Wild Wild Pearls (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Wild Wild Pearls: Slot Overview
Pragmatic Play dives back into the deep blue sea with Wild Wild Pearls, an underwater-themed slot that combines aquatic creatures, shimmering pearls, and local jackpots. As a developer known for churning out multiple sea-inspired games like Lobster Bob’s Sea Food and Win It, Beware the Deep Megaways, and Release the Kraken Megaways, Pragmatic Play continues its trend of delivering oceanic adventures.
Wild Wild Pearls fits neatly within the developer’s signature visual style—bright, polished, and functional, though without offering much in the way of surprises. The game runs on a 6-reel grid with a 3-3-4-4-4-4 layout, creating 2,304 ways to win. It boasts a high volatility rating, meaning wins can be infrequent but substantial when they hit. With an RTP of 96.46%, the slot sits comfortably in the industry standard.
Players can place bets ranging from €0.20 to €240, making it accessible to casual players while still appealing to high rollers. Activating the Ante bet increases the base bet by 50% but doubles the chance of triggering the main feature.
Design and Graphics
Wild Wild Pearls is visually appealing, presenting a serene underwater landscape filled with coral reefs and schools of fish. While aesthetically pleasant, it doesn’t push the boundaries of what’s been seen in other deep-sea slots.
The symbols are a mix of standard card suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) and ocean creatures like clownfish, seahorses, starfish, and octopuses. The background is richly detailed but lacks the kind of dynamic animation that would make it stand out among other slots of its type.
While not the most innovative design, the game still maintains a polished look that aligns with Pragmatic Play’s high production values.
Gameplay Mechanics
At its core, Wild Wild Pearls follows a ways-to-win system, meaning adjacent matching symbols from left to right form winning combinations. This differs from traditional payline slots and allows for more potential hits per spin.
The Money Collect feature is central to the game, as it provides opportunities to gather significant multipliers. Additionally, multipliers ranging from x2 to x4 can land on reels 3 through 6, boosting winnings when combined with Money symbols.
A notable addition is the Free Spins round, where the Money Collect feature becomes more frequent. The upgraded Super Free Spins mode raises multipliers to x3 on reels 3 & 4 and x4 or x5 on reels 5 & 6, amplifying the potential for big payouts.
Sound and Music
The game’s soundtrack is a calypso-inspired melody that complements the underwater theme. While pleasant, it doesn’t particularly stand out, serving as background noise rather than enhancing the excitement of the gameplay.
Sound effects, such as bubbles and light splashes, add an immersive element, but again, nothing here is groundbreaking. Pragmatic Play plays it safe, offering a functional but forgettable audio experience.
Bonus Features
Money Collect Feature:
- Money symbols appear on reels 3 through 6, displaying values from 0.5x to 10x the bet.
- Special Jackpot prizes (Mini – 25x, Minor – 50x, Major – 75x, Mega – 100x) only appear on reel 6.
- Collecting Money symbols requires wilds on reels 1 and 2, along with money symbols on subsequent reels.
Multipliers:
- Multiplier symbols land on reels 3 through 6, offering values between x2 and x4.
- These multipliers apply to the collected Money symbols, further increasing payouts.
Free Spins Feature:
- Triggered by landing wilds on reels 1 & 2 and a bonus symbol on reel 3.
- The Money Collect feature remains active, with more frequent money symbols appearing.
- In the Super Free Spins mode, multipliers increase to x3 on reels 3 & 4 and x4 or x5 on reels 5 & 6.
- Retriggers are possible, adding up to +5 spins, with a maximum of 2 retriggers.
Bonus Buy:
- Players can purchase Free Spins for 75x the bet or 150x the bet for the Super Free Spins.
Betting Options and Payouts
- Minimum Bet: €0.20
- Maximum Bet: €240
- Ways to Win: 2,304
- Max Win: 5,000x the bet
- RTP: 96.46%
- Volatility: High
Lower-tier symbols like the card royals offer payouts from 0.25x to 1x the stake for six-of-a-kind wins. High-value symbols such as sea creatures yield better returns, with the octopus paying up to 5x the bet for six-of-a-kind.
Conclusion
Wild Wild Pearls is a functional but uninspired addition to Pragmatic Play’s library. The game leans heavily on familiar mechanics, combining Money Collect features, jackpots, and free spins, but without any real innovation.
Visually, it’s polished but not memorable, and while the Money Collect feature adds some excitement, it’s a system seen in numerous other slots. The inclusion of local jackpots may appeal to some players, but others might find it a diluted version of high-stakes gameplay.
For players who enjoy familiarity and straightforward gameplay, Wild Wild Pearls delivers a safe and predictable experience. However, those seeking excitement, originality, or high-risk thrills may find it bland and forgettable. Whether it keeps players engaged for the long run depends on how much they enjoy playing it safe.