Heart of Rio

The Heart of Rio base game has five reels and three rows with 25 paylines. Symbols flash quickly, and the basic gameplay is not stressful — winnings come quite often due to regular lines and periodic Cash symbols. It is Cash (the amounts on gold coins) and Collect (different types of collect symbols) that make the game live: when Cash appears along with one of the Collect on the fifth reel, all amounts are immediately collected on the balance. In addition to the standard Collect, there is Extra Collect, Multiplier Collect, Expanding Collect and Respin Collect — each adds its own effect, enhancing the final win. Even if you are unlucky for a long time, one successful combination can dramatically change the balance.

The bonus round is a classic for Pragmatic Play's Money Collect slots. It starts when three Scatters (the Heart of Rio logo) appear on the screen on reels 2, 3 and 4. The bonus comes with 8 Free Spins, and the Cash and Collect symbols appear even more often. The bonus feature is that after the end of all the spins, all the Cash amounts on the screen are collected in a common "pot", and one last Super Spin is given, when you either take everything or not. This really adds intrigue: sometimes the main win comes not due to the "usual" spins, but in this final round.

Free Spins can be extended by catching new Scatters. The Cash + Collect combination in the bonus often brings pleasant payouts, especially if Multiplier Collect or Extra Collect appears, which increase the total winnings or add additional amounts.

The theme is pure carnival: golden masks, dancers, fans, cocktails, reels, fruits, and multi-coloured card symbols (A, K, Q, J). Panda in a mask is a Wild that substitutes for any standard symbols, but does not replace Scatter and Cash. Cash symbols appear on all reels except the fifth and show random amounts in coins. Collect can be of five types and always on the fifth reel: Standard, Extra, Multiplier, Expanding, Respin. The most valuable symbols are dancers and masks, and card and fruit icons often help for regular payouts.

The stated maximum is 10,500x the bet, which is very decent for Money Collect slots. To really see such an amount, you need to catch huge amounts of Cash symbols with several Multiplier Collects, and all this is desirable during the bonus and with a successful final Super Spin. In practice, 50x-200x big wins for a lucky bonus or a powerful Collect streak in the base game are more common. There is potential, but as everywhere, a big win is more of a rare luck than a systemic scenario.

The slot is visually bright, without "expensive" graphics, but the colours are pleasing to the eye - everything is in the spirit of Latin American parties. The symbols are clear, the animations are fast, and beautiful effects flash when winning combinations appear. The music is cheerful carnival rhythms that do not get boring even during long sessions. Everything works without brakes, the optimisation is at the level, especially pleasant on mobile: nothing floats or hangs.

Heart of Rio is perfect for everyone who loves dynamic Money Collect slots, but is already tired of fish and classic fruits. If you care about a "holiday on the screen" and constant balance changes, this slot will definitely not seem boring. Beginners will like the simplicity and clear rules, while those who like to chase big big wins will like the high potential and a large payout maximum.

The slot belongs to medium and above average volatility: a series of "empty" spins can be replaced by one big win. The optimal bet is no more than 1-2% of your bank for each spin to last longer and catch the bonus feature. The RTP is usually 96.50%, but Pragmatic Play allows the casino to lower it to 95.50% or lower – always check the value before you start playing. For long sessions, an auto-spin is suitable, but it is important to stop in time if the session goes into the red.