3 Secret Cities (4ThePlayer) Slot Review

3 Secret Cities: Slot Overview

3 Secret Cities is an adventure-themed video slot developed by 4ThePlayer and released in 2021. The game transports players into a dense Aztec jungle, where an adventurous female explorer follows a map leading to three hidden cities—Lake City, Jungle City, and Gold City—each housing ancient temples filled with treasures. These Teocalli structures, known as “god houses,” reflect Aztec craftsmanship with durable materials and intricate details, historically used for worship, prayers, and sacrifices to appease deities in exchange for blessings and accumulating precious offerings over time.

With a 5×4 reel grid and 1024 ways to win, the slot appeals to fans of high-volatility exploration games seeking substantial payouts. Wins form by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel. The game’s mechanics emphasize progression through a map system tied to bonus triggers, culminating in potential rewards up to a staggering 50,000x the stake. It targets players who enjoy immersive narratives, strategic bonus paths, and mobile-optimized experiences, including 4ThePlayer‘s Big Reel Portrait Mode for enhanced portrait play on devices.

Design and Graphics

The visual design of 3 Secret Cities immerses players in an Aztec adventure aesthetic, featuring lush green jungle backdrops that dynamically shift as gameplay progresses between the three secret cities. The environments evoke mystery and exoticism, with detailed foliage, ancient ruins, and temple silhouettes enhancing the exploratory theme. Symbols are intricately crafted to fit the motif: low-paying icons (10, J, Q, K, A) display Aztec-inspired engravings and patterns, while high-paying symbols include a gleaming gold snake ring, ornate necklace, fierce jaguar, the 1×4-sized adventurer figure, and the priestess, also spanning an entire reel in 1×4 format for dramatic appearances.

3 Secret Cities slot – base game

The Wild symbol, depicted as a radiant golden sun emblazoned with “Wild,” stands out with its metallic sheen and glow effects. Scatter symbols represent the three distinct temples—Lake City, Jungle City, and Gold City—each uniquely stylized with watery reflections, overgrown vines, and golden opulence, respectively. Animations are fluid and thematic: winning combinations trigger subtle jungle rustles and treasure glints, while bonus transitions feature map zooms and temple reveals with particle effects. The interface is clean, with a progress map prominently displayed, changing hues and icons as players advance.

Overall, the graphics maintain high quality with sharp 2D art, vibrant colors dominated by greens, golds, and earth tones, and smooth scalability for desktop and mobile. Sound design complements the visuals through ambient jungle sounds, echoing temple chimes, and escalating tribal percussion during features, creating a cohesive, atmospheric experience without overwhelming the player.

Gameplay Mechanics

3 Secret Cities operates on a 5-reel, 4-row grid with 1024 ways to win, where combinations pay when three or more matching symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right. The base game is straightforward, focusing on collecting high-value symbols like the adventurer and priestess, which occupy full reels (1×4) for heightened win potential. The Wild symbol (golden sun) substitutes for all regular symbols except scatters, aiding in forming or enhancing wins with its versatile placement.

Core flow revolves around scatter landings on reels 1, 3, and 5, which interact with a central game map tracking progress toward the cities. Two scatters prompt a player choice: click one for an instant cash prize up to 50x the bet or advance on the map, unlocking better bonus prospects. The hit frequency stands at 20%, aligning with high volatility, meaning base game spins build tension through frequent low-to-mid wins punctuated by scatter teases. No traditional paylines exist; instead, the ways-to-win system ensures dynamic matching without fixed lines.

Reels spin at a standard pace with auto-play options, and the map visually updates progress, fostering a sense of journey. Mobile adaptation via Big Reel Portrait Mode adjusts reel sizing for portrait orientation, maintaining readability and touch responsiveness. This structure keeps gameplay engaging yet simple, priming players for feature escalation without unnecessary complexity.

Bonus Features

The slot’s excitement peaks through its integrated bonus mechanics, centered on scatter-triggered progression and a rewarding free spins round. Landing scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5 drives all features:

Two Scatters: Players select one scatter, yielding either a direct payout up to 50x the bet or map advancement. Progress on the map enhances subsequent bonuses, increasing free spins, multipliers, and max win ceilings from Lake City (base level) toward Gold City (peak rewards).

Three Scatters: Activates the Bonus round, transporting players to a temple map mini-game. Click sequential blocks upward until reaching the top or hitting a red cross (blocker). Rewards scale with map position:

Free spins commence with a randomly selected super stack symbol (one of the premiums or wilds) stacking across reels for massive hits. The global multiplier applies to all wins, escalating potential. Retriggers occur with two scatters in free spins, awarding 5-10 additional spins and another player choice for cash or map progress.

3 Secret Cities slot – bonus game

Bonus Buy bypasses grinding, offering three tiers with elevated RTP 98.0%:

3 Secret Cities slot – free spins

These mechanics blend player agency (clicking choices) with scaling progression, differentiating from standard free spins via the map’s risk-reward path.

Betting Options and Payouts

Betting ranges from a minimum of €0.10 to a maximum of €20 per spin, accommodating casual and mid-stakes players. The default RTP 96.5% rises to 98.0% in Bonus Buy mode, with no deferred RTP mechanics—each spin delivers full value. High volatility and 20% hit frequency suit thrill-seekers, as wins cluster in bonuses rather than steadily.

The 50,000x max win is achievable in Gold City free spins via super stacks, high multipliers (up to 15x), and retriggers, though probability details are unavailable. Payouts favor premiums: priestess pays best (up to 10x for five-of-a-kind, scaled by stacks), with ways ensuring frequent partial hits. Map progression directly boosts payout ceilings, from 12,000x early to full potential late-game.

Conclusion

3 Secret Cities excels in thematic immersion and innovative bonus progression, with standout design, player-interactive map mechanics, and a 50,000x max win that rewards persistence. Strengths include dynamic visuals, scalable free spins (up to 50), super stacks, and versatile Bonus Buy with boosted RTP, plus full-value spins without RTP bleed. Weaknesses encompass high volatility‘s dry spells in base game and reliance on scatters (20% hit rate), potentially frustrating low-stakes grinders despite choices mitigating variance.

Players can test the slot risk-free using the built-in demo available on this page. Overall, it delivers a balanced, adventurous high-roller experience for those valuing narrative depth and explosive potential over frequent small wins.