Sticky Bees Slot

Sticky Bees Slot Review

When Pragmatic Play releases a new cluster pays game, the industry pays attention. Sticky Bees, launched in May 2023, represents the developer’s refined approach to cascading mechanics combined with a summer-themed aesthetic. Built on a 7×7 grid with high volatility (5/5) and an above-average 96.06% default RTP, this slot positions itself squarely for players who thrive on explosive win potential rather than frequent small payouts. The bee-themed garden setting provides the visual framework, though the real draw lies in the mechanical precision of the features.

Base Game & Features

Sticky Bees operates on a 7×7 cluster pays grid, meaning wins form when five or more matching symbols touch horizontally or vertically. This departs from traditional payline thinking and creates a more dynamic base game where reel positioning becomes less critical than symbol clusters themselves. The game employs what Pragmatic Play calls marked positions—between 12 and 19 random positions are highlighted during each base spin, serving as key activation points for the more exciting mechanics to follow.

The Tumble Feature

At the heart of Sticky Bees lies the tumble feature, a cascading win system that removes winning symbols and allows new ones to cascade downward. This creates potential for multiple consecutive wins from a single spin. The feature gains real momentum when combined with the marked positions and Super Wilds, generating chains of tumbles that community feedback consistently highlights as the game’s primary appeal. The mechanic transforms a single spin into a prolonged sequence of potential winning combinations, which is precisely what high-volatility players seek.

Super Wilds & Sticky Mechanics

The Super Wild symbol (represented as a gold bee) is where Sticky Bees reveals its mechanical sophistication. When a Super Wild lands on a marked position, it can dispatch between 2 and 6 additional Super Wilds to other marked positions on the grid. All activated positions become sticky wilds, meaning they remain locked throughout subsequent tumbles on that spin. This creates the explosive win sequences that reviewers and streamers frequently mention—the cascading potential multiplies dramatically when multiple Super Wilds activate and remain locked through extended tumble chains.

Sticky Bees Free Spins

Landing four bonus scatter symbols triggers the free spins bonus with 7 initial free spins. Each additional scatter beyond the fourth awards one extra free spin, creating the potential for substantial bonus rounds if scatters continue landing during the feature. The real distinction during free spins is that marked positions increase to between 16 and 19 (compared to the base game’s 12-19), meaning Super Wilds have more opportunities to activate and create those extended tumble sequences players chase.

What genuinely sets the bonus round apart is the guaranteed activation: between 1 and 3 Super Wilds are guaranteed to land on every single free spin. This guarantee transforms free spins from a feature players hope triggers into a round where exceptional things happen consistently. The sticky mechanics remain in effect, so these guaranteed wilds stack throughout tumbles, creating the potential for the game’s maximum win of 10,000x stake. This is where the mechanical design shows its teeth—the developers engineered the free spins to deliver on the volatility promise.

Bonus Buy Feature

Pragmatic Play includes a Bonus Buy option allowing players outside the UK to purchase free spins for 100x their current bet. It’s important to note that this feature is not available to UK players due to UK Gambling Commission regulations, which prohibit gambling operators from offering direct bonus purchases. When using Bonus Buy, the RTP adjusts slightly to 95.96% from the default 96.06%—a minimal trade-off for immediate access to the feature round.

Sticky Bees Verdict

Rating: 7.8/10

• High volatility (5/5) delivers on explosive win potential, with 10,000x maximum win achievable through extended tumble sequences
• Super Wilds mechanic combined with sticky cascade system creates genuinely exciting moments, particularly during free spins guaranteed 1-3 per spin
• Above-average 96.06% RTP positions the game favourably compared to many modern releases
• Visual design is functional and aesthetically pleasing with smooth animations across desktop and mobile, though the bee theme leans more toward naturalistic imagery than whimsical character design
• 7×7 cluster pays mechanic executed with precision, rewarding strategic thinking around marked positions rather than pure luck
• Best suited for players prioritising cascading win potential and high volatility over frequent base game hits
• Base game maintains engagement between feature triggers through the marked positions system, though the real thrill emerges during free spins sequences

Sticky Bees succeeds at what Pragmatic Play set out to accomplish: deliver a cluster pays game with mechanical depth and visual polish for an audience seeking high-volatility gameplay. The Super Wilds system stands out as genuinely innovative within the cluster pays space—the sticky mechanics combined with cascade potential create win sequences that justify the 5/5 volatility rating. Community feedback consistently praises the feature-driven gameplay, with streamers and reviewers highlighting the free spins bonus as where the game truly delivers explosive moments. While the visual design won’t appeal to every player (some find it generic rather than bee-specific), the solid mechanical foundation and above-average RTP make this a compelling offering for those who understand and embrace high volatility.

Sticky Bees Game Specs

• Provider: Pragmatic Play
• Release Date: 25 May 2023
• Game Type: 7×7 Cluster Pays Video Slot
• RTP: 96.06% (default), 95.02%, 94.06% (configurable)
• Volatility: High (5/5)
• Maximum Win: 10,000x stake
• Bet Range: £0.20 to £100
• Theme: Nature, Bees, Summer Garden

FAQs About Sticky Bees

• What is the RTP of Sticky Bees slot?

  Sticky Bees by Pragmatic Play has a default RTP of 96.06%. The game has been created with 3 different RTPs, with operators able to choose alternative RTPs of 95.02% or 94.06%. The 96.06% RTP is considered above average for slot games. Note: When using the Bonus Buy feature, the RTP decreases to 95.96%.
• What is the maximum win in Sticky Bees slot?

  Sticky Bees offers a maximum win of up to 10,000 times the stake. The max win probability (hit rate) is 1 in 10,869,565 spins.
• How volatile is Sticky Bees slot?

  Sticky Bees has high volatility with a volatility rating of 5/5, indicating that whilst wins may be less frequent than in lower volatility games, they have the potential to be much larger when they do occur.
• What features does Sticky Bees slot have?

  Sticky Bees features include: Wild Symbol, Tumble feature (cascading wins), Marked Positions, Super Wilds that stick during tumbles, Free Spins bonus round (triggered by 4 scatters for 7 free spins), and a Bonus Buy option allowing players to purchase free spins for 100x their bet. Note: Bonus Buy is not available to UK players due to UKGC regulations.
• What are the game grid specifications for Sticky Bees?

  Sticky Bees is a 7-reel, 7-row video slot game from Pragmatic Play with a cluster pays mechanism. Players create wins by landing clusters of 5 or more matching symbols that touch horizontally or vertically.
• How do free spins work in Sticky Bees?

  Landing four scatter symbols triggers the Sticky Bees free spins bonus with 7 free spins. Players are awarded an extra free spin for each additional three scatters landing during the bonus round. During the bonus, between one and three super wilds are guaranteed to land on each free spin.
• What are Super Wilds in Sticky Bees?

  Super Wild bee symbols (Gold Bee) can transform marked positions into wilds, which remain sticky throughout any subsequent tumbles. When a Super Wild lands on a marked position, it can send 2-6 additional Super Wilds to other marked positions. During the bonus round, between one and three super wilds are guaranteed to land on each free spin.
• What is the tumble feature in Sticky Bees?

  The tumble feature removes winning symbols from the grid, allowing new symbols to cascade down and replace them. This creates potential for multiple consecutive wins from a single spin, particularly effective when combined with sticky super wilds.