ELK Studios has turned its quirky bird franchise into something of a cult favourite, and Pirots 4 launches the feathered crew into outer space. Released on 24 July 2025, this fourth mainline entry sees the parrots chasing a treasure-snatching space monster through a black hole. It sounds ridiculous, and it is. But that’s always been part of the charm with this series. The question is whether the gameplay holds up alongside the increasingly elaborate theming.
Slot Basics
Pirots 4 plays out on a 6×6 grid without traditional paylines. Instead, the core mechanic revolves around four colour-coded birds moving around the board, collecting matching gem symbols and feature icons as they go. Think Pac-Man crossed with a cascading slot. Birds keep moving until there’s nothing left for them to pick up, and symbols refill after collection rounds. It’s a system that rewards patience and understanding rather than simple line matching.
The RTP sits at 94.0%, which is honestly on the low side. For a high-volatility game with a 10,000x max win, that percentage feels a bit stingy compared to competitors offering 96% or above. Stakes run from £0.20 up to £100 per spin. One bright spot is the hit frequency of around 25%, meaning roughly one in four spins produces some kind of result. That’s decent for a highly volatile slot and stops base game sessions from feeling completely barren.
Bonus Features
This is where the Pirots series has always gone big, and the fourth instalment is no exception. The birds don’t just collect gems; they also pick up feature symbols scattered across the grid. These trigger various mechanics that layer on top of each other, creating rounds that can snowball quickly or fizzle out entirely.
New to Pirots 4 are space-themed additions including Fire Minions, an Inferno coin game, and the Charlie feature, which introduces a level of chaos that can completely reshape a round. Black holes and alien invasions also factor into gameplay, pulling symbols around the grid or adding new ones in unexpected ways. The series’ signature X-iter feature buy menu returns as well, letting players skip straight to bonus rounds at a premium cost. Importantly, the RTP remains consistent at 94.0% regardless of whether you’re spinning normally or buying in.
The cascading nature of symbol collection means a single spin can play out over multiple phases. Birds move, collect, symbols refill, and the process repeats. When several features activate simultaneously, things get genuinely exciting. The problem is that high volatility paired with a below-average RTP means those big moments need to deliver, and 10,000x, while respectable, isn’t enormous for this type of game.
Final Thoughts
Pirots 4 is a well-crafted slot with personality to spare. ELK Studios clearly understands what makes this series appealing: the blend of strategic collection mechanics with unpredictable bonus layers. The space setting is fun, the new features add genuine variety, and the 25% hit frequency keeps things ticking along. However, that 94.0% RTP is hard to overlook. Fans of the Pirots franchise will likely enjoy the evolution, and the feature density gives every session the potential for surprise. Newcomers might want to try the earlier entries first to see if the format clicks before committing here. A good slot held back slightly by its maths model.
