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Sweet Bonanza is a hugely popular online slot by industry juggernauts Pragmatic Play. There’s no doubt that it lives up to that software developer’s reputation for big money games with an exciting presentation.
That said, a colorful backdrop and the possibility of big payouts doesn’t necessarily mean a high quality online betting experience. The devil lies in the details when it comes to online slots, especially when Sweet Bonanza comes up against the immense competition that is now common across the online world.
The question isn’t whether Sweet Bonanza is decent – considering their software developer, we would be very surprised were that not the case. Instead, at Captain Gambling, we’re going to be looking through all the gameplay nooks and crannies to see whether it can stand out amongst the immensity of amazing options we’re so lucky to have access to in the modern online betting universe.
Undoubtedly, and by design, the first thing you’ll notice about Sweet Bonanza is its eye-catching, colorful graphics – it’s enough to satisfy even the sweetest of sweet tooths. That’s right, the theme of this game is all things confectionary, meaning you’ll be invited in by a broad selection of lollipops, sweets, fruits and gems. Think Candy Crush but with a surprising focus on more healthy snacks.
And of course, it’s no mere copycat in terms of looks. Pragmatic Play has their very own sweet style and it’s on full display here. It’s just if you wanted to quickly explain to someone so they could give a rough idea of how it looks, the Candy Crush comparison would probably yield the quickest results. In any case, it looks great and is obviously a really popular choice in terms of design themes. The acclaim of the game it most closely resembles is testament to that.
Import too is that it’s a very practical design. The bananas, blueberries, watermelons, plums, green polygons and more aren’t just there to look pretty – they're also the symbols you’ll use to win the game. The fact is the more they stand out, the easier they are to react quickly to and the differences between tiers more easily sticks in your brain. Consider them like a visual cue to help you learn how to play the game that much faster. And we’d say the explosion of color here works like a charm in that regard.
This is a 6 reel 5 row slot, which works with an all ways game engine. If you’ve never heard of an all ways game engine before, the way it works is simple. It means that you can win on symbols that are placed anywhere on the screen as opposed to them being in your simple, traditional lines.
In terms of symbol quality, the fruits – some of which were mentioned in our previous section – are your lowest tier of symbol, while the likes of shapes and gems represent your mid to higher tier symbols. You can win by matching more than 8 symbols at a time and on multiple symbols at once. If you manage to get 12 of one symbol, you’ll be rewarded with 50x your stake.
This, alongside that all ways game engine, means not only are there many different ways to win, but also that it’s incredibly simple to play, with enough depth for long-term slot fans, and simplicity suitable for newcomers. Further backing up this broad appeal are the stake limits, which range from a mere 20 cents to a whopping 100 Euros per spin. You can also utilize an autospin feature once you have selected your stake.
This slot isn’t just popular – it offers objectively good value for money. Coming in above the industry standard at 96.49% RTP, this can be considered a moderately high volatility game, but one with ample reward to make it worth your while. For instance, the maximum win of 21,175x your stake is a monster of a prize, with the potential of netting you tens of thousands for a mere Euro stake. Put simply, when you compare the RTP and the big prize money, Sweet Bonanza is temptingly competitive.
It seems only fitting that a game which is all about sweet treats should have plenty to offer its players in terms of delicious bonus goodies. Some are actually staples of Pragmatic Games, such as the double chance feature they’re well-known for. Activate this for an even higher stake of around 25%. So, for instance, a single Euro would cost you that and an extra 25 cents on top. It’s a fairly sizable additional chunk per stake and can add up if you chase the bonus for too long, so keep your budget in mind when utilizing double chance.
Additional bonuses come in the form of lollipops. These can land you free spins and most of your multipliers, which of course, is where the big money is usually found. Hit 4 lollipops or more and you’ll get some free spins. Four times also nets you 3x your stake. Find 5 lollipops and you’ll be rewarded by 5x your stake. You can also earn additional free spins during your free spins, so there really are loads of ways to win. It’s all very impressive, with the potential of some big wins depending on your stake amount.
Here though is where we get to the big time. Six lollipops will give you 100x your stake and an additional free spins. On top of that, there’s the candy bombs which are activated when a combination is landed while candy bombs are on the board. There can be multiple candy bombs available at once, with the multipliers ranging between 2x and 100x. Plus, from a presentation point of view, we consider this to be one of the most satisfying bonuses in the world of slots.
While we can’t say for certain that the theme will be to your tastes – although similar games would suggest it;s in the wheelhouse of many – it is undoubtable that Sweet Bonanza provides an excellent value slot experience. It offers simple gameplay with plenty of depth and ways to win, and a fantastic bonus selection.
It’s a fairly volatile title in our opinion, so your enjoyment may depend on how you like your slots in that regard. But it’s one which offers bundles of vibrant excitement without ever being difficult to follow. A triumph by Pragmatic Play.
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