Return to player
96.5%
Min bet size
0.25
Game type
Video Slots
Variance
High
Reels
5
Progressive Jackpot
No
Popularity
Max bet size
250
Game provider
Pragmatic Play
Bonus Features
Yes
Paylines
243
Theme
Greek Mythology
Lava Balls online slot game
Lava Balls is a Greek mythology-style game developed by Wild Streak Gaming, a partner of Pragmatic Play, that skillfully mixes normal ways to win gaming with heavy ball-dropping action. The visual components suggest the game is based on the goddess of the underworld, Persephone, symbolizing the life and death cycle.
Set in an underground domain of rock, lava, and Plinko, this highly volatile machine utilizes a 5x3 grid with 243 ways to win. While the max potential is capped at 4,800x, Lava Balls offers a pretty fun option for players looking for a slot and Plinko hybrid experience.
Lava Balls Slot at a Glance: What you need to know
- Grid: 5x3 setup with 243 ways to win
- Key Mechanic: Ball-dropping/Plinko action occurs in all phases of play
- RTP and Volatility: This is a high volatility slot with a max RTP of 96.5%
- Win potential: up to 4,800x your bet
- Feature Buy: Free spins can be purchased for 100x the total bet.
Lava Balls Slot: Graphics and sound
The game is set in an underworld domain defined by rock, lava, lightning bolts, and Plinko elements. The visuals reflect an underworld theme with character symbols resembling figures from Greek mythology. The base game transitions smoothly to the Plinko game, where balls erupt from a volcano.
The soundtrack of the base game begins with an almost tribal quality, featuring percussive instruments accented by light melodies. However, when you trigger wins, activate Free Spins, or launch into the Plinko game, the music changes drastically. From orchestral big band music to heavy electric guitar leads, the score can segue quite suddenly, reflecting the game's transformations.
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Game Mechanics and Basics of the Lava Balls Slot
Lava Balls runs on a 5x3 grid, offering 243 ways to win. Wins pay when at least 3 symbols of the same kind connect from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel. Stakes can be chosen from a minimum of 0.25 up to a maximum of 250.
The symbols range from low-paying card ranks 10-A, which award 0.2x to 0.8x for five-of-a-kind, to premium symbols like pomegranates, arrow heads, boats, and male and female characters, which pay from 1x to 4x the bet. Wild symbols can appear on the middle three reels and substitute for all regular paying symbols.
*The symbol payout chart shown below is calculated based on a $1.00 bet.
| Symbol | 5x Matches | 4x Matches | 3x Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 4x | 2x | 1x |
 | 2x | 1.2x | 0.8x |
 | 1.2x | 1x | 0.6x |
 | 1x | 0.8x | 0.48x |
 | 1x | 0.6x | 0.4x |
 | 0.8x | 0.48x | 0.32x |
 | 0.8x | 0.4x | 0.28x |
 | 0.6x | 0.28x | 0.2x |
 | 0.4x | 0.2x | 0.08x |
 | 0.2x | 0.12x | 0.08x |
Give the Lava Balls Demo Version a try
The game features interesting hybrid mechanics, combining traditional slot gameplay with the rarely seen Plinko-style pinball mechanic. This game feels like a game within a game. That’s why we highly recommend players try the free Demo Version first- to get a real feel for its unique mechanics and see if the gameplay matches their style. It allows you to explore the game and its various features and power-ups without risking any real stakes.
Bonus Features in the Lava Balls Slot
Lava Balls have a lot of moving parts. But here's a breakdown of some of the exciting Bonus Features that really bring the slot to life:
Lava Balls Wild Multiplier
This feature is active in the base game, offering ball-dropping thrills even outside the main bonus round. Seven pots sit at the bottom of the screen, displaying random multipliers ranging from x1 to x1,000, as well as Free Spins. When a Wild symbol lands and is part of a winning combination, a ball drops into one of the pots. If the ball lands in a pot with a multiplier, all wins containing Wilds on that spin are multiplied by that value. If the ball lands in a Free Spins pot, the main Free Spins round triggers.
Free Spins
The Free Spins round is awarded by hitting 3 or more scatters or by landing a ball in a free spins pot, granting 12 free spins. The pots at the bottom start with random money values, ranging from 0.2x to 200x the bet. The leftmost and rightmost pots increase in value after every spin by 0.2x to 120x the bet. The Extra Pot Values symbol can land on the reels with a value of 0.2x to 200x the bet, which is added to the pot beneath it for the remainder of the round. The Lava Balls Wild Multiplier feature can still occur during Free Spins, temporarily changing the pots into random multiplier values.
Ball Collection Lava Balls symbols land on the leftmost reel, and the Ball Drop symbol (carrying 1 to 100 balls) lands on the rightmost reel. If both land on the same spin, the balls are added to a meter.
Free Spins Climax: At the end of the free spins round, the total number of balls collected in the meter drops through the pin grid into the pots. The amount in the pot landed in is added to the total win for each ball. This climax is where the volatility and unpredictability of Plinko shine, as players watch the balls bounce toward or away from larger values.
Additional Free Spins symbols can award an extra +1 to +5 free spins.
Feature Buy
The options for Feature Buys are limited. Heck, there’s just the one. Players can buy access to the Free Spins feature directly from the base game at 100x the total bet.
Winning Strategies for the Lava Balls Slot
Once you’re familiar with the slot’s mechanics, focus on refining your strategy. The following are a few key strategies to keep in mind:
- Target the Free Spins Climax: The most significant potential rewards occur at the end of the Free Spins round when all collected balls are released. The strategy involves maximizing the Free Spins outcome by aiming to collect balls. Players should also focus on accumulating pot values, as the leftmost and rightmost pots increase in value after every spin (by 0.2x to 120x the bet) during the Free Spins round.
- Utilize the Feature Buy Option: For players who wish to skip the base game and access the core potential immediately, Free Spins can be purchased against 100x your bet. The high slot RTP of 96.5% is maintained whether utilizing regular betting or buying the feature.
All the Technical Details
Lava Balls is a high-volatility slot played on a 5x3 grid with 243 ways to win. The top RTP is 96.5%. Betting starts at 0.25 and goes up to 250. The maximum win is capped at 4,800x the wager. Low symbols pay up to 0.8x for your stake, while premium symbols pay up to 4x.
Best Alternatives to the Lava Balls Slot
If you enjoy the Lava Balls slot, you may also enjoy the following alternatives:
- Gates of Hades: This is a 6x6 slot cluster pay slot and cascading mechanics featuring a special multiplier and wilds features that can trigger on every spin. The game provides a similar thematic experience and with its own set of thrilling features, and Free Spins provides a similarly exhilarating experience to Lava Balls.
- Plinko+: If you feel like diving straight into the Plinko mechanic and ditching the slot element altogether, this game, also released by Pragmatic Play, could be for you. Its simplicity is what makes it deceptively captivating. You can expand the multipliers at the bottom from the basic 8 to 16 lines.
Our Verdict
For players seeking a playable blend of slot mechanics and Plinko unpredictability in a fiery, mythological setting, Lava Balls is a good option. The visual execution is generally polished and looks better than many previous Wild Streak Gaming titles. The ability to trigger ball-dropping thrills even in the base game via the Lava Balls Wild Multiplier feature is a great addition.
However, the game has clear limitations that may deter high-stat chasers. The max potential of 4,800x could have been higher, and the maximum win probability is not outstanding for a Pragmatic Play partner release. Ultimately, while it successfully deepens the pool of hybrid options, it lacks the firepower needed to truly dominate the growing category of Plinko-slot hybrids.
James is a casino games expert on the Playcasino.com editorial team. With many years of professional experience at a leading casino game development company and a passion for playing casino games, James has become a true expert in slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and other games.
James uses this expertise to provide reliable, insider advice through his reviews and guides, breaking down the game rules and offering tips to help you win more often. Rely on James's extensive experience for expert advice on your casino play.
