Pandemic Rising slot review

Pandemic Rising by Pragmatic Play: slot review

Set to release on 27 October 2025, Pragmatic Play's Pandemic Rising is a high-volatility slot with a post-apocalyptic theme.

In this review we will take you on an all-round bias free tour of the slot, exploring its mechanics and its features.

We will share how we found playing it in general. In this guide we will cover everything from the Pragmatic Play pandemic rising slot demo to if there any chances of hitting real money payouts.

You can then decide for yourself if Pandemic Rising is a worthy slot for your time and money. This isn't simply a rundown of features; it's based on experience and statistical analysis.

It's based on a far more genuine grasp of what makes a slot tick.

Pandemic Rising RTP, Payout & Volatility

At the heart of any slot review is a look at the mathematics behind a game. Pandemic Rising comes with an RTP of 96.50%, which is pretty standard for an online slot game. But alas, this is just one small part of the equation.

The volatility score which is through the roof tells me that wins are less likely, but when they do come they could be big. That second line stands out — 14000x stake is, ahem, quite a high amount that certainly should appeal to high-volatility lovers.

The bet range goes from 0.2 to 240, great for casual gamers and bigger bankrolls. Pandemic Rising has a 4x5 reel model and is powered by an all ways pays mechanic. This implies that winning combinations are created by matching symbols on contiguous reels, with no specific paylines, presenting hundreds of ways to win on each spin.

There is really a need to understand the difference between traditional paylines and all ways pays. When paylines are in place, winning combinations have to follow fixed paths on the reels. All ways pays does away with these restrictions, allowing for more winning combinations to be made.

This also tends to offer higher hit frequency than a regular payline slot, while high volatility will influence the win size significantly. This never the less will have a great affect on the players strategy, the player can change the bet based on high or low volatility and hit frequency to take small wins you wait for the big wins.

Theme, Audio & Symbols

Easily the most thematically driven game in Pandemic Rising. In our present time where the world is struggling with a global pandemic, the imagery will show emptied cities, deserted laboratories and possibly vaccina survivors in hazmat suits.

The theme will most likely carry over into the design of the symbols as well, with things like vials filled with new experimental serums, hazmat suits, and possibly even a zombified version of predictions or mutated horrors that must be expressed in the symbols. Expect dull colors, including greys, greens and browns that play into the feeling of hopelessness and disintegration.

The audio should also be more than just what we are hearing from a scene, it should include atmosphere, scary SFX, sirens, coughing, wind blowing through abandoned buildings etc. Music will most likely be pompous and cinematic, with a forbidding tone punctuated in suspense on every single spin.

A good slot transports you to its own world, and Pandemic Rising could lend itself to a genuinely immersive if dark one. Screenshots could be included of the design of the symbol, the layout of the reel and snippets of animation where relevant with gameplay.

Would also be nice to have a short video - to hear sound design and atmospheric visuals.

Pandemic Rising Free Spins and Bonus Features

One of the significant introduction bonus features that is likely to come with the Pandemic Rising, will directly affect the gameplay. It'd be a surprise if we didn't have some Tumbling Reels which is a Pragmatic Play staple.

This mechanic takes the winning symbols off the reels and lets new symbols drop in to replace them, which means that you can get multiple wins from only one spin. Another staple of the genre is free spins, which are probably earned from a predetermined number of scatter images.

The free spins round may have multipliers that increase the value of winning combinations. They might be static or progressive, perhaps going up with each tumble, or as part of a specific meter.

Depending on the potential bonus payout, this range can have varying limits, but it's common for players to purchase direct entry into the free spins round for a set price with the Buy Bonus feature, a common component in Pragmatic Play slots. This means for some volatility seekers the high win is a fast growing experience, but it can also dry that players budget up pretty fast.

There may also be an Ante Bet element that lets players increase the size of their bets in exchange for an increased opportunity to activate the bonus features. While testing some other Pragmatic Play titles, I noticed that slots with tumbling reels generally make for longer playing sessions, since the cascading wins create a snowball effect.

Free spins specifically, in conjunction with multipliers, line up the most frequently for the largest payouts.

Mobile Experience

Mobile gaming is very important in the current market, and Pragmatic Play is always focused on being mobile compatible. Rest assured, Pandemic Rising will be suited for smartphones and tablets alike.

The UI should be responsive and support various screen sizes and orientations. Buttons and controls should be easy to touch while keeping all graphics simple and clear even at small display sizes.

The website should load quickly and its gameplay should be glitch-free with no lag in time. An ideal mobile slot gives players the chance to play from anywhere and can maintain all the features or functionality.

From my experience, Pragmatic Play mobile slots are consistently well made, and deliver almost the same experience as playing on a desktop computer. So make sure to test the slot on the devices doing well according to these standards.

Maybe screenshots of the game itself running on specific smartphones and/or tablets demonstrating the interface and how clear the graphics were. A quick vid showing the controls would be great too.

Pros & Cons

Each slot game has its own pros and cons. Nothing new under the virtual casino sun then, but with a 14000x max win this 14:1 volatility will surely find fans among the big win charters of fully fledged thrill seekers.

With all ways pays, and bonus features like tumbling reels and free spins and multipliers this one is sure to reward in multiple ways. The quality graphics and mobile optimization can further be attributed to the reputation of Pragmatic Play.

On the flip side, the drastic variance also means big stretches of time without a win may affect players, and will frustrate some. Not for Everyone: Those who may not be too keen on anything resembling or having a post-apocalyptic theme in any sort of capacity may not dig any of this while the potential for great losses must be contemplated when the buy bonus is used.

In addition, extreme volatility can lead to rapid budget depletion if not monitored correctly. The similarity with Sweet Bonanza, which is the same provider, will make the players have less interest, or a 'thank you next' attitude after they play this slot game.

Our Verdict

Overall, Pandemic Rising has got what it takes to become a hit slot — at least among the fans of high-RTP, highly-volatile games with a thematic premise and rewarding bonus features. The all207ways pays mechanic combined with the potential of tumbling reels and multipliers creates an exciting gameplay dynamic786 with plenty of820 chances84 to85 win.

Pragmatic Play continues their mobile-optimised content, offering a title which can be played on a mobile or tablet as well as a desktop. Though, the players must realize that it is usually a pretty risky business, meaning they stand to lose a lot of money too.

While the post-apocalyptic theme might not be suited for everyone's taste, anyone interested in a darker, more immersive experience will find Pandemic Rising to be worth your time. All in all, this slot is probably more for the seasoned gambler who does not shy away from high risk, high reward play and that is looking for an exciting and rewarding time playing the games.

Promising New Pandemic Release: Pragmatic Play Before you try Pandemic Rising real money, we recommend playing the Pragmatic Play slot demo first.

Play Responsibly

While gambling is fun, be aware of the risk that comes with it! Slots are just games of luck, and winning is never a certainty.

Just remember to always play responsibly with a budget! Avoid chasing your losses and do not stake more than you can afford to lose.

Pay attention to red flags of gambling problem, like spending more cash than planned, taking loans to gamble, or disregarding duties because of gambling; If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

There are many resources available such as the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and Gamblers Anonymous. They provide support, counseling, and treatment.

Gambling is meant to be fun, not something to be stressed about or in debt for. You are of sufficient legal age to wager as legally required in your jurisdiction.

Always check your local laws and regulations in your jurisdiction before engaging in online gambling activities of any sort.