Return to player
96.51%
Min bet size
0.20
Game type
Video Slots
Variance
High
Reels
5
Progressive Jackpot
No
Popularity
Max bet size
240
Game provider
Pragmatic Play
Bonus Features
Yes
Paylines
40
Theme
Post Apocalypse
Pandemic Rising online slot game
We all now know that pandemics can be scary. But can they also be made fun? Pragmatic Play’s reply to this question is Pandemic Rising. So we decided to give it a look and see if it gives us everything we’ve come to expect from them in this very interesting concept for a slot.
Pandemic Rising at a Glance: All the Important Facts to Know
- Paylines: 40 fixed paylines
- Bet Range: $0.20 - $240
- RTP: 96.51% (95.51% and 94.51% have also been reported)
- Key Features: Multiplier Wilds, Free Spins, Feature Buy, Ante Bet
- Theme & Setting: Metallic grid overlooking a chaotic city with radioactive containers
- Win Mechanics: 3+ matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right
Everything About the Graphics and Sound of the Pandemic Rising Slot
The design quality of this game stays true to Pragmatic City. The characters are well designed and tap into every trope about a cinematic pandemic: the scientist, the conspiracy theorist, and the muscle with a bat in hand. The mechanics are also clean and consistent.
The game’s grungy colours and atmosphere are complemented by the music which, sounds like the soundtrack out of a serious thriller movie with very high stakes.
Top Casinos to Play Pandemic Rising:
iWild Casino
200% up to €1,000 + 200 Free Spins
SlotLounge Casino
100% up to €2,000 + 200 Free Spins
Granawin Casino
150% up to €120 + 120 Free Spins
Spirit Casino
100% up to €2,000 + 200 Free Spins
Koru Casino
100% up to €2,000 + 200 Free Spins
How to Play Pandemic Rising Slot
The slot has a 5x4 grid and 40 fixed paylines. You get wins when you land three or more matching symbols on adjacent reels. This is a high volatility slot with a max win potential of 14,000x on a betting range between $0.20 and $240. Its reported RTP is 96.51% but it can dip down to 94.51% so make sure you play the game on the best online casinos available to you.
We started by playing the base game on the demo version with a $10 bet manually. With this, we almost exclusively got a few low-paying wins from the 10, J, Q, K, and A symbols. Increasing our bet size to $240 started giving us more wins with premium characters like the contaminated monkey, conspiracy theorist, and doctor.
| Symbol | 5x Matches | 4x Matches | 3x Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 20x | 5x | 1.5x |
 | 12.5x | 3.75x | 1.25x |
 | 7.5x | 2x | 0.75x |
 | 5x | 1.25x | 0.5x |
 | 3.75x | 0.75x | 0.35x |
 | 2.5x | 0.5x | 0.15x |
 | 1.5x | 0.3x | 0.15x |
 | 1.5x | 0.3x | 0.15x |
 | 1x | 0.25x | 0.1x |
 | 1x | 0.25x | 0.1x |
 | 1x | 0.25x | 0.1x |
When we started using features like Ante Bet and Feature Buy, it significantly increased the probability of triggering Free Spins, Special Wilds, and Scatters.
We also saw that these features were triggered more frequently when our bet size was higher. This was especially true with the Ante Bet feature. A smaller bet amount of $20 didn’t trigger a Wild at all. On the other hand, as we increased our bet to $100 and then $240, each jump in bet size yielded more Wilds and Free Spins, resulting in bigger wins.
Try the Pandemic Rising Demo Version for Free
The free-play version of Pandemic Rising will give you an excellent idea of which features will give you the best chance of a win. Make sure you try it before you start playing with real money.
Bonus Features in the Pandemic Rising Slot
Multiplier Wild Symbols
Pandemic Rising’s Multiplier Wild Symbols add a layer of thrill to the slot. They only show up on reels 2, 3, and 4 and can carry multipliers between 1x and 10x. They can substitute for all symbols other than the Scatters and Virus Symbols. In our experience, the Multiplier Wilds had a big impact on increasing our wins.
Free Spins Feature
The Free Spins feature was by far the best way to get a win. We highly recommend that you take advantage of every element of the gameplay or the slot’s features that give you Free Spins. In the basic game they are activated by landing 3 Scatter Symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5, and give you 8 free spins.
Winning Strategies for the Pandemic Rising Slot
Use The Free Spins Feature
This is the key to winning big at Pandemic Rising.
Ante Bet increased our odds of triggering Free Spins, and the Feature Buy gave us instant Free Spins as well as access to the bonus round. Both these options were key to increasing our chances of getting the slot’s bigger rewards.
Putting up a higher bet, using Ante Bet if possible, and setting Autoplay on more than 50 rounds is helpful. But as we said before, Feature Buys are your best bet at getting frequent and big wins.
Just make sure that wherever you decide, you’re managing your budget wisely.
All the Technical Details
Pandemic Rising is a high-volatility video slot by Pragmatic Play. It’s been built on a 5-reel, 4-row grid and has 40 paylines. The base betting range is $0.20 to $240 per spin. Ante Bet costs 4x your bet, giving you higher chances to win, while for 20x your bet, the Super Spin feature guarantees at least 1 Wild symbol. Feature Buy gives instant Free Spins for 100x your bet and Super Free Spins for 500x your bet, which can be very appealing features for high rollers. Pandemic Rising has a default RTP of 96.51%, but it’s been reported to drop to 94.51%.
You get wins when you have three or more identical symbols on adjacent reels. The slot has low-paying symbols, 10, J, Q, K, and A, and premium characters such as a scientist, doctor, contaminated monkey, conspiracy theorist, and hazmat specialist. These pay up to 20x. Special Wilds, Scatters, and a Virus Symbol add depth to the gameplay. These are supported by bonus features like Multiplier Wilds, Free Spins, Feature Buy, and Ante Bet for added win potential.
Best Alternatives to the Pandemic Rising Slot
Mental by Nolimit City leans into the eerie theme of madness and a mental asylum. This makes it a close thematic cousin to Pandemic Rising. The slot has high volatility and a max payout of 66,666x
Dead, Dead, or Deader, also by Nolimit City, pulls you back into the wild west. Another great option for horror fans, this slot gives you a max 19,349x bet and has an RTP of 96.09%.
Our Verdict
Pandemic Rising is a well-designed, easy to play slot. While the game itself isn’t visually dynamic, details like sounds from the monkey or doctor make the world of the slot feel real. The increasing distress on the faces of the premium characters also adds to the sense of being immersed in the game.
However, we do have some thoughts on the theme.
A zombie pandemic like what we saw in I am Legend or even Zombieland can easily be put into the box of entertaining or funny. Even slots like Nolimit City’s Dead Men Walking or Mental can easily be seen as a game. They’re horror, but they’re not real.
However, the theme of Pandemic Rising feels a bit too close to a recent, globally traumatic reality. This event being used as entertainment may make it triggering for people. We feel it is important for users to take this into account before playing this slot.
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.
