PRAGMATIC PLAY
One fascinating aspect of online slots is observing which themes or characters become enduring favorites. While there are popular choices like Ancient Egypt, Irish/Leprechaun themes, and classic fruit machines that repeatedly make appearances, one unexpected group that has managed to thrive is the humble bee. These industrious insects seem to have found success in the gambling market, perhaps due to their inherent cuteness. But breaking away from the traditional cute bee angle is Sticky Bees, a slot game from Pragmatic Play, known for its innovative designs.
Sticky Bees immerses players in a naturalistic bee-themed environment, filled with lush rural landscapes, sparkling elements, flowers, vines, trees, and grass—a complete enchanted grove experience. While the setting may seem a tad generic and not entirely bee-centric, Pragmatic Play's goal with Sticky Bees isn't to evoke warm and fuzzy feelings with smiling insects. Instead, the focus is on the gameplay itself. With Sticky Bees, a thrilling winning streak can keep players engaged, regardless of the creatures crawling around the game grid.
Sticky Bees features a gaming panel sized 7 by 7, using a cluster pays system to create wins. To win, you need to land five or more matching symbols that connect either horizontally or vertically, forming a winning cluster. When a cluster is formed, the symbols are removed from the reels through the tumble mechanic, and new symbols drop down from above. You can achieve consecutive cluster wins on a single spin until no new wins occur.
You can play Sticky Bees with bets ranging from 20 p/c to $/€100. Check out the paytable to find the game's Return to Player (RTP) value, which varies depending on the setting. It can go up to 96.06% during regular play or 95.96% when purchasing the bonus round, which costs 100 times the bet. Sticky Bees offers 10 regular pays, including J-A card royals as low pays and various fruits like cherries, grapes, orange, watermelon, plum, and strawberry as high pays. Landing a winning cluster of 5 symbols pays out 0.25 to 5 times the bet, while a cluster of 20 or more symbols awards 12.5 to 125 times the bet. You'll also encounter regular wilds on all reels, which substitute for all symbols except the scatter symbol.
Let's dive into the remaining features: marked positions, Super Wilds, and free spins.
In each spin, 12 to 19 positions on the grid are randomly marked. Here's where the bees come in with the Super Wilds. These special symbols can substitute for all symbols except the scatter and may appear on any reel. When a Super Wild lands on a marked position, whether from the initial spin or a tumble, it activates that position. Any symbols landing on an activated marked position transform into wild symbols. These positions stay marked and activated until all tumbles in a base game spin are completed.
During the base game, if a Super Wild lands on a marked position, it triggers 2-6 additional Super Wilds to appear on other random marked positions, activating them until the spin's tumbles end.
When you land 4 scatter symbols, it triggers 7 free spins, with an additional free spin awarded for each extra scatter symbol triggered. At the beginning of the free spins round, 16 to 19 positions on the grid are marked throughout the feature. Every free spin guarantees 1-3 Super Wilds to land on random marked positions. Once a position is activated, it remains so until the end of the round. If you land 3 or more scatter symbols during the free spins, you get an additional +1 free spin each time.
Aspect | Sticky Bees | Comparison with Other Games |
---|---|---|
Theme | Naturalistic Bee Theme: Sticky Bees focuses on naturalistic imagery, set in a dense rural area with sparkly bits, flowers, and trees. | Unique Approach: Unlike the typical cute bee theme, Sticky Bees offers a fresh perspective on insect-themed slots. |
Game Grid | 7x7 grid with a cluster pays system for creating wins. | Different Mechanics: The cluster pays system and cascading symbols provide an engaging gameplay experience. |
Symbols | Regular pays include J-A card royals, cherries, grapes, orange, watermelon, plum, and strawberry. | Variety: Sticky Bees features fruit symbols alongside card royals, adding diversity to the paytable. |
Wilds | Regular wilds substitute for all symbols except the scatter. | Standard Feature: Regular wilds are common in many slots, but they play a crucial role in creating winning clusters. |
Super Wilds | Super Wilds appear on marked positions and activate them. | Strategic Element: Super Wilds add excitement, especially when they land on marked positions during spins or tumbles. |
Free Spins | Free spins feature is available, triggered by Super Wilds. | Bonus Round: The free spins round offers additional chances to win, making Sticky Bees more enticing. |
RTP | Varies based on gameplay mode: 96.06% (normal play) or 95.96% (buying the bonus round). | Flexible RTP: Players can choose their preferred RTP setting, adding a strategic layer to their gaming experience. |
Visuals and Atmosphere | Naturalistic imagery, enchanted grove setting. | Immersive Environment: The game’s visuals transport players to a magical rural area, enhancing the overall experience. |
In the vast realm of online slot games, where themes range from ancient civilizations to fantastical adventures, Sticky Bees emerges as a delightful departure. Developed by Pragmatic Play, this slot game takes players on a whimsical journey into the world of bees, honey, and natural wonders. Let’s delve into the intricate design elements that make Sticky Bees a standout in the buzzing casino landscape.
Sticky Bees isn't your typical bee-themed slot with cute characters or a cozy beehive setting. It's not aiming for adorableness or cartoonish charm. Instead, it offers more than just a whimsical pollen hunt with animated critters. When it hits its stride, Sticky Bees can deliver thrilling sequences of consecutive tumbles, especially during the free spins round. While it may not shine as much in the base game, the potential for extended tumble runs is evident, reminiscent of Relax Gaming's Cluster Tumble slot.
With a top prize of 10,000 times the bet, there's plenty of sweet rewards waiting to be collected when the tumbles align just right. However, Sticky Bees can also tease, leaving you craving for a multiplier system to enhance the excitement. So, if you're seeking an immersive bee-themed experience, this might not be the slot for you. But if you're after a game capable of dishing out impressive tumble runs and don't mind the absence of cute bees, Sticky Bees is definitely worth considering.