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1 July 2024 
Panda Bonanza Slot Review
Head east with Northern Lights Gaming in their latest slot Panda Bonanza! Pandemonium is all but guaranteed, as are some interesting features and the staple Games Global Studio static Jackpots.
Do Static Jackpots subtract from the overall experience? Some think so, and Games Global is the prime offender when it comes to this type of mechanic. However, some still thrive even with the presence of static Jackpots.
Cats of the Caribbean from Snowborn is a slot that intertwines great features with static jackpots nicely, but can Northern Lights Gaming do the same with Panda Bonanza?
Come with us into the thicket of bamboo as we try to find out.
Base Game & Features
Panda Bonanza is a 5×3 slot with 10 pay lines. Players must land 3 or more matching symbols, from left to right, to get a payout. Any breaks in the line will not count symbols after the break.
Players can expect the usual royal symbols for the lower payouts, and higher-tiered themed symbols for the higher ones. Wild symbols are also in play here, substituting for any of the other basic symbols, and the Giant 3×3 Red Panda symbol (not to be confused with the regular 1×1 version) also has a chance to appear, triggering the Pandamonium game mode.
Here is a list of the basic symbols, from lowest to highest, along with their pay values for landing 3x, 4x & 5x respectively:
- Jack – 0.20x, 0.4x, 0.6x
- Queen – 0.5x, 0.8x, 1x
- King – 0.8x, 1.2x, 1.5x
- Ace – 1x, 1.6x, 2x
- Crane – 1.2x, 2x, 2.8x
- Mouse – 1.4x, 2.5x, 4x
- Snake – 1.6x, 3x, 6x
- Red Panda – 2x, 4x, 8x
- Wild – 3x, 5x, 10x
Special symbols may also appear in the base game. These include Coins, the Piggy Bank, Pot Bonus (Yin & Yang) and Free Spins. More on these later.
Pandamonium Bonus Feature
Touching on the Giant Red Panda symbol, it has a chance to appear on reels 2, 3 or 4 during the base game. However, it will not appear fully, only partly appearing on one or two reels, and then having a chance to trigger a nudge, nudging the full 3×3 symbol into play, triggering the Pandamonium Bonus feature during the base game.
Once triggered, a new set of reels is formed and players have 3 Respins to land as many Panda and sticky Wild symbols as possible. These are the only symbols that appear along with blanks.
Wild symbols have a chance to have a multiplier attached, up to 5x, and Pandas will knock out one of the low-pay symbols from the splat bar. Landing either of these symbols will reset the respin bar back to 3 and, once the mini-game ends, players will get one final spin using all the Sticky Wilds in play for a large payout bonus.
Piggy Bank & Win
As previously mentioned, Coins and the Piggy Bank Symbol have a chance to appear during the base game. Coins can land on any reel and have values up to 10x your bet.
There is also a chance a +1 Coin will appear, increasing your Panda coin Multiplier by x1. Landing a Piggy Bank symbol on the 5th reel will collect all on-screen coins along with the current multiplier value and reset the multiplier back down to 1.
Pot Bonus
Pot bonus symbols, represented by a Yin and Yang, appear on reels 1 & 5 respectively. Once landed, you will receive one of the four following Jackpot rewards:
- Mini – 20x Bet
- Minor – 50x Bet
- Major – 500x Bet
- Grand – 5000x Bet
Free Spins
Free spin symbols, represented by a temple, have a chance to land on reels 1, 3 & 5 during the base game. Once triggered, players are awarded 8 Free Spins, with giant symbols appearing on reels 2, 3 & 4. Jumbo Coins also have a chance to appear, adding instant cash values and +x1 to the Panda Multiplier.
Pros and Cons of Panda Bonanza
Pros:
- Pandamonium Bonus & Free Spins
- Chance to win 1 of 4 Jackpot Prizes
- Adorable, light-hearted theme and high-quality graphics
- Max win cap of 5,000x your bet
Cons:
- No Bonus Buy or Ante Bet options
- Limited betting options
Slots with Similar Themes to Panda Bonanza
- Big Bamboo (Push Gaming)
- Panda Money (Big Time Gaming)
- Fat Panda (Pragmatic Play)
Conclusion
Panda Bonanza has a pleasant aesthetic with some nice animation and charm, and nothing about this game gives off that ‘tacky’ feeling. While not entirely innovative, it offers a lot of mechanics that don’t seem convoluted or hard to grasp.
These things, coupled with the lower key sound design make Panda Bonanza a bit more appealing for longer play sessions. With an RTP of 96% and medium volatility, Panda Bonanza caters well for those looking for something a bit more chilled out.
Welcome Bonus
