Gates of Hades (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Gates of Hades: Slot Overview 

Following the massive success of Gates of Olympus, Pragmatic Play ventures deeper into mythological territory with Gates of Hades, released on May 22, 2025. While drawing some inspiration from its Olympian predecessor, this title boldly carves its own path. Instead of heavenly thunder and gods of light, Gates of Hades plunges players into the ominous, fiery depths of the underworld. Here, Hades, the god of the dead, takes center stage with a crackling staff, flaming hair, and a malevolent grin, presiding over a cluster-based win system enhanced with wild multipliers and a cascade mechanic. 

With a 6×6 grid, cluster pays, tumble wins, and a max win potential of 10,000x the bet, the game is not merely a re-skin—it’s a feature-rich standalone experience. The RTP sits at 96.52%, the hit frequency is 1 in 3.45, and the free spins feature lands approximately every 270.64 spins, making this slot both volatile and rewarding for players who crave intense, visually stunning gameplay with high-end potential.

Design and Graphics 

Thematically, Gates of Hades oozes atmosphere and menace. The background depicts a scorched, lava-filled underworld where crimson skies clash with glowing purple rock formations. To the right of the reels, Hades himself stands in full form, clutching a fiery staff and illuminated by molten light, while ghostly wolves and flickering torches create an ever-present sense of danger. Lightning crackles above, adding kinetic flair. The symbols consist of five vividly colored gemstones (blue, green, orange, purple, red), alongside high-paying symbols like a cup, ring, and golden crown. These are rendered with exquisite clarity and vibrancy. Animations are top-tier: clusters glow before they disappear in cascading tumbles, and wild multipliers burst to life with fiery animations as they collect and multiply wins. In short, Gates of Hades is visually dazzling and perfectly in sync with its dark, mythical setting.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Built on a 6×6 grid, Gates of Hades replaces traditional paylines with a cluster pays system. Wins are formed when five or more matching symbols connect vertically or horizontally. Once a win occurs, the tumble feature removes the winning symbols, and new ones fall from above to fill the gaps. This continues as long as new winning clusters form, allowing for chain-reaction wins from a single spin. 

The core hook is the wild multiplier system. Unlike Gates of Olympus, which relied on scatter multipliers, Gates of Hades uses wild symbols that appear during spins and carry multipliers from x1 to x100. These are collected in a meter at the top of the corresponding reel. Each cluster win is multiplied by the total multiplier of all wilds above it, and once the tumble sequence ends, the multipliers are cleared. 

With its unique integration of persistent multipliers during bonus rounds and explosive cluster wins, this slot plays dynamically and is particularly well-suited for fans of cascading mechanics.

Sound and Music 

The audio in Gates of Hades is intense, cinematic, and perfectly tailored to its setting. A moody orchestral score laced with deep bass notes and eerie chants accompanies base gameplay, intensifying as multipliers are collected and clusters form. During free spins, the music reaches operatic heights, punctuated by crackles of flame and thunder. 

Sound effects for tumbles, wild triggers, and big wins are impactful but not overwhelming. Each cascade comes with a satisfying rush of wind and crumble, while the activation of multipliers is marked with thunderous rumbles and ominous gongs. The snarling of Hades’ underworld beasts adds to the immersive experience.

Bonus Features 

Wild Multiplier 

Wilds are the key to big wins in Gates of Hades. These symbols can appear on any spin and carry multipliers from x1 to x100. When a wild lands, it is collected into a meter above the reel. All cluster wins that occur below that wild receive the total value of the multipliers collected above them. After a tumble sequence ends, the multipliers are reset. 

This feature is present in both the base game and free spins mode, but it becomes particularly potent in the bonus round. 

Free Spins 

Landing 3, 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols in a single spin triggers the free spins feature and awards: 

10, 12, 15, or 20 free spins, respectively. 

The most powerful version of the bonus is the Super Free Spins mode, which is triggered when 6 or more scatters land. In this version: 

Wild multipliers start at x10, and 

All collected multipliers remain in place throughout the entire round. 

During free spins, wild multipliers range from x1 to x500, and players can re-trigger the bonus by landing 3, 4, 5, or 6+ scatters, awarding 5, 7, 10, or 12 additional free spins, respectively. The non-resetting multipliers create huge potential for exponential win growth. 

Feature Buy 

Players can skip the base game grind by purchasing their way into the bonus round: 100x the bet buys regular free spins (with 3–6 scatters). 

500x the bet guarantees Super Free Spins with a starting x10 multiplier. 

This offers immediate access to the most explosive features of the game for players willing to take the risk.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Gates of Hades accommodates a broad range of players with a minimum bet of €0.20 and a maximum of €240 per spin. This makes it accessible to casual players while still being enticing to high-stakes gamblers. 

Paytable-wise: 

Gemstones (low-paying symbols) reward between 0.05x to 1.5x the bet for clusters of 5. 

For clusters of 15+, rewards scale up to 150x the bet. 

Wilds substitute for all symbols but do not appear with standalone payouts. 

The game’s maximum win potential is 10,000x the bet, achievable in both the base and bonus games. However, the probability of hitting this win cap is 1 in 42,194,093, placing it firmly in the high-risk, high-reward category.

Conclusion 

Gates of Hades proves that Pragmatic Play can build on the success of past titles like Gates of Olympus while crafting something original and mechanically engaging. The switch to a cluster pays mechanic, the integration of wild multipliers, and a free spins feature that locks in value elevate the gameplay from mere copy to clever evolution. 

Visually and sonically, the game is a masterclass in thematic cohesion, immersing players in a richly detailed vision of the underworld. The wild collection mechanic, especially when boosted in Super Free Spins, allows for thrilling swings and massive potential. While the high volatility and relatively rare bonus round activation may challenge casual players, the allure of a 10,000x payout and multipliers up to x500 ensure this slot holds appeal for the more adventurous. 

Whether you’re a mythology lover, a fan of cluster games, or someone hunting for the next high-potential feature buy slot, Gates of Hades is one of the standout releases of 2025—and not just a shadow cast by its Olympian predecessor.