Games in Olympus (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Games in Olympus: Slot Overview

Games in Olympus is a video slot developed by Pragmatic Play, released on July 29, 2024. The game draws its theme from Ancient Greece, specifically celebrating the origins of the Olympic games held in Olympia nearly 2,800 years ago. It positions players in a mythological setting overseen by Zeus himself, who appears beside the reels, evoking the grandeur of historical sporting events intertwined with divine spectacle. This title serves as a reskin of the popular Gates of Olympus, retaining the core mechanics while adapting visuals to fit an Olympic-inspired narrative.

The gameplay style revolves around a 6×5 reel grid employing a Scatter Pays system, where wins form from landing at least eight identical symbols anywhere on the reels, rather than traditional paylines. This cluster-based approach, combined with cascading tumbles and escalating multipliers, delivers dynamic, high-volatility action suited to players seeking frequent smaller wins punctuated by potential for substantial payouts. Target audiences include enthusiasts of Greek mythology slots, fans of tumbling mechanics like those in Gates of Olympus, and high-stakes players drawn to Feature Buy options and max win potentials up to 5,000x the stake. With bets ranging from €0.20 to €125, it accommodates casual spinners and high rollers alike, emphasizing strategic play through ante bets and bonus triggers.

Design and Graphics

The visual design of Games in Olympus captures the majestic essence of Ancient Greek mythology with a polished, immersive aesthetic typical of Pragmatic Play’s portfolio. The 6×5 reel grid is framed against a celestial backdrop of swirling clouds and golden hues, evoking the lofty heights of Mount Olympus. Zeus, depicted as a stern yet commanding figure, sits prominently to the right of the reels, his trident and flowing robes rendered in sharp, high-definition detail. This static yet imposing presence anchors the theme, occasionally animating with subtle lightning effects during key moments to heighten tension.

Symbols are richly themed, blending low-paying card royals (10-A) styled in metallic gold with ancient Olympic motifs for premiums: golden wreaths, olive branches, torches, lyres, and amphorae. High-value symbols shimmer with a divine glow, while the Scatter, represented by a glowing golden orb emblazoned with Zeus’s profile, pulses ethereally. Multiplier symbols appear as floating orbs bearing numerical values up to 500x, crackling with electric energy that intensifies as values accumulate.

Animations are fluid and engaging, particularly during tumbles where winning symbols explode in bursts of light and godly particles, cascading new ones into place with a satisfying rumble. Free Spins activations trigger dramatic lightning storms across the screen, with Zeus gesturing approvingly. The user interface is intuitive, with a control panel below the reels displaying bet size, win amounts, and feature toggles like Ante Bet. Sound design complements the visuals: triumphant orchestral swells for base game spins, escalating percussion for tumbles, and thunderous booms for multipliers, all layered over ambient harp and flute motifs reminiscent of ancient festivities. Overall, the graphics maintain high production quality, ensuring crisp scalability across desktop and mobile devices without compromising detail, though the reskin nature means it closely mirrors the familiar blueprint of its predecessor.

Gameplay Mechanics

Games in Olympus operates on a 6 reels by 5 rows grid, utilizing a Scatter Pays mechanic instead of fixed paylines. Wins require at least eight matching symbols landing anywhere across the reels, paying according to a predefined paytable scaled to the bet. The game supports up to 30 symbols per tumble cycle, fostering expansive cluster formations.

Central to the base game is the Tumble feature, activated after every win. Matching symbols vanish in explosive animations, allowing symbols above to fall into the empty spaces, potentially creating chain reactions of multiple wins per spin. This cascading system continues until no new wins form, amplifying payout potential through successive eliminations.

Special symbols include the golden Scatter (Zeus orb), which solely triggers Free Spins but does not pay directly in the base game. Multiplier symbols appear randomly as golden orbs with values ranging from 2x to 500x the bet. In the base game, these add their value to the total multiplier accumulator before resetting to 1x at the end of each tumble sequence. Premium symbols pay up to 50x for full-grid clusters (e.g., 30 amphorae), while lows start at 0.15x for eight-of-a-kind. The flow begins with a spin, evaluation for wins (8+ matches), tumble cascades with multiplier application, and conclusion when no further wins occur. Autoplay options range from 10 to 1,000 spins, with customizable stop conditions like balance thresholds or feature triggers. Quickspin enhances pace for experienced players, making sessions fluid and responsive.

To illustrate payout structure:

(Note: Payouts approximate based on standard Scatter Pays scaling; exact values align with bet proportionately.)

Bonus Features

The bonus features in Games in Olympus elevate the base game’s tumble mechanic into high-excitement territory. The primary trigger is the Free Spins round, activated by landing at least four Scatter symbols (Zeus orbs), awarding 15 spins regardless of count (additional Scatters grant +5 spins each, up to 25 total in some configurations). During Free Spins, the Tumble Multiplier mechanic evolves: multipliers from collected Multiplier symbols (2x-500x) persist in an accumulator, applying to any new winning tumble. Unlike the base game, this global multiplier does not reset between spins or tumbles, allowing exponential growth—e.g., stacking 10x + 50x + 100x could yield 160x on subsequent wins.

Multiplier symbols land randomly with increasing frequency in Free Spins, their values summing before application. Tumbles continue identically, removing winners and dropping new symbols until exhaustion. Retriggers via three+ Scatters add 5-10 spins, prolonging sessions for multiplier builds toward the 5,000x max win.

Enhancements include Ante Bet, doubling the stake to increase Scatter frequency by 33%, boosting Free Spins odds. The Feature Buy offers instant access: Free Spins for 100x bet, or Ante Bet Free Spins for 120x, catering to aggressive playstyles. No separate bonus rounds exist beyond this; all excitement funnels through Free Spins amplification.

Betting Options and Payouts

Betting flexibility spans €0.20 minimum to €125 maximum per spin, adjustable via a slider for precise control across 20 levels. The RTP of 96.5% is industry-standard, theoretically returning €96.50 per €100 wagered over infinite spins, with all features contributing to this figure. High volatility manifests in prolonged dry spells offset by explosive wins, particularly in Free Spins where multiplier stacking drives the 5,000x max win ceiling—achievable via full-grid premiums under maximal accumulation.

Payouts scale linearly with bet size, favoring larger clusters and multiplier hits. Hit frequency data is unavailable, but the Scatter Pays system ensures moderate base game action via tumbles, with bonuses rarer due to high volatility. No progressive jackpots; all capped at 5,000x. Responsible gambling tools include loss/balance limits and reality checks.

Conclusion

Games in Olympus excels in delivering familiar yet refined tumble and multiplier mechanics within a timely Olympic-themed reskin, bolstered by high-quality graphics and responsive gameplay. Strengths include the persistent Free Spins accumulator for multiplier chases, versatile betting with Ante Bet and Feature Buy, and a solid 96.5% RTP paired with high volatility for thrilling highs. Weaknesses encompass its derivative nature as a Gates of Olympus variant, lacking novel twists, and potential for extended variance swings without disclosed hit/bonus frequencies. Players can test the slot risk-free using the built-in demo available on this page. Overall, it offers engaging sessions for mythology and cascade fans, balanced by proven payout potential up to 5,000x.