Thunderkick Thunderkick
An independent slot studio founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 2012 by former NetEnt developers. Putting "quality over quantity" first, it releases only about one game a month, and is known for Esqueleto Explosivo and the Pink Elephants series.
| English | Thunderkick |
|---|---|
| Classification | Providers |
| Launched | 2012 |
| Founded by | Former NetEnt developers |
| Headquarters | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Ownership | Independent company (no parent) |
| Employees | 80+ |
| Licenses | UK UKGC, Malta MGA, Sweden, Romania ONJN |
| RNG certification | QUINEL |
| Number of games | 85+ (slots only) |
| Release pace | About one game a month |
| Flagship titles | Esqueleto Explosivo, Pink Elephants |
| Official site | thunderkick.com |
Overview
Thunderkick is a slot development studio founded in 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden, by developers who came from NetEnt. It operates independently with no parent company or outside investors, and more than 80 employees build every game in-house. It makes only slots, with no table games.
Thunderkick’s philosophy is “quality over quantity.” Unlike other providers that pour out more than ten games a month, it releases only about one a month, putting care into its distinctive art style, humor, and music. It describes itself as making “awesome content that no one can simply pass by.” It has released more than 85 slots so far.
License
It holds licenses from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen), and Romania’s ONJN, and its random number generator (RNG) is certified by QUINEL.
Esqueleto Explosivo Series
Thunderkick’s most successful series, themed around Mexico’s “Day of the Dead.” Its signature feature is a structure where skull symbols burst and chain wins keep rolling.
| Games | Release | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Esqueleto Explosivo | 2014 | Max multiplier 32x, max win 5,000x |
| Esqueleto Explosivo 2 | – | Second game in the series |
| Esqueleto Explosivo 3 | 2024.10.23 | 5×5 cluster pays, max multiplier 1,024x, max win 7,500x |
Mucho Multiplier
This is the signature feature of the series. Every time you win in the base game, the multiplier doubles (1→2→4→8…). In the third game, this multiplier grew as high as 1,024x.
Explosivo Wild
In the third game, a regular wild or an “Explosive Wild” is left where a skull bursts. Explosive Wilds clear the surrounding 3×3 area at once, keeping the chain going. In the free spins, triggered by 3 scatters, you get an extra spin every time you collect 3 Explosive Wilds.
Pink Elephants Series
A psychedelic-themed series that began in November 2017. With its dreamy art style and music, it’s considered the work that best shows Thunderkick’s personality.
Pink Elephants Trinity, the third game, released on November 12, 2025, has a max win of 14,000x. In the base game, a “Mystery Lightning” can strike at any time and scatter up to 5 peanut scatters, and collecting 144 peanuts reaches the final bonus stage, “Pink Triangle Apex.” The bonus is split into 6 stages, and during the bonus a seventh reel appears in the middle, expanding the game up to 16,384 ways. There are 4 ante bet options that can raise your chance of entering the bonus by up to 144x.
Other signature slots
| Games | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Midas Golden Touch (2019) | Thunderkick’s signature games |
| Beat the Beast series | Thunderkick’s signature series |
| 1429 Uncharted Seas | Thunderkick’s signature games |
Recent games often include expanding wilds, sticky wilds, and bonus buy.
Founding and Operations
Thunderkick is a studio founded in 2012 by developers from NetEnt with the idea of “innovation and quality first.” It operates independently with no outside investors or parent company, and makes only slots. Everything from planning to art to math is done in-house, and it keeps a slow pace of about one release a month.
Signature game stats
| Games | Release | RTP | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esqueleto Explosivo | 2014 | 96.0% | 700x |
| Midas Golden Touch | 2019 | 96.1% | 10,100x |
| Esqueleto Explosivo 2 | 2020 | 96.1% | 5,000x |
| Pink Elephants Trinity | Recent | 96.1% | 14,400x |
| 1429 Uncharted Seas | – | 98.5% | 670x |
“1429 Uncharted Seas” has an RTP of 98.5%, often cited as one of the highest theoretical return rates among online slots. In exchange, its max win is a low 670x, so it’s a game for playing a long time rather than chasing one big hit. It’s a good example of how RTP, max win, and volatility are linked.
Awards
| Year | Awards |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Flame Busters, Best Mobile Game |
| 2019 | Midas Golden Touch, the best new slot |
Features of Thunderkick games
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Art style | Unique cartoon-like characters with a personality you recognize at a glance |
| Theme | Uncommon themes like Mexican skulls, pink elephants, and the Age of Discovery |
| Mechanic | Explosive tumbling, a multiplier meter, reel expansion |
| Volatility | Varies from low to high |
If fellow Swedish provider Quickspin leans toward a fairy-tale style and Nolimit City toward dark black humor, Thunderkick stands out for its bright, quirky personality.
Headquarters
Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.