The thematic focus is the jester, or “Bufon,” whose presence is instrumental in triggering the most lucrative elements of the game. (Actually I think it’s supposed to be ‘Bufón’ but it’s too much trouble looking for that ‘o’ with an accent on top all the time.) Anyway, the symbols in this slot include the traditional high-value playing cards and various thematic icons, with the Jester Wild symbol substituting for all regular paying symbols to complete winning combinations. The real action begins with the Prize symbols—colored coins or orbs that appear on the reels, each carrying a specified cash value or one of the three fixed jackpot names: Minor, Major, or Grand.
The primary feature is the Link It Up™ bonus, a variation of the popular Hold and Win mechanic that Ruby Play has successfully utilized in many of its titles. To activate Link It Up™, players must land six or more Prize symbols anywhere on the reels. Once triggered, the base game symbols disappear, and the player is granted three respins. Only Prize symbols (or blank spaces) can land during these respins. Any new Prize symbol that lands is held in place, and the respin counter is reset to three, allowing for an extended bonus round. The Link It Up™ round continues until the respins are exhausted or the entire grid is filled with Prize symbols.
A critical innovation within this feature is the Link It Up™ Collection. The game includes special Collection Symbols that can appear during the Link It Up™ respins. When a Collection Symbol lands, it instantly gathers the value of all Prize symbols currently visible on the screen, adding them to the total win for the feature. This mechanism allows players to win the accumulated prize values multiple times within a single bonus round, significantly boosting the total potential payout, which sets it apart from simpler Hold and Win games where prizes are only collected once at the end.
Furthermore, the game features a Free Games bonus, triggered by landing three or more Scatter symbols (usually represented by a unique logo or symbol). During the Free Games, the reels are enhanced with a higher concentration of the powerful Prize and Jester Wild symbols. This modification increases the frequency of both standard line wins and the chance to trigger the highly rewarding Link It Up™ feature. Depending on the number of Scatters that triggered the bonus, players can receive a varying number of initial free spins.
The three fixed jackpots—Minor, Major, and Grand—are awarded when a Prize symbol displaying the corresponding name lands during the Link It Up™ feature. The Grand Jackpot, representing the maximum fixed prize, is often linked to filling the entire 5×3 grid with 15 Prize symbols, though it can also be awarded via a single Grand Jackpot Prize symbol. The seamless interplay between the Jester Wilds, the Free Games, and the potentially lucrative, multi-collecting Link It Up™ respins ensures that Bufon Fortuna provides a comprehensive and high-stakes slot experience.
