Updated
Staff Writer
NetEnt has again produced a top game with the Secret of the Stone slot based on the ancient druid theme and a mysterious stone garden. Just like the ancient Stone Henge, the origins and use of these stones are a mystery. However, if you match them in the correct order, you could win big prizes. Please find out how to play and what to expect in our review, or play the free demo on this page.
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Below the five reels and three rows is the game’s control panel, which has all the buttons you need to play, change the settings, and control the action. The spin button is in the centre, with the autoplay and max bet buttons on either side.
If you want to adjust your stake per spin, use the lines, level and coin value buttons. Changing the number of lines you play with is possible, although this will decrease your winning chance and total bet.
You can see your total bet, current credits and most recent win underneath the spin button. In the far left corner of this lower panel are the settings options, where you can adjust the sound and see the game information, such as symbols and payouts.
The game features twelve symbols in total, ten regular and two bonus. The paytable starts with A-10 playing card royals, each designed with Celtic patterns to make them stand out. Payouts for these are between 1x and 5x for five of a kind.
The excellent symbols in the Secret of the Stones are Owl, Bull, Deer, Wolf and Snake. These symbols represent the sacred stones. The snake pays up to 4x your bet, the wolf pays up to 6x, the bull pays a maximum of 10x, the owl 15x for five of a kind, and the deer pays the highest at 25x your bet. The game also incorporates Scatters and Wilds, apart from the abovementioned ones.
The slot features a maximum of 25 ways to win, which start at the left-most reel. However, you can change the number of paylines on each spin. Landing a win is as simple as matching three or more symbols along one of these lines. Bonus symbols like the wild and scatter will also show up to help increase your winning potential.
NetEnt has included some excellent bonus features to make things more interesting as you unravel the mysteries of these ancient stones and look out for lost treasure. Watch for the following features that can trigger any spin:
The man dressed in a robe with a long white beard is likely a druid, and he’ll help you unlock the power of the stones. Whenever the druid appears on the reels, he will substitute for other symbols, taking their place along paylines to help you form winning combinations.
The golden oak tree carries a lot of power within its roots, acting as a scatter and triggering the bonus round if you land three or more anywhere on the reels. You’ll start with ten free spins, but before the round begins, you must pass through the stone garden.
In the mysterious stone garden, you will get an option of selecting up to 5 extra features. The number of stones you can choose equals the number of scatters that landed on the reels to unlock the bonusround. Each stone reveals a hidden feature applied to your current round.
Bonus features include up to 10 free spins, an increased win multiplier of up to 2x, and reels of two or four becoming fully wild or extra wild symbols. These will be active throughout the bonus until it finishes when your total win is counted up.
This slot has a maximum win worth up to 10,000 your bet. Playing at the maximum stake of $125 per spin would mean you could earn an impressive $1,250,000 from a single spin. That’s a payout worth spinning for, although the chance of hitting such a figure is meagre.
Secret of the Stones has an RTP rate of 96.72%, putting it just above average for online slots. The volatility is rated as medium-high, which means wins are slightly larger on average, although win frequency is lower.
While the RTP rate and volatility affect the gameplay, it’s important to remember that they’re calculated over many spins. Shorter playing sessions can yield very different results, as I discovered when I played Secret of the Stones. I didn’t have much luck when I entered the stone circle, but I might have better fortune on another day.
This slot came out in 2013, and although I love the overall theme, it’s fair to say that the graphics look dated compared to many newer slots. Despite looking old and being surpassed by modern graphics, the original designs, animations and bright colours all help to make this slot a lot of fun to play.
Not only does Secret of the Stones look charming, but it also sounds excellent. The music and sounds that play help create the feeling of exploring some ancient stones and uncovering their magic powers as you connect to the spirits through the druid.
Don’t just listen to my opinion on the game; check it out yourself. The free demo is available on this page, letting you spin as much as you like without spending any money. As always, the bonus features work the same in the demo as in the real money version of the game. This means you can test out the wilds and free spins round without risking your cash.
Playing the free demo is a great way to learn more about the game and decide whether or not you want to play it at an online casino. We always recommend giving the demo a few spins and playing around with different bet sizes to determine how to play.
If you enjoyed the ancient Celtic theme in Secret of the Stones, you can play many other excellent slots. Many developers have explored the past and the pagan traditions associated with stone circles. Here are some of the best:
Secret of the Stones has that magical ambience that will take you back to when sacred stones and druids were significant. The five-reel, 25-line payout video slot machine has attractive Free Spin Rounds with additional features that you can select as per your choice. For a more modern alternative, try out Druid Dreams. Also, from NetEnt, the slot will bring you back to the stone circle for more fun and excitement as you spin the reels and try to land big wins.
