Ivory Citadel Slot - Features, RTP, Free Spins & Bonuses

Ivory Citadel Review

If you’re looking for something unique, then Ivory Citadel might be worth checking out. As one of several new additions to Microgaming’s portfolio of slot machines released over the past year, Ivory Citadel certainly stands out from other games in its genre. Although there are many standard slot machine designs available today, Ivory Citadel takes an interesting approach.

Instead of offering a more traditional slot design based upon Western European culture, Ivory Citadel draws upon elements of Indian culture. The result is a much more exotic experience compared to many of the other slot machine options currently available.

With 5 reels and 3 rows across the grid, Ivory Citadel features 20 fixed pay lines. Winning combinations are paid from left to right. One advantage of the use of a 20 fixed payline model is that players will not need to worry about selecting which pay lines to activate. This is particularly beneficial for casual players who do not want to spend time thinking about strategy.

The minimum coin value per spin is .10 cents and can reach as high as $100.00. Each pay line can cost anywhere from $.05 cents to $5.00 depending on how much money the player wishes to wager. High rollers will enjoy the fact that they can wager large amounts on each spin. Casual players will also benefit because they can choose small bets that allow them to play for extended periods of time.

There are four symbols in Ivory Citadel that represent lower-paying prizes. They include a K, J, Queen and Ace. The higher-paying symbols in Ivory Citadel are a snake, buffalo and tiger. The lowest prize offered for the snake symbol is $80.00 and the largest prize is $600.00. The lowest prize offered for the buffalo is $100.00 and the largest prize is $900.00. The tiger offers prizes ranging from $150.00 to $1,500.00.

The largest prize possible in Ivory Citadel is $1,986.00 and occurs when five Ivy Citadel logos land on a single spin. The Ivy Citadel logo is considered a wild symbol in this slot machine. Wild symbols take the place of any missing symbol needed to create a winning combination.

Mystery Symbols

One of the most unique aspects of Ivory Citadel is the mystery symbols. Mystery symbols are denoted by gold-colored symbols with a question mark inside of them. While they operate similarly to regular wild symbols in some ways, they behave differently when played within the base game versus when used in the free spins mode.

Regardless of which game mode you are playing, once a mystery symbol lands on a reel it remains frozen until all reels stop spinning. At this point, it will randomly transform into another symbol available on the reels, excluding the free spins symbol.

This aspect of the mystery symbol adds excitement to the game, especially when multiple mystery symbols fill a single reel. In this case, all of the mystery symbols on that single reel will become wilds and stay that way until all free spins conclude. What makes this slot stand out from others is that it uses mystery symbols in both modes and allows for the potential for stacking wilds during free spins.

Typically, free spins do not allow players to retrigger additional rounds. By allowing mystery symbols to become wilds during free spins and remain so until all free spins are completed, Ivory Citadel offers a fresh alternative to traditional slot design.

Artwork and Audio Design

Just For The Win chose to develop Ivory Citadel using an Asian-inspired environment unlike many other modern-day slot machines. The ivory citadel serves as the backdrop to a jungle-like atmosphere complete with greenery and massive stone elephants at either side of an old entrance. While the artwork itself appears very colorful and detailed, the overall atmosphere appears less vibrant due to muted tones and ambient lighting effects. All symbols have been crafted using a carved-to-temple style giving each icon a sense of depth and history.

When you begin to spin, you'll hear a soothing percussion-based sound track providing a consistent beat throughout your session. Once again, while the music is pleasant and calming, it may grow stale after prolonged gaming sessions. In contrast, the graphics themselves continue to shine bright and clear regardless of how much you play.

User Interface

While many modern-day slots offer extremely complex interfaces including numerous options and settings, Just For The Win opted for a much cleaner layout for Ivory Citadel. A large portion of this cleanliness comes from the fact that the majority of settings are located at the bottom of the screen making it easy to access any option you need while keeping everything else clear.

You can quickly select how much you would like to wager per spin using a large slider bar at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. Above it lies the Turbo Button, which increases your speed dramatically. There are six total speeds you can choose from, starting with normal speed going down to 2000 RPM (revolutions per minute) which results in completing a full cycle in roughly half of a second!

Next to that button lies the Auto Play button which enables you to automatically spin your reels repeatedly without having to manually press anything. Auto Play includes a number of customizable options allowing you to set win limits as well as loss limits for auto-play purposes.

Lastly, located above the Auto Play button is a compact Pay Table button which opens up a list displaying all of your possible payouts including how many coins you can potentially win with certain combinations.

Mobile Gaming Experience

Just For The Win did a fantastic job developing a seamless gaming experience when accessed via mobile device. Unlike older versions of many Microgaming titles that could not be played directly through your web browser, Ivory Citadel is designed entirely using HTML5 and JavaScript which allows for direct-access mobile gaming.

Whether you are accessing your favorite casino sites via your phone or laptop, this title performs flawlessly on either platform and requires absolutely no downloads whatsoever!

Microgaming has done a wonderful job delivering excellent performance on all Android and iOS mobile platforms alike ensuring that users receive an equally enjoyable gaming experience regardless of their preferred method of access.

Mystery Symbols in Base Game Play

During the normal course of play, Mystery Symbols will display as blank tiles that are face down. When the reels stop spinning, each Mystery tile displays the same regular symbol across all positions where the Mystery was located. This allows scattered near misses to become real wins, increases a modest win into a larger win, or adds more Wilds into a combination.

Mystery Symbols cannot guarantee that they will turn into the highest-paying symbol. Their purpose is to consistently convert their position into the same regular symbol. The frequency of these events seems suitable for a game classified as having medium volatility. The largest improvements will occur when several mystery symbols land on various reels simultaneously.

Why it Matters:

• Increases tension during times when spins seem unproductive
• Makes connections among non-contiguous premium symbols
• Sets the stage for stickiness that is rewarded in the Free Spins Bonus Feature.

Free Spins Bonus Feature with Sticky Mystery Symbols

Entry into the free spins bonus occurs when three or four scatter symbols appear anywhere on screen. Award amounts for entry into free spins usually fall between 8 – 12 spins depending on how many scatters triggered entry. In addition to converting to a mystery symbol upon landing, each mystery symbol becomes "sticky" and persists throughout the remaining spins in the bonus round.

Any positions that revealed as mysteries continue to display their respective mystery symbols until they reveal again on subsequent spins. If an entire reel lands as mystery symbols, that reel will lock as a full stack of wilds for the duration of the feature. Momentum begins to build immediately from this stickiness.

Initially created from mystery landings early in the feature, each successive spin has a greater potential to produce a win than previous ones. Additionally, an entire reel of wilds significantly changes the shape of the grid and can result in consecutive wins across multiple spins.

Takeaways:

• Mysteries that land early are extremely valuable
• Locking a single reel wide with wilds creates a substantial increase in potential
• If two reels become locked wide with wilds, it can drive the bonus round towards exceptional territory.
• However, no matter how long you play, the maximum achievable win remains 1968x; therefore, runs should be exciting but not completely implausible.

Locked Reels Wide With Wilds

Locked reels wide with wilds represent the ultimate outcome of sticky mystery symbols landing in free spins. As soon as a reel converts to a wild reel, that reel continues to function as a wild reel for however many spins remain in the feature.

The fact that this isn't merely substituting for other symbols but rather locking them into place for future spins encourages back-to-back wins. Locking reels 2 through 4 tends to provide the greatest amount of benefit since these reels cross more paylines; however, a locked reel in any location can greatly alter the potential for a round.

Game Math Model: RTP, Volatility, Hit Rate & Max Win

The RTP for Ivory Citadel comes in at 96.03% which places it squarely in line with other games in its genre. The volatility level is considered medium. Thus, we can expect our players to experience activity about one payout every 4-5 spins which should give players plenty of opportunities to feel engaged and see progress toward their goals.

Finally, a max win limit of 1,968x signals that this game's design focuses on providing players with balanced returns versus spectacular individual wins. Therefore, this game probably won't appeal to extreme-high-risk players looking for huge multipliers. However, many players enjoy playing slots with more moderate risk profiles and would find Ivory Citadel appealing.

Session Planning Tips:

• Plan for sessions that include periods of slow play and try to encourage wins via clustering Mysteries.
• Prioritize getting into bonus rounds more frequently vs trying to hit large single wins.
• Establish walk-away points -- after getting 2 or 3 bonus rounds without hitting anything notable it may be time to leave.
• Playing at lower bets over longer periods of time will allow the math to work itself out and allow you to appreciate what I call 'stickiness' paying off big-time.

Bet Range & Bank Roll Ideas

A floor bet of .10 per spin gives players options for casual bankrolls. Players who want to play aggressively but still desire medium risk may opt for a cap bet of ~100.00. Using autoplay (if allowed in your market) can assist with maintaining a rhythmic pace during stretches of base-game play; however using manual spins makes it easier for you to react quickly when Mysteries begin appearing.

Ultimately, bankroll spread matters much more than bet size here. Sessions of longer duration will dramatically improve your chances of witnessing both of the defining moments of this slot's potential: when you witness the sticky Mystery + Stacked Wild combo.

Recommended Frameworks:

• Casual Sampler: Try out 50-100 spins at .10-.20 to get a feel for how often Mysteries land.
• Standard Session: Take 200-300 spins at .20-.60 and pause after each bonus round to assess your performance.
• Deep Dive: Take 500+ spins at reasonable stake levels to ride multiple bonus rounds and determine a data driven assessment regarding variability.

Accessibility/Mobile Performance

Since Ivory Citadel uses HTML5 technology, mobile users will find themselves able to load and run this game quickly and smoothly. Mobile devices will display clean renditions of the artwork; control scaling works effectively; and pay-table text is easily legible. Landscape orientation is particularly beneficial on mobile devices due to increased visibility of both the grid and user interface elements. Smooth rendering also assists with symbol identification, which is critical when Mysteries first reveal.

Advantages:

• Quick Loads/Smooth Spinning
• Clearly defined symbols even on smaller screens
• Logical spacing for adjusting bet limits/information

Who Will Enjoy Ivory Citadel Most?

This game is likely best suited for players who like structured gameplay, consistent wins, and visible progression in their features. This slot provides real growth via sticky Mysteries and stuck reels without being too volatile. Those who appreciate rich detail in jungle or ancient ruin settings will love the visual aesthetic and audio design. High-Variance players seeking titles that have ceilings exceeding 10kX will need to look elsewhere; everyone else will receive a calm, confident slot with reasonable momentum.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Beautiful artwork in terms of style. The jungle ruin theme has a great cohesion.
• Symbols create real mystery and anxiety for base game spinning.
• Spinning free games produce an additional layer of momentum via Mysteries becoming sticky symbols. This allows you to maintain momentum from the start of free games.
• Averaged RTP and medium volatility allow for extended gaming sessions.
• Mobile and desktop versions deliver smooth results.

Cons

• Extreme high-variance fans may find the 1,968x max win is too low.
• Sometimes the base game can be quite silent due to Mysteries taking a few spins away.
• Early stickiness plays a big role in Bonus outcomes, resulting in some very "streaky" periods.

Overall Review: Flow and power

The Ivory Citadel does not go for those big multiplier headline wins. Instead, the game focuses on creating a rhythm/clarity to its gameplay. As well as making sure that the Bonus arc feels like it was earned. Mysteries connect all three elements of this package first by providing nudges in the base game, and secondly as sticky power-ups turning into reel-wide Wilds. Sessions have a nice rhythm going: small wins, random mystery boosts, followed by a Bonus round that really can turn into a snowball. For players that enjoy having fun while playing and also want a clean layout, this game is a solid pick that takes both time and bankroll seriously.

How to play: Quick Start

• Select a stake within your comfort zone (0.10 – 100).
• Take a few manual spins to see how fast the Mystery Symbol occurs.
• Only use auto spin if it fits your market rules and session plan.

Keep track of your number of Bonus entries. If you reach 2-3 Bonus entries and the session is hot, pause after each Bonus entry. Assess whether the session is still hot or cooling. Adjust your stake if you lock up a reel early in the Bonus round. Then normalize your stake after each round.

Final Word

The Ivory Citadel offers itself as one of the most confident and smartest options available in the mid-volatility arena. It pays homage to patience and pacing with regards to your bankroll. The chill tone created by both the artwork and audio provide a perfect complement to the identity of the game through the Mystery Symbols and sticky upgrades provided by the stacked wild reels found throughout the free spin rounds. Any slot review would never be complete without a clear takeaway for the reader, and here is yours: players who value flow over fireworks will have found their home in this one.

FAQs: Ivory Citadel slot review

What is the RTP of Ivory Citadel?

The RTP of Ivory Citadel is approximately 96.03%, placing it firmly in the industry average range.

Is Ivory Citadel volatile?

It is of medium volatility. Sessions are steady with frequent small hits and occasional jumps during free spin rounds.

What is the maximum win?

The theoretical maximum win is approximately 1,968 x your bet amount.

How many pay lines are there?

There are twenty fixed pay lines located on a 5 × 3 grid.

What are some key features?

In the base game, Mystery Symbols exist. When free spin rounds occur, these mystery positions become sticky. When a reel is completely filled with Mysteries, that reel locks as a stacked wild reel until the end of the Bonus.