Rise of Athena (Play'n Go) Slot Review

Rise of Athena: Slot Overview 

In a pantheon crowded with gods of thunder, war, and wine, Athena—goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare—often flies under the radar in online slots. But Play’n GO corrects that imbalance in Rise of Athena, a game that gives the spotlight to the most cerebral of the Olympians. Released on November 12, 2020, Rise of Athena is a 5×3 grid slot with 10 paylines, offering simple, no-frills gameplay with just enough divine intervention to keep things interesting. 

With a 96.20% RTP, medium to high volatility, and a maximum win of 5,000x your stake, this is a slot designed for players who appreciate a minimalist aesthetic paired with calculated risk. It doesn’t overload you with features, but rather gives one strong bonus mode and leans on wild multipliers to create moments of epic potential. If you’re looking for a stripped-back, elegant experience that still offers bite, Rise of Athena may be the goddess you seek.

Design and Graphics 

Visually, Rise of Athena evokes a sense of Greek serenity and grandeur. The reels are set against a light blue Aegean sky, framed by stately marble columns that echo the Parthenon. The color palette leans into soft blues and golds, a refreshing departure from the darker, more intense tones of typical mythological slots. This game is all about light, clarity, and balance, which fits Athena’s nature as a deity of logic and strategy. 

The symbols are neatly split between low-paying royals (10–A) decorated with olive branches and high-paying themed icons like scrolls, amphorae, plumed helmets, Pegasus, and Athena herself. Athena is also the highest-paying symbol, awarding up to 150x the bet for five of a kind. The owl scatter and golden wilds round out the paytable, standing out in sharp relief against the clean background. 

Overall, the design is elegant and timeless, avoiding gaudy effects in favor of smooth visuals and clear, intuitive UI. It’s not flashy—but it doesn’t need to be.

Gameplay Mechanics 

The base game runs on a 5-reel, 3-row setup with 10 fixed paylines. Wins are formed by landing three or more matching symbols on a payline, starting from the leftmost reel. The mechanics are simple, but that’s part of the charm: it’s a fast-paced game with no unnecessary distractions, ideal for both new players and seasoned veterans who enjoy classic-style slots. 

Where Rise of Athena begins to flex its muscle is with its wild multipliers. Wilds substitute for any pay symbol and can carry random multipliers of x1, x2, or x3. If more than one multiplier wild lands in a winning combo, their values multiply together, not just add. That means two x3 wilds could yield a 9x payout multiplier—a rare but thrilling moment that elevates the base game above the ordinary. 

Aside from this, the gameplay remains sleek and straightforward, which will appeal to purists who prefer quality over clutter.

Sound and Music 

Rise of Athena’s soundtrack is understated yet effective, with a musical backdrop that feels lifted from an ancient temple—soft strings, ambient echoes, and harp-like melodies gently reinforce the mythological theme. There are no bombastic battle drums or dramatic orchestral hits here; instead, the music supports the serene and thoughtful nature of Athena herself. 

Sound effects are clean and minimalistic. Symbols land with smooth taps, while wins trigger light celebratory chimes. The scatter symbol (an owl, of course) gives off a pleasant rustle when it lands, hinting at the free spin potential. There’s a satisfying auditory shift when free spins begin, but the overall tone remains consistent with the rest of the game—elegant, not excessive.

Bonus Features 

Free Spins 

The only major feature in Rise of Athena is a Free Spins round, triggered when three or more owl scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels. This grants 12 free spins, and during the round: Wilds stick to the reels for multiple spins. 

Each wild comes with a multiplier (x1, x2, or x3) and remains locked in place for a number of spins equal to its multiplier. 

An x3 wild sticks for 3 spins before disappearing. 

x2 lasts 2 spins, and x1 just 1 spin. 

This feature introduces a snowballing potential, where wilds can accumulate and multiply win values across consecutive spins. However, free spins cannot be retriggered, so there’s a hard limit to how far the feature can take you. 

The biggest wins occur when multiple multiplier wilds lock onto the reels early in the bonus round and line up with high-value symbols like Athena or Pegasus. However, the feature isn’t overly generous—it can end quickly with modest results if the multipliers don’t fall your way.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Betting ranges from €0.10 to €100 per spin, making Rise of Athena accessible to players of all bankrolls. Whether you’re testing your fortune with small stakes or chasing max multipliers with high-risk bets, the flexible range supports a wide playstyle. 

Key Payouts: 

Athena: 150x for 5-of-a-kind 

Pegasus: 75x for 5-of-a-kind 

Plumed Helm & Jar: 40–60x range 

Wild Multiplier Symbol: Substitutes and multiplies wins up to x3 

Scatter (Owl): Pays 1x to 500x depending on number of appearances 

The game’s maximum win is 5,000x the bet, though achieving this requires a perfect storm of sticky multiplier wilds and high-paying symbols—especially during free spins.

Conclusion 

Rise of Athena may not be the flashiest title in Play’n GO’s mythological lineup, but it certainly earns its place thanks to its refined design, solid mechanics, and consistent pacing. It’s a game built around the idea of controlled power, much like the goddess it features. There’s no avalanche of bonus rounds, no cascading reels, no cinematic intros—but for players who want a streamlined, beautifully built experience, this slot delivers. 

Its core mechanic—wild multipliers that stick during free spins—is both elegant and effective. It offers enough potential volatility to keep things interesting, while never overwhelming the player with feature fatigue. The 5,000x potential is no joke, but more often than not, Rise of Athena delivers small to medium-sized wins at a steady pace. 

For fans of low-distraction, high-clarity slots, Rise of Athena is an excellent pick. If you’re someone who loves wild features and unpredictable modifiers, it may not hit the same high notes. But for those who appreciate clean gameplay and strategic structure, Athena’s rise might become your next favorite ascent.