#Gates of Hades Introduction
Gates of Hades
Gates of Hades Slot Overview
A high-volatility slot game by Pragmatic Play, Gates of Hades is a retreat for the fans of Gates of Olympus, another popular video slot by Pragmatic Play. They are back with the Greek god Hades, who is here to have fun while guarding the reels for you. Set in the fiery depths of the underworld, Gates of Hades brings intense action, cascading wins, and electrifying multipliers. Walk with me through the gates and learn everything there is to know about this online slot game before playing the Gates of Hades demo.
Pros
- Max win of 10,000x
- High multipliers up to 500x
- Engaging tumble feature
Cons
- High volatility
- Variable RTP
Gates of Hades Video Review
Step into the underworld’s depths as we investigate Pragmatic Play’s fiery launch, Gates of Hades. Within this video review, we analyze the game’s main features, bonus mechanics, and winning potential. Watch now to find out if Hades is set to bless or curse!
Gates of Hades Slot Review
After spending some time spinning the reels in the fiery depths of the Gates of Hades, I got a real feel for its dark atmosphere and intense energy. Here’s my take on this game.
Theme
The theme of Gates of Hades drew me into its gothic, mythological universe. Having played Gates of Olympus, I wanted to know how Hades’ realm would be different, and it certainly provides a darker, more intense experience. The underworld atmosphere is well-realized, with fiery graphics, dark backdrops, and imagery that looks to the darker side of Greek mythology. I liked how the game captures the essence of Hades, and not just as a villain, but as a powerful, almost charismatic force guarding the reels. The theme feels cohesive and immersive, and it adds a unique twist to the usual Greek god narrative I’ve seen in other slots.
Graphics, Sounds and Animations
I enjoyed the general presentation of Gates of Hades as visually appealing and atmospherically dense. The visuals are crisp and professional, with rich reds, burning oranges, and radiant purples that truly add to the experience of being in the underworld. Quite a lot of attention had gone into detail on the symbols, particularly the radiant gems and the foreboding mask of Hades. The animations on tumbles and multipliers are silky smooth and provide a great rhythm to the game.
The most impressive thing about this game, however, is the haunting music; it’s dark, powerful, and suspensefully builds up as the reels spin. The overall blend of all these makes the game dramatic and engaging from the very beginning until the end.
RTP, Payout and Volatility
The RTP (Return to Player) for Gates of Hades has several settings, up to 96.52% at the maximum. That’s quite typical for Pragmatic Play, but keep in mind that some operators may have lower versions available, such as 95.50% or even 94.47%. It is recommended that you look up the paytable before playing since the difference impacts long-term returns. Relative to other games I’ve reviewed from the same developer, this RTP is good but not really exceptional unless you’re on the max setting.
In terms of payout, Gates of Hades does have some good potential. The top win is 10,000x your bet, which is very liberal. I discovered, throughout my play, the tumble feature and multipliers to be the driving forces of larger wins, particularly in the free spins game where the multipliers build up. Although it took some attempts to get anything meaningful, the game really does reward you once it gets going. I’ve tried equivalent games such as Gates of Olympus, and I sensed the potential for winning here is a bit more evened out.
Volatility-wise, though, this game is certainly on the higher end. I went through prolonged periods with minimal meaningful wins, which is to be expected from high-volatility slots. Yet, when it does come together, particularly in the bonus round, the payouts can be enormous. Personally, I like this risk-reward structure, but I would advise more recreational players or players with limited bankrolls.
Gameplay
Playing Gates of Hades is pretty straightforward, especially if you’re already familiar with Pragmatic Play’s style. The game uses a 6×6 grid and a “pay anywhere” system, which means symbols don’t have to land on traditional paylines; they just need to appear in clusters of 8 or more to trigger a win. I like this format personally since it opens up the board and generates more frequent tumble sequences, which can generate chain reactions and increased win potential.
As I played, I paid attention to the various symbols and their payouts. The low-paying ones are all different colored gemstones- red, purple, green, blue, and yellow. The high-paying symbols are rings, chalices, crowns, and the highest-level mask of Hades. In one of my more solid spins, I hit a group of 12+ Hades masks, and it paid out a lot more than I had anticipated, reminding me that symbol numbers do play a big part in this slot. The Scatters, which are represented as glowing spheres, are the key to the free spins feature; hitting 4 or more of these initiates 15 free games. Here is more information on each symbol’s payout:
| Symbol | 12–30 Matches | 10–11 Matches | 8–9 Matches |
| Crown | $100.00 | $50.00 | $20.00 |
| Green Ring | $50.00 | $20.00 | $5.00 |
| Purple Pendant | $30.00 | $10.00 | $4.00 |
| Blue Goblet | $24.00 | $4.00 | $3.00 |
| Red Gem | $20.00 | $3.00 | $2.00 |
| Purple Triangle | $16.00 | $2.40 | $1.60 |
| Orange Hexagon | $10.00 | $2.00 | $1.00 |
| Green Triangle | $8.00 | $1.80 | $0.80 |
| Blue Diamond | $4.00 | $1.50 | $0.50 |
| Scatter (Hades) | 6 = $200.00 | 5 = $10.00 | 4 = $6.00 |
Features
Gates of Hades has several standout bonus features that add a tremendous amount to the gameplay and make it much more engaging, particularly if you enjoy high-volatility slots. Having played through several rounds, I discovered that the actual excitement picks up during the bonus rounds. Here’s an explanation of the features and my own experience with each:
Multiplier Symbols
Throughout the base game, as well as free spins, there are special multiplier symbols that will pop up at random. These go from 2x to 500x, and these get added to the overall win of that tumble sequence. However, I didn’t catch the higher-end multipliers that frequently; getting even a 10x or 25x really paid off. In the base game, the multiplier is only for that single tumble, but during free spins, it gets even better.
Free Spins Bonus Round
To activate the free spins mode, I had to hit 4 or more scatter symbols (Hades with blue fire). This awarded me 15 free spins, and things began heating up here. One thing that really stood out was that I enjoyed any multiplier that hit during free spins, which added to an accumulated multiplier that counted towards all subsequent wins in that session. So, unlike the main game in which multipliers got reset, here they simply kept accumulating.
Ante Bet and Bonus Buy
If you’re an impatient individual like me, Ante Bet is an option that allows you to raise the bet ever so slightly to ensure you have more chances at activating the free spins feature. It was useful for me when I needed quicker access to the bonus round. There is an option for Bonus Buy, too, wherein you can purchase outright entry into the free spins round at a set price.