With so many dark and serious games out there, it can be nice to play something that doesn’t take itself too seriously - and the Fat Panda slot from Pragmatic Play is definitely that. In this review, we’ll take a look at what this popular title, which was released in mid-2023, offers you, the great Canadian casino player.
Fat Panda Game Theme
Taking a popular theme - ancient China - and injecting a healthy dose of cartoon fun, the Fat Panda slot actually offers some impressive opportunities to win - up to 20,000x your bet - along with surprisingly deep gameplay. The base Fat Panda base might appear like a standard 5x3 reel at first glance but has a twist, while the bonus Free Spins round also comes with extras.
In terms of visuals, the Fat Panda slot is very polished - as you’d expect from a provider of Pragmatic Play’s calibre. The reels are framed by a suitably Oriental pagoda, while the background features animations like moving clouds, birds, and plants swaying in the breeze. Colour-wise, the palette is all about deep reds, blues, purples, and greens - with the background adopting a pastel tone so it doesn’t distract too much.
Fat Panda Slot Gameplay & Features
Here’s where this Fat Panda review gets interesting. I’ll admit, at first, I wasn’t expecting too much from this slot, but after a few spins of the Fat Panda trial version, I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, the 5-reel x 3-row layout, decked with Eastern symbols looks standard, but there’s an extra horizontal row at the top that makes all the difference - more on that in a moment.
First, let’s take a look at the symbols. Unsurprisingly, the reels are decked with various ancient China-themed artifacts. Starting with the highest-paying, there are what look like golden eggs, followed by a lantern, drums (which seem to feature in the soundtrack too), a fan, and a purse with gold coins. The low-paying symbols are A, K, Q, J, and 10.
The Fat Panda slot features two special symbols; namely a golden paw print which acts as a Scatter and can appear on all reels, and the Fat Panda himself (dressed as an emporer?) which acts as a Wild. The Wild, which substitutes for all symbols except the Scatter and can also appear on all reels.
Now, back to that extra horizontal row at the top. What makes it so special? Well, on any spin of the base Fat Panda game, a modifier symbol (or symbols) can randomly appear above any reel.
As you’ll see below, these can make a huge difference to wins:
Add Wild - Puts one Wild in a random position in the reel below it if it can form a winning combo
Expand Wild - If there’s a Wild symbol on the reel underneath, it will expand into a full vertical Wild
Add Wild Multiplier - Will randomly add a multiplier of 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x, 9x, or 10x to any winning combos passing through a Wild on the reel underneath
Add Multiplier to All Wilds - Like the Add Wild Multiplier, but applied to the entire screen
Free Spins Bonus Round
Landing 3, 4, or 5 Scatters during the base Fat Panda game will trigger the Free Spins bonus round. Initially, you’ll be randomly awarded either 10, 12, or 15 Free Spins, but you can retrigger more during the bonus round by landing a ‘+spin’ symbol. The extra top row remains functional during Free Spins and any Wilds you land will lock in place until the end of the round.
But, if you don’t want to rely on chance, you can Buy Free Spins - just click on the banner to the left of the reels. And, by using the Buy Bonus option, you’ll be able to choose from Standard Free Spins (costs 70x total bet), or Super Free Spins (costs 300x total bet).
Of course, buying Super Free Spins isn’t cheap, but it can turn the Fat Panda slot into a true beast (if a panda can ever be a ‘beast’) thanks to the 5 Sticky Wilds you’ll receive. For example, while I was testing the game I won $13,590 during a Super Free Spins round. Too bad I was playing the Fat Panda demo version for free. Oh well.
Fat Panda Technicals
In terms of player interface, Fat Panda is typical of Pragmatic Play’s recent slots. While the graphics are high resolution enough to be enjoyed on desktop screens, the game is also optimised to be smartphone-friendly - there’s even a battery-saver mode that works by reducing the spin time.
The game screen is well-laid out, with the usual controls and information displays. Just hit the big circle button with the arrows to spin, or press space for ‘turbo spin’ mode. You can increase or decrease your bet using the ‘-’ and ‘+’ symbols on either side of the spin button. Full symbol, payline and gameplay rules are available by clicking the ‘i’ button, and you can adjust settings (quick spin, battery saver, ambient music, sound fx, and total bet) by clicking the cog symbol.
Before we tie up this Fat Panda review, here’s a quick overview of the nuts and bolts of this slot.
Title: Fat Panda
Provider: Pragmatic Play
Reels x Rows: 5 x 3
Paylines: 20
RTP: 96.07% / 95.09% / 94.01%
Max Win: 20,000x
Volatility: Very high
Min/Max Bet: 0.10/100
Released: June 2023
Autoplay: Yes
Quick Spin: Yes
Buy Bonus: Yes
Battery Saver: Yes
Fat Panda Game Review - The Verdict
All things considered, the Fat Panda slot is a well-finished, playable, and potentially very rewarding game. The graphics and user experience are of the quality we’ve come to expect from Pragmatic Play in the early 2020s, and the theme is fun if not exactly groundbreaking.
But, what really helps this slot stand out, and will no doubt give it decent longevity, is the extra horizontal reel and modifiers. The standard Free Spins also add some extra engagement, but it’s the Super Free Spins (that have to be purchased), that are going to attract those looking for the big wins.
As always with high volatility games, it isn’t for the faint of heart, and it’s probably best to play Fat Panda free before committing cash. Remember, unless you’re going to splash serious cash and buy Free Spins, you’re going to need nerves of steel to endure long periods with no decent wins. But, when those wins do come, they can be epic.
Final Score: 8/10