Gorilla Kingdom (NetEnt) Slot Review

Gorilla Kingdom: Slot Overview 

Gorilla Kingdom by NetEnt ventures deep into jungle territory, where thick vines, roaring waterfalls, and wild beasts rule the reels. With a lead role for the ever-majestic silverback gorilla, this slot blends immersive jungle visuals with fast-paced gameplay and a transformative bonus feature. Although the game draws notable inspiration from competing titles — particularly Thunderkick’s Pink Elephants — NetEnt puts its own twist on the formula, delivering a highly playable slot experience that balances simplicity with occasional bursts of excitement. 

Played on a 5-reel, 4-row layout with 1,024 ways to win, Gorilla Kingdom is accessible, mobile-friendly, and powered by a medium volatility math model. It offers a 96.03% RTP, a hit frequency of 35.92%, and a respectable maximum win of 2,857x, giving players a mix of steady payouts and bonus-driven potential. Though it doesn’t break major new ground, it carves out a comfortable space for fans of jungle-themed slots with a thirst for transforming symbols and solid free spin rounds.

Design and Graphics 

Visually, Gorilla Kingdom does an excellent job of capturing the lush atmosphere of an untamed rainforest. The reels are set before a shimmering waterfall, nestled in a dense jungle teeming with oversized leaves, tangled roots, and the sounds of exotic wildlife. Semi-transparent reels allow the animated backdrop to shine through, creating a sense of depth and immersion.The symbols include a variety of creatures — a pangolin, okapi, horn-billed bird, leopard, and of course, the star gorilla — alongside low-paying 9–A card symbols. These animals are drawn with detail and personality, blending into the earthy palette of greens and browns that dominates the screen. The gorilla symbol, in particular, is given visual emphasis as it plays a central role in both base and bonus game features. 

NetEnt’s visual polish is evident throughout. Animations are smooth, with subtle movements and glints of light breathing life into every spin. It’s a slot that looks great whether played on desktop or mobile, thanks to its clean user interface and adaptive design.

Gameplay Mechanics 

The core mechanic of Gorilla Kingdom is the 1,024 ways to win system, where wins are formed by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, regardless of position on the reel. This makes the game more dynamic than traditional payline slots and contributes to its 35.92% hit frequency, offering players wins every 2–3 spins on average. 

High-paying symbols, like the gorilla and the leopard, only need 2 symbols to start paying, which boosts early-stage wins. The gorilla is also the highest-paying symbol in the base game, awarding 4x the stake for a five-of-a-kind. Low-paying symbols require at least 3 of a kind. 

Interestingly, there are no wild symbols in the base game — a somewhat unusual choice for a slot of this style. This omission simplifies gameplay but places more weight on triggering and progressing through the bonus game to unlock the slot’s true potential.

Sound and Music 

Sound design in Gorilla Kingdom is rich and atmospheric. Players are treated to a layered jungle ambiance that includes chirping insects, distant bird calls, and the occasional low roar or rustling leaves. The music is soft and mysterious, with tribal drums and flutes woven into the background to enhance the immersive setting. 

When spins hit winning combinations or features are activated, the audio ramps up with dramatic percussion and roars from the gorilla. The transition into free spins is marked by a satisfying sound cue and an energy shift in the soundtrack — helping build tension and excitement. 

Altogether, the soundscape is both immersive and unobtrusive, supporting the game’s theme without becoming repetitive or overpowering during long sessions.

Bonus Features 

Diamond Scatter and Free Spins 

The key to unlocking the real power of Gorilla Kingdom lies in the Diamond Scatter. Landing 3, 4, or 5 of these blue, gem-like symbols triggers 10, 15, or 20 free spins, respectively. 

During the bonus round, the game introduces two new mechanics:Gorilla Mask Transformations 

Gorilla symbols can appear as gorilla mask icons, which then fly off into a panel on the right-hand side. 

Each animal symbol (excluding the gorilla) has its own animal panel. 

When 6 masks are collected for a given animal, that symbol is transformed into a gorilla for the remainder of the free spins. 

Symbol Transformations in Order 

Unlike some other games, symbols are transformed from highest to lowest, offering the potential for high-value screens packed with gorillas and royals. 

Additionally, landing 2, 3, 4, or 5 Diamond Scatters during the free spins round awards 3, 10, 15, or 20 additional spins, respectively. This makes it possible to chain together long bonus rounds, especially with frequent re-triggers. 

Totem Structure and Mask Panel 

The transformation process is visualized via a totem-like panel that shows how many masks have been collected for each animal symbol. As masks fill a symbol’s panel, the animal becomes extinct from the reels and is replaced by the gorilla — a process that builds momentum and increases win potential as more transformations occur.

Betting Options and Payouts 

NetEnt has made Gorilla Kingdom accessible to all player types by offering a wide betting range: 

Min Bet: €0.10 

Max Bet: €350 

RTP: 96.03% 

Hit Frequency: 35.92% 

Free Spins Frequency: 1 in 142 spins 

Max Win: 2,857x your stake 

Volatility: Medium 

This setup means the game can be both relaxing and rewarding. While it may not deliver massive multipliers or mega jackpots, it provides steady wins in the base game and the chance for larger payouts during free spins. 

Symbol payouts (for 5 of a kind): 

Gorilla: 4x 

Leopard: 3x 

Hornbill Bird: 2.4x 

Okapi & Pangolin: ~1.6x 

Card Symbols (A-9): 0.4x–1.2x 

Though the paytable is modest, its strength lies in transformation stacking, which can fill the screen with gorillas — resulting in bigger cumulative wins.

Conclusion 

Gorilla Kingdom is a visually appealing, well-balanced slot with a focus on free spins, transformation mechanics, and animal-themed excitement. It doesn’t break the mold — and in fact borrows quite heavily from Thunderkick’s Pink Elephants — but it refines that model into a slick, cohesive experience suitable for casual and mid-range players. 

Its base game, while somewhat plain without wilds or modifiers, is rescued by an attractive bonus feature that offers meaningful progression and the potential for extended gameplay through re-triggers. The high hit frequency, medium volatility, and strong RTP of 96.03% make it ideal for players who enjoy consistent action with room for solid bonus bursts. 

That said, the maximum win of 2,857x and rare top-end payout probability (1 in 2 billion spins) mean this slot isn’t a heavy-hitter for jackpot hunters. Instead, it’s best enjoyed for what it is — a beautifully designed jungle slot that rewards patience, and delivers gorilla-packed wins in the right moments.