Pandemic Rising (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Pandemic Rising: Slot Overview 

With Pandemic Rising, Pragmatic Play ventures into provocative thematic territory, exploring a subject that left an indelible mark on global consciousness — the COVID-19 pandemic. Scheduled for release on October 27, 2025, the slot draws inspiration from the chaos and speculation surrounding viral outbreaks while reimagining them through the lens of science fiction and cinematic tension. 

The game unfolds on a 5×4 grid with 40 paylines, combining the visual energy of dystopian thrillers with Pragmatic Play’s trademark high-volatility math model. Beneath the ominous title lies a gameplay experience built on powerful multiplier wilds, sticky free spins, and a potential max win of 14,000x the bet. 

Though the premise risks courting controversy, Pragmatic Play handles it with a degree of restraint. Rather than leaning on shock value, the developer uses the pandemic as a backdrop for questions about human control, conspiracy, and survival — making Pandemic Rising a slot that’s both topical and mechanically engaging. It follows in the footsteps of Nolimit City’s xWays Hoarder, but while Nolimit went for dark satire, Pragmatic aims for seriousness, tension, and a glimmer of optimism.

Design and Graphics 

Visually, Pandemic Rising is bold, brooding, and unmistakably cinematic. The base game is set against an urban skyline steeped in dusky tones, illuminated by emergency lights and streaks of biohazard green. The reels are enclosed within a heavy metallic frame, evoking laboratory containment doors, while warning symbols and flickering holographic lights add to the sense of unease.Each character symbol — scientists, medics, agents, and mysterious hooded figures — feels lifted from a high-budget pandemic thriller. The attention to detail is exceptional: lab goggles gleam under fluorescent light, gas masks fog up subtly, and every winning combination pulses with an unsettling glow. The ‘Conspiracy’ symbol in particular encapsulates the slot’s deeper commentary, hinting at unseen puppet masters manipulating the outbreak. 

While the theme might sound grim, the visual execution leans more toward stylized realism than horror. It’s sleek and polished, with Pragmatic Play’s crisp animation and dynamic lighting ensuring the slot feels alive, as if breathing — or mutating — beneath the surface.

Gameplay Mechanics 

At its mechanical core, Pandemic Rising balances straightforward line-based gameplay with a few clever risk–reward dynamics. The 5×4 grid and 40 paylines structure provide solid predictability for line-building wins, while two optional Ante Bet features layer in strategic flexibility. 

Standard RTP: 96.51% 

Hit Frequency: 1 in 3.94 

Free Spins Frequency: 1 in 399.79 

Volatility: High 

Max Win: 14,000x 

Max Win Probability: 1 in 77,519,380 

Players can wager between €0.20 and €240 per spin, offering a broad range suitable for both casual spinners and risk-tolerant high rollers. 

The Ante Bet 1 feature costs 4x the base bet, significantly increasing the likelihood of triggering free spins — up to ten times more likely than in standard mode. Ante Bet 2 costs 10x the bet, but guarantees that at least one wild symbol appears with a random multiplier on each spin. 

The gameplay flow is brisk: wins form from left to right starting on reel one, with 11 paying symbols split between low-value royals (10–A) and five character symbols. Premiums pay between 2.5x and 20x the bet for five-of-a-kind wins, while royals deliver 1x to 1.5x. 

Behind the scenes, a robust high-volatility model ensures swings between quiet stretches and bursts of intensity — true to the tension of the game’s subject.

Sound and Music 

The sound design in Pandemic Rising reinforces its moody, futuristic tone. The ambient score features low, pulsing basslines, echoing alarm sirens, and synthetic percussion that evokes a sense of urgency. During base spins, the soundtrack hums ominously, building tension without overwhelming the senses. 

When wild multipliers or free spins trigger, the audio crescendos into electronic arpeggios and metallic clangs, underscoring the outbreak’s “escalation.” The faint distortion effects and ambient echoes mirror containment alarms, making the experience immersive. 

Voice samples are sparse but impactful — subtle radio chatter, laboratory beeps, and respirator hisses punctuate the action. Overall, the soundscape functions as the emotional backbone of the slot, ensuring that every spin feels like a step deeper into a biohazard thriller.

Bonus Features 

Pragmatic Play arms Pandemic Rising with an arsenal of features that expand its intensity and payout potential. Chief among them are Wild Multipliers, Free Spins with sticky mechanics, and a Feature Buy option that accelerates access to the action.Wild Multipliers 

Wild symbols land exclusively on the middle three reels and substitute for all paying symbols. What sets them apart is their variable multiplier range of 1x to 10x, which applies to any win passing through them. 

Crucially, when multiple wilds form part of the same winning combination, their multipliers add to each other, not multiply. For example, two wilds carrying 5x each combine for a 10x payout boost. This additive mechanic can create thrilling chain reactions when several wilds align simultaneously, especially during the free spins phase. 

Free Spins 

Free Spins are triggered by landing three scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5, awarding 8 free spins and 2x the total stake. Once activated, all wilds that hit become sticky, remaining in place for the duration of the feature. 

In addition, a general multiplier meter applies to all wins during free spins. It starts at 1x and can climb to 100x through the collection of Virus symbols that appear exclusively in this mode. 

Every three Virus symbols collected increases the overall multiplier by one level and awards +1 additional free spin. The multiplier progress is visually tracked on a gauge beside the reels and even alters the premium symbols’ glow as it intensifies — a slick touch that ties visuals to mechanics. 

The interplay between sticky wilds and a growing global multiplier makes this feature genuinely explosive, especially in the latter spins when wild clusters and Virus collections align. 

Feature Buy 

For impatient players, the Feature Buy options provide instant access to high-stakes action.100x the bet activates the standard Free Spins round. 

500x the bet triggers Super Free Spins, which guarantees two wilds in random positions, each carrying random multipliers at the start of the round. 

These options suit players chasing volatility, as the feature buy rounds bypass the slower base grind and plunge straight into the heart of the outbreak — where the biggest wins dwell.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Bets in Pandemic Rising range from €0.20 to €240, keeping it accessible yet flexible enough for professional streamers or high-stakes enthusiasts. The RTP of 96.51% is solid for a high-volatility release, though alternative versions at 95.50% and 94.48% may appear depending on jurisdiction. 

The potential 14,000x maximum win ranks this slot among Pragmatic Play’s highest-paying titles, comparable to fan favorites like The Dog House Multihold and Monster Superlanche. However, that top reward is extraordinarily rare — with a probability of 1 in 77,519,380 spins, it’s more mythic than attainable. 

Nevertheless, the base game maintains engagement through frequent small-to-medium wins, bolstered by the 1-in-3.94 hit rate. The optional Ante Bets create a sense of control, letting players decide between grinding for steady spins or turbocharging their odds at a cost.

Conclusion 

Pandemic Rising is one of Pragmatic Play’s most daring thematic ventures — a slot that dares to reimagine a global event through speculative storytelling, strong art direction, and satisfying high-volatility gameplay. Despite its heavy subject matter, it handles the concept with surprising restraint and maturity, focusing less on tragedy and more on resilience and human adaptability. 

Mechanically, it delivers a robust package: sticky wilds, scaling multipliers, and customizable ante bets ensure that every spin feels consequential. The audiovisual design enhances immersion, evoking the paranoia, tension, and occasional hopefulness of surviving a digital apocalypse. 

While the Free Spins round holds most of the excitement, the base game offers steady engagement thanks to frequent multiplier hits. The Feature Buy adds instant gratification for risk-takers, while the 14,000x max win serves as the ultimate carrot for dedicated grinders. 

In short, Pandemic Rising is not just another high-volatility slot — it’s a tense, thought-provoking experience with the production quality and depth to stand among Pragmatic Play’s best releases.