Last updated: May 2026. Series comparison drawn from test play across all four CollectR instalments at AU-licensed casinos.
The CollectR series is ELK Studios' biggest commercial success of the last few years. Four instalments in three years, each refining the four-character collection mechanic while swapping themes. Pirots 4 is the latest and the most polished, but Aussies who've played Pirots 1, 2, or 3 already might wonder: is the new one actually better, or just a refresh? This article puts all four side-by-side.
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The full series at a glance
| Game | Released | Theme | Characters | Grid | Default RTP | Max win | X-iter tiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirots 1 (original) | 2023 | Pirates | 4 parrots | 6×6 | 94.00% | 10,000× | 3 |
| Pirots 2 | 2024 | Dinosaurs | 4 dinos | 6×6 | 94.00% | 10,000× | 4 |
| Pirots 3 | 2024 | Wild west | 4 cowboys | 6×6 | 94.00% | 10,000× | 5 |
| Pirots 4 | 2025 | Pirates (return) | 4 parrots | 6×6 | 94.00% | 10,000× | 5-6 |
The framework is stable across the series: 6×6 grid, four roaming characters, no paylines, 94% default RTP, 10,000× max win, X-iter feature-buy menu. What changes: the theme, the X-iter granularity, and the polish.
Pirots 1 — the original
Released 2023. Theme: pirates.
Pirots 1 launched the CollectR series and the four-parrot framework. Same core mechanic as Pirots 4 — four parrots, gem collection, no paylines, X-iter menu — but with simpler implementation.
What's different in Pirots 1:
- 3-tier X-iter menu (vs Pirots 4's 5-6 tiers).
- Slightly less refined parrot AI (more uniform behaviour, less per-parrot personality).
- Simpler visual presentation — less animation polish.
- Smaller symbol roster.
Who should play Pirots 1 today:
- Players who want the "classic" CollectR experience.
- AU players whose preferred casino doesn't carry Pirots 4 yet.
- Variety-seeking session players who alternate between series instalments.
Pirots 1 is still excellent and still very playable. It's not obsolete just because Pirots 4 exists.
Pirots 2 — the dinosaur swap
Released 2024. Theme: dinosaurs.
Pirots 2 is the boldest theme swap in the series. ELK abandoned pirates for prehistoric dinosaurs — four dinosaurs roaming a Jurassic grid, collecting bones, eggs, fruit, and gold.
What's different in Pirots 2:
- New theme entirely (no pirate elements).
- 4-tier X-iter menu (one more than Pirots 1).
- Slightly higher hit rate (~28% vs ~25%).
- Different multiplier behaviour during bonuses.
Who should play Pirots 2:
- Players who like the CollectR mechanic but want a non-pirate theme.
- Aussies who already played Pirots 1 to death and want variation.
- Anyone curious about ELK's theme range — Pirots 2 is the most thematically distinct in the series.
Pirots 2's main weakness vs Pirots 4: less polished X-iter granularity. You don't have as many tier choices.
Pirots 3 — the wild west run
Released 2024. Theme: wild west.
Pirots 3 took the series to dusty frontier town territory — four wild-west characters (sheriff, outlaw, bartender, prospector) collecting bullets, whisky bottles, gold nuggets, and lawman badges.
What's different in Pirots 3:
- Western theme (six-shooters, saloons, dusty trails).
- 5-tier X-iter menu (most granular until Pirots 4).
- Saloon-music soundtrack.
- Slightly different character abilities — the sheriff has unique deputy-call mechanics.
Who should play Pirots 3:
- Players who already enjoyed Wanted Dead or a Wild and want wild-west pokies.
- Series collectors who want all four.
- AU players whose preferred casino runs Pirots 3 prominently.
Note: Pirots 3 is being launched separately on our partner network — see the dedicated Pirots 3 pages for full coverage.
Pirots 4 — pirates return
Released 24 July 2025. Theme: pirates (again).
Pirots 4 is the studio's deliberate return-to-roots: pirate theme back in front, but with every refinement learned across Pirots 2 and 3. It's the most polished CollectR instalment.
What's different in Pirots 4:
- 5-6 tier X-iter menu (most granular in the series).
- Most refined parrot AI — clearer per-parrot personalities.
- Best animation and sound design — feels like the most expensive build in the series.
- Stack of base-game improvements: cascading, symbol upgrades, meter milestones all tuned.
- Best mobile UX of the four.
Who should play Pirots 4:
- New CollectR players starting fresh.
- Series fans wanting the most polished version.
- Aussies who already loved Pirots 1's pirate theme — Pirots 4 doubles down.
- Max-win chasers — the X-iter granularity gives you better tier choices.
Theme preference — pirates vs dinos vs cowboys
| You're drawn to | Play this |
|---|---|
| Pirate adventure | Pirots 1 or Pirots 4 |
| Prehistoric monsters | Pirots 2 |
| Spaghetti western | Pirots 3 |
| Most polished overall | Pirots 4 |
If you've never played a CollectR title, start with Pirots 4 — it's the most refined.
If you have played the series, alternate based on theme preference. The math is consistent enough that you can session-hop without recalibrating your bankroll model.
Mechanic evolution across the series
The four-character collection mechanic has evolved subtly:
Pirots 1 (2023): Core mechanic launched. Four characters, gem collection, meters, multipliers. Foundation.
Pirots 2 (2024): Added symbol upgrades (collected items convert to higher-value symbols mid-round). Cascade behaviour refined.
Pirots 3 (2024): Added character-specific abilities (e.g., sheriff calls deputies for extra collection radius). Multi-character interaction expanded.
Pirots 4 (2025): Compounded all previous refinements. Most granular X-iter. Best per-character personality differentiation. Cleanest mobile UI.
The trajectory: each instalment adds polish without breaking the core. Pirots 4 represents the cumulative state of ELK's CollectR engineering.
RTP and volatility across the series
Consistent across all four:
| Spec | Series-wide |
|---|---|
| Default RTP | 94.00% |
| Alt RTP (some markets) | 96.00% |
| Volatility | High |
| Hit rate | ~25% |
| Max win | 10,000× |
ELK chose to keep these numbers stable across the series. If you understand Pirots 1's variance shape, you understand all four.
Welcome offers — do they apply across the series?
Yes — all four featured AU casinos run welcome offers that work on any ELK Studios slot, including all four Pirots instalments. You can use your welcome bonus on Pirots 4 specifically, or split your bonus play across the series.
| Casino | Welcome offer (applies to Pirots series) |
|---|---|
| Vegasnova | 100% match up to A$1500 + 100 spins |
| Joe Fortune | 200% match up to A$1000 + 100 spins |
| GreatSlots | 100% match up to A$500 + 50 spins |
| CasinoRocket | 100% match up to A$1500 + 50 spins |
Which instalment is most available at AU casinos?
As of May 2026:
| Game | Availability at our 4 featured casinos |
|---|---|
| Pirots 1 | All four |
| Pirots 2 | All four |
| Pirots 3 | All four |
| Pirots 4 | All four |
Full series coverage at all four featured brands. You can session-hop between instalments without switching casinos.
A note on the Pirots 3 launch
We're launching Pirots 3 separately on our partner network — see the dedicated Pirots 3 pages when they go live. The wild-west theme deserves its own coverage. This page focuses on Pirots 4 as the centrepiece of the AU CollectR portfolio.
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Quick FAQ
Is Pirots 4 worth playing if I've played the others? Yes — it's the most polished build. X-iter granularity alone makes it worth a session.
Do I need to play the others first? No — Pirots 4 is fully self-contained. You can start here without context.
Are there narrative connections between the four? Loose thematic connections (treasure, adventure, collection) but no continuous story. Each is its own pokie.
Will there be a Pirots 5? Unannounced as of May 2026. ELK typically releases CollectR instalments at 6-12 month intervals; another may follow.
Which is the rarest hit in the series? All four cap at 10,000×. Hit frequencies are similar. No instalment is "easier" than others.
Can I claim a separate welcome bonus for each Pirots instalment? No — welcome bonuses are per-casino, not per-game. One bonus per first deposit at each casino.
About this series comparison
Drawn from test play across all four CollectR instalments at AU-licensed casinos in April-May 2026. ELK Studios' official product pages cross-referenced. Series-level data informed by community streamer compilations and our own AUD test sessions.
Gambling responsibly. Playing the full series across one sitting can become compulsive. Set per-game and per-session limits. AU support: gamblinghelponline.org.au · BetStop · 18+ only.
Further Reading
Related reading in this guide: