3 Secret Cities (4ThePlayer) Slot Review

3 Secret Cities: Slot Overview 

3 Secret Cities by 4ThePlayer takes players deep into the jungles of an Aztec/South American adventure, combining a familiar theme with a unique map progression system. The slot transports you from one hidden location to another—Jungle City, Lake City, and Gold City—with each step offering progressively better rewards. The game is designed to keep you engaged through its layered free spins feature, which becomes more lucrative the further you advance. 

Built on a 5-reel, 4-row layout with 1,024 ways to win, 3 Secret Cities offers high volatility gameplay rated 5/5, ensuring that big wins are possible but not frequent. The RTP stands at 96.5%, rising to 98% when using the Bonus Buy option. The game’s maximum win potential is a massive 50,000x your bet, putting it among the most generous in the 4ThePlayer portfolio. Released as a mobile-friendly slot, it includes the developer’s Big Reel Portrait Mode, which flips the layout vertically for easier play on smartphones.

Design and Graphics 

The visual theme blends Aztec ruins with dense jungle landscapes. Behind the semi-transparent reels, you’ll see temples, waterfalls, mountains, and lush vegetation. The animation is fluid, with shifting lighting and subtle environmental effects, creating a sense of an ever-changing expedition.The symbols are finely detailed: 

Low-paying symbols: 10–A royals, styled with Aztec-inspired patterns. 

Medium-paying symbols: snakes, necklaces, jaguars. 

High-paying symbols: a Lara Croft-style adventurer and an Aztec priestess or princess, which appear stacked and can cover entire reels. 

Wild symbol: golden sun wheel, substituting for all symbols except scatters. 

Scatter symbol: golden pyramid marked “Free Spins,” key to triggering the bonus game. 

Character and jaguar symbols pay for two of a kind, while all others require at least three. The art style is consistent and rich, reinforcing the theme of ancient mysteries and treasure hunts.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Wins are formed when identical symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right, starting from reel one. With 1,024 ways to win, there are no fixed paylines—every possible adjacent symbol combination counts. 

The high-value character symbols can pay 4–5x the stake for five-of-a-kind, and their stacked nature means they can generate large payouts when multiple reels align. The jaguar symbol also offers solid returns and benefits from its two-of-a-kind payouts. 

Volatility is high, and the hit rate for free spins is around 1 in 329 spins, meaning the bonus feature is relatively rare. However, the base game is kept interesting with the map progression mechanic, which can improve your future bonus rounds even if you don’t trigger them immediately.

Sound and Music 

The soundtrack is immersive and thematic, filled with jungle ambiance, chirping birds, rustling leaves, and occasional tribal percussion. These background effects help maintain a calm but adventurous tone while you spin. 

When big wins or special features occur, the music shifts to more intense, celebratory cues, adding excitement. This shift in tone helps mark important moments in gameplay, drawing the player’s focus to the action. The sound effects for spins and wins are subtle and non-intrusive, allowing the atmospheric background to dominate.

Bonus Features 

Map Progression 

One of the game’s standout elements, the map progression system tracks your journey between three key cities:Jungle City – Lower-tier rewards (max 15 spins, up to x5 multiplier, 16,000x max win). 

Lake City – Mid-tier rewards (max 25 spins, up to x8 multiplier, 30,000x max win). 

Gold City – Top-tier rewards (max 50 spins, up to x15 multiplier, 50,000x max win). 

Progression happens when two scatter symbols land on reels 1 and 3, awarding either an instant cash prize (up to 50x your bet) or advancing your position on the map. Players can track their location via a map screen.

Free Spins Bonus 

Triggered by landing three scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5, the free spins bonus starts with the Temple Pick feature. You click blocks in a temple to reveal: 

Number of free spins (up to 12 initially) 

Multiplier (up to x4 initially) 

A pay symbol that appears super-stacked during the bonus 

As you progress along the map between bonus triggers, these values improve, making future free spins more rewarding. In Gold City, for example, you can start with up to 50 spins and a x15 multiplier.

Extra Spins During Bonus 

During free spins, scatters on reels 1 and 3 can add +5 to +10 extra spins. Players choose one of the triggering scatters to determine the number of extra spins. This can extend the round significantly, especially at higher-tier cities.

Bonus BuyIf you don’t want to wait for the bonus to trigger naturally, you can use the Bonus Buy feature to purchase entry directly. This also boosts RTP to 98%. Depending on your location in the map progression, the bonus will start at Jungle City, Lake City, or Gold City.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Bet range: €0.10 – €20 per spin
RTP: 96.50% (98% Bonus Buy)
Max win: 50,000x stake (up to €1,000,000 at max bet)
Volatility: High (5/5) 

The largest payouts come from reaching Gold City with a high multiplier and plenty of free spins. The super-stacked premium symbol chosen during the Temple Pick feature can fill large portions of the reels, making huge wins possible when combined with multipliers. 

However, due to the game’s very high volatility, it’s possible to go long stretches with minimal returns, especially in the base game. Careful bankroll management is recommended to weather the dry spells.

Conclusion 

3 Secret Cities is an adventure slot that cleverly integrates progression into its bonus structure, giving players a sense of long-term achievement. While the base game can sometimes feel slow due to the rarity of free spins, the map mechanic ensures that even non-trigger spins can contribute to future rewards. 

Highlights: 

Engaging progression system between three city stages 

Immersive jungle and temple visuals 

Large max win potential (50,000x) 

Bonus Buy option with higher RTP 

Potential Downsides: 

High volatility may not suit all players 

Free spins trigger rate is relatively low (1 in 329 spins) 

Base game payouts can be modest without bonus hits 

For players who enjoy a journey-style slot with escalating rewards, 3 Secret Cities offers a satisfying blend of exploration, anticipation, and big-win potential. It’s a game that rewards patience and persistence, making it a great choice for those who enjoy long play sessions and the thrill of building toward a major payout.