Rise of Olympus Pokie Review

Rise of Olympus is a Greek mythology themed pokie from Play'n GO, released in 2018. The game is set on Mount Olympus, with the three main gods – Zeus, Poseidon and Hades – as the highest paying symbols.

The layout is a 5x5 grid, and instead of paylines, it uses a cluster pays mechanic. Wins are formed when three or more matching symbols touch horizontally or vertically. After each win, the symbols disappear and new ones fall into place, creating cascades.

What sets this game apart from a standard 5x3 pokie is the grid size and the way wins are calculated. Clusters can form in multiple directions, and the cascade mechanic means a single spin can produce several consecutive wins. The game also has a unique feature where clearing the entire grid triggers free spins, adding a layer of strategy to how you play.

To play Rise of Olympus, set your bet using the minus and plus buttons in the bet selector, ranging from $0.20 to $100 per spin. The game uses a 5x5 grid with cluster pays, so wins are formed when three or more matching symbols connect horizontally or vertically. After a win, the symbols cascade, and new ones fall into place. The paytable and info panel are accessible via the info or paytable button, where you can also check the RTP version. Once you've set your bet, press the spin button to start. There is no autoplay or turbo option, and no ante bet or bonus buy feature.

Rise of Olympus is a high volatility game. That means wins are less frequent but larger when they do hit. For a $50 session, a sensible bet would be around $0.50 per spin, giving you 100 spins to work with. For a $200 session, you could go up to $2 per spin, which gives you 100 spins as well.

There is no bonus buy or ante bet in this game, so the cost per attempt at the free spins is simply the spin cost. The maximum win is 2,500x your stake, so a $1 bet could return $2,500, but you need to be prepared for long dry spells.

No betting system changes the RTP. The game's return is fixed by the mathematics, so the only thing you control is how much you wager and how long you play.

The key features in Rise of Olympus are:

• Cascades with a win multiplier: Every consecutive drop increases the multiplier, up to 20x in free spins.
• Hand of God: Randomly triggered, one of three powers activates: Hades transforms symbols, Poseidon adds up to 2 wilds, or Zeus destroys a set of symbols.
• Wrath of Olympus: If you get a 5-of-a-kind win with a god symbol, all three powers activate at once.
• Free spins: Triggered by clearing the entire grid. You pick one god, and their power fires on every non-winning spin.
• Clearing the grid during free spins: Awards 100x your bet.
• Retrigger: You can retrigger up to 20 spins total.

For example, a cascade win might start with a cluster of Zeus symbols, then the Hand of God adds wilds, leading to a bigger win and a higher multiplier.

The default RTP is 96.5%, but operators can select from a range of versions: 96.50%, 94.51%, 91.49%, 87.50%, and 84.50%. The official Play'n GO page does not list an RTP.

A lower RTP version means the house edge is higher. For example, at 96.5% RTP, you can expect to lose $3.50 per $100 wagered on average. At 84.5% RTP, that loss jumps to $15.50 per $100 wagered.

The maximum win is 2,500x your stake. If you bet $1, that's a potential $2,500 return.

Before playing, check the RTP version in the game's info panel, as it can vary between casinos.

Demo mode lets you play Rise of Olympus with play credits, using the same maths and RTP version as the real-money build at the casino you open it in. Given the high volatility, a demo session is useful for seeing how often the Hand of God and free spins trigger, and how the cascade multiplier builds. You can also test how different bet sizes feel across the range, from $0.20 to $100. When you switch to real AUD, bets are real money, so your bankroll and session limits matter more.

You can play Rise of Olympus at More Chilli, Vegasnow, in AUD. A demo mode is available so you can try the game first without risking real money.

Check the RTP version in the game's info panel at the casino, as it may differ from the default.

Play responsibly. If you need help, contact Gambling Help Online at 1800 858 858.

Temple Tumble Megaways — Like Rise of Olympus, Temple Tumble Megaways uses cascading wins and a grid-based layout. However, it has 6 reels and a max win of 7,767x, and its free spins offer three selectable modes, whereas Rise of Olympus has a single free spins feature with a chosen god power.

Stack 'Em — Stack 'Em shares the cluster grid and cascade mechanic, but with a 5x6 layout and a max win of 10,000x. Its free spins feature a progressive global multiplier, while Rise of Olympus uses a per-cascade multiplier and god powers. Both are high volatility from different studios.