Developer Stakelogic, along with independent associates Jelly, brings us the Central American-themed slot, Jade of the Jungle. This region is a common setting for slot designers, so creating something unique is essential to capture an audience. In Jade of the Jungle, the developers have opted for a distinctive approach by incorporating two independently spinning game grids instead of one. This technique is gaining traction but remains relatively uncommon, which might just give Jade of the Jungle the edge it needs to stand out. Let’s dive in to see if it works.
At the heart of Jade of the Jungle are two 3×3 game panels, separated by a swirling stone statue. The panels are surrounded by lush trees, vines, bushes, and a step pyramid in the background, making the Central American setting unmistakable. While the visuals are pleasant and the soundtrack is relaxing, featuring soothing panpipes and rhythmic drumbeats when the reels spin, the game isn’t particularly striking. Each reel set has 7 fixed paylines to form winning combinations of matching symbols. Jade of the Jungle is a medium-high volatility game with a theoretical RTP of 95.30%. While this RTP isn’t bad, combined with the overall averageness, it doesn’t quite add exceptional value. Note that the RTP can vary, dropping to as low as 88.06% in some markets. Regular stakes range from 25 p/c to $/€125 per spin, but doubling the stake with the Super Stake bet option unlocks an additional feature not available in normal play.
Now, let’s go through the regular symbols. From low to high, we have four Aztec-inspired icons, a serpent, a bird, two faces, and a sparkling piece of jade. The three most valuable symbols offer values ranging from 4 to 10 times the stake. The wild symbol can land anywhere and substitutes for all symbols except the scatter.
Jade of the Jungle: Slot Features
Jade of the Jungle offers two main features: the Super Stake feature, which players pay extra for, and free spins with a symbol removal system.
Super Stake Feature When the Super Stake is activated, there’s a chance an extra feature will randomly appear. When triggered, a regular paying symbol is chosen, and all other symbols except wilds and the chosen symbol are removed from the reels. Players then get 1 spin with additional chosen symbols and wilds added to the reels. It’s important to note that the RTP remains the same whether the Super Stake is on or off.
Free Spins Scatter symbols can appear on reels 1 and 3 on both reel sets. Landing 3 or 4 scatter symbols across one or both reel sets awards players 8 or 12 free spins, respectively. During free spins, whenever a scatter lands, the lowest paying symbol is removed from the reels for the remainder of the feature, and +1 or +2 additional free spins are awarded. The goal is to remove as many low-paying symbols as possible, leaving only the most valuable ones.
Jade of the Jungle: Slot Verdict
Most developers in the slots industry are always on the lookout for novelty to entertain players who crave new ideas. Sometimes, a new concept hits it out of the park, creating the next big thing. Other times, it entertains for a while before fading away, or it misses the mark completely, heading straight to the slots graveyard. Jade of the Jungle hovers around the middle, teetering dangerously toward the latter. Its six reels sparked some initial interest, as did the Super Stake feature and symbol removal free spins, giving the game a positive start.
However, the excitement wanes when you realize Jade of the Jungle is essentially two 3×3 slots spinning simultaneously. There’s little interaction between the two game panels, which is surprising but not necessarily required for multi-grid setups. If you were expecting synced reels or symbol swaps, you’ll be disappointed. The grids don’t link up in the bonus game to form one large 6-reel grid either, which we initially suspected. Instead, it’s just two separate reel sets spinning side by side. It’s not really “two for the price of one,” since the RTP is a bit lower than usual and hitting wins on both reel sets simultaneously is rare. This dual reel method might appeal to players who prefer longer spin times, though that might be stretching it. The Super Stake feature occasionally triggered wins on both grids, sometimes yielding better payouts than the free spins.
Interestingly, Jade of the Jungle’s home screen advertised a bonus game with five win spins and a x5 multiplier to boost payouts, similar to Pimped. However, Jelly or Stakelogic must have changed their minds during development and opted for the symbol upgrade system instead. This free spins system works fine when you’ve eliminated many lower-paying symbols, but don’t expect Jade of the Jungle to really excel, as the maximum win is capped at 2,976x your bet.
In the end, Jade of the Jungle is enjoyable for a few spins, offering a quick trip back to Central America. However, it doesn’t quicken many pulses. Despite the two simultaneously spinning grids, there’s no major advantage over having just one, making it feel more like a gimmick than a groundbreaking feature.