash gambling can go hand in hand and how you can leverage the RTP that can climb up to 98%. Here’s my review of Smartsoft’s Balloon game.
Game information
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Gameplay experience
Balloon by Smartsoft Gaming is a crash game that simplifies the gameplay, making it incredibly easy to understand and play.
To get started, select your desired bet, then click and hold the button to inflate the balloon.
The goal?
Cash-out before the balloon bursts to claim your winnings.
I really like it when providers make them a game of nerves and timing, and Balloon is a prime example of that approach, so kudos to Smartsoft Gaming.
Desktop experience
Playing Balloon on a desktop is a thrill ride that captures the essence of crash games with a perfect blend of simplicity and excitement. Did I mention the payouts? And payouts, too.
Right off the bat, you’ll appreciate how responsive the inflation button is. However, this sensitivity means you can’t stray your mouse away unless you’re ready to cash out, making it a bit tricky to keep that button pressed for longer periods.
Trust me, it’s all too easy for your finger to slip off in the heat of the moment. Still, the real fun kicks in as you watch the balloon inflate.
With each passing second, the prize total grows, and the balloon starts to lift – it’s a neat animation that adds a lot to the overall experience.
What’s also great is how the game immediately displays your potential winnings in currency; there are no multipliers like most other games. This little touch keeps you hooked, as you can see exactly how much you stand to win in real time.
Now, there’s one thing about the prizes you must know. Prizes start with the bet size and can grow quickly, especially if you’re betting big. This makes Balloon a perfect game for high rollers, as the return potential is high and can lead to substantial winnings.
On the other hand, if a disconnection happens during an active round, the bet will automatically be cashed out if the result is 1% or higher than the initial bet, provided the balloon has not burst.
This leaves a bit of room for doubt. You’ll have to trust the operator on this. Maybe it would have been better to null the bet and return the stake, but that’s that.
Mobile experience
Playing Balloon on mobile is an absolute delight, and the responsiveness here is even better than on the desktop.
There are no missed taps on the button that inflates the balloon, and the controls are perfectly sized, making it a breeze to play. You can easily navigate to the game menu to check your bet history and see the top wins, all with just a few taps.
The gameplay itself is identical to the desktop version, which is fantastic.
You still get that same thrill of watching the balloon inflate, and the prize pot grow. The bottom line – the controls are intuitive, making it easy to hold and release the inflation button at the perfect moment.
Gameplay options
One significant difference between Balloon and other crash games is that there’s no autoplay.
That’s right. Since the gameplay and outcomes of rounds depend on the player’s active involvement, there’s no way to include an autoplay.
To select the bet size, you must hit the arrows next to the amount to increase or decrease the wager. The wagers can go from $0.10 to $100.
The disadvantage here is that you can’t input a custom bet size, like $1.10. There are only the preset values, which can be rather limiting.
Pros & cons of Balloon
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RTP can reach 98%
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Simple interface
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Detailed bets history
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Seamless mobile gameplay
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Maximum payout of $10,000
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No autoplay
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No real-time provable fairness
Is Balloon worth it?
Balloon swaps multipliers for a hold-and-release mechanic that is pure nerve, and pairs it with an RTP reaching 98%. No autoplay and no real-time fairness check are the only real trade-offs here.
